| Issue | #26 |
| Published | December 2007 [October 31, 2007] |
| Cover Price | 2.99 USD; 3.65 CAD |
| Pages | 40 |
| Editing | Mike Carlin; Elisabeth V. Gehrlein (assistant) |
| Notes | Cover title changes to COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS. Indicia title remains COUNTDOWN. |
| Characters | Monitors; Darkseid; Mary Marvel [Mary Batson]; Jason Todd; Green Lantern [Kyle Rayner]; Superman |
| Genre | Superhero |
| Pencils | Claudio Castellini [signed as C.C.] |
| Inks | Claudio Castellini [signed as C.C.] |
| Colors | Alex Bleyaert |
| Notes | Cover title changes to COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS. Indicia title remains COUNTDOWN. |
| Characters | Monitors; The Challengers from Beyond [Green Lantern [Kyle Rayner]; Donna Troy; Bob the Monitor; Jason Todd]; Karate Kid [Val Armorr]; Una [Luornu Durgo]; Buddy Blank; Buddy Blank's grandson; Firestorm [Jason Rusch]; Jimmy Olsen; Forager; Atom [Ryan Choi] (cameo flashback); Joker's Daughter [Duela Dent] (cameo flashback; dies); Mary Marvel [Mary Batson] (cameo); Lex Luthor (Earth-15); VILLAINS: Monarch [Nathaniel Adam]; Forerunner [Viza]; Crime Society [Johnny Quick (Earth-3); Owlman (Earth-3); Power Ring (Earth-3); Superwoman (Earth-3); Ultraman (Earth-3)]; Lord Havok (Earth-8); The Extremists [Barracuda (Earth-8); Dr. Diehard (Earth-8); Dreamslayer (Earth-8); Gorgon (Earth-8); Tracer (Earth-8)]; Parademons; Eclipso [Jean Loring] (cameo); Darkseid (cameo) |
| Synopsis | The Monitors convene a war council, and recap the events of the story to date. |
| Genre | Superhero |
| Script | Keith Giffen (story consultant); Paul Dini (head writer); Jimmy Palmiotti; Justin Gray |
| Pencils | Scott Kolins |
| Inks | Scott Kolins |
| Colors | Tom Chu |
| Letters | Ken Lopez |
| Characters | Mr. Miracle [Scott Free]; Big Barda |
| Script | Dan Didio |
| Pencils | Jim Starlin |
| Inks | Matt Banning |
| Colors | Jeromy Cox |
| Letters | typeset |
| Notes | Dan Didio talks about the Fourth World, the DEATH OF THE NEW GODS mini-series, and the coming of the Fifth World. Hot list - COUNTDOWN PRESENTS: LORD HAVOK AND THE EXTREMISTS #1, CRIME BIBLE: THE FIVE LESSONS #1 and DC INFINITE HALLOWEEN SPECIAL #1. House ad for COUNTDOWN #25. |
| Reprinted | from DEATH OF THE NEW GODS (DC, 2007 series) #1 (Early December 2007) [top panel art from portion of panel 1, page 8] |