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Countdown to Mystery

Countdown to Final Crisis
Cover to Countdown #51 by Andy Kubert.
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
Schedule Weekly
Format Limited series
Genre
Publication date(s) May 2007 - April 2008
No. of issues 51 + DC Universe #0
Main character(s) Darkseid
Donna Troy
Jimmy Olsen
Mary Marvel
Jason Todd
Harley Quinn
Holly Robinson
Karate Kid
Kyle Rayner
Superman-Prime
Monarch
Ray Palmer
Pied Piper
Triplicate Girl
Forager
Trickster
Duela Dent
Creative team
Written by Paul Dini
Jimmy Palmiotti
Sean McKeever
Tony Bedard
Adam Beechen
Justin Gray
Artist(s) Keith Giffen
Jesus Saiz
Jim Calafiore
Carlos Magno
David Lopez
Tom Derenick
Jamal Igle
Manuel Garcia
Collected editions
Volume 1 ISBN
Volume 2 ISBN
Volume 3 ISBN
Volume 4 ISBN

Countdown, known as Countdown to Final Crisis for its last 24 issues based on the cover, was a comic book limited series published by DC Comics. It debuted on May 9, 2007, directly following the conclusion of the last issue of 52. The series is written primarily by Paul Dini, along with a rotating team of writers and artists.

Countdown consists of 51 issues, number in reverse, published weekly for one year, crossing over with noteworthy and significant titles published by DC. The series covers much of the fictional DC Universe, told in parallel narratives, through the interconnecting stories of a cast of characters, and frequently crosses over with various other DC titles. Unlike the 52 limited series of the previous year, Countdown is not depicted as taking place in "real time" but presumably operates on the same floating timeline as DC Comics stories in general.

The series follows the success of 52, which, in contrast, did not cross over with DC's other regular titles. 52 concluded with the revelation that the Multiverse (a storytelling device which posits the existence of alternative realities) exists, and which now serves as a backdrop to several stories in Countdown. Beginning with issue #26, the series trade dress was reworked to identify the series as Countdown to Final Crisis, The stories taking place in Countdown set the stage for the approaching Final Crisis limited series.

Countdown to Final Crisis was originally intended to run from issues #51-0, with issue 0 serving as the prologue to the Final Crisis limited series. Instead, it was decided that Countdown would conclude with issue #1 and the #0 issue was retitled to DC Universe #0. DC Universe #0 was co-written by Grant Morrison and Geoff Johns and served as a summary of recent events within the DC Universe in order to attract new readers before the company launched the Final Crisis limited series.


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