First came the Identity Crisis, then followed the Infinite Crisis, the wake of which saw Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman vanish for a year; having filled in the gaps with the groundbreaking series 52 and the One Year Later chronicles, it's time to prepare for a storyline fifty years in the making, as the Countdown to Final Crisis begins...

Volume One of Countdown to Final Crisis is the first of a series of four volumes, and collects issues #51-39 (no, that's not a typo) of the tale that features Jimmy Olsen, Mary Marvel, Donna Troy and all the major characters of the DC Universe.

This collection follows on from the events that unfolded in Infinite Crisis and 52 and leads into Final Crisis. When one of the Teen Titans is killed, Jimmy Olsen begins his own investigation. The death sets off an unexpected ripple that will touch virtually every character in the DC Universe and change the status quo forever.

Professor Ray Palmer (The Atom) may hold the answers, but he's vanished - so former Robin Jason Todd, former Wonder Girl Donna Troy and Green Lantern Kyle Rayner team up with the dimension-spanning Monitor to search for him. The Pied Piper and the Trickster are on the run. The mysterious Monarch begins a recruiting drive. And the New Gods are being picked off by an unknown assassin. Oh, and look out for the Joker playing Hannibal Lecter.

For those that have followed 52, Identity Crisis and Infinite Crisis, then you'll want to pick up this collection, which ups the stakes.

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Pete Boomer