It's official. DC's latest weekley series, after the success of 52, is now at its half way point. And with it, comes a new name. It's all counting down to the Final Crisis. For those of you that haven't been keeping up with this series, I won't even attempt to explain what's happened over the last 25 issues. Let's just say it involves the triumphant return of DC's Multiverse (meaning there are now 52 alternate earths out there) Jimmy Olsen's strange new powers, the obligatory deaths and transformations and now, a war. A big war brought about by the Monitors. No, not the screen that attaches to your computer, but a race of powerful beings who have been watching the effects of the Multiverse's return and don't like what they see.

The problem with this issue (and some may say the entire series) is that  there is a lot of talking. Exposition is common in this title, and it's needed. Here, the first 15 pages are basically filled with the nameless lone Monitor talking to his fellow Monitors (who all look pretty much the same). 

But in today's comics, even talking can look cool. Scott Kolins is on art chores, as a change of pace from his Marvel work. I've never been a big fan of his sketchy style, but Tom Chu's colours do a lot for the art. Paul Dini is the head writer of Countdown (to Final Crisis) and shares writing duties with a rotating number of other writers. This issue has frequent partners Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti on board. Not a lot happens, but I get the sense taht something will soon. The last few pages are a real treat. It appears an alternate version of Superman (in his groovy black costume, as seen in the Countdown teaser image all that time ago) is on Earth 15 to rescue Lex Luthor in order to inspire him, or punish him. I'm sure more will become clear in the next few weeks. All I can say is, if you haven't picked this series up yet, don't start here, unless you have a good knowledege of the DCU. The high point for me however, was the cover. Claudio Castellini's comics work is way too infrequent. I fell in love with his fluid style, that reminds me of Bart Sears, when he first did the Marvel vs DC art a decade ago with Dan Jurgens. DC better get him on interiors sometime soon.

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