{"product_id":"countdown-to-infinite-crisis-2005-nm","title":"Countdown to Infinite Crisis 2005 NM-","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;\"\u003eCountdown to Infinite Crisis\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;\"\u003e 2005 is a pivotal 80-page one-shot comic that served as the official lead-in to DC Comics' 2005–2006 \"Infinite Crisis\" event. Released on March 30, 2005, it was strategically priced at just $1.00 to encourage widespread readership. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;\"\u003eThe Investigation of Ted Kord\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;\"\u003eThe story centers on Ted Kord (the Blue Beetle II), who discovers that nearly his entire fortune has been stolen through his company. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul style=\"margin-top: 0in;\" type=\"disc\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;\"\u003eThe Dismissal: As he investigates, Kord seeks help from various Justice League members. Most heroes—including a cold and distant Batman—dismiss his concerns as a minor financial matter or \"comic relief\".\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;\"\u003eThe Betrayal: Alone and nearly bankrupt, Kord tracks the missing funds to a Swiss castle base. There, he discovers the organization Checkmate is using Brother Eye, a spy satellite created by Batman, to monitor and control the superhero community.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;\"\u003eThe Murder: Kord confronts the mastermind, Maxwell Lord, his former Justice League financier. When Kord refuses to join Lord’s crusade against superhumans, Lord executes him with a single gunshot to the head. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"\u003eThe Secret Identity of Checkmate: Maxwell Lord is revealed as the \"Black King\" of Checkmate, transforming from a morally gray businessman into a cold-blooded villain.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"\u003eThe OMAC Project: The issue introduces the OMACs, a fleet of humans transformed into cyborg assassins controlled by Lord via Brother Eye.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"\u003eThe Cover Mystery: The original cover by Jim Lee and Alex Ross showed Batman cradling a shadowed corpse. The second printing removed the shadows to confirm Ted Kord as the victim.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"\u003eBranching Storylines: Kord's death triggered four separate miniseries—\u003ci style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eThe OMAC Project\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eVillains United\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eDay of Vengeance\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e, and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eRann-Thanagar War\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e—all of which culminated in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eInfinite Crisis\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e finale. \u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"\u003eWriters: Geoff Johns, Greg Rucka, and Judd Winick.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;\"\u003eArtists: An all-star roster including Rags Morales, Ed Benes, Ivan Reis, Phil Jimenez, and Jesus Saiz.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"BattleBuddyComics.com","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47660294537316,"sku":"BH221","price":2.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0728\/7606\/4868\/files\/IMG_2026_01_08_20_46_27_260.jpg?v=1767926876","url":"https:\/\/battlebuddycomics.com\/products\/countdown-to-infinite-crisis-2005-nm","provider":"BattleBuddyComics.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}