History YMMV / CountdownToFinalCrisis

* CreatorsPet: Forerunner, who the creators obviously thought would be seen as really cool and a {{breakout character}}. She even got her own (half a) spinoff miniseries. Fan reaction was tepid at best, and most seemed to view her as TheScrappy. Apparently this eventually got through to the writers, as the last issue of the miniseries has Forerunner [[PutOnABus transported to a distant planet to rebuild her species]].[[note]][[Memes/TheSimpsons Poochie was sent back to her home planet. It's shocking her ship didn't explode along the way.]][[/note]]

* ArchivePanic: If you want the full story, you have to read

* ContinuityLockout: Not to the extent of [[ComicBook/FinalCrisis what it was supposed to lead into]], but it's recommended that, at a bare minimum, one goes into this having read ''ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis'' (to explain why Superboy Prime underwent a FaceHeelTurn), ''ComicBook/FiftyTwo'' (to explain why there's now 52 Monitors instead of just the one from ''ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths''), and ''ComicBook/IdentityCrisis'' (to explain what happened to Ray Palmer).

* CompleteMonster: Superboy-Prime. Imagine Superman with his [[PhysicalGod Silver Age-level powers]] and absolutely [[PsychopathicManchild none of his maturity]] [[AxCrazy or moral boundaries]]. You could at least '''slightly''' sympathize with him in ''Infinite Crisis'', but the [[EstablishingCharacterMoment first thing he does here]] is killing a pregnant woman, then killing that universe's Justice League, and then blowing up their entire planet, and then destroying countless other alternate earths during his travels, purely out of spite because they're inferior to his "real" earth. It gets far worse from there. It's little wonder Mister Mxyzptlk had the 5th Dimension closed off: He had barely escaped Superman-Prime's clutches!

* TakeThatScrappy: In one of the few redeeming moments of the series, Sleez, the infamous alien scumball who mindcontrolled Superman and Barda to star in a smut film, ends up getting reduced to ash early on.

-->"Everything was better on ''my'' Earth!"
-->"'''THEY'RE RUINING IT!!!'''"
-->"I'LL KILL YOU! I'LL KILL YOU TO '''''[[{{Angrish}} DEATH!!!]]'''''"

** Darkseid dares sit on your couch.

** A world where Zod became Superman? And was so successful that he was actually retired and starting a family when the group searching for Ray Palmer find him? Sounds like an intriguing idea for an ''ComicBook/Elseworlds'' story, right? Nope, he's just fodder for Superboy-Prime's rampage later on. And the pregnant woman Superboy-Prime killed was Zod-Superman's wife.

-->"I'LL KILL YOU! I'LL KILL YOU TO '''''[[Angrish DEATH!!!]]'''''"

* {{Sequelitis}}: It is considered inferior to its predecessor ''ComicBook/FiftyTwo''. Which ironically, Dan Dido commented that "It was 52 done right" because the editors were in control rather than the writers. [[WhatAnIdiot Mmm-hmm.]]

* {{Sequelitis}}: It is considered inferior to its predecessor ''ComicBook/FiftyTwo''.

* {{Padding}}: A huge amount of the series is this, with each issue jammed with [[FourLinesAllWaiting snippets of several different storylines spread across the entire DC universe]] introducing plot points that are [[AbortedArc forgotten]] three issues later, with special mention to everything having to do with the Monitors ([[WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall "We should do something!" "Should we do something?" "We should do something!" "Should we do something?"]]). Also, many of the events happening in ''Countdown'' were completely unrelated to the series' plot lines themselves, and were instead random intersections with all the other (and better) stuff happening in the DC universe at the same time, reducing the event to a series of advertisements for plots in dozens of other comic titles. To top it off, ''Countdown'' was so incredibly bad, nonsensical, confusing, and unpopular that everything that happened in it, with the exception of a few plot points, was immediately shunted into CanonDiscontinuity, and ''ComicBook/FinalCrisis'', the event Countdown was supposed to be, y'know, ''counting down to'', latched on to entirely different events to act as its lead-up, meaning that the [[ShootTheShaggyDog entirety of ''Countdown'' wound up as one whole year of padding]] for ''Final Crisis''.

* AssPull: The attempted {{Authors Saving Throw}}s resulted in this, such as Bob and Solomon actually being on the same side near the end.

** All together, everyone; "[[IllKillYou I'll kill you]], [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment I'll kill you to death!]]"

** The whole series can be this if you take the view that it's [[SoBadItsGood so bad it's funny]]. It's all [[{{Narm}} unintentional]], but there are some comedy gems like Jason Todd (the gun-wielding crazy guy) telling a Monitor that he's [[{{Hypocrite}} not fond of gun-wielding crazies]], Donna Troy's "I'm Donna Troy BITCH!" and of course "I'LL KILL YOU TO DEATH!" from Superboy-Prime. There's also Jimmy's awful Mr. Action costume and Darkseid on Mary Marvel's couch...

