About Heroes

Writer(s) Steve Gerber, Matthew Sturges
Artist(s): Justiniano, Stephen Jorge Segovia

This title just goes to show ya that you CAN have two great stories in one book. Steve Gerber writes the first half of this book, as the Helmet of Fate finally falls into the hands of a bum that ironically enough is thrown out with the garbage. The helmet is put on by this homeless doctor for shelter from the rain. Yeah...whoops. From this point, the helmet takes Dr. Kent on a journey of it's past, from being thrown by Captain Marvel into the darkness of space, to it's journey back to Earth searching for a wearer. Along the journey the helmet delves into the doctors' own past, and of ultimately how this doctor came to be a bum. Just shooting from first impressions here, I really REALLY dig this Gerber guys' writing, it just flows so well, certain parts like this: "and the pitiless, pounding rain that stings like needles driven deep into his wounds", it...I don't know... it somehow just struck me. The aforementioned dialogue and other pieces of it, show something great in comic writing that I didn't know was missing. I know, I am being vague but, the writing just seemed eloquent and well...it was just good, I don't know anyway other way to put it. Justinianos' art fit this story to a T as well. The lines were tight and smooth, just enough, to where it kept a feeling of finite reality, even during some scenes that were meant to be somewhat metaphysical. The story ends on a cliffhanger as Dr. Kent V Nelson transforms into Doctor Fate, facing off against a monster of some sort. Gerber really seems to get the character of Doctor Fate and his paring with Justiniano on art makes me very interested to see where this story ends up going.

The second part of this story was just as good as the first part, believe it or not. Matthew Sturges writes a scene wherein a man by the name of William Hanson is essentially punished for murdering someone via some justice doled out by the Spirit of Vengeance, the Spectre, per usual the punishment is somewhat ironic. The funny thing? After Hanson dies his spirit is up and about following the Spectre and his host Crispus Allen....this is weird enough but, then the Spectre senses Eclipso has returned. As the Spectre and Crispus start to teleport/fade to elsewhere Hanson tags along. Next part of the story focuses on Eclipso seemingly trying to corrupt Plastic Man, after returning to Earth apparently through the help of Darkseid. It's a bizarre but engaging story to say the least. Segovia's art throughout this story is well...good. Facial details are pretty good and...well Segovia gave Eclipso a general evil but hot vibe...without even using large breasts...come on...you gotta give points to the guy for being able to do that.

Sooo, if you haven't be able to tell already, I LOOVED this title...the only bad thing about it is the title name, I mean, Countdown to Mystery? I understand it's sorta a Countdown tie-in but, is the "Countdown to" part really needed. ANYWAY, in short, check this title out, it's weird, different, and well...GOOD!, A+