52 Issue #2 *SPOILERS*

[Paul Newell]

You know the drill:

This thread is for posting about issue #1 of 52. Please put reviews and thoughts on the issue here. By limiting it to this particular thread we hope to head off the duplicate conversations which plagued the releases of Identity Crisis and Countdown. If you wish to post speculation or something tangental to this issue then please feel free to start a separate thread. Any separate thread that deals directly with the issue will be merged here. As with previous issues, if you do get your hands on a copy earlier than the release date, or come across spoilers online, then please use the [SPOIL ] [/SPOIL ] tags until the issue is available freely.

And, as always, please be aware of the rules and guidelines of this board and stay on topic. Thanks. :)

[Bored at 3:00AM]

I'm curious to see how many people who didn't care for the first week will be back for the second issue and how well that second issue is recieved.

This is a pretty big risk DC is taking and the vibe has been cautious optomism to apathetic shrugs thus far. With the talent behind this thing, I hope they can keep ramping this thing up each week. The idea behind this thing is incredible.

[drwho]

I think this will do well. The major appeal of it is there are so many characters crammed in one book.

[stealthwise]

Sounds harsh, but this issue is make or break for me. The cost is just too much every month to try and give a crap.

[Nick Kal]

This is going to be one of the best books in Comic History... Bring on issue # 2!

[Effect]

Does anyone know how well #1 sold anyway?

Curious to see what #2 is like. I read through #1 in the store but didn't seem worth buying. Then again it could be because the one character I was actually interested in it was Steel and only checked out IC here and there.Still I wonder, if 52 isn't a hit like DC is expecting and the sales tank (just wondering here), I wonder if they'll shorting the series or let it run it's full course no matter what the sales are.

[Lex]

I hope this issue has the hook that #1 kind of lacked.

[Tom]

I'm curious to see how many people who didn't care for the first week will be back for the second issue and how well that second issue is recieved.
I had problems with issue 1, but I figure I'm in until at least issue 4 before I make a decision.

[Bored at 3:00AM]

I had problems with issue 1, but I figure I'm in until at least issue 4 before I make a decision.

I'm taking the same approach. Even though Rucka's work has consistently left me cold and Morrison, Johns, Waid & Giffen have all had colossal creative fumbles, I think this could potentially be too good to miss.

If they can't grab me, hook, line and sink her by issue 4, though, I'll have to pass. They're getting there, but I'm not hooked yet.

[Buried Alien]

52 # 2 will probably be a bigger draw because it's the opening chapter of the new HISTORY OF THE DC UNIVERSE. I think many are curious about exactly what is canon and what is not now that INFINITE CRISIS has reset the continuity table once again.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[duran4680]

We can't expect every issue to blow our minds, can we? I mean I don't expect every issue to have a cliffhanger or anything. 52 cliffhangers is a lot and I think by the 38th one they would be fresh out of ideas. I say once a month there will be one kickass issue and the other three will just be "good".

[Tennoarashi]

I'm definitely getting it.

Donna Troy.

That's right, I'm shallow.

[Young Avenger]

My interested in 52 will weight solely on The Question's involvment. If he isn't featured in one else then I'm skipping. If he has a big part in the issue then I'll buy it.

[heystacy]

I do want to see what happens next. Issue #1 was so dry. The upcomming back up features have potential.

[Lex]

We can't expect every issue to blow our minds, can we? I mean I don't expect every issue to have a cliffhanger or anything. 52 cliffhangers is a lot and I think by the 38th one they would be fresh out of ideas. I say once a month there will be one kickass issue and the other three will just be "good".There will be no cliffhangers in 52. The writers have said that they can't do cliffhangers because each issue has to take place during one real-time week. So they can't have a normal cliffhanger that would have to be the same day as the next issue.

The writers have said that they're relearning how to write without the cliffhanger tool. I think this is going to be one of the biggest challenges for Geoff Johns (who, let's face it, has written some comics that were pointless until the last page cliffhanger).

So I expect it to take a few issues before they learn how to write hooks when the can't use the easy-out of a cliffhanger.

[Paul Newell]

I'm surprised no-one has posted these yet.

From the DC Comics Forums (http://dcboards.warnerbros.com/web/forum.jspa?forumID=2000000073). From angelodeath:
Dont have alot of time,so sorry for the brief Spoilers here.
........SPOILERS.......

