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[Spike Spiegel]

Here's the leaked cover to January's issue of Previews, advance-soliciting comics for March 2005:

"Countdown" to what?

Rumblings of another mega-event, one of 'Crisis of Infinite Earths' proportions, are persistent...

 

[DarienA]

Look at Hal Jordan!!! WOOHO!!!!

Who is that in Bruce's arms?

Bruce's cowl looks weird. I don't think I've ever seen ear slots before or maybe it's because the head fins are too far foward? Anyway who is that in the yellow helmet above his shoulder?

 

[8bit]

That's Dr. Fate above Batman.
Is that Adam Strange in his arms?

 

[Spike Spiegel]

Here's a better version:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v253/jimlee00/Countdownsidebyside.jpg

Still can't tell who that is, though.

 

[DarienA]

That's Dr. Fate above Batman.
Is that Adam Strange in his arms?

Ah I've tried to get in to the JSA, time and time again, but I just can't do it....

 

[mightynine]

Looks like Alfred.

 

[Luscious LeftFoot]

I still waiting for Batman to whoop some ass

I find it funny that Flash is so fast, but dead last to arrive...

 

[Escape Goat]

Looks like Alfred.

:lol

how do you figure?

 

[Matlock]

Looks like the Guardian to me.

 

[Matlock]

btw, here's a contrast/brightness adjusted image detail.

 

[8bit]

Hmm, goggles.
Dr. Mid-nite?

---

Who else has goggles?

Blue Beetle.
Booster Gold.
Didn't Plastic Man wear goggles for a while?

 

[BuddyC]

From Lying in the Gutters...

The Crisis 2 saga continues. Written by Geoff Johns, drawn by Phil Jiminez, it appears that "Identity Crisis" and other events across the DC Universe will provide plot points that will all tie into next summer's extravaganza at DC. Look for a number of books to start kicking things off.

An early indicator will be in the "Adam Strange" series. Keep your eyes open over there for something that will kick off Crisis 2... whether in the book, or on a spinoff series entitled "The Rann/Thangar War."

I'm told other events contributing to the overall revamping and adrenaline injection of the DC Universe include "Day of Vengance," "Villains United" and "Amazons Attack."

And recently in an issue of "Teen Titans" written by Geoff Johns, Batman (The Adult Tim Drake) mentions a crisis that happened not long after the Titans got sucked into the future.

Start joining the dots, people.

 

[Mercury Fred]

Hmm, Catwoman has goggles.

 

[hXc_thugg]

Jim Lee + Alex Ross = no good.

 

[JoshuaJSlone]

btw, here's a contrast/brightness adjusted image detail.

 

[DumbNameD]

From the pencils and based on Jim Lee's style, the musculature of the body seems to indicate it's a male. And if you look at the head, at first it appears that the figure is balding, but there's a bit of fabric dangling from that area. That means a cowl or full head mask. Also, there seems to be goggles on the painted version. And with the blue costume and slim build, my best guess for the body in Batman's arms would be the Blue Beetle.

 

[DarienA]

Hmm, Catwoman has goggles.

But she also has ears on her mask.

 

[DaveH]

I'm guessing it's Nightwing.

Blue on the arm, short hair, ties to Batman....

 

[Guzim]

I'm guessing it's Nightwing.

First thing that came to my mind too.

 

[Mercury Fred]

But she also has ears on her mask.

Good point.

Ok, so I do know a little something about this crossover event. I don't know what the event itself is, but I can spoil one of its major aspects even though I'm not supposed to. Big spoilers below.

Spoiler

Paradise Island is going to end up permanently positioned off the coast of one of the Carolinas, essentially becoming part of the U.S. I'm not sure how it ends up there. This is going to set up a HUGE conflict (obviously) between the Amazons, DCU heroes, and the U.S. government. Donna Troy's return will figure into this conflict.

Also, there will be multiple deaths. The only one I'm sure of at this point is Atom Smasher.

