Countdown Prologue
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Released
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June 29, 2009
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Running time
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17:01
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Previous review
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Next review
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Tagline
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The Countdown begins! Don't know what this is? Better watch this video to find out!
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Link
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(Linkara sits on his futon with his hands buried in his face. Clearly, he is being forced to look at a certain kind of comic against his will)
Linkara: I don't wanna do it. I don't wanna talk about it. I don't want to review it! (looks up, clearly agitated) But noooooo! You people insisted! You just had to keep asking and requesting and DEMANDING that I review this series! Well, fine! You want a review, I'll give you your friggin' review! Ladies and gentlemen and others, welcome to Atop the Fourth Wall and the sheer, raw FAIL that is... "COUNTDOWN"!! (scowls)
(Title sequence plays, followed by this episode's title card, set to "Dream Weaver" by Gary Wright)
Linkara: Now, many of you may be asking what the hell this is, and rightfully so. And like "Amazons Attack", a lot of "Countdown"'s stupidity lies in its continuity. And because it features a lot of concepts and characters that non-comic readers are unfamiliar with, let this episode serve as a guide to this abomination.
(Cut to a shot of the cover for "Superman: 1 Year Later")
Linkara (v/o): As I mentioned before, after the DC event, "Infinite Crisis", it was decided that every title in the line would jump ahead one year later provide mystery to intrigue people to keep reading, as well as to get people to recover from the events of "Infinite Crisis" as quickly as possible.
Linkara: (dripping sarcasm) I mean, why would we want to see character development when they can just say it happened!
(Cut to shots of covers of the comic series "52")
Linkara (v/o): At the same time, though, it was decided that a weekly comic would fill in the gap of the missing year, told in real time, with one week occurring in the comic for every week it was published. However, while the original purpose of this comic was to fill in the missing gap, it did so by being told from the perspective of a group of secondary characters from across the DC Universe. As such, it became more about those secondary characters than filling in the missing year. This was "52", and it was awesome! "52" had a lot of things going for it. For one, it was written by four different but talented writers who brought unique sensibilities to the table. The mysteries presented in the story were highly compelling, and they ended up caring about all the characters. But wait! What about filling in the missing gap?
Linkara: Yeah! Screw Booster Gold saving all of reality, or Ralph Dibny's quest to bring his wife back to life, or Black Adam building a family, only to lose it; I wanna know why Robin's in a different costume! (nods)
(Cut to a shot of the cover for "World War III")
Linkara (v/o): To try to fill in the gaps, DC published four one-shots all on the same day, billed as tie-ins to "52". And you better friggin' believe they were hot sellers! Since "52" was already a financial success, DC had gone ahead with doing another weekly series to build up to their next big event...
(Cut to a shot of the cover for...)
Linkara (v/o): ..."Final Crisis"! However, they decided some changes were in order for this next weekly series...
(Cut to a shot of the cover for "Countdown To Final Crisis: Volume One")
Linkara (v/o): ...titled "Countdown" and later "Countdown To Final Crisis". First and foremost, the four writers who had done "52"? They were gone. But that's okay, since doing a weekly series was an exhaustive process, especially since all four contributed something to each issue. "Countdown" would follow a model where a single writer wrote each issue.
Linkara: (laughs uproariously) I'm sure that won't in any way result in the story continuity altering from one issue to the next!
(Editor's note: "It does.")
(Cut to shots of the comics that the four writers worked on)
Linkara (v/o): Now, for "52", the four writers were Geoff Johns, who may have issues when it comes to writing Wonder Woman, but still knows how to build a long, epic story; Mark Waid, who has extensive knowledge of the DC Universe and has some of the best runs, both recently and in the past; Grant Morrison, who embraces the lavishly ludicrous parts of comics while still making it compelling – most of the time, anyway; and Greg Rucka, a writing veteran of both superheroes and political or crime thrillers.
(Cut to a shot of the cover for "Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane #1")
Linkara (v/o): Now, who did they get to write "Countdown"? First, Shawn McKeever, who did a great run on the Spider-Man series "Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane".
Linkara: (irritably) Yeah, he loved her so much he traded life with her for life with his dying aunt to the Devil. Yippee.
Linkara (v/o): Let's see, what other things did he write? Oh, yes!
(Cut to a shot of a "Teen Titans" comic, which Linkara describes...)
Linkara (v/o): McKeever also wrote that charming story in "Teen Titans" where Marvin and Wendy from the Superfriends cartoon got mauled in graphic detail by a demonic Wonder Dog.
(Cut to a shot of a cover of a "Power Girl" comic)
Linkara (v/o): Next, there's the writing team of Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti. They currently write the "Power Girl" series. What else did they write?
(Cut to a shot of a cover for...)
Linkara (v/o): Oh, yes, "Battle For Bludhaven", another spinoff from "Infinite Crisis" that I plan to review in the future because of how awful it is.
(Cut to a shot of the Teen Titans series)
Linkara (v/o): Next, there's Adam Beechin. Well, he was a writer on the Teen Titans animated show, and I liked that. What else did he do? Oh, yes!
(Cut to a shot of a Batgirl comic showing Cassandra Cain)
Linkara (v/o): He wrote the story where Cassandra Cain turned evil and refuses to just let SOMEONE ELSE FIX HER!!!
(Cut to a shot of an X-Men comic)
Linkara (v/o): And finally, Tony Bedard. Eh, no complaints there, he's a good writer.
(Cut to a shot of Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy)
Linkara (v/o): And they'd all be under a head writer, Paul Dini, creator of the character Harley Quinn and former writer of the Batman animated series.
Linkara: Just goes to show that anyone with talent is still capable of writing garbage.
Linkara (v/o): Now, I bash on them, but these people are all talented in their own ways, but at the same time, they're also writing a story that's editorially mandated every step along the way.