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We open with Ralph at his wifes grave taking pictures of the gravestone.The caretaker of the cemetary turns out to have a brother that was saved by Ralph in the past and is the one that sent a message to Ralph in the last issue about Sue's gravestone.We then go to Booster talking to Doctor Magnus(Metal Men)while the Doc works on Skeets.Thay Start talking about T.O.Morrow and we then go to Magnus Talking to Morrow outside his cell.Morrow points out to him that Alot of Scientists are disapearing across the world and for Magnus to watch his back.We go next to Renee Montoyas apartment where she's cuddled up with hottie named Daria in bed.The Question shows up at her bedside and asks"Who are you?"Renee takes a couple shots at him then he disapears leaving a note with an address on it,520 Kane St.We then go back to Booster Gold who has been told by Skeets that a jetliner is going to crash at this time and place is going to save it.Except that Skeets said that history said that the plane came from the North but it ends up coming from the South.It ends up almost nailing him from the back but he ends up saving the day and glams it up for the press.Back to Montoya tossing her cookies and reading a breakup note from Daria.Next we see her going to the address The Question gave her where the second he shows up she trys to attack him again.After he dissarms her he tells her he wants to hire her.Next we go to Titans Tower where Wonder Girl is neeling in front of a culitsh statue of Superboy is seen to be part of some weird cult that worships Superboy.We see others around the globe doing the same.Then Ralph shows up saying that "A few days ago someone defaced my wife's gravestone with what i have reason to think was a message from you."He says that the "S" symbol has a differint meaning in Krytonion when placed upside down.We then see the picure of Sue's gravstone,it has an upsidedown Superman "S" Symbol.He then tells her it means "Resurrection".And thats where it ends.
And mazingman728:
Thanks for the head start as I got caught with a jury summons...urg, lucky me. Anyways to help you out....
The book starts out with Ralph Dibny at Sue’s grave taking pictures of the message on her tombstone; you don’t get to see the message. Ralph is met up with the groundskeeper that is also the brother of someone Ralph had saved in the past. Cut to Booster in the lab of Dr. Magnus who is working on Skeets. Skeets makes comment that he had to have had a glitch, “it had to be a glitch. Because if it was not a glitch, somebody is messing with the fabric of time”. Booster and Dr. Magnus talk about AI and claims that he is “regarded as the world’s foremost authority because no one wants to acknowledge the guy who actually is”. Cut to Magnus visiting Dr. Morrow in jail and are talking about Red Tornado and how he gave his life to save the world. Morrow makes comment of “Perhaps one day I’ll tell you about the Red Inferno”. Morrow then mentions a number of mad scientists going missing; Dr. Cyclops, I.Q. Quimbly, Dr. Death. Dr. Tyme, Sivana. Cut to Montoya’s bedroom where you see her sleeping in bed with another woman. The Question sneaks in and Montoya shoots him. Question disappears and leaves Montoya a note with a time and place to meet. Cut to Booster over Metropolis as he prepares to save an airliner that is about to crash. The information he has is slightly off but he ends up saving the flight, BUT you see a news article that “Hundreds Dead on Flight 2428” which is what he just saved. Cut to Montoya who meets up with the Question and he hirers her for $200 a week plus expenses and disappears on her. Cut to an alter with a Superman Figure above it and Kryptonian crystals all around with a mystery person kneeling before the alter and preaching to others over the internet. Cut to Titans Tower where you see the same alter and Wonder Girl looking out the window. Ralph Dibny shows up and confronts Cassie about the message on Sue’s grave and she looks surprised. He says that the “S” is a symbol, “On Krypton it translated as the word ‘hope’ Inverted though it stands for something else altogether. Resurrection”.
Then you get History of the DC Universe Part One which is basically Donna Troy looking at Harbingers orb. It tells about the multiverse and how it began and ends with mention on two Supermen and only lasts 4 pages.


Overall not to bad. You get a bit more info on Sivana’s disappearance, and figure out the Booster is the one screwing with the time fabric by accident. A bit more Question and a new plotline with the upside down “S”. But you get no Steel this time around, so Steel and Question fans may be disappointed and will those looking for a big start to History.

[20yrslater]

I wonder if the Kane aSt. address is a big chunk of very obvious forewhadowing. It could point to either Montoya being the new Batwoman, or even Bette Kane .

[Soundrave]

I wonder if the Kane aSt. address is a big chunk of very obvious forewhadowing. It could point to either Montoya being the new Batwoman, or even Bette Kane .

No, probably just a nod to Batman creator Bob Kane.

[20yrslater]

Ah, good point.

[Nick Kal]

It was really good. Montoya wasn't with Daria, though... that synopsis was wrong.

Booster Gold is just awesome, gotta love him! And The Question is great too.

No Steel or Black Adam... but we know they'll have upcoming importance.

[Tom]

This book is going to redefine the term decompression. I'm intrigued by everything that's going on, but we're only being fed the most minute bits of information to move the plot forward and I'm not sure I can sustain my interest for 50 more issues.

I'm really confused about the part with Wonder Girl. The art is really unclear. We see someone kneeling in front of the "Super Altar" wearing a blue jacket and pants, then we see someone standing inside Titans Tower wearing a floor-length blue cape, then we see Wonder Girl in the same setting wearing neither a blue jacket or a blue cape.

[20yrslater]

This book is going to redefine the term decompression. I'm intrigued by everything that's going on, but we're only being fed the most minute bits of information to move the plot forward and I'm not sure I can sustain my interest for 50 more issues.

I'm really confused about the part with Wonder Girl. The art is really unclear. We see someone kneeling in front of the "Super Altar" wearing a blue jacket and pants, then we see someone standing inside Titans Tower wearing a floor-length blue cape, then we see Wonder Girl in the same setting wearing neither a blue jacket or a blue cape.
You know, I was wondering about the whole decompression thing, and the only idea I can come up with is that each month will be a "issue", at least I hope so. It would make sense to at least try to wrap up some story lines every four issues, just to keep buyers coming back.

[onenatv]

I think the end of this issue is fantastic! good thing I only have to wait a week for the next one.

[Wannabe]

I liked the issue, but I have one question.

When did Elongated Man learn Kryptonian?

[Castaway]

I was totally turned off by IC and as a result dropped all DC books except Jonah Hex... I'm giving it a try for two weeks as I've always dug the more obscure characters... Steel, Metal Men, Booster... and with JSA going, this might be the only hook to get me back... all the IC nonsense already seems inconsiquenital in comparison to only 1 issue of Civil War...

[ultramandingo]

i wonder wich writer got stuck doing those all those "mad scientist missing" clipping - i bet rucka . a morrison dr magnus & t.o.morrow team up book would be cool.......

[TCJohnson]

I was not that impressed. With all the subplots going on, it is not giving me enough of any one story for me to really get excited about it.

[4DGlasses]

When did Elongated Man learn Kryptonian?

I would assume that it's in JLA Classified files. I'm sure Ralph has access to them.

The Booster Gold plotline is a bit disturbing. He's betting everything on a historical record that has been erroneous twice now. This is going to get ugly.

"Red Inferno" sounds cool. I like the mad scientist kidnapping angle, too.

