52 Week 19: "He knows."

[Sean Walsh]

Well........this is interesting.

- Sounds like ol' Skeets has done something.......wrong?

And was it intentional that when he first says "He knows" it's not in a robotic word balloon? ;)

- I liked Pat Olliffe's pencils here. Is this the first time DFrew Geraci's inked him?

- A space dolphin, in the service of Archbishop LOBO!

- And is Supernova who we know think he might be, or is Cass just really really lonely and see him everywhere now?

[TCJohnson]

Didn't the blackboard say the Robot Wars?

[mrc1214]

Someone is going to have to explain the Skeets thing cause i had no clue what was going on there. As far as Supernova i think its who Wonder Girl thought is was.

[Cassius6303]

I'm pretty sure that Skeets we see here is NOT the Skeets we thought we knew. And the 'He knows' in a different voice is definitely a clue.

Basically, Skeets never knew what was in the lab. Booster either told him a lie or omitted details because he realized who fault the time divergence really was. Skeets needed Daniel's DNA because Booster's suit is genelocked to only allow Carter DNA to use the goggles. But because he had to stay and hold the timelock open, he couldn't enter the room. He had to use Daniel to find out what Rip knew. Now, he knows that Rip knows....hence the "He knows."

Daniel was expendable from the moment Skeets scanned him. But by getting rid of Daniel, did Skeets cause the time anomally by destroying Booster's ancestor?

Jamie

[skally19]

52 is kickin ass right now. and i just don't like the idea that supernova is conner...i mean. it's just the worst idea people have thought of. BUT if it IS him. then i'll eat crow or whatev. i like the daniel carter is lost in time, found and trained by rip hunter...comes back and is flyin around as supernova at the same time he's living still as daniel.

[Michael P]

52 is kickin ass right now. and i just don't like the idea that supernova is conner...i mean. it's just the worst idea people have thought of.
Doesn't every issue of Teen Titans OYL put a bullet in this theory's head?

[bghis]

Can someone provide a summary (in the normal spoiler blocks, of course)

[Bat-Mite]

Doesn't every issue of Teen Titans OYL put a bullet in this theory's head?

Maybe Supernova is actually Connor, but he gets hit a by a truck in week 47.

[Drew Geraci]

Well........this is interesting.

- Sounds like ol' Skeets has done something.......wrong?

And was it intentional that when he first says "He knows" it's not in a robotic word balloon? ;)

- I liked Pat Olliffe's pencils here. Is this the first time DFrew Geraci's inked him?

- A space dolphin, in the service of Archbishop LOBO!

- And is Supernova who we know think he might be, or is Cass just really really lonely and see him everywhere now?


Hey, thanks for noticing the artwork (the all-encompasing scope of the story does tend to take precedent), and while it's not the first time I've inked Pat, it was the first time I tried using an uber-slick style on him and I think we make a good team. Good news is that we have other weeks of 52 already in the can in the future .:D

I've been waiting to see the fan's reaction to Pope Lobo for months! I loved that scene the most! As for the secrets, Editor Steve Wacker actually keeps his secrets close to his vest, so I don't even know who Supernova is.

The only thing that drove me nuts was inking Skeets - he's not quite football shaped, and he's more rounded on his backside, so it takes lining up several inking templates to get him right! How 'bout Alex Sinclair's awesome colors?

Drew
www.drewgeraci.com

[Dr.Geekibus]

I'm really enjoying 52 right now. The booster/supernova stuff especially. Black Adam/Question is okay, Steel is sort of blah, but Dibny is cool and the booster and skeets show is great.

I like the mystery of Supernova but I'm going to be bummed if it's Conner. I think the better theory is the one about Daniel getting rescued and trained up by Rip. Doesn't quite explain his powers, but Rip would have access to future tech too. I thought there was an interesting tease in the blurb for next week's ish. Supernova standing (assumably) in the Batcave in front of a Robin costume. Hmmmmm...

As for Skeets, wasn't he destroyed and rebuilt a while back? It could be any number of things really. Lots of AI villains...The Construct...Killgore...Brainiac.

I'm looking forward to seeing where this goes. Good issue.

[Magneto_X]

My theory: somehow Booster Gold is possessing Skeets. Don't ask me how.

Sean:

Is the "Cass" you mentioned the former Batgirl?

[Deadpooligan]

So the arrows were pointing to Skeets. Aha! I knew the X-Files weren't lying to me with all robots being evil!

I always thought Skeets was the innocent, non-jerk of the Booster pair, but does this revelation mean he's orchestrated the time discrepancies? Were Skeets' "mistakes" all part of a ploy to kill off Booster and seal Rip Hunter out of time? Did he purposely get smashed, pieced into Ted Kord's goggles, and set up the events of his death?!]

...I love mysteries so much. I'm on the edge of my seat!

[Dr.Geekibus]

Drew, your artwork rocked and I thought you did a great job on Skeets. Overall I thought this was one of the tightest issues of 52. Kudos.

Cass: I'm assuming that was a reference to Wondergirl. Her name is Cassie.

Deadpooligan: I love a good mystery too. LOL at your X-files comment