You all have my word that the men who killed my little brother, Bart will pay for this! They'll rot in Hell for what they've done and it still won't be good enough. Not by a long shot! 
Countdown #43 is an issue of the series Countdown (Volume 1) with a cover date of July, 2007.
Synopsis for "The Funeral"
In Keystone City, a memorial service is held for the fallen hero Bart Allen - the Flash. Jimmy Olsen attends the service, as well as several of Bart's colleagues in the Teen Titans, the Doom Patrol and the Justice League. From an upper balcony of the auditorium, a monitor stands alongside Donna Troy and Jason Todd. Jay Garrick gives the opening speech, followed by Cyborg, Wonder Girl and Robin. Robin plays a videotape that Bart recorded when he first donned the identity of Kid Flash. Elsewhere in the arena, the Pied Piper and the Trickster lurk about. They grow increasingly scared as Wonder Girl loudly announces her intentions to track down Bart's killers. Fearing for their own lives, they sneak out of the building. However, two villains are waiting to intercept them - Multiplex and Deadshot. Multiplex takes out Piper while Deadshot fires a round into the Trickster's chest.
In the Bleed, Monarch escorts Forerunner through his militaristic training camp and tells her that he wants her to lead his army. He further draws Forerunner to his cause by telling her that the Monitors have replaced her with another agent who is responsible for eradicating all life on her home world of Earth-34. Forerunner swears revenge against the woman responsible.
In Metropolis, Athena gives Holly Robinson a tour of her refuge. While taking in the grandiose sights, she meets another resident - Harley Quinn.
After the memorial service, the Monitor, Donna Troy and Jason Todd fly off. Todd is tired of the Monitor's evasiveness and lashes out at him. Donna criticizes them both for acting so childish. The Monitor stresses his need for their assistance to safeguard the newly-formed Multiverse and tells them that the secret towards preserving the Multiverse lies with Ray Palmer - the Atom.
Appearing in "The Funeral"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Alfred Pennyworth
- Harleen Quinzel
- Joan Garrick
- Kid Flash (Bart Allen) (On a TV or computer screen)
- Martian Manhunter
- Nightwing
- Robotman
- Justice League of America (Cameo)
- Justice Society of America (Cameo)
Locations:
Items:
- None
Vehicles:
- None
Synopsis for "History of the Multiverse (Part VII of XII)"
The Monitors analyze the reborn universe following the Crisis on Infinite Earths event, which resulted in the elimination of the greater Multiverse. They review the formation of Justice League International, the disappearance of the JSA, the death of Sue Dibny and the resulting fallout which revealed a hidden conspiracy within the ranks of the Justice League. They also look back upon the corruption of Hal Jordan by Parallax, and the rise of Kyle Rayner as Earth's "last" Green Lantern. Grimly, they look upon the deaths of several other characters on this "New Earth" including Superman, Blue Beetle and Maxwell Lord.
Appearing in "History of the Multiverse (Part VII of XII)"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Flashback appearances for all characters
- Green Lantern (Kyle Rayner)
- Justice League of America
- Justice League International
- Justice Society of America
Antagonists:
Flashback appearances for all characters
Other Characters:
Flashback appearances for all characters
Locations:
- Multiversal Nexus
- Justice League Satellite (Behind the scenes) (Flashback only)
Items:
- Lasso of Truth (Flashback only)
Vehicles:
- None
Notes
- This issue shipped on July 4th, 2007, but due to the holiday shipping schedule, most retail outlets didn't receive it until July 5th.
- "The Funeral" is reprinted in Countdown to Final Crisis Vol. 1.
- Bart Allen died in The Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #13. His videotape message was recorded shortly after adopting the identity of Kid Flash in Teen Titans (Volume 3) #5.
- The "History of the Multiverse" feature includes flashbacks to events that took place in the following issues:
- The Justice League reforms and goes international -- Justice League International #7
- The Justice Society vs. Loki, Surtur and the Gods of Asgard -- Last Days of the Justice Society Special #1
- Doomsday and the subsequent death of Superman - Superman (Volume 2) #75
- Hal Jordan becomes Parallax -- Green Lantern (Volume 3) #50
- Kyle Rayner replaces Hal Jordan as Green Lantern -- Green Lantern (Volume 3) #51
- The death of Sue Dibny -- Identity Crisis #1]
- Doctor Light and the JLA conspiracy -- Identity Crisis #4-6
- Maxwell Lord kills Blue Beetle -- Countdown to Infinite Crisis #1
- Wonder Woman kills Maxwell Lord -- Wonder Woman (Volume 2) #219
Trivia
- Despite the title, "The History of the Multiverse" story actually has nothing to do with the Multiverse at all, but instead analyzes events that took place in the unified Post-Crisis continuity.
See Also
Recommended Reading
- Countdown
- The Flash: The Fastest Man Alive
- Crisis on Infinite Earths
- Identity Crisis
- Justice League International
- Teen Titans (Volume 3)