I only wish that the art was better. It's average at best. Good start so far storywise. The inverted Superman shield as a symbol of ressurection is both intriguing and creepy. Can't wait to see where the "Beatles of comics" takes us next.

[Buried Alien]

The new HISTORY OF THE DC UNIVERSE seems to indicate that the record of the Multiverse's existence is intact (although who other than Donna Troy is currently privy to it is still in question). The record so far indicates two primary Supermen: Kal-El of Earth-One and Kal-L of Earth-Two...so what about Kal-El of Post-COIE DCU Earth? And what of Kal-El of Post-INFINITE CRISIS New Earth?

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Paul Newell]

The new HISTORY OF THE DC UNIVERSE seems to indicate that the record of the Multiverse's existence is intact (although who other than Donna Troy is currently privy to it is still in question). The record so far indicates two primary Supermen: Kal-El of Earth-One and Kal-L of Earth-Two...so what about Kal-El of Post-COIE DCU Earth? And what of Kal-El of Post-INFINITE CRISIS New Earth?

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)
You mean Superman of Earth-One and Superman of Earth-One? ;)

[David O Burcham]

An error in the spoilers: Question is paying Montoya $200.00 per day, not per week. And he gave her the first three weeks upfront.

Neglected in the spoilers: Booster saves flight 2824 in Metropolis. A headline then shows that hundreds died on flight 2428 in Sydney, Australia.

My favorite bits of dialouge:

T.O. Morrow: "I'm not some common inventor or maker of machines! I'm an artist."

SKEETS (with the JLU voice playing in my mind): "It felt great to be off duty for a little while! Y'know the whole zen thing? You should try it, sir! In fact the whole Internet should try it once a week."

[Sandy Hausler]

Does anyone know how well #1 sold anyway?

Curious to see what #2 is like. I read through #1 in the store but didn't seem worth buying. Then again it could be because the one character I was actually interested in it was Steel and only checked out IC here and there.Still I wonder, if 52 isn't a hit like DC is expecting and the sales tank (just wondering here), I wonder if they'll shorting the series or let it run it's full course no matter what the sales are.

Uh, it's only been out for one week. I'm not sure if order numbers are available (or where to find them), but I expect that issue 1 will be higher than any other issue.

Sandy Hausler

[Kistler]

So far I'm enjoying the series. I like that the S-shield has a different meaning when inverted, it makes me thing of how many ancient symbols on Earth have different meanings when inverted. Interestined also that Kryptonians would take an inversion of hope to mean "resurrection" and not say "despair" which would be the opposite of hope.

I thought it was really cool of Wonder Girl to honor Connor's death with a Kryptonian funeral. I think he would've liked that a lot.

Booster, Booster, what's up man? What's going on with your records? Did you mayhaps change enough of the future by bringing in the new Blue Beetle to help destroy Brother Eye that your records are now useless?

Question. Dig him as always, but when did he get the Darkwing Duck ability to actually vanish in mist? Ah, well, he's sort of an American ninja, so it doesn't bother me that much.

So Doc MAgnus is back to being human and he now claims to have invented the Metal Men again, rather than going with the later retcon that the metal men were human souls kept alive in robot bodies? THAT is a retcon I am definitely behind. Love the relationship with Morrow too, it makes a lot of sense the way they presented it.

I'm going to say right now, I want 52 to bring back my Silver Age Katar Hol Hawkman. I know, you're all saying "Kistler, you're mad! Hawkman's too convoluted, you even wrote a whole article about it." Yeah, but still. Much as I like Carter, I want those Katar JLA stories back in continuity the same way we got the Diana Pre-C JLA stories back.

Also, love the little character bits like the kid mentioning that Batman was perhaps not as comforting/sensitive as Ralph and Sue. Very nice.

[Jack]

I thought this issue was rather excellent, personally. The Ralph segments were especially well written; the resurrection symbol angle was a nice hook and I loved what the caretaker kid said about when his brother was kidnapped. Shame that there wasn't any Steel, but I thought the Magnus/Morrow scene was good. Sad that Red Tornado is dead, but Red Inferno is something I very much hope is followed up on.

[DarthAstuart]

i loved this issue. i liked issue #1 and I loved this issue.

i'm totally buying the storytelling style. this is like a weekly TV series translated to comics. we are following these characters through a year of their lives and getting the next step every issue. it's REALLY fun and the storylines they've set up so far are VERY intriguging to me.

to nitpick:

tom, I was confused by the wonder girl altar sequence too. the person in front of the altar initially did NOT look like wonder girl to me from the back. that hair looked all stringy and strawy, and the body looked very small. then the next page seemed to be suggesting it WAS her, and then ralph talking to her about the kryptonian altar seemed to confirm that. slightly sloppy.

more annoying to me, and INCREDIBLY nitpicky, were the mock articles on the wall in t.o. morrow's pad. if you're going to release a series where you suggest examining every page in minute detail for "clues," then maybe you need more than LEGIBLE DUMMY COPY in fake newspaper stories! they were the same sentence repeated over and over again! that is NOT rewarding me for my hard work.

again, i realize that is VERY nitpicky, but on the other hand, it wasn't MY idea to pepper every page with "clues"...

overall, the story and characters are neat, intriguing, fun, etc. the editing could still use some work.

[Bored at 3:00AM]

The Booster Stuff is chugging along nicely.

Ralph is on the bubble. Not great, not bad.

Montoya & The Question are boring the living crap out of me.

Magnus & Morrow were a cool pairing.

History of the DCU was dull. I've seen this all before and it isn't been done in a particularly fresh or original way.

Not a great follow up issue. But it was hurt substantially by the fact that I'm primarily interested in Booster, Adam & Steel, so two-thirds of my enthusiasm for the series were absent.

Week 3 & 4 better be homeruns for me to stick around at this point.

But, the upsidedown S Symbol....that's pretty neat.