 

[evil solrac v3.0]

it's jason todd.

 

[evil solrac v3.0]

Good point.

Ok, so I do know a little something about this crossover event. I don't know what the event itself is, but I can spoil one of its major aspects even though I'm not supposed to. Big spoilers below.

Spoiler

Paradise Island is going to end up permanently positioned off the coast of one of the Carolinas, essentially becoming part of the U.S. I'm not sure how it ends up there. This is going to set up a HUGE conflict (obviously) between the Amazons, DCU heroes, and the U.S. government. Donna Troy's return will figure into this conflict.

Also, there will be multiple deaths. The only one I'm sure of at this point is Atom Smasher.

Spoiler

themyscara (sp) is currently off the coast of the USA in the wonder woman titles and the USA has placed aircratf carriers there. we know what's going on in batman..... he's a loner again. hal jordan is coming back and so are the green lantern corps. something is gonna happen with superman when azzarello's run is done. and greg rucka is doing sometjing interesting in adventures of superman. and as mercury fred sad, the thing with the titans....... but do they have to kill atom smasher!??! that sucks....

 

[Mercury Fred]

Spoiler

themyscara (sp) is currently off the coast of the USA in the wonder woman titles and the USA has placed aircratf carriers there. we know what's going on in batman..... he's a loner again. hal jordan is coming back and so are the green lantern corps. something is gonna happen with superman when azzarello's run is done. and greg rucka is doing sometjing interesting in adventures of superman. and as mercury fred sad, the thing with the titans....... but do they have to kill atom smasher!??! that sucks....

Spoiler

LOL, well that's what I get for not keeping up with Wonder Woman. I had no idea that this had already happened. My source spilled it a while back and I assumed it would be happening in 2005. Re: Atom Smasher, I don't know why he needs to be killed. He's barely in JSA anymore. I always liked the character. I wanted to see him redeemed.

 

[ShadowRed]

Let me be the one to ask since noone else has. Why? I mean Jeebus multi comic crossovers are so 90s and we know what the 90s did for the comic industry. Also what makes Dc think they can do this one right after fucking up the first Crisis and then trying to fix that with Zero Hour and still not getting it right. Are they going to boot like the last time?

 

[Talas]

 

[nomoment]

Who's that guy here that has a buddy that works at DC Comics?

He got the Jack Drake thing right months before it happened, so maybe he knows more?

 

[nomoment]

Some new tidbits regarding DC Countdown:

Judd Winick discusses DC Countdown

And a bit posted by Kevin Macguire @ comicboards:

Keith Giffen,Marc DeMatties, and I did an interview with Wizard this week and the interviewer asked us what we thought about the fact that Dan DiDeo told them,on the record,

Spoiler

that Blue Beetle

would be the most important figure in the DC universe this year. We told them we had no idea about that,which we didn't.

Looking at that cover, it looks to me like they're killing

Spoiler

him

off. If that's the case, I'll be really, REALLY ticked off. First Sue Dibney, then

Spoiler

Blue Beetle

? DC, are you trying to tell us something?

http://www.comicboards.com/jla/view.php?rpl=041213004449

And, the Coundown #1 solicitation for March 2005:

DC COUNTDOWN #1

Written by Geoff Johns, Greg Rucka and Judd Winick, art by Rags Morales, Ed Benes, Phil Jimenez, Ivan Reis, Jesus Saiz, and various, cover by Jim Lee and Alex Ross

Artists Morales, Benes, Reis, Jimenez and Saiz each pencil chapters of a story that follows a member of the JLA through a mystery that touches on nearly every character in the DCU.

Topped with a cover pencilled by Jim Lee and painted by Alex Ross, DC Countdown is an essential project that features nearly every major character operating in the DC Universe. It's a project that will resonate for months to come and is a perfect jumping-on point for readers who've been wondering where the people who helped deliver Identity Crisis could possibly be going next. And the clock is ticking...

80 pages, $1, in stores on March 30.