52: Like? Dislike? *SPOILERS* [Archive] - Comic Book Resources Forums

Bored at 3:00AM

09-05-2006, 10:34 AM

I heard they were doing a big revamp of Lobo courtesy of Morrison & Company so I decided to check out the latest.

I haven't really been following 52 since the first month failed to impress me, but this ain't bad. Much better than the last time I checked things out. The stuff with Buddy talking about his "moment of clarity" he had at the end of Morrison's tenure with the character was wonderful.

And the clever little twist they've added to Lobo is a cool idea. I never really cared much for the character when he got insanely popular, but I love some of his appearances, like in JLI and the Superman cartoon. I'm hooked back in for the next issue, hopefully the dreadful Montoya storyline has picked up a tad. Adam, Starfire and Buddy are a really interesting mix.

skally19

09-05-2006, 11:36 AM

according to giffen(or jg jones, one of em) week 18 or 19 is where everything picks up immensley. and the past few weeks have a been very good.

Rich L

09-05-2006, 11:46 AM

Agreed; I thought it really dragged in the first 8 weeks but its been solid since then - IMHO due to less Steel and more Adam.

And it was good to see Lobo again.

Autonomy

09-05-2006, 12:04 PM

Yea, i dont think the first month did the series justice. I thought the first three weeks sucked, but from there its really been a blast with some really good stories.

Jack Zodiac

09-05-2006, 01:37 PM

Ever since, maybe, Week Eleven or Twelve, the book's been pretty solid. That's when each issue focused more on one story instead of the huge variety of stories from the first two months, and it's kept that pacing ever since.

And I agree, I loved Morrison's (I'm assuming it was his) take on Lobo. Granted, I've always loved Lobo, even at the peak of his popularity when he was just completely out-there, but the new look is pretty good (like something off a Rob Zombie album cover) and I'd like to see what a "non-violent" Lobo is like.

The book's definitely found its feet, and should be as good as it has been lately if it keeps this pacing.

Aaron King

09-05-2006, 03:32 PM

It's interesting to read this sort of "anthology" book. I for one am taken with the Space Odyssey, the Question & Renee, and the Metal Men. The Elongated Man story had me until he went crazy. The Booster Gold story had me until he went crazy one-upping Supernova (I want more Rip Hunter). Steel had me until his daughter went crazy. Some of the art has been awesome, some has been mediocre. It's tough to rate 52 as a series.

shaxper

09-05-2006, 04:20 PM

I agree that the series has picked up. I've even begun to enjoy the Montoya/Question plot. The only things I'm not loving at this point are Steel and the backup features.

Autonomy

09-05-2006, 04:24 PM

I waiting for the Lex L. sotry to pick up and not in the way that his new team is falling apart or whatever. i am more interested in people getting superpowers.

It would be intersting if Adam gets pissed again and goes on with his plans to attack the US when the avarage person has powers.

Mr Obie

09-05-2006, 05:08 PM

I have enjoyed the series barring a few subplots.The Renee an Qoustion, The Metal Men, an The Elongated Man bits.Its over all been an enjoyable read I really looking foward to seeing what happens with INFINITY INC an the TITANS stuff that comes down the road in awhile.I also hope somewhere along the line they head into Manhunters territory I wanna know what happened with KATE as well as what got OBSIDIAN running around in a cape again.

wolverine0815

09-06-2006, 11:28 AM

I definetely agree that the book is picking up speed. I personally would like to see more of Batwoman and less of Steel.

Nick Kal

09-06-2006, 11:37 AM

This week is really good.;)

Skeetz finds a possible ancestor to Booster, Montoya disses Black Adam and Ralph talks to the Croatoans (a group that includes Detective Chimp) about Dr. Fate's helmet, the Shadowpact show up and the helmet starts to talk to ralph... and only him!

Kara Zor El

09-06-2006, 12:32 PM

Autonomy

09-06-2006, 02:21 PM

This the book I have to have every week. I really look forward to it. Some have been less than incredible but I'm enjoying everything unfold. I love Batwoman and can't wait for more. Black Adam has been sheer joy to read. I love Booster and his downfall and looking forward to his change of character being explained. Clark as the reporter and nothing more is a great twist and The Q and Montoya are a great team. Ralph Dibney makes me feel sober. I love it.

Dont forget Lex! Make everyone a super hero needs to be touched on!

But like you said, all the stories are really awesome. Its a shame they brush up on a few of them per issue. It makes me wonder how they are going to pull some of these off in time.

Also a new booster would be really great.

Super Buddies Forever

09-06-2006, 03:22 PM

52 is a great book but one that doesn't give instant gratification. I think it will benefit from being in collected form, but the fact that it's a weekly makes it a lot more tolerable in single issues than some titles that seem to go nowhere and then have a month (or more) gap in-between them.

