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	Superhero
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.