History Comicbook / CountdownToFinalCrisis

%%** HeelFaceRevolvingDoor: Again, Mary Marvel.

%%* LivingMacGuffin: Ray Palmer.

%%* ShapedLikeItself: I'LL KILL YOU TO DEATH!

%%* YourPrincessIsInAnotherCastle: Donna, Kyle, Jason and Bob the Monitor, with regards to Ray Palmer.

%%* CrisisCrossover

* FollowTheLeader: The whole maxi-series was, at least structure-wise, copying the ''52'' series: a weekly series with focus on lesser-known/less popular characters, trips to many places of the larger DC Universe, and each plot thread eventually converging in the lead-in to the next big event. A [[https://comicsalliance.com/mark-waid-slams-dan-didio-and-dc-comics/ post by writer]] Mark Waid on his website mentioned that then DC editor Dan Didio referred to ''Countdown'' as "''52'' done right", implying it was intentional for the series to imitate its predecessor.

* FollowTheLeader: The whole maxi-series was, at least structure-wise, copying the ''52'' series: a weekly series with focus on lesser-known/less popular characters, trips to many places of the larger DC Universe, and each plot thread eventually converging in the lead-in to the next big event.

%%* InterspeciesRomance: Jimmy Olsen and [[GreenSkinnedSpaceBabe Forager]].

* CanonDiscontinuity: A good portion of the whole mess was rendered non-canon within weeks of its completion. Everything concerning Superman-Prime, for example, was tossed out of the window, with the character going from his role in the ''ComicBook/SinestroCorpsWar'' directly into ''Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds''. Likewise none of it is even alluded to in ''Final Crisis''. However, Superboy-Prime annihilating Earth-15 is still canon, according to ''ComicBook/TheMultiversity'', and the [=JLAxis=] of Earth-10, who are recruited by Monarch appear in a dream-sequence.

* TimeTravelTenseTrouble: ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} ''[[ComicBook/Supergirl2005 runs into this trouble]] when she comes upon Karate Kid and Triplicate Girl and tries to explain she's also a Legionnaire.

%%Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1657855872060660400

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/countdown_51_cover.png]]

TheMultiverse has gone wonky. The [[ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths Monitors]] have come back into existence with the return of the parallel universes, and they foresee a "Great Disaster"--and one Monitor, consulting The Source, is told that Ray Palmer (currently in self-imposed exile since the events of ''ComicBook/IdentityCrisis'') is the answer. From here, the script splits into a variety of plot threads:
* [[Franchise/WonderWoman Donna Troy]] and [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Jason Todd]] end up traveling the Multiverse with [[FluffyTheTerrible Bob, one of the Monitors]], searching for Ray Palmer, initially joined by Ryan Choi ([[ComicBook/TheAtom the fourth Atom]]), but joined by [[Franchise/GreenLantern Kyle Rayner]] instead when Choi gets whisked out of the plot. They search multiple universes and come up empty-handed most of the time.
* The Monitors [[NotSoOmniscientCouncilOfBickering spend 26 issues arguing over what to do and whether they should intervene in the natural order of things]] to either help or stop Solomon, a Monitor who killed [[Franchise/TeenTitans Duela Dent]] and is attempting to purge the multiverse of lifeforms that migrated from alternate universes, claiming they are polluting the timelines.
* Superman-Prime and [[ComicBook/CaptainAtom Monarch]] traipse through various universes (wreaking havoc on several alternate Earths) while Darkseid schemes to take over the main DC universe with the Anti-Life Equation.
* ComicBook/MaryMarvel, seemingly abandoned by the power of Shazam, goes out searching for answers. She ends up stealing ComicBook/BlackAdam's power, turning evil not once, but twice.
* ComicBook/JimmyOlsen ends up [[SuperpowerSillyPutty developing superpowers]] and tries to become a superhero -- or at least find out why he has them. [[WeirdnessMagnet In typical Jimmy Olsen fashion]], he soon gets sucked into an investigation into the death of the ComicBook/NewGods and winds up toe-to-toe with Darkseid.
* [[Franchise/TheFlash The Trickster and Pied Piper]] go undercover to gather info on the other Rogues and get framed for murder. They wind up in a ChainedHeat situation and go on the run from both the heroes and villains.
* [[Comicbook/{{Catwoman}} Holly Robinson]] and [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Harley Quinn]] end up in a women's shelter organized by Athena (actually Granny Goodness in disguise), who trains them as warriors without telling them why.

* ThePowerOfRock: One of the better received moments is Pied Piper destroying Apokolips and driving off Brother Eye with Music/{{Queen}}'s [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t99KH0TR-J4 "The Show Must Go On"]].

%%* KillEmAll: And boy, do they all get killed.

%%* AxCrazy: Superman-Prime.

''Countdown to Final Crisis'' (2007–2008) was a 51-issue weekly series, written primarily by head writer Creator/PaulDini and a rotating roster of writers consisting of Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti, Tony Bedard, Adam Beechen, and Sean [=McIver=], initially meant as the leadup to ''ComicBook/FinalCrisis'' for which it was named. However, much of the events were retconned after the book’s negative reception.