[sly_kat]

:eek: Anyone else think Booster mixed up the flights? hence the flight comin in at a different side.. And now hes really starting to screw with the time stream... only one solution... get rid of the anomaly?.. and wow with the question!! this issue was better then the first, and hopefully it continues to step it up!~>

[BoosterBronze]

Loved it. I would say '52' hasn't been decompressed at all. Stuff is happening on every single page. Long and complicated isn't the same as decompressed.

[ShaggyB]

:eek: Anyone else think Booster mixed up the flights? hence the flight comin in at a different side.. And now hes really starting to screw with the time stream... only one solution... get rid of the anomaly?.. and wow with the question!! this issue was better then the first, and hopefully it continues to step it up!~>

Booster, i think, is going to die.

side note this may not be a series for fans who arent open minded. Seems to be a collection of tales, not traditionally presented which is why it seems alot of youare on the fringe of leaving it. your either hooked on the idea or your waiting to be impressed. you may never be so its either a cool journey to take / creative idea to watch or its just dull to you. no need to tell us you might leave.

[Jack]

If we go with the idea that Booster is the one messing up the fabric of time, then perhaps that's why Supernova fights him. If we add "defender of time" to the clues, then who might fit?

[sehthan]

if you're going to release a series where you suggest examining every page in minute detail for "clues," then maybe you need more than LEGIBLE DUMMY COPY in fake newspaper stories!

That bothered me too. Not a make-or-break issue, to be sure, but what I thought was going to be a cool detail that added texture to the plot ended up being annoyingly half-assed. So, disappointing.

Also agree that the "Church of Superboy" sequence was a little confusing.

And as long as I'm nit-picking, did anyone else think the lingerie on Montoya and her friend looked like it was not part of the original art? It looked kinda awkward and "pasted on." I have a feeling that scene got deemed too racy after it was drawn and was revised. That would also explain why the question appeared to be trying to hand Montoya a thong when she was already wearing briefs.

Not overly impressed so far, but I'm interested to see where this series goes and willing to be patient for a while.

Favorite line, Ralph's assesment of Batman.

[Buried Alien]

You mean Superman of Earth-One and Superman of Earth-One? ;)

"Superman of Earth-One" has three different histories right now...

1. Silver Age origin

2. John Byrne MAN OF STEEL origin

3. Mark Waid BIRTHRIGHT origin

It can't be all three, but all three have been acknowledged recently. In 52 # 2, it's the Silver Age origin that has been recognized, so what about the other two?


Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[DarthAstuart]

And as long as I'm nit-picking, did anyone else think the lingerie on Montoya and her friend looked like it was not part of the original art? It looked kinda awkward and "pasted on." I have a feeling that scene got deemed too racy after it was drawn and was revised. That would also explain why the question appeared to be trying to hand Montoya a thong when she was already wearing briefs.

i didn't notice that it seemed pasted on, but like you, i didn't get why the question was handing her underwear WHEN SHE WAS ALREADY WEARING UNDERWEAR.

were they the bed buddy's undies? was he just offering his commentary on the state of her apartment's neatness? is that his traditional greeting to women--shove underwear in their face?

the question must get all the ladies.

[Kent H]

more annoying to me, and INCREDIBLY nitpicky, were the mock articles on the wall in t.o. morrow's pad. if you're going to release a series where you suggest examining every page in minute detail for "clues," then maybe you need more than LEGIBLE DUMMY COPY in fake newspaper stories! they were the same sentence repeated over and over again! that is NOT rewarding me for my hard work.

again, i realize that is VERY nitpicky, but on the other hand, it wasn't MY idea to pepper every page with "clues"...

overall, the story and characters are neat, intriguing, fun, etc. the editing could still use some work.


I agree, though one of the articles is a full length paragraph instead of repeated lines. The one about Dr. Tyme is fully legible, has a 52 reference, and has what I hope is a clue that the Gabriel Walker Chronos will appear at some point.

[sehthan]

I agree, though one of the articles is a full length paragraph instead of repeated lines. The one about Dr. Tyme is fully legible, has a 52 reference, and has what I hope is a clue that the Gabriel Walker Chronos will appear at some point.


That one was pretty cool, yeah. Wish the others could've been as meaty.

[sehthan]

Something that just occurred to me. So, they goals of 52 specifically are to fill in the missing year, and to reestablish the DCU as a setting, right? Anybody think, though, that DC editorial may also be thinking of this series, or may start to, as a proff-of-concept for a weekly comic series? If 52 proves successful and they prove they can keep the scedule, anyone think we might see some other weekly series launched in it's wake?

[amorn]

Isn't Harvey Dent the Question during 52? He's gotham protector while batman is away (said by batman OYL)

[Paul Newell]

"Superman of Earth-One" has three different histories right now...

1. Silver Age

2. John Byrne MAN OF STEEL origin

3. Mark Waid BIRTHRIGHT origin

It can't be all three, but all three have been acknowledged recently. In 52 # 2, it's the Silver Age origin that has been recognized, so what about the other two?


Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)
From what I understand, the History back up in this issue was an "introduction". Maybe its revealed later on?

[Tom]

Something that just occurred to me. So, they goals of 52 specifically are to fill in the missing year, and to reestablish the DCU as a setting, right? Anybody think, though, that DC editorial may also be thinking of this series, or may start to, as a proff-of-concept for a weekly comic series? If 52 proves successful and they prove they can keep the scedule, anyone think we might see some other weekly series launched in it's wake?
I kind of doubt it. It's a massive undertaking and I think the only reason 52 may be successful is because DC literally spent about 4 years building up to this point. It is one of the most-anticipated titles I've ever encountered in over 30 years of comics reading with a kickass creative team and a potential cast of thousands. It would be almost impossible to build this kind of buzz a second time.