I'll be really sorry to see 52 go in 34 weeks, but I'd love if DC could continue with a weekly DCU anthology. This has more than washed away the bad taste of Action Comics Weekly.

Steve Brady

09-07-2006, 03:23 PM

Ah, yes, more fodder for "Is Ralph crazy?"

miraclemet

09-08-2006, 08:26 AM

Week 18 was great in my opinion. Ralph Dabny and the fate of Dr. Fate? Thow in the House of Mystery and Boosters funeral and Skeet (plus the humorous moment of Skeet finding Boosters ancestor? priceless).

I was starting to loose interest in 52, but this week was one of their best.

Ronnigon

09-09-2006, 12:54 AM

Jake V

09-09-2006, 01:07 AM

Most people who aren't digging it have decided to pay attention to things they actually enjoy instead of even thinking about how much 52 sucks.

Bored at 3:00AM

09-09-2006, 01:12 AM

I don't get all the hype about this series. I read the first issue and it bored me to tears. It was just an incoherent mess.

Am I the only one who not only doesn't care for this series, but who also has the cojones to say so publicly?

Yes, you're the only one with the cojones to say so publicly. We all tremble in awe before your tremendous comic geek cojones...

Sorry to burst your bubble, but plenty of people have posted their dislike/disintrest/boredom with 52 since it came out. However, since most of these people dropped the book months ago, like I did, you don't hear from them much anymore.

That said, I checked-out one of the newer issues a couple weeks back, I think, and it was a big improvement. Not a big enough improvement for me to jump on board again, but enough for me to flip through the next issue whenever I get a chance to look at it.

Still, I doubt it'll be my cup of tea...

jaguarshark

09-09-2006, 01:19 AM

I don't get all the hype about this series. I read the first issue and it bored me to tears. It was just an incoherent mess.

Am I the only one who not only doesn't care for this series, but who also has the cojones to say so publicly?
Um, it'd actually be much rarer to have the 'cajones' to say you did like 52, judging by the blogosphere's reaction.
I mean, yes, you are the only one. How do you stay so awesome?

malephoenix

09-09-2006, 01:27 AM

Most people who aren't digging it have decided to pay attention to things they actually enjoy instead of even thinking about how much 52 sucks.

That can't be true; this is the internet!

Sean Whitmore

09-09-2006, 01:27 AM

Thank goodness you paved the way for the rest of us. Could you say something bad about Judd Winick, too? I don't like him, but I don't have the cajones to say so publicly.

SEAN

Gozwald73

09-09-2006, 02:06 AM

I'm loving it - but horses for courses. Ya can't please everyone.
:p

... and I generally read more than just a couple of issues of something before I can consider to have a valid opinion about it - but that's me.

Bottom line - I'd much rather rave about the things I love than rant about the things I don't. Glass half full and all that.

;)

Xero

09-09-2006, 05:53 AM

Read the first five issues online for free, UGO is hosting the 52 Pickup preview (http://www.ugo.com/channels/comics/features/52pickup/default.asp).

skally19

09-09-2006, 06:33 AM

i'd agree it was average for the first couple months. then it's been steadily getting better and better. the best thing is that you weekly get a extremely solid comic. the weekly part is great.

TheTen-EyedMan

09-09-2006, 07:50 AM

Read the first five issues online for free, UGO is hosting the 52 Pickup preview (http://www.ugo.com/channels/comics/features/52pickup/default.asp).

http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/news_images/1343_3398_3.jpg

I'm Roy Scheider and I endorse this website.

mybotisgone

09-09-2006, 08:33 AM

So I like 52. And I think it is getting better and better.

ScottDMSimmons

09-09-2006, 08:49 AM

I like the episodic and anthology feel of the series. It's cool when the storylines start crossing over with each other, and I enjoy the origin features. Also, I care about most of the characters and really don't get to follow them or see them anywhere else in the case of most of them. Lobo and Batwoman don't interest me that much, but that's only two characters to the 30 or so I get including Black Adam, Question, Animal Man, Elongated Man, Doc Magnus, Metal Men, Booster, Skeets, Steel, Isis, Montoya, Starfire, and Captain Marvel... oh and Clark Kent as Clark Kent.

In addition to the book itself, I always like to check out Keith Giffen's sketchbook for each issue at dccomics.com (http://www.dccomics.com/sites/52/?action=specials) and J.G. Jones' blog on his cover art at wizarduniverse.com (http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/001562459.cfm).

Scott

The Shadow

09-09-2006, 08:58 AM

Most people who aren't digging it have decided to pay attention to things they actually enjoy instead of even thinking about how much 52 sucks.
Post of the day!

Citizen V

09-09-2006, 09:46 AM

Well,im one of the few to have not read 52.I wont read it until the event comes out in TPB.

TheTen-EyedMan

09-09-2006, 09:56 AM

Well,im one of the few to have not read 52.I wont read it until the event comes out in TPB.

http://static.flickr.com/26/48991694_eae0d7d2ef_o.jpg

Blasphemer!!!!!!!

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a172/Drtzintzin/alex-kapranos.jpg

Hey, are you Evil and a Heathen?

MythicBrawn

09-09-2006, 10:13 AM

Gargus

09-09-2006, 11:30 AM

Actually most people now at this point have been saying how much better it is than when it started.

Besides if you dont like something, dont buy it. It really is that easy. If you hate it enough to sit around and bitch about it then dont buy it and move on to something you do like and enjoy that.

Gozwald73

09-09-2006, 05:36 PM

Jack Zodiac

09-09-2006, 06:59 PM

Jack Zodiac

09-09-2006, 07:03 PM

That said, I checked-out one of the newer issues a couple weeks back, I think, and it was a big improvement. Not a big enough improvement for me to jump on board again, but enough for me to flip through the next issue whenever I get a chance to look at it.

One of the things about this book is that, since it's an anthology series, there was little weekly focus on individual stories until Week Eleven. That was, I believe, the first week they focused on one story more than the others, with a page or two for one of the other stories. Since then, the book's gotten a lot better, but it's made me realize that the same effect could've been accomplished with a landslide of mini-series.

The only reasons they should have done this the way they did was to save us poor folk money (if that makes any sense), and to introduce symbolism for the number "52" itself, which they have.

Christopher O

09-09-2006, 07:06 PM

I love the snark in this thread almost as much as I love 52. Do I get to be the winner in this round of male posturing for admitting that?

Jack Zodiac

09-09-2006, 07:07 PM

I like the episodic and anthology feel of the series. It's cool when the storylines start crossing over with each other, and I enjoy the origin features. Also, I care about most of the characters and really don't get to follow them or see them anywhere else in the case of most of them. Lobo and Batwoman don't interest me that much, but that's only two characters to the 30 or so I get including Black Adam, Question, Animal Man, Elongated Man, Doc Magnus, Metal Men, Booster, Skeets, Steel, Isis, Montoya, Starfire, and Captain Marvel... oh and Clark Kent as Clark Kent.

This is a good reason to enjoy this book, too. Nowhere else are the C-list folk treated so well, barring the occasional and unnecessary death. And the anthology series is a dying breed between Marvel and DC. We could use more books like this: weekly or bi-weekly with short runs focusing on the great host of DC characters. They have so many awesome characters that they never, ever get to use.

filthysize

09-09-2006, 07:08 PM

The question remains if he has the cojones to cope with the burden of his own cojones.

CaptainAwesome

09-09-2006, 07:08 PM

I like 52. I think its a great way for DC to tie together their whole universe. Do I think the book lives up to the level of talent working on it? Not really, but it does come out every week and its one of the few books nowadays that stays on schedule and delivers a solid story each time. Bottom line, 52's not perfect, but it fills my weekly quota for superhero action.

Damo

09-09-2006, 07:09 PM

No Cojones For You!

Brady

09-09-2006, 07:12 PM

Jack Zodiac

09-09-2006, 07:12 PM

52 is a way for DC to suck the money out of your wallet on a weekly basis. I thought it was crazy when I first heard about it. IF I decide to get it, it will be as a trade at a discounted price (i.e. Buy.com). But, seeing how bad Infinite Crisis was, I probably won't get it. The DC universe doesn't look to be any better despite all the steps they have taken. There are some good points but by and large it's the status quo revisited.

I will admit, it's just more of the same, but at least it's more of the same with different characters. We can only take so much more ridiculous and forgetable crap happening to our title-carriers. The fact that these are third-stringers makes the events happening seem more memorable. If it were Superman lost in space trying to make his way home, it'd be just another space-adventure chapter in the book of Superman's life. Because it's Animal Man, though, the story becomes bigger in comparison to the rest of his career. He's a character who could die in any issue, or be completely changed in some significant way, which is definitely not true for any of the big dogs.

That, and who wouldn't love to read one of their favorite comics on a weekly basis? If they released Action Comics weekly again, with Busiek and Nicieza writing it, I'd crap my pants.

Matt

09-09-2006, 07:20 PM

I'm enjoying the title; it's really acting well to tie the various components of the DCU together quite nicely - unifying the setting for the narrative in a way which is quite hard to do when you have a bunch of individual books. An 'anthology' type series is quite suitable for what DC is trying to acheive ... and they're doing a pretty good job with 52.

The writing is solid, with surprises coming up at odd moments (I never thought that dummy of Sue Dibny would actually move and talk!) while the art is quite good.

While 52 is nothing spectacular it remains a good, solid read.

mybotisgone

09-09-2006, 07:35 PM

It's been up and down for me, but the bits I've enjoyed are satisfying enough to keep me buying. I've yet to come across long series that didn't have a dud issue every now and then, thats just comics.
I agree with what you say. As for it up and downs that's something we all know would happened. With so many good writers and artists working on this comic in a Bi-weekly for 52 weeks in one year. Well of course it had it's up and downs. But I still like the comic.:D

Bloody Thumb

09-09-2006, 09:15 PM

I really enjoy the Weekly comic format. It helps bring me into the store every week and it insures their will ALWAYS be something on the shelf i will buy.

Over all, i'm enjoying the book. My only complaint is it's a little unfocused. It's trying to be so many things at once that you completly forget about some of the story lines until they pop up again. Then it takes you a moment to remember exactly what's going on.

Plus, with Booster, the Metal Men, and Black Adam in the mix, some of my favorite characters are getting some sorely needed book time.

OR, so i really hate the book and i just don't have the Cojones to say it in public? Only my stylist Knows for Sure.

Gozwald73

09-10-2006, 12:35 AM

This is a good reason to enjoy this book, too. Nowhere else are the C-list folk treated so well, barring the occasional and unnecessary death. And the anthology series is a dying breed between Marvel and DC. We could use more books like this: weekly or bi-weekly with short runs focusing on the great host of DC characters. They have so many awesome characters that they never, ever get to use.

JZ this is the best post ever. I couldn't agree more (but careful, Bat-Mite will be on his way over here shortly to remind me that I can't HAVE an opinion).
:p

DEWLine

09-10-2006, 06:23 AM

It's definitely an excuse for DC to try to suck the money out of my wallet on a weekly basis. Among several other purposes it's trying to fulfull, that is.

Which leads to the question, "Does it deserve to succeed at that purpose?"

So far, I'm still saying "Yes". In large part, because it's still succeeding at the other purposes set for it. Well done.

Bat-Mite

09-10-2006, 11:02 AM

Bat-Mite will be on his way over here shortly to remind me that I can't HAVE an opinion

Just because I correct you when you say something silly about storytelling like "A story is ALL ABOUT the characters", as if you only watch soap operas, doesn't mean I will haunt you forever.

Will.S

09-10-2006, 12:18 PM

With the exception of 52 #9, the book has been TOTALLY awesome and I love how the things we're seeing referenced in OYL be shown here like the Cyborg/Teen Titans/Doom Patrol stuff and Wonder Girl referencing the cult she was in during 52.

sschroeder

09-10-2006, 02:58 PM

At the moment I feel like I'm done with 52. I had an inkling I wasn't going to finish it when I started. That recent Lobo cover reminding me there were 35 weeks left made me feel good about stopping. I read the first 10-12 or so, and I enjoyed it, but ultimately the weekly format is a little too much. It is a purchase burden that cuts down the variety of other things I can buy. Now, there is variety in 52, certainly, but sometimes I feel like these stories should have been seperate mini-series instead of forcing me to read all kinds of stuff where I have varying interest. I know that's probably the point, that all this stuff will tie together somehow, and almost all of it was interesting. Nevertheless, 52 issues is a lot of investment to ask of the reader. How many comics have I read more than 50 issues of in my whole life? More than I'd think probably, but at least those were spread over time, and I don't currently maintain that many issues of too many series in my collection.

52 is cooler than I anticipated, as I'm only a casual DC fan, who started to follow some OYL titles, but I'm off the ride at least for now.

Babylon23

09-11-2006, 12:07 AM

For me, my enjoyment of the book directly parallels how much I like the characters involved. I love the Question and Montoya, so I love 52 when they're involved. Same goes for Adam Strange, Booster Gold, Animal Man, Black Adam and the Elongated Man. I'm not a big Steel fan, so his story has me far less interested.

Overall, the series works for me. I love a lot of DC's c-list characters, so I'm happy to see the emphasis placed on these character.

Also, the weekly format doesn't bother me. I used to read Eagle and 2000AD, so I'm used to reading weekly comics.

Suzanne

09-11-2006, 12:51 AM

I'm digging it. The Metal Men part is the weak link for me, but the other stories are intriguing. These are characters I otherwise wouldn't have read if not for this.

Mulett

09-11-2006, 03:05 AM

I am enjoying it, although I do find that not only is the quality different from one issue to the next but from one page to the next.

It's interesting, as well, how little happens on New Earth during this year. When you think that an average week in the DCU gives enough material to fill dozens and dozens of superhero comics, there doesn't seem to be an awful lot going on at the moment.

A good year for the Big Three to take a holiday!