''Countdown to Final Crisis'' (2007–2008) was a 51-issue weekly series, written primarily by head writer Creator/PaulDini and a rotating roster of writers consisting of Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti, Tony Bedard, Adam Beechen, and Sean [=McIver=], initially meant as the leadup to ''ComicBook/FinalCrisis'' for which it was named.

''Countdown to Final Crisis'' (2007–2008) was a 51-issue weekly series, written primarily by head writer Creator/PaulDini and a rotating roster of writers consisting of Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti, Tony Bedard, Adam Beechen, and Sean [=McIver=], meant as the leadup to ''ComicBook/FinalCrisis'' for which it was named.

* InterspeciesRomance: Jimmy Olsen and [[GreenSkinnedSpaceBabe Forager]].

* PsychopathicManchild: Superman-Prime.

* ThisIsForEmphasisBitch: She's Donna Troy, by the way.

%%Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1657855872060660400
%%Please don't change or remove without starting a new thread.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/countdown_51_cover.png]]

->''"Don't worry about Countdown -- focus elsewhere."''
-->-- '''[[ComicBook/BoosterGold Rip Hunter's chalkboard]]'''

''Countdown to Final Crisis'' (2007–2008) was a 51-issue weekly series, written primarily by head writer Creator/PaulDini and a rotating roster of writers consisting of Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti, Tony Bedard, Adam Beechen, and Sean [=McIver=], meant as the leadup to ''ComicBook/FinalCrisis'' for which it was named. However, the lot of it was thrown into CanonDiscontinuity… and as it turns out, for good reason.

* ComicBook/JimmyOlsen ends up [[SuperpowerSillyPutty developing superpowers]] and tries to become a superhero -- or at least find out why he has them. [[WeirdnessMagnet In typical Jimmy Olsen fashion]], he soon gets sucked into an investigation into the death of the ComicBook/NewGods, winds up toe-to-toe with Darkseid, and [[CoitusEnsues has sex with a bug girl]].

* AxCrazy: Superman-Prime.

* CityOfAdventure: Metropolis.

* AGodAmI: Superman-Prime. Not necessarily a ''mature'' god, but still...
* GotTheCallOnSpeedDial: Mary Marvel attempts to invoke this trope.

* KillEmAll: And boy, do they all get killed.
* KudzuPlot: The characters even {{Lampshade|Hanging}} it!

* ShapedLikeItself: I'LL KILL YOU TO DEATH!

* WhoDares:
** Don't ever beat Ultraman in place of Super-Woman.
** Invoked by Darkseid.

* YourPrincessIsInAnotherCastle: Donna, Kyle, Jason and Bob the Monitor, with regards to Ray Palmer.

''Countdown to Final Crisis'' (2007–2008) was a 51-issue weekly series, written primarily by head writer Creator/PaulDini and a rotating roster of writers consisting of Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti, Tony Bedard, Adam Beechen, and Sean [=McIver=], meant as the leadup to ''ComicBook/FinalCrisis'' for which it was named.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/495126.jpg]][[caption-width-right:350: [[ReviewIronicEcho Well, at least they were right in that it]] ''[[ReviewIronicEcho was]]'' [[StealthPun a "Great Disaster".]]]]

''Countdown to Final Crisis'' (2007–2008) is perhaps one of the most baffling things to come out of Creator/DCComics. It was a 51-issue weekly series, written primarily by head writer Creator/PaulDini and a rotating roster of writers consisting of Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti, Tony Bedard, Adam Beechen, and Sean [=McIver=], meant as the leadup to what would have been the biggest events in the DCU, but ultimately, it fell short, not bearing any connection to the ''ComicBook/FinalCrisis'' for which it was named. Trying to summarize it is a difficult task, as the plotline is essentially [[RandomEventsPlot a very shaky patchwork of loosely connected plot threads]]. But someone has to try:

The series came under pretty strong fire, from the near–''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueCryForJustice'' levels of excessive death and gore to the FourLinesAllWaiting structure of the issues to the meandering and unsatisfying plot. A common complaint was that the comics did not make sense, with multiple plot threads leading more-or-less nowhere, and there was much objection to the portrayal of many of the characters.

* CrisisCrossover
* DarkMagicalGirl: Mary Marvel.

* DrunkOnTheDarkSide: Mary Marvel.

* FaceHeelTurn: Twice, first by Mary Marvel, then by one of the Monitors.
** HeelFaceRevolvingDoor: Again, Mary Marvel.

* LivingMacGuffin: Ray Palmer.

* TheMole: Bob the Monitor.

* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: Hal Jordan.
* WeHardlyKnewYe: Jokester.

* PantyShot: Mary is subject to ''several'' particularly blatant ones through the series. Keep in mind -- she's supposed to be 16.

* CanonDiscontinuity: A good portion of the whole mess was rendered non-canon within weeks of its completion. Everything concerning Superman-Prime, for example, was tossed out of the window, with the character going from his role in the ''ComicBook/SinestroCorpsWar'' directly into ''Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds''. Likewise none of it is even alluded to in ''Final Crisis''.
** However, Superboy-Prime annihilating Earth-15 is still canon, according to ''ComicBook/TheMultiversity'', and the [=JLAxis=] of Earth-10, who are recruited by Monarch appear in a dream-sequence.

** DependingOnTheWriter: To much the same effect.

-->-- '''[[Comicbook/FiftyTwo Rip Hunter's chalkboard]]'''