[DonC]

I liked the issue, but I have one question.

When did Elongated Man learn Kryptonian?


There is a line where he says he did his research after the inverted symbol was painted on Sue's grave.

Issue #2 was okay, but Ralph's story is the only one interesting me right now. The others are readable, but haven't really grabbed me.

And, aside from introducing Donna Troy's new breast implants, the "History of the DCU" feature was useless. (What is the purpose of that, anyway? An intro to new fans or a "Here's what we changed" to old fans?)

[Sean Whitmore]

Okay, I'm a little slow. Someone explain the Booster sequence to me in small words?

-Did Booster being the anomaly cause the Sydney flight to go down when it wasn't supposed to, like time is balancing itself out?

-Were both planes always supposed to go down, and Skeets just messed up which one to send Booster too?

-Could Skeets "see" that headline--as in, does he understand the mistake--or was that purely for the reader's benefit?

If we're not supposed to know for sure, then fine. It was just presented in a way that made me think I was supposed to completely understand the ramifications of it at once.


SEAN

[Sean Whitmore]

That Church of Superboy sequence at the end was crap, too. Either there was some horrible transition between scenes, or Cassie is a psycho who's set up a shrine to her boyfriend. Neither of those are reassuring.

And did Ralph's dialogue have a typo, or was he accusing Cassie of defacing Sue's tombstone? He said: "message from you".

I'm also not wild about the "S" meaning anything other than "Superman", but to be fair, that's just the Man of Steel fan in me talking. I have to come to grips with that era being over. :)


SEAN

[sehthan]

I kind of doubt it. It's a massive undertaking and I think the only reason 52 may be successful is because DC literally spent about 4 years building up to this point. It is one of the most-anticipated titles I've ever encountered in over 30 years of comics reading with a kickass creative team and a potential cast of thousands. It would be almost impossible to build this kind of buzz a second time.


I agree with everything you just said, even the kinda doubting it, but if this series proves successful it could generate it's own hype for a spin-off. And if it's successful enough, surely they'll try to launch something out of this, but maybe not a weekly. They're supposed to be intro'ing several new characters, right? So, I'd expect some new solo books by the end, at least.

And actually, you could spin an interesting monthly book out of this, with a semi-rotating cast of characters not currently appearing elsewhere, focusing on how major events in DC's individual titles are affecting the universe as a whole. It would be equally ambitious in its way, but could be cool with the right writer.

[Jack]

That Church of Superboy sequence at the end was crap, too. Either there was some horrible transition between scenes, or Cassie is a psycho who's set up a shrine to her boyfriend. Neither of those are reassuring.

And did Ralph's dialogue have a typo, or was he accusing Cassie of defacing Sue's tombstone? He said: "message from you".

I'm also not wild about the "S" meaning anything other than "Superman", but to be fair, that's just the Man of Steel fan in me talking. I have to come to grips with that era being over. :)


SEAN
I think his logic is: whoever did it had to have done a lot of research into Kypton. Cassie has just done a lot of research into Krypton. Therefore she left the message.

And I don't think we're supposed to know what the Booster headlines stuff all means.

[jadegiant77]

Gotta say the best part was Doc Magnus human again...hopefully this means that whole "Veridium and the human/robot hybrid origin of the Metal Men has been retconned from existence.
\
Red Inferno...wonder was he an elemental trapped in an android body, too?

About the Montoya scene..how many ppl have sex and then put their underwear on? Lame editors. There's a reason there is no comics code authority symbol on this thing...

[Shellhead]

i didn't notice that it seemed pasted on, but like you, i didn't get why the question was handing her underwear WHEN SHE WAS ALREADY WEARING UNDERWEAR.

were they the bed buddy's undies? was he just offering his commentary on the state of her apartment's neatness? is that his traditional greeting to women--shove underwear in their face?

the question must get all the ladies.

Montoya's a self-proclaimed alcoholic. I suspect that also means that she hasn't been keeping up with doing her laundry, so that underwear was probably just part of the dirty laundry on the floor when the Question broke in.

[SuperManny]

About the Montoya scene..how many ppl have sex and then put their underwear on? Lame editors. There's a reason there is no comics code authority symbol on this thing...

...maybe they didn't have sex?

...or maybe they have a tiny bit of class? ;)

[Tom]

And actually, you could spin an interesting monthly book out of this, with a semi-rotating cast of characters not currently appearing elsewhere, focusing on how major events in DC's individual titles are affecting the universe as a whole. It would be equally ambitious in its way, but could be cool with the right writer.
Now, that's what I'd like to see. A monthly book in the style of 52. Basically, a soap opera featuring all those secondary characters in the DCU who don't have their own books. A DCU Astro City.

[SuperManny]

Neglected in the spoilers: Booster saves flight 2824 in Metropolis. A headline then shows that hundreds died on flight 2428 in Sydney, Australia.


If that does wind up being a mistake....it's only supporting the opinion of how weak editorial's been since issue 1.

:(

[mandog]

Like issue 1 I give it a meh. Its not bad but it didn't thrill me either. I frickin hate Booster Gold but I do dig Question and Black Adam so I hope they get more face time soon.

[Lex]

If that does wind up being a mistake....it's only supporting the opinion of how weak editorial's been since issue 1.

:(I doubt it's a mistake. They showed us that newspaper for a reason.

[van-zee]

If we go with the idea that Booster is the one messing up the fabric of time, then perhaps that's why Supernova fights him. If we add "defender of time" to the clues, then who might fit?


Superman and Wonder Woman's kid from "The Kingdom?"

[Sean Whitmore]

Superman and Wonder Woman's kid from "The Kingdom?"


Can't see them dragging out such an obscure character for this relatively major event.


SEAN

[van-zee]

Can't see them dragging out such an obscure character for this relatively major event.