Linkara: In fact, in a recent interview with Mark Waid, he said that Dan Didio, the current editor-in-chief at DC, (holds up piece of paper) and I quote...
(Cut to a shot of CSBG Archive, showing an interview with Mark Waid from Ain't It Cool News)
Linkara (v/o): (reading interview) "...hated what we were doing. H-A-T-E-D 52. Would storm up and down the halls telling everyone how much he hated it," and later said that Didio proclaimed that "Countdown was '52 done right.'"
Linkara: By that, he means the editors got to control the story, as opposed to, you know, the storytellers!
Linkara (v/o): But I keep talking about everything leading up to it, but why is it so bad? I'll get into details in the next few weeks, but it comes down to a couple of factors. For starters, the story was not self-contained. You know those one-shots I mentioned earlier? Since they were billed as tie-ins to "52", they sold like mad, so DC decided that the next weekly series would have lots of tie-ins, be they miniseries or just tie-ins in the DC mainline.
Linkara: (writhing in anger) So basically, all the continuity problems I mentioned in my "Amazons Attack" review, only instead of just a six-issue miniseries spread out over four months, IT'S 51 ISSUES OVER AN ENTIRE YEAR!!!
Linkara (v/o): So, needless to say, we have plot elements introduced and forgotten, mostly because they're resolved in other books. The other thought process behind this was that, instead of moving in real time like "52", it would move at its own pace, but reflect the changing events of the DC Universe. Thus, if we saw two characters getting together in one comic, we'd see it reflected in "Countdown", almost like the thing was a living advertisement for everything else going on in the line.
Linkara: Which proved wildly successful! Why read "Countdown" when you could be reading other, better books? Oh, but I kid. (laughs and waves dismissively) Most of the stories it advertised were mediocre at best.
Linkara (v/o): But wait, what about the characters of "Countdown"? Surely we can forgive a crappy comic if at least the characters are interesting. Well, for that, we once again look to "52". Among "52"'s strengths was its use of secondary or, quote-unquote, "B-list" characters and gave them a chance to shine. Well, they did the same thing with "Countdown", but they didn't exactly have epic character arcs for these people. And now's the time we finally get to look at some of them. First up, Donna Troy.
Linkara: (massaging his forehead) Oh, boy, Donna Troy. I've been hinting at this one since all the way back in "Titans #1", which, lo and behold, "Countdown" tie-in, even if it didn't say so!
Linkara (v/o): It's difficult to talk to a comic fan about Donna Troy because she's kind of an accident. Remember how I've said that back in the Silver Age, writers would make stories about popular superheroes as babies or teenagers? Well, they did the same thing with Wonder Woman, except, with her, they decided to really get into the heavy drugs since they invented a machine that allowed Wonder Woman to interact with both Wonder Tot and Wonder Girl. At the same time, no less!
Linkara: (lip-synching to "Time Warp") Let's do the time warp again!
(Another shot of a Wonder Woman comic cover, where she sees a younger version of herself, Wonder Girl)
Linkara (v/o): When writer Bob Haney was looking for characters to appear in the first Teen Titans book, he saw the image of Wonder Girl on that cover and, without actually reading the book, just assumed it was Wonder Woman's sidekick. As such, she didn't have an origin story, she was just kinda there. A recurring storyline title as a result was, "Who was Wonder Girl?", "Who is Donna Troy?", etc., etc. It was later explained that, as a little girl, she was rescued by Wonder Woman from a burning building and was raised on Themyscira before being granted similar powers to her. It was nice, simple, and effective.
Linkara: So, of course, they had to screw it up in every conceivable fashion in order to confuse the readers!
Linkara (v/o): After "Crisis On Infinite Earths", it was decided that Wonder Woman only just appeared in the world at large. Thus, she couldn't have been the one to rescue Donna. So it was changed that she was rescued by the ancient Greek Titans, given superpowers, and had her memories erased.
Linkara: (excitedly) But then John Byrne decided that he had an even better origin for her!
Linkara (v/o): She's actually a magical mirror duplicate of Wonder Woman as a little girl, since there were no other children on Themyscira for Diana to play with. But then she was kidnapped by one of Hippolyta's enemies named Dark Angel – I know, just go with it – and was forced to live several lifetimes, all of them ending in utter tragedy, until that one where she was taken by the Titans of myth.
Linkara: BUT WAIT, IT GETS BETTER!!
Linkara (v/o): You see, recently, it was revealed that every one of those other lives she experienced was actually another life from the multiverse that got destroyed, thanks to "Crisis On Infinite Earths"!
Linkara: (angrily) For the love of– Writers, stop trying to tell her origins! WE DON'T CARE ANYMORE!!
Linkara (v/o): It's severely disappointing that so many writers fixate on the origin. The majority of storylines about her have been about her origin story, but not about where she is now. And in this case, it doesn't matter. She's a motherly, sisterly, caring individual who can deflect bullets with her wrists, and is super-strong. That's all we need, so stop screwing around with her and let the poor woman just be a superhero! Next up is Jimmy Olsen. He's Superman's pal, and everything that happens to him in "Countdown", it's never spoken of again outside of it. Oh, and he gets a girlfriend who's an anthropomorphized bug.
Linkara: (listlessly resting his head on his hand) No, I'm not gonna make a furry joke. Get over it, Internet! Some people don't have the same interests as you. Besides, she's a bug, not a furred animal. (beat) Next character!
