Countdown

Despite being left in Bludhaven when Brother Eye Boom Tubed to Apokolips, Buddy Blank appears to work for Cadmus which may show that the heroes are not on their Earth of origin. (It is revealed in Countdown #4 that this is a reconstituted Earth-51.) Despite the best efforts of the scientists, Karate Kid's viral infection cannot be contained and while the other heroes watch and wait, Buddy is witness to the Morticoccus virus escaping from Karate Kid's body. While the virus was free for only a matter of seconds, it mutated and became airborne and managed to get out of the facility, Gotham falling prey to a mass outbreak. A limited number of inoculations are created from the Atom's immunity and shared amongst the heroes while Buddy notices that the infection has a mutational effect on animals, making them more humanistic. The Challengers argue with the Justice League and each other and eventually Buddy decides to leave the facility and look after his family; Una convinces him that with Karate Kid gone she has nothing else to live for and accompanies him. Green Lantern, in an attempt to get help from space, unwittingly takes the virus with him.