SEAN


Yeah. I guess they'll stick to the big guns like T.O. Morrow.

Seriously, though. Maybe Waverider? I hope the linear men haven't been retconned. Although their function would have to change, I guess.

[Sean Whitmore]

Yeah. I guess they'll stick to the big guns like T.O. Morrow.



T.O. Morrow is underused, not obscure. He created Red Tornado, after all. :)

Clark and Diana's son was featured in one story EVER, and not even a widely-liked one at that.


SEAN

[van-zee]

T.O. Morrow is underused, not obscure. He created Red Tornado, after all. :)

Clark and Diana's son was featured in one story EVER, and not even a widely-liked one at that.


SEAN

I actually like T.O. Morrow, expecially in the original Silver Age Red Tornado story featued in the COME tpb.

[Sean Whitmore]

I actually like T.O. Morrow, expecially in the original Silver Age Red Tornado story featued in the COME tpb.


To tell the truth, I usually never like the mad scientist types, but I love the way Morrison handles them. Ivo and Morrow bickering in JLA a few years ago was hilarious. :)


SEAN

[Damo]

Fah, Morrow is a child playing with power tools. He could never hope to grasp the depth of a true scientist's genius!

Ahem.

[/Mad Scientist Ravings]

Anyway... yeah, it was pretty good. Not rocking my world, but it was solid and it had my moments. So they're trying to learn not to use cliffhangers, huh? Yeah...um... still need to work on that one guys. Ralph accussing Wonder Girl of spraypainting "resurrection" on his wife's grave, in Kryptonian? That was a cliffhanger.

Maybe they'll end an issue at midnight on a Sunday at some point. ^_~

But, hey. You don't like Booster? And you, over there, you're not digging the bits with the Question and Montoya? And you, the one in the back, you said you didn't like the Ralph bits?

I'm very very lucky. I liked everyone in this cast going in. ^_^

[stealthwise]

Eh, this issue was ok, but I'm not liking the "every week is a week" format, because it's making no difference to the storytelling whatsoever.

I figure to get the next couple issues to see if it's going anywhere.

[van-zee]

Did anybody else notice that the guy at the graveyard was wearing a jacket that said "Booster Gear"? Priceless.

[Kistler]

Gotta say the best part was Doc Magnus human again...hopefully this means that whole "Veridium and the human/robot hybrid origin of the Metal Men has been retconned from existence.
\
Red Inferno...wonder was he an elemental trapped in an android body, too?

About the Montoya scene..how many ppl have sex and then put their underwear on? Lame editors. There's a reason there is no comics code authority symbol on this thing...

Totally with you on Doc Magnus retcon. Now if they can just fix Katar Hol. Not Carter, he's been fixed. I mean Katar.

As for Montoya, I've actually had two girlfriends who practically insisted on putting their underwear back on after sex and one who just did most of the time as a preference. So it happens. NOt saying this wasn't an editorial "let's cover it up" (it probably was), just saying it's not that out there either. And I have no problem believing Montoya leaves underwear adn socks lying around her bedroom like 50% of the population.

What I do find amusing is how much discussion went into that alone. We comic fans are an interesting bunch. :-P

[sschroeder]

I'm really confused about the part with Wonder Girl. The art is really unclear. We see someone kneeling in front of the "Super Altar" wearing a blue jacket and pants, then we see someone standing inside Titans Tower wearing a floor-length blue cape, then we see Wonder Girl in the same setting wearing neither a blue jacket or a blue cape.

I decided she was removing the coat by sliding it off her back and arms to the floor behind her in the top left panel of the page. Notice how much cloth was already on the floor and how she held her arms back.

[Rhydaman]

"Superman of Earth-One" has three different histories right now...

1. Silver Age origin

2. John Byrne MAN OF STEEL origin

3. Mark Waid BIRTHRIGHT origin

It can't be all three, but all three have been acknowledged recently. In 52 # 2, it's the Silver Age origin that has been recognized, so what about the other two?


Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)
I'm not sure it went into enough detail to tell you which of those stories is canon. It simply said - rocket came from Krypton, landed on earth, occupant grew up to be Superman. Yes, the rocket design was that of the Silver Age Supes, but we don't yet know how many of the other details from any of the origins is canonical.

[David O Burcham]

If that does wind up being a mistake....it's only supporting the opinion of how weak editorial's been since issue 1.

:(

I don't think it is a mistake at all. It is part of the mystery. I also think that the Dr. Tyme article was the only completely legible news article for a purpose.

I think 52 is dealing with the ramifications of Infinite Crisis as much as it is dealing with all of the time travel wackiness of Flash, Teen Titans, JSA, Superman/Batman, etc., of the last couple of years.

Doc Brown would be proud!

[David O Burcham]

As a Red Tornado fan, I'm hoping that he'll turn up in this series. Firestorm was in that group that went with Donna Troy and is missing at the time of 52. He made it back.

As far as Donna's "breast implants"... she seems the same size Perez drew her in New Teen Titans to me.

[Shellhead]

The artwork is just okay, and I really disliked Booster Gold's face on the cover... he looked bovine somehow. It was tolerable, though, because the overall scene looked very much like he had just won the Indy 500, and I think that's the kind of tone they're looking for, with all the corporate logos on his costume.

Other than that, I enjoyed this issue. The opening scene with Ralph seemed like it was the first time I had seen him in a couple of decades, for how badly he has been written by other writers in recent years. So far, Montoya has been reminding me too much of Ana L from Lost, but I have hopes for this storyline because of the Question. Best of all was the interaction between T.O. Morrow and Doc Magnus, which was clearly written by Grant Morrison. As usual, he had more interesting ideas per page than some comic writers have in a year.

[algertman]

To tell the truth, I usually never like the mad scientist types, but I love the way Morrison handles them. Ivo and Morrow bickering in JLA a few years ago was hilarious. :)


SEAN


TO THE GOOD OLD DAYS!