Linkara (v/o): Pied Piper and Trickster: both are Flash villains who, at one time, reformed their ways, though in the Trickster's case, he was hypnotized or something and became a villain again. Their contribution to the story? Abso-friggin'-lutely nothing! Oh, sure, Pied Piper plays a role later on, but we'll get to that. Their scenes are completely worthless and don't deserve much attention. Then there's Jason Todd, who I've already talked about in my Top 15 worst heroes becoming villains. Paul Dini thought he had been really underutilized and tried to make him into an antihero for "Countdown". Instead, he just ends up as annoying as all the other characters. So let's talk about the one who's supposed to be an important plot point in "Countdown": Ray Palmer, the Atom.
Linkara: Or as I like to call him, the Mini MacGuffin.
Linkara (v/o): The Atom was a scientist who used a piece of white dwarf star matter to enable him to shrink. In 2004, a miniseries called "Identity Crisis" came out, where it was revealed that his longtime girlfriend Jean Loring murdered Sue Dibny, wife of the Elongated Man. In the conclusion, he was so distraught about the whole affair that he shrunk down smaller than he ever had before and wasn't seen again until this comic. Jean Loring went on to become Eclipso, who we'll also see here.
Linkara: I'm still pondering an "Identity Crisis" review because that piece of crap really deserves a once-over.
Linkara (v/o): Okay, who else do we have? Oh, Kyle Rayner, Green Lantern and accidental killer of women. Next. Ah, Mary Marvel. I went over her deal in that top 15. Next! Holly Robinson, a supporting character from "Catwoman", and I don't know anything about her. Next! Karate Kid and Triplicate Girl, characters from "The Legion of Superheroes", and I could do a whole video about the continuity messes of that team. We'll get into them more in the actual review. Next! Harley Quinn.
Linkara: (suddenly becoming smitten) Harley Quinn...
(A montage of clips of Harley Quinn from Batman: The Animated Series is shown, set to "Dream Weaver" by Gary Wright)
Linkara: (snapping out of it) Oh, yeah, yeah, Harley Quinn. All you need to know about her is in the Batman animated series, and she's the only saving grace in this whole mess.
Linkara (v/o): That brings us to the Monitors. What a great idea that totally went to crap. In "Crisis On Infinite Earths", there was this one character called the Monitor, one of the first lifeforms in the universe and very powerful. He sacrificed his life in the original "Crisis", and it was a good story. Now, I admit, when we first saw hints that the Monitor not only being alive again, but there being more than one of him, I was excited as all hell. Buuuut, as we'll see, they really don't really contribute much to this series. In fact, most of their scenes in "Countdown" can basically be summed up like this...
(Editor's note: "This lasts more than half of the series.")
Linkara: (as one Monitor) We should do something! (as a second Monitor) Should we do something? (as first Monitor) We should do something! (as second Monitor) Should we do something? (as a third Monitor) I'm changing! (as first Monitor) We should do something! (as second Monitor, pretending to fire his magic gun) BANG! (as first Monitor) We should do something! (as second Monitor) Should we do something? (as first Monitor) We should do something. (as second Monitor) Should we do something? (normal; yelling in rage) YES, YOU SHOULD DO SOMETHING, YOU BORING IDIOTS!!!
Linkara (v/o): And finally, that brings us to... the New Gods.
Linkara: (looking up in thought) Okay, explaining the New Gods... Well, it starts like this: (dramatically) There came a time... (struggles for words, then drops it) You know what? This isn't epic enough. Excuse me...
(Linkara gets up and leaves. Cut to Linkara seated in space!)
Linkara: (dramatically, voice echoing) There came a time (raises arms in the air) when the Old Gods died!
(Lightning flashes and thunder crashes, then Linkara returns to his regular seat)
Linkara: That, my friends, is an epic for our times.
Linkara (v/o): Created by the legendary Jack Kirby, the Old Gods were the ancients, your Norse mythology, your Gog and Magog, that kind of stuff, also referred to as the Third World. There was a cataclysmic war that resulted in the end of the Old Gods and the birth of the New Gods, inhabiting twin planets, New Genesis and Apokolips. New Genesis is idyllic, peaceful and good. Apokolips is basically New Jersey.
(Editor's note: "Just Kidding, New Jersey.")
Linkara (v/o): Apokolips is ruled by the despotic being, Darkseid. His ultimate ambition is to take over all existence through something called the Anti-Life Equation, supposedly a force that would subject all beings to his will.
Linkara: Huh, who knew that mathematics would bring about the end of the world?
Linkara (v/o): So, there you have it, a brief exploration of the elements leading up to "Countdown". Now, I'm not going to do a training montage, like I did for "Amazons Attack". Why? Well, because I think I'm doomed. Fifty-one issues in one go? There's no way in Hell I can survive this! So, in the meantime, live, drink, and be merry, for next week, "Countdown" begins!
(TO BE CONTINUED)
In the next reboot of Donna Troy's origin, it's going to be revealed that she's Keyser Söze.
(Credits roll)
(end)
Atop the Fourth Wall Transcripts
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2008:
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Spider-Man 56 · Doom's IV 2 · Batman 147 · The Top 15 WTF Moments in Comics · Titans 1 · Sinnamon 11 · US-1 1 · S.C.I. Spy 1 · Superman At Earth's End
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2009:
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Godzilla Vs. Barkley · Uncanny X-Men 423 · Uncanny X-Men 424 · Mr. T and the T-Force 1 · Star Trek comic 1 · Newmen 1 · NFL Superpro 1 · Neutro 1 · Amazons Attack Prologue · Amazons Attack 1 and 2 · Amazons Attack 3 and 4 · Amazons Attack 5 and 6 · Sultry Teenage Super-Foxes 1 · Top 15 Worst Heroes Becoming Villains · Daredevil 305 · Daredevil 306 · Blue Beetle Tribute · World of Warcraft 2 and 3 · Captain Planet and the Planeteers 3 · Wolverine: Adamantium Rage · Youngblood 1 · New Guardians 2 · The Marriage of Hercules and Xena · Secret Defenders 9 · Secret Defenders 10 · Superman vs Terminator 1 · Countdown Prologue · Countdown Part 1 · Countdown Part 2 · Top 15 Worst Moments of Countdown · Xena 1 · Cable 1 · Law and Order 1 · Batman: Fortunate Son · Air Raiders 1 · Nightcat 1 · Zero Patrol 1 · Blood Pack 1 · Mickey Mantle 2 · Adventures of the Kool-Aid Man 1 · Silent Hill: Dying Inside 1 and 2 · Silent Hill: Dying Inside 3 and 4 · Silent Hill: Dying Inside 5 · Maximum Clonage · 22 Brides 1 · All-Star Batman and Robin 1 and 2 · Doom 1 · Spider-Man, Storm and Cage · Bimbos in Time · The Dark Knight Strikes Again Part 1 · Extreme Super Christmas Special 1 · James Bond, Jr. 3 · Top 15 Missed Opportunities of AT4W
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2010:
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Pitt 1 · Scarlett comic 1 · Future Five 1 · Ultimates 3 1 and 2 · Ultimates 3 3 and 4 · Ultimates 3 5 · Youngblood 2 · Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers 1 · Strange Adventures 136 · Doom's IV 1/2 · X-Men comic 1 · Darker Image 1 · The Dark Knight Strikes Again Part 2 · Sultry Teenage Super-Foxes 2 · Star Trek/X-Men 1 · Athena 1 · JLA - Act of God Part 1 · JLA - Act of God Part 2 · JLA - Act of God Part 3 · Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Meet Archie · Lunatik 1 · Chuck Norris Karate Kommandos 1 · AT4W & Spoony: Experiment Warrior 2-3 · The Dark Knight Strikes Again Part 3 · Tandy Computer Whiz Kids: Fit to Win · Anita Blake: The Laughing Corpse 1-2 · Freak Force 1 · Chain Gang War 1 · Ewoks 9 · Cable 2 · The California Raisins 3-D 2 · Hardcore Station 1 · The Others 1 and Brute Force 1 · Amazing Spider-Man: Skating on Thin Ice 1 · Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force · Action Comics 592 · Action Comics 593 · Top 15 Comics I'll Never Review · 100th Episode · Nolan Ryan 1 · Transformers comics 4-5 · Silent Hill: Dead/Alive 1 and 2 · Silent Hill: Dead/Alive 3 and 4 · Silent Hill: Dead/Alive 5 · Spider-Man: The Greatest Responsibility · Action Comics 1 · Amazing Fantasy 15 · Detective Comics 27 · The X-Men 1 · Brute Force 2 · New Kids on the Block 4 · Marvel Team Up 127 · Santa Claus Conquers the Martians · Top 15 Screw-Ups of Atop the Fourth Wall
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2011:
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Justice League: Cry for Justice 1-2 · Justice League: Cry for Justice 3-4 · Power Rangers Zeo 1 · Justice League: Cry for Justice 5-7 · Care Bears 13 · Superman: Distant Fires · Youngblood 3 · Doctor Who Classics 7 · Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four in... Brain Drain! · KISS Comics · Superman and Wonder Woman: Tandy Computer Whiz Kids · Spawn 1 · X-Force 1 · The Backstreet Project 1 · All-Star Batman and Robin 3 and 4 · Lady Gaga 1 · Star Trek: The Motion Picture 1-3 · The Godyssey 1 · Superman Meets the Quik Bunny · Ultimate Warrior's Workout · Ultimatum 1-2 · Ultimatum 3-4 · Ultimatum 5 · SCI-Spy 2 · Miller Time: Batman/Spawn · Gameboy 1 · Eminem and the Punisher 1 · Barbi Twin Adventures 1 · Rise of Arsenal 1-2 · Rise of Arsenal 3-4 · Comic Book Advertisements · Star Trek 2 (Gold Key) · PSA Hell: Captain America: Return of the Asthma Monster! · NBComics 1 · Mightily Murdered Power Ringers 1 · Kamandi at Earth's End 1 · US-1 2 · Twilight Zone 9 · Superman and the TRS-80 Whiz Kids: The Computers that Saved Metropolis! · Street Fighter 1 (Malibu) · Silent Hill: Paint It Black · Silent Hill: Among the Damned · Silent Hill: The Grinning Man · Spider-Man: Planet of the Symbiotes · Pokémon - The Electric Tale of Pikachu · All-Star Comics 8 · The Fantastic Four 1 · All-American Comics 16 · Captain America Comics 1 · Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan 1 · Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan 2 · Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan 3 · Top 15 Personal Favorite Jokes of AT4W
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2012:
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Marville 1 · Miller Time: Robocop vs. the Terminator 1 · Brute Force 3 · 15 Things That Are Wrong With Identity Crisis · New Guardians 1 · Gameboy 2 · Youngblood 4 · Star Trek III: The Search for Spock · Mr. T 1 (AP Comics) · Mr. T 2 · The Amazing Spider-Man and Captain America in Dr. Doom's Revenge! · The Invincible Four of Kung-Fu & Ninja 1 · Kamandi at Earth's End 2 · Black Web 1 · Transformers: Generation 2 1 · Captain Tax Time 1 · Superman 701 · Bloodstrike 1 · Marville 2 · The Amazing Spider-Man on Bullying Prevention 1 · The New Teen Titans Anti-Drug Giveaway 1 · Daredevil vs Vapora 1 · Batman: A Word to the Wise · Marvel Team-Up 74 · Blake's 7 2 · Battle for Bludhaven 1-2 · Battle for Bludhaven 3-4 · Battle for Bludhaven 5-6 · Sir Charles Barkley and the Referee Murders · Captain Electron 1 · Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home · 200th Episode · Rock 'N Roll 31 · Future Shock 1 · Catwoman: Guardian of Gotham 1 · Catwoman: Guardian of Gotham 2 · Psychoman 1 · Marville 3 · Tandy Computer Whiz Kids: The Answer to a Riddle · Batman: Jazz 1 · Starstream 1 · The Thing From Another World 1 · The Thing From Another World 2 · Spider-Man: Power and Responsibility · Bart Simpson's Treehouse of Horror 2 · Flash Comics 1 · Tales of Suspense 39 · The Brave and the Bold 54 · The Incredible Hulk 1 · Superman's Christmas Adventure · Archie Giant Series Magazine 452 · Teen Titans 13: A Swingin' Christmas Carol · Batman: Noel · The Next 15 Screw-Ups of Atop the Fourth Wall
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2013:
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Kamandi at Earth's End 3 · Raver 1 · Transformers 31 · Happy Days 2 · All-Star Batman and Robin 5 · Youngblood 5 · Star Wars 3-D 1 · Marville #4 · Titans Retrospective: Team History · Titans Retrospective: JLA/Titans: The Technis Imperative · Titans Retrospective: Titans 1-25 · Titans Retrospective: Titans 26-50 · Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster · Power Pachyderms 1 · Star Trek V: The Final Frontier · Dragnet 4 · Wild Thing 1 · Spider-Man 2099 1 · Punisher 2099 1 · Doom 2099 1 · Ravage 2099 1 · Comic Book Quickies 1 · Kamandi at Earth's End 4 · SCI-Spy 3 · Star Trek: The Next Generation/X-Men 1 · Mr. T and the T-Force 2 · Miller Time: All-Star Batman and Robin 6 · Tandy Computer Whiz Kids: A Deadly Choice · Battlestar Galactica: Journey's End 1 · Marville 5 · Miller Time: Tales to Offend 1 · The Culling: Teen Titans Annual 1 · The Culling: Superboy 9 · The Culling: Legion Lost 9 · The Culling: Teen Titans 9 · Plan 9 From Outer Space: 30 Years Later 1 · Brute Force 4 · Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country · SCI-Spy 4 · The Thing From Another World: Climate of Fear 1-2 · The Thing From Another World: Climate of Fear 3-4 · Spider-Man: Crossfire · 2001: A Space Odyssey 1 · Showcase 4 · Tales to Astonish 27 · Showcase 22 · Journey into Mystery 83 · The Punisher: Silent Night 1 · Solson Christmas Special featuring Samurai Santa 1 · Star Trek: The Next Generation 2 · Doctor Who Classic Comics 15 · The Next 15 Missed Opportunities of AT4W
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2014:
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Marville 6-7 · Comic Book Quickies 2 · Miller Time: All-Star Batman and Robin 7 · Preparedness 101: A Zombie Pandemic · Gameboy 3 · US-1 3 · Youngblood 6 · Star Trek: Generations · The A-Team 1 · The Wild 1 · Kamandi at Earth's End 5 · Nova Girls: Kissing Canvas · Avengers 200 · SCI-Spy 5 · Red Hood and the Outlaws 1 · Athena 2 · Bill and Ted's Excellent Comic Book 1 · Zolastraya and the Bard 1 · PSA Hell: Superman: For the Animals 1 · Chuck Norris: Karate Kommandos 2 · Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers: The Movie 1 · Speed Steer 5 · Batman: Jazz 2 · 2001: A Space Odyssey 2 · Comic Book Quickies 3 · 300th Episode · 300th Episode: Part 2 · 300th Episode: Part 3 · Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters 1 · Batman: Shadow of the Bat 56 · Sinnamon 1 · US-1 4 · The Adventures of Jell-O Man and Wobbly 1 · Miller Time: All-Star Batman and Robin 8 · Tandy Computer Whiz Kids: The Computer That Said No to Drugs · Marvel Super Special 17 · SCI-Spy 6 · Kamandi at Earth's End 6 · Sonic Super Special 7 · Star Trek: First Contact · Cosmic Slam 1 · The Thing from Another World: Eternal Vows 1-2 · The Thing from Another World: Eternal Vows 3-4 · The Thing from Another World: Questionable Research · Spider-Man: The Trial of Peter Parker · Whiz Comics 2 · Tales to Astonish 44 · Detective Comics 38 · The Avengers 1 · The Hobbit 1 · The Hobbit 2 · The Hobbit 3 · Santa the Barbarian 1 · Top 15 Worst Comics I've Reviewed
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2015:
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Miller Time: All-Star Batman and Robin 9 · Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters 2 · Trouble 1 · Comic Book Quickies 4 · PSA Hell: Energy and Safety with the Justice League · Youngblood 7 · ROMTROSPECTIVE: ROM Spaceknight 1-40 · ROMTROSPECTIVE: ROM Spaceknight 41-75 · The Star Wars 1 · Batman: Jazz 3 · Mr. T and the T-Force 3 · Big Bang Presents 3: Protoplasman! · Crimson 1 · Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines (RPG Game) · Titans: Scissors, Paper, Stone · PSA Hell: Batman: Shadow of the Bat 57 · Comic Book Quickies 5 · Avengers Assemble Featuring Captain Citrus 1 · Doctor Who/Star Trek: The Next Generation: Assimilation Squared · My Cage · The Punisher 60 · The Punisher 61 & 62 · Steam Wars · Ultimate Power 1-2 · Homestuck, Act 1 · Atomic Robo, Vol. 3 · Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating Superman · Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating Batman · Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating Wonder Woman · Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating The Flash · Zyuranger Episodes 17-22 · Tandy Computer Whiz Kids: The Computer Trap · Trouble 2 · Pokémon Reburst, Chapter 1 · Green Lantern 23.1 · Team Youngblood 1 · US-1 5 · The Star Wars 2 · Power Man and Iron Fist 79 · Nightmares on Elm Street 1-2 · Nightmares on Elm Street 3-4 · Nightmares on Elm Street 5-6 · Spider-Man: Virtual Mortality · More Fun Comics 73 · Daredevil 1 · Action Comics 252 · Tales of Suspense 52 · Atop the Fourth Wall: The Movie, Part 1 · Atop the Fourth Wall: The Movie, Part 2 · Atop the Fourth Wall: The Movie, Part 3 · Atop the Fourth Wall: The Movie, Part 4 · Atop the Fourth Wall: The Movie, Part 5 · Deadpool Bi-Annual 1 · Cho Dengeki Stryker · Zombies Christmas Carol 1-3 · Zombies Christmas Carol 4-5 · Another 15 Missed Opportunities of AT4W
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2016:
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NFL SuperPro Special Edition 1 · Popeye: Borned to the Sea 1 · OnStar Batman Auto Show Special Edition 1 · Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters 3 · The Star Wars 3 · Youngblood 8 · All-Star Batman and Robin 10 · Pokémon Adventures Ch. 1-2 · Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger Episodes 1-5 · Blue-Skying, Part 1: Blue Beetle Dan Garrett · Blue-Skying, Part 2: Blue Beetle Ted Kord · Blue-Skying, Part 3: Blue Beetle Jaime Reyes · Blue-Skying, Part 4: Blue Beetle Jaime Reyes New 52 · Star Trek Special: Flesh and Stone · Blackest Night 1-8 · Dart 1 · Batman: Shadow of the Bat 58 · The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky · Ultimate Power 3 · Star Trek: The Next Generation 3 · Comic Book Quickies 6 · 400th Episode · 400th Episode: Part 2 · Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man · Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day 1 · Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day 2 · Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day 3 · 15 Things Wrong With Marvel's Civil War · Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 1 · The Minister of Chance · US-1 6 · Star Trek: Voyager 1 · Unsounded, Chapter 1 · Biggles and the Menace from Space · Batman and Robin: The Official Comic Adaptation · Superman and the TRS-80 Computer Whiz Kids: Victory by Computer · Star Trek/Green Lantern: The Spectrum War · My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic 27-28 · Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Ch. 1 · Pryde of the X-Men · A Nightmare on Elm Street: Paranoid 1 · A Nightmare on Elm Street: Paranoid 2 · A Nightmare on Elm Street: Paranoid 3 · Spider-Man: Cyberwar · The Real Ghostbusters in Ghostbusters II 1-3 · Strange Tales 110 · More Fun Comics 73: Aquaman · Tales of Suspense 57 · All-Star Comics 3 · My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic 2015 Holiday Special · Ghostbusters: Past, Present, and Future · Elvira's House of Mystery Special 1 · Another 15 Screw-Ups of AT4W
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2017:
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Digimon: Digital Monsters 1 · Phonogram: The Immaterial Girl 1-6 · Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1 · Trouble 3 · The Star Wars 4 · Spectacular Spider-Man Episode 1x10 - "Persona" · Youngblood 9 · The A-Team 2 · The Batman/Superman Movie: World's Finest · See You Next Mirror: Exiles Retrospective, Part 1 · See You Next Mirror: Exiles Retrospective, Part 2 · Reagan's Raiders 1 · Fist of the North Star, Ch. 1 · Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters 4 · Iron Man: The Animated Series - The Wedding of Iron Man · Athena 3 · Batman: The Dark Knight 1-3 · The New Teen Titans Anti-Drug Giveaway 2 · Crisis on Infinite Earths · Secret Wars (1984) · The Infinity Gauntlet · Flashpoint · Babylon 5 1 · The Star Wars 5 · All-New Ghost Rider, Volume 2 · Robocop vs. the Terminator 2 · Superman vs. the Terminator 2 · Tandy Computer Whiz Kids: News By Computer Foils Kidnappers · Ultimate Power 4 · Delicious in Dungeon, Vol. 1 · Batman: Odyssey 1 · Asterix: The Legionary · Comic Book Quickies 7 · JoJo's Bizarre Adventures Episodes 1-4 (2012-2013 series) · Thunderbirds Are Go · Batman: The Official Movie Adaptation · Ultimate Iron Man Vol. 1 1-2 · My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic 11-12 · Stormwatch 0 · A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Beginning 1-2 · A Nightmare on Elm Street: Fearbook · New Line Cinema's Tales of Horror 1 · The Sensational Spider-Man 0 · Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash · Marvel Comics 1 · Brave and the Bold 28 · Kamen Rider Fourze Episodes 1-4 · Clive Barker's Hellraiser Dark Holiday Special · Sensation Comics 14: The Story of Fir Balsam · Steam Wars Holiday Special · Christmas with the Superheroes 2
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2018:
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My Top 15 Favorite Episodes of AT4W · Legion of Superheroes: The Great Darkness Saga · James Bond, Jr. 1 · JLA/Avengers · Homestuck, Act 2 · Isaac Asimov's I-Bots 1 · Thunderstrike 1 · Youngblood 10 · Badrock 1A · Event Comics Month II: Infinite Crisis · Event Comics Month II: Infinity War · Event Comics Month II: World War Hulk · Event Comics Month II: Final Crisis · Power Rangers Turbo vs. Beetleborgs Metallix 1 · Diesel 1 · Teen Titans: "Betrayal" and "Aftershock, Parts 1 and 2" · The Punisher: Purgatory · Comic Book Quickies 8 · 500th Episode · Dark Knight III: The Master Race 1-2 · Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating Green Lantern · The New Guardians 3 · US-1 7 · Nova Girls: Space 34-24-34 · Batman: Odyssey 2 · Star Wars 3-D 2 · Pokémon - The Electric Tale of Pikachu 3 · PSA Hell: Captain America Meets the Asthma Monster · Superman and Spider-Man · Amazing Cow Heroes 4: Cold Cuts · Ravage 2099 2 · Adventures of the Kool-Aid Man 2 · Tandy Computer Whiz Kids: Safeguarding the Environment · Mr. T and the T-Force 4 · Star Trek 2 (DC) · Star Trek (2009): The Official Motion Picture Adaptation · Star Trek: The Next Generation 4 · Star Trek 1 (Gold Key) · Silent Hill: Hunger · The Thing: The Northern Nightmare · Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash: The Nightmare Warriors · Spider-Man: Smoke and Mirrors · Hellraiser: Hell on Earth · Fantastic Four 52 · Marvel Comics 1 (The Human Torch) · The Incredible Hulk 181 · The New Mutants 98 · Batman Returns: The Official Comic Adaptation · The Punisher: Red X-Mas · Star Wars: The Force Awakens Comic Adaptation · Luke Cage, Hero for Hire 7
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2019:
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Yet Another 15 Missed Opportunities of AT4W · Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters 5 · Batman/Aliens 1 · Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel · Pokémon 15x19-20 "Cilan Takes Flight" and "An Amazing Aerial Battle" · Tomb Raider Vol. 3: Queen of Serpents · Little Victory: Chimera 1 · Youngblood 0 · Kickers, Inc. 1 · The Savage Dragon 1 · Darkwing Duck 1-4 · The California Raisins 3-D 5 · Hellstar Remina, Ch. 1-3 · Gallery of Horrors · Batman: The Dark Knight 16-17 · Tremors · Ultimate Power 5-6 · Batman Forever: The Official Comic Adaptation · Street Fighter: The Official Comic Adaptation · Catwoman: The Official Comic Adaptation · Dune: The Official Comic Adaptation · Superman IV: The Quest for Peace Movie Special · Justice is Silent: Cassandra Caintrospective, Part 1 · Justice is Silent: Cassandra Caintrospective, Part 2 · Justice is Silent: Cassandra Caintrospective, Part 3 · US-1 8 · Tandy Computer Whiz Kids: Community Action Program · Captain America Goes to War Against Drugs · Comic Book Swimsuit Issues · Batman 45-47: The Gift · Star Trek: The Next Generation 5 · The A-Team 3 · JoJo's Bizarre Adventures Episodes 5-9 · Trouble 4 · Franken Fran, Ch. 1 and 4 · Youngblood: Judgment Day · Teen Titans 27-28 · Clive Barker's Hellraiser 1 · Clive Barker's Hellraiser Summer Special · Clive Barker's Hellraiser Spring Slaughter · Spider-Man: The Exile Returns · Detective Comics 225 (Martian Manhunter) · Batman: Harley Quinn 1 · DC Comics Presents 26 · The Flash 123 · Evil Dead 2: A Merry Deadmite X-Mas · Transformers (UK) 145 · The All-New Batman: The Brave and the Bold 14 · Star Wars: The Last Jedi Comic Adaptation
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2020:
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Top 15 Dumbest Evil Plans of AT4W · Batman/Aliens 2 · Star vs. the Forces of Evil: Deep Trouble 1-4 · Megamind · Revolution · Superman vs. Muhammad Ali · Hellstar Remina, Ch. 4-6 · Youngblood: Strikefile 1 · Comic Book Quickies 9 · Black Panther, Vol. 4 1-6 · Batman: Odyssey 3 · Justice League/Mighty Morphin Power Rangers · The Champions, Vol. 3 1-4: Beat the Devil · Star Trek vs. Transformers · Athena 4 · Daredevil: Born Again · Action Comics 775 · Comic Book Quickies 10 · 600th Episode · Star Wars: The Phantom Menace Comic Adaptation · Star Wars: Attack of the Clones Comic Adaptation · Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith Comic Adaptation · Star Wars: Rogue One Comic Adaptation · DC Challenge! 1 · Kyoryu Sentai Zyurangers Episodes 40-43 · Trouble 5 · Dan Dare: Voyage to Venus · Superman 358 · Zero Hour: Crisis in Time · House of M · Secret Empire · Heroes in Crisis · Animax 1 · Ninjutsu 1-2 · Green Goblin 1-2, 4, 8, 12-13 · US-1 9 · Emergency! 1 · Mr. T and the T-Force 5 · Pinhead 1-3 · Pinhead 4-6 · Pinhead vs. Marshal Law · Spider-Man: Web of Life · Marvel Super-Heroes 12 (Captain Marvel) · The Flash 110 · The Amazing Spider-Man 129 · Awesome Comics Holiday Special · Transformers (UK) 41 · Solo: A Star Wars Story Comic Adaptation
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2021:
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Yet Another 15 Screw-Ups of AT4W · Star Trek Book and Record Set: Dinosaur Planet · DC Challenge! 2 · The Mighty Heroes 1 · Justice League 1x01-3: Secret Origins · The Star Wars 6 · The King of Braves GaoGaiGar Ep. 1-4 · Youngblood: Strikefile 2 · Pokémon 15×01-02: "Enter Elesa, Electrifying Gym Leader" & "Dazzling the Nimbasa Gym" · Stanley and his Monster 1-4 · Marvel Than Meets the Eye: The Transformers 1-40 · Marvel Than Meets the Eye: Transformers 41-80 · Marvel Than Meets the Eye: Generation 2 and Regeneration One · Star Trek 9 (Gold Key) · Star Trek/Legion of Superheroes · Mystery Science Theater 3000 1 · Batman: The Dark Knight Returns · Ultimate Power 7-8 · Batman: The Dark Knight 23.4 · Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating Aquaman · Sword Interval: Flashback Arc · PSA Hell: The Amazing Spider-Man: Riot at Robotworld · Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (Ultimate Edition) · Transformers/Ghostbusters: Ghosts of Cybertron · The New Guardians 4 · Codename: Ninja 1 · Batman: Hush · Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger Ep. 15-16 · Mr. T and the T-Force 6 · Doom’s IV 1 · Batman and Elmer Fudd & Catwoman and Sylvester and Tweety · Batman: Odyssey 4 · The Dresden Files: Storm Front, Vol. 1 · US-1 10 · Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters 6 · DC Challenge! 3 · Marvel Super Special 1: KISS · The Ring, Vol. 1 · The Ring, Vol. 2 · Spider-Man: Web of Death · Detective Comics 359 · The X-Men 4 · Batman 1 · Spider-Man Holiday Special 1995 · The Adventures of Chrissie Claus 1 · Christmas Quickies 1 · Still Another 15 Missed Opportunities of AT4W
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2022:
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Ultimate Power 9 · The Adventures of Superboy 3x05-06 and 4x07-08 · Batman: The Killing Joke Adaptation · Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating the JLA · Chew: Poyo Character Focus · Youngblood: Strikefile 3 · Doctor Who: Logopolis · Armageddon 2001 · Secret Invasion · Civil War II · Dark Nights: Metal · The Star Wars 7 · Sonic the Hedgehog: Tangle and Whisper · Star Trek: The Next Generation/X-Men: Planet X · Stargate SG-1: P.O.W. · Man of Steel · Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters 7 · Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger Episodes 17-21 · US-1 11 · X-Men Green · Spider-Man: Maximum Carnage · DC Challenge! 4 · Comic Book Quickies 11 · 700th Episode · Ken Penders' The Lost Ones 1 · Star Wars Infinities: A New Hope · Transformers: Deviations · Legion of Superheroes 0 and Legionnaires 0 · Mr. T and the T-Force 7 · The Ring, Vol. 3: Spiral · The Ring, Vol. 4: Birthday · Spider-Man: Funeral for an Octopus · Christmas Quickies 2 · Batman 27: A Christmas Peril · Mr. T and Emmanuel Lewis in A Christmas Dream · Top 15 Goofiest Superheroes of Atop the Fourth Wall
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2023:
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Star Wars: A New Hope Comic Adaptation · Marvelman Family's Finest 1 · Superman vs. Aliens 1 · Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney · Hellblazer: Dangerous Habits · Youngblood: Strikefile 4 · What Dreams May Come, Part 1: The Sandman 1-20 · What Dreams May Come, Part 2: The Sandman 21-40 · What Dreams May Come, Part 3: The Sandman 41-60 · What Dreams May Come, Part 4: The Sandman 61-75 · Animax 2 · The Dome: Ground Zero · Action Comics 1 (Non-Superman Stories) · Transformers (UK) 132-134 · Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating Robin · Mr. T and the T-Force 8 · The Dresden Files: Storm Front, Vol. 2: Maelstrom · Captain Marvel: The Last Avenger · E-Robot, Ch. 1 · Overwatch: Legacy and Old Soldiers · Green Lantern: Emerald Twilight · Back to the Future: Who is Marty McFly? · Super Soldier 1 · Legends of the Dark Claw 1 · Spider-Boy 1 · Assassins 1 · DC Challenge! 5 · US-1 12 · The Star Wars 8 · Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters 8 · The Ring, Vol 0: Birthday · Sadako at the End of the World · Spider-Man: The Mark of Kaine · Sadako-San and Sadako-Chan · Doctor Who: Remembrance of the Daleks · Doctor Who: The Klepton Parasites · Doctor Who: The Chimes of Midnight · Yu-Gi-Oh: Capsule Monsters Ep. 1-3 · Klaus 1-7
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2024:
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Still Another 15 Mistakes of AT4W · Batman vs. the Predator 1 · Ben 10 Ep. 1×01, 09, 13 · Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger Ep. 14, 22-24 · Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Comic Adaptation · Sonic/Mega Man: Worlds Collide, Act 1 · Youngblood: Strikefile 5 · Marvel vs. DC
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Specials:
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AT4W 2009 Trailer · Linkara's Take on Watchmen · Watchmen Review · Theme Song Contest · The Spoony Experiment: Warrior #1 · Theme Song Contest Winner! · Blackest Night · Silent Hill: Dying Inside Trailer · Silent Hill Alternate Endings · AT4W & Spoony: Experiment Warrior 2-3 · October 2010 Trailer · Silent Hill: Dead/Alive Review Alternate Endings · The Live Show! · AT4W Story Recap · October 2011 Trailer · Return of AT4W Live! · Revenge of the AT4W Live! · Southland Tales · Curse of AT4W Live · House of AT4W Live! · Ghost of AT4W LIVE! · October 2012 Trailers · Bride of AT4W Live! · Son of AT4W Live! · Night of AT4W Live! · Day of AT4W Live! · Dawn of AT4W Live! · Land of AT4W Live! · Diary and Survival of AT4W Live! · Power of AT4W Live! · Midnight of AT4W Live! · Planet of AT4W LIVE! · Genesis of AT4W LIVE! · 300th Episode Livestream Recordings · Destiny of AT4W LIVE! · Resurrection of AT4W LIVE! · Revelation of AT4W Live! · Remembrance of AT4W LIVE! · The New 52 · Atop the Fourth Wall: The Movie, Part 1 · Atop the Fourth Wall: The Movie, Part 2 · Atop the Fourth Wall: The Movie, Part 3 · Atop the Fourth Wall: The Movie, Part 4 · Atop the Fourth Wall: The Movie, Part 5
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