* {{Padding}}: A huge amount of the series is this, with each issue jammed with [[FourLinesAllWaiting snippets of several different storylines spread across the entire DC universe]] introducing plot points that are [[AbortedArc forgotten]] three issues later, with special mention to everything having to do with the Monitors ([[WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall "We should do something!" "Should we do something?" "We should do something!" "Should we do something?"]]). Also, many of the events happening in ''Countdown'' were completely unrelated to the series' plot lines themselves, and were instead random intersections with all the other (and better) stuff happening in the DC universe at the same time, reducing the event to a series of advertisements for plots in dozens of other comic titles. To top it off, ''Countdown'' was so incredibly bad, nonsensical, confusing, and unpopular that everything that happened in it with the exception of a few plot points was immediately shunted into CanonDiscontinuity, and ''ComicBook/FinalCrisis'', the event Countdown was supposed to be, y'know, ''counting down to'', latched on to entirely different events to act as its lead-up, meaning that the [[ShootTheShaggyDog entirety of ''Countdown'' wound up as one whole year of padding]] for ''Final Crisis''.

** The whole series can be this if you take the view that it's so bad it's funny. It's all [[{{Narm}} unintentional]], but there are some comedy gems like Jason Todd (the gun-wielding crazy guy) telling a Monitor that he's [[{{Hypocrite}} not fond of gun-wielding crazies]], Donna Troy's "I'm Donna Troy BITCH!" and of course "I'LL KILL YOU TO DEATH!" from Superman-Prime. There's also Jimmy's awful Mr. Action costume and Darkseid on Mary Marvel's couch...

* NightmareRetardant: Superman Prime has all the potential to be a scary villain, and while he's definitely a huge threat, his childish personality and asinine dialogue turn him into a complete joke.
* {{Padding}}: A huge amount of the series is this, with each issue jammed with [[FourLinesAllWaiting snippets of several different storylines spread across the entire DC universe]] introducing plot points that are forgotten three issues later, with special mention to everything having to do with the Monitors ([[WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall "We should do something!" "Should we do something?" "We should do something!" "Should we do something?"]]). Also, many of the events happening in ''Countdown'' were completely unrelated to the series' plot lines themselves, and were instead random intersections with all the other (and better) stuff happening in the DC universe at the same time, reducing the event to a series of advertisements for plots in dozens of other comic titles. To top it off, ''Countdown'' was so incredibly bad, nonsensical, confusing, and unpopular that everything that happened in it with the exception of a few plot points was immediately shunted into CanonDiscontinuity, and ''ComicBook/FinalCrisis'', the event Countdown was supposed to be, y'know, ''counting down to'', latched on to entirely different events to act as its lead-up, meaning that the [[ShootTheShaggyDog entirety of Countdown wound up as one whole year of padding]] for ''Final Crisis''.

** Jimmy Olsen gets all his [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] powers back! Brother Eye merges with Apokolips! Mary Marvel, "deserted" by Captain Marvel, turns to Black Adam! Harley Quinn and Holly Robinson vs. Granny Goodness! A crazy, universe-hopping adventure searching for a character missing for (relative to the reader) years! Paul Dini writing! A lead-up to the biggest Crisis of all! A followup to the beloved ''52''! A look at the seedy underbelly of the DC universe from the perspective of two repentant Flash villains! The genesis of the Kamandi-verse! WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong Short answer: '''EVERYTHING.'''
** And a lot of these perfectly good plots were really good when Creator/GrantMorrison pitched them for ''Final Crisis''. They were so good in fact that DC decided to shoot their load early and jam them into this, the lead-in to ''Final Crisis''. Which was only the beginning of what went wrong.
** And then there's The Jokester, a mirror-universe Joker who uses comedy to fight evil. He was actually quite well-written, had a compelling backstory, and [[EnsembleDarkhorse fans began calling him the saving grace of the series]]. So, of course, [[ShooOutTheNewGuy he was killed off after about four issues]].
** The Trickster's homophobia. The writers bring it up so damn much surely they're going to build something-oh no wait, he dies. And nothing was accomplished. ''Yippee''.

-->"Everything was better on ''my'' earth!"

* NeverLiveItDown: To this day, Dan Didio calling Countdown "ComicBook/FiftyTwo done right" is still used as an indictment against him.