[yenaled]

Will Magnus!

[20yrslater]

I think it'd be cool if 52 evolved into a montly "DC Nation Spotlight" type of book that focused on some of the secondary characters of the DCU, and continued the re-building of the DCU as a single, integrated place.

[Michael P]

"Superman of Earth-One" has three different histories right now...

1. Silver Age origin

2. John Byrne MAN OF STEEL origin

3. Mark Waid BIRTHRIGHT origin

It can't be all three, but all three have been acknowledged recently. In 52 # 2, it's the Silver Age origin that has been recognized, so what about the other two?


Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)Does it matter?

[filthysize]

Gotta agree with the "it's great" camp.


#1 was meh, because it jumps from day to day so quickly, but #2 actually had scenes. And those scenes are gr-r-r-reat!

[Buried Alien]

Does it matter?

To me it does. These intricacies represent half of the reasons I'm interested in DC Comics.


Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[filthysize]

Oh, and the underwear were definitely pasted on later. Look at Montoya's one night stand. She's not wearing a bra in two panels, when Q is holding the thong up (Montoya's arm covers her nip), but in the next page when Montoya shoots Q, she's wearing one.

Eh, not that it matters if they wear one or not -- but keep it consistent, at least.

[BoosterBronze]

Now, that's what I'd like to see. A monthly book in the style of 52. Basically, a soap opera featuring all those secondary characters in the DCU who don't have their own books. A DCU Astro City.

That would be awesome... especially since the whole last year made me totally interested in a bunch of characters (the '52' crew, the Seven Soldiers, the Secret Six) who may not get their own books in the future.

[Rokk]

You can check out my review here ( http://comicbookrevolution.blogspot.com/2006/05/comic-book-review-52-2.html).

I enjoyed this issue. I liked it more than 52 #1. It was great to see Ralph back in action solving a mystery. It was also cool to see his trademark nose twitch when he is confronted with a mystery.

The Question is a great character and I'm interested to see what the deal is with his interest in Renee.

And I liked see Dr. Magnus. I hope we get to see the Metal Men in action soon. The conversation between Morrow and Magnus was well done. I'm curious to see what is going on with all the kidnappings of the various mad scientists.

I addicted to 52 and am glad that it is coming out weekly! I couldn't wait a month!

[Lex]

I thought this issue was much better than the first. The stories of Ralph and Dr. Magnus hooked me in. I feel a little better about the directions this is going.Best of all was the interaction between T.O. Morrow and Doc Magnus, which was clearly written by Grant Morrison. As usual, he had more interesting ideas per page than some comic writers have in a year.I totally agree. That scene was full of character depth and cool ideas. No doubt it was Morrison.

And I'm very curious to see who is doing all this mad scientist-napping.

[DarthAstuart]

let's talk booster gold for a minute here. this is what I think we know.

1) in 52, he's the crass selfish materialistic booster we all remember from pre-IC.

2) booster SEEMED to undergo some serious character changes in the process of the whole IC thing. beetle died, he got a bit more serious, etc.

3) at some point during IC, he traveled back to the future to get information on how to save the universe, right? (i'm unclear on this point--i can never remember where/how this happened. was it in the OMAC mini?)

4) the IC booster and the 52 booster seem different.

5) the big question is why?

I've seen two good theories, and may toss in one or two other less-good theories.

1) booster's trip thru time changed the timeline, which is why skeets has different information about what happens in the future. what this doesn't necessarily explain as well is the fact that we SEEM to have two boosters. however, it does explain the upcoming cover where the brash booster seems to be dead, and supernova is floating in the reflection of the goggles. maybe supernova is IC booster, and he kills 52 booster to save the timeline? or maybe someone else offs 52 booster, and supernova is IC booster, who feels he has to avenge the death?

2) there ARE two boosters. we've got the booster we know from IC, and we've got a Booster from another earth, brought here when the New Earth was created. On HIS earth, Skeets's info is correct and history happened as Skeets believes it does. the other IC booster could very well be Supernova. This also could explain the presence of Nightwing at the Superboy memorial--maybe it's not a Nightwing we know? but then, why don't the heroes realize that--unless the heroes he's speaking with remember him as nightwing too?

(i'm concocting a mental theory that in an alternate earth, jason todd IS nightwing, because dick grayson died. somehow maybe the sliver of planet in page one of 52 #1 showing a new-uniform robin kissing starfire may or may not tie into this. i also haven't been following the events in nightwing's book at all, so maybe there's something there that completely blows this theory to bits. anyway. i very much like the idea of all these multiples floating around all of a sudden, but it seems a bit of a stretch, I admit.)

3) booster really DID get all those licensing deals squared away between the end of IC and 52 #1. somehow, skeets helped him do it as steven wacker suggested in his Newsarama piece from a couple weeks ago. which is stupid to me, but whatever.

4) the editing really DOES kinda suck, and all this stuff is just sloppiness.

what do others think? i think this is so far the most compelling storyline in 52--if there IS more there than we're seeing, the potential exists for some VERY cool plots.

[filthysize]

Actually, I got this weird feeling while I was reading it that Booster just recently got there and that he doeesn't remember the JLI days or Blue Beetle. He seems terribly (emotionally) unaffected by everything that happened in IC, like he wasn't even involved and that he just read it in a history book.

Hum.

[Lex]

let's talk booster gold for a minute here.
Your theories are pretty interesting, but I think a more realistic theory is that the writers wanted to use a certain kind of Booster. Yes, he seems to be different than how he acted during IC, but the writers probably thought this kind of Booster would be more interesting to work with for 52 issues.

I just don't see the way Booster is acting as that much of a problem.

[Apathy Boy]

Much better effort this time around. The various subplots are starting to find their hooks. I liked seeing Ralph playing the detective again, the Booster subplot is developing nicely, the Question is cool as always.

I'm especially digging the mad scientist subplot. The T.O. Morrow-Will Magnus scene was just pure genius (groan). "If I were you, I'd watch my step. And keep taking my anti-depressants." Great line.

My guess about Booster: well, he is changing the past (our present). As a result, our future (Booster's past) is also changing, which means the Booster of the future (his past) is changing as well. Those changes are retroactively taking place in the Booster we're seeing in the present (his present).

... Mark Waid's responsible for the Booster storyline, isn't he?

[Gingold]

This was good. Better than the previous issue, which I also liked. The Will Magnus and T.O. Morrow bits were great, and it's great to see Ralph's nose twitching again. The Question and Montoya stuff's not doing that much for me yet, but so far I'm enjoying everything else. Cool to see all those obscure/ underused mad scientists referenced. Dr. Death's the GA Batman villain, right?

Part of the fun of this is going to be playing the "who wrote what?" game with each issue. I know it's a collaborative effort, but the Morrow/Magnus stuff is just screaming Grant Morrison, Rucka's obviously doing the Question scenes, the early Ralph pages read like Waid...

Only real complaint is that the opening History of the DCU chapter seemed liked page filler. Can't they just give us the revised history of the universe without the bother of constructing a stupid framing device using Donna Troy?

[SlightlyMad]

I'm actually starting to be interested in Ralph Dibney for the first time ever & am looking forward to seeing how he plays detective differently from Batman.

I really hope the Question is in this series to do more than just redeem Montoya. I want to see him throw down with a couple of the local loons (a rematch with the Riddler would be awesome! especially as Eddie may be mad at Q for ripping his trade mark question mark!). I'd also like to see Vic Sage put in an appearance.
Also, where is the Huntress? She would be interested if Vic was back in town.

Next issue looks like more Black Adam. Looking foward to that Luthor too.

[glennsim]

To me it does. These intricacies represent half of the reasons I'm interested in DC Comics.


Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

I'm thinking this is supposed to be a generic "Earth 1" origin, but she may reference the origin changing to whatever is going to be the "new" origin.

[The Xenos]

Wait.. a cult of fanatics who want dead characters brought back from the grave? Holy crap! 52 is about the DCU heros taking on all us whiny internet fans!

[sehthan]

Only real complaint is that the opening History of the DCU chapter seemed liked page filler. Can't they just give us the revised history of the universe without the bother of constructing a stupid framing device using Donna Troy?


Maybe they're trying two things here? Use the back-ups both to re-etablish the basic history of the DCU, and to establish whatever Donna Troy's new role in this Post-Crisis-Post-Crisis universe will be? Didn't seem like they covered much ground, though.

[DarthAstuart]

Your theories are pretty interesting, but I think a more realistic theory is that the writers wanted to use a certain kind of Booster. Yes, he seems to be different than how he acted during IC, but the writers probably thought this kind of Booster would be more interesting to work with for 52 issues.

I just don't see the way Booster is acting as that much of a problem.

really? the more I think about it, the more it bothers me. i think there should be some kind of in-story explanation for it, just because I think the redeemed hero angle spinning off Booster's attitudes in IC would be just as fertile as bringing us back to the old-school wacky Booster.

[Lex]

really? the more I think about it, the more it bothers me. i think there should be some kind of in-story explanation for it, just because I think the redeemed hero angle spinning off Booster's attitudes in IC would be just as fertile as bringing us back to the old-school wacky Booster.Why would those two things be mutually exclusive? What if this is Booster's way of seeking redemption?

[DarthAstuart]

Why would those two things be mutually exclusive? What if this is Booster's way of seeking redemption?

being a shallow ass out only for himself? that's a pretty twisted path to redemption. :eek:

[UniqueFrequency]

i have to say 52 is the book i read first every week and i really look forward to it!

the Question is easily stealing the show for me. Booster's plot doesn't interest me quite so much, but it will be interesting to find out what's actually happened to Skeets

what i really like is how the books flow so well even though they're written by more than one guy

[Gingold]

Maybe they're trying two things here? Use the back-ups both to re-etablish the basic history of the DCU, and to establish whatever Donna Troy's new role in this Post-Crisis-Post-Crisis universe will be? Didn't seem like they covered much ground, though.

I'm sure that is what they're trying to do, but I don't really care for it. Use Titans or Wonder Woman or some other book to re-establish Donna. It's a big universe, and there's presumably a lot of ground to cover, so I hate seing the valuable pages used on revamping Troia for the umpteenth time. Jurgens's art is nice though.

[LtMarvel]

Actually, this reminded me of the use of Harbinger (?) in History of the DC Universe.

[milly3cat]

The first two issues are great, and will keep buying the series, but there is a writing change later on so I don't know if it will be for the best.

But so far so good .......

[Lex]

being a shallow ass out only for himself? that's a pretty twisted path to redemption. :eek:Well, I don't view it quite like that. Whether you agree with Booster's ultimate motivation (fame and glory), he's saving lives and IS a hero. He's just exploring the side-benifits that other heroes usually ignore.

So, like I said, I see no reason why Booster can't be both a hero and a glory-seeker.

[longshot7]

Only real complaint is that the opening History of the DCU chapter seemed liked page filler. Can't they just give us the revised history of the universe without the bother of constructing a stupid framing device using Donna Troy?

I figured it was in reference to the original "History of the DCU" mini, which was narrated by Harbinger as she was the ony one who had access to the complete post-Crisis history.

[K'Nort]

I figured it was in reference to the original "History of the DCU" mini, which was narrated by Harbinger as she was the ony one who had access to the complete post-Crisis history.

And wasn't there a sequence in the Return mini where the historian job was officially handed over from Harbinger to Donna?