* CreatorsPet: Forerunner, who the creators obviously thought would be seen as really cool and a {{breakout character}}. She even got her own (half a) spinoff miniseries. Fan reaction was tepid at best, and most seemed to view her as TheScrappy. Apparently this eventually got through to the writers, as the last issue of the miniseries has Forerunner [[PutOnABus transported to a distant planet to rebuild her species]].[[note]]Poochie was sent back her home planet. It's shocking her ship didn't explode along the way.[[/note]]

* ExecutiveMeddling: The ''entire premise of the series''. Dan Didio absolutely hated ''52'' because DC's editors had little to no say in how the series unfolded. ''Countdown'' was conceived as "''52'' done right" by Didio as a weekly series where DC's editors had ultimate control over every single issue.
* FunnyMoments:

* EvilIsSexy: Mary Marvel: 16-year-old JailBait who giggles like an idiot over a [[FreudWasRight phallic-looking rod]].

* ArcFatigue: Played with for the Earth-51 arc. It went on (almost) uninterrupted by unrelated things, had a lot of cool fights, some really strong moments (like [[spoiler:Jason Todd meeting its Batman and this Batman's death]]) and ended with a bang. Sadly, right after that, the series became much worse than ever before.

* CompleteMonster: Superboy-Prime. Imagine Superman with his [[PhysicalGod Silver-Age level powers]] and absolutely [[PsychopathicManchild none of his maturity]] [[AxCrazy or moral boundaries.]] You could at least '''slightly''' sympathize with him in ''Infinite Crisis'', but the [[EstablishingCharacterMoment first thing he does here]] is killing a pregnant woman, then killing that universe's Justice League, and then blowing up their entire planet, and then destroying countless other alternate earths during his travels, purely out of spite because they're inferior to his "real" earth. It gets far worse from there. It's little wonder Mister Mxyzptlk had the 5th Dimension closed off: He had barely escaped Superman-Prime's clutches!

* EvilIsSexy: Mary Marvel: 16-year-old JailBait who giggles like an idiot over a [[FreudWasRight phallic-looking rod.]]

** All together everyone; "[[IllKillYou I'll Kill You]], [[DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment I'll Kill You to Death!]]"

* MoralEventHorizon: In his ''first'' appearance, Superman-Prime kills a pregnant woman and her husband, Dru-Zod (who was that Earth's Superman). And then that Earth's entire Justice League. [[EarthShatteringKaboom And finally that entire Earth.]]

* {{Padding}}: A huge amount of the series is this, with each issue jammed with [[FourLinesAllWaiting snippets of several different storylines spread across the entire DC universe]] introducing plot points that are forgotten three issues later, with special mention to everything having to do with the Monitors [[WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall ("We should do something!" "Should we do something?" "We should do something!" "Should we do something?")]]. Also, many of the events happening in Countdown were completely unrelated to the series' plot lines themselves, and were instead random intersections with all the other (and better) stuff happening in the DC universe at the same time, reducing the event to a series of advertisements for plots in dozens of other comic titles. To top it off, ''Countdown'' was so incredibly bad, nonsensical, confusing, and unpopular that everything that happened in it with the exception of a few plot points was immediately shunted into CanonDiscontinuity, and ''ComicBook/FinalCrisis'', the event Countdown was supposed to be, y'know, ''counting down to'', latched on to entirely different events to act as its lead-up, meaning that the [[ShootTheShaggyDog entirety of Countdown wound up as one whole year of padding]] for Final Crisis.

** And then there's The Jokester, a mirror-universe Joker who uses comedy to fight evil. He was actually quite well-written, had a compelling backstory, and [[EnsembleDarkhorse fans began calling him the saving grace of the series]]. So of course, [[ShooOutTheNewGuy he was killed off after about four issues]].

* CompleteMonster: Superboy-Prime. Imagine Superman with his [[PhysicalGod Silver-Age level powers]] and absolutely [[PsychopathicManchild none of his maturity]] [[AxCrazy or moral boundaries.]] You could at least '''slightly''' sympathize with him in ''Infinite Crisis'', but the [[EstablishingCharacterMoment first thing he does here]] is killing a pregnant woman, then killing that universe's Justice League, and then blowing up their entire planet, and then destroying countless other alternate earths during his travels, purely out of spite because they're inferior to his "real" earth. It gets far worse from there.

* CompleteMonster: Superboy-Prime. Imagine Superman with his [[PhysicalGod Silver-Age level powers]] and absolutely [[PsychopathicManchild none of his maturity]] [[AxCrazy or moral boundaries.]] You could at least '''slightly''' sympathize with him in ''Infinite Crisis'', but the [[EstablishingCharacterMoment first thing he does here]] is killing a pregnant woman, then killing that universes Justice League, and then blowing up their entire planet, and then destroying countless other alternate earths during his travels, purely out of spite because they're inferior to his "real" earth. It gets far worse from there.

* ItGetsBetter: The Earth-51 arc. It went on (almost) uninterrupted by unrelated things, had a lot of cool fights, some really strong moments (like [[spoiler:Jason Todd meeting its Batman and this Batman's death]]) and ended with a bang. Sadly, right after that, the series became much worse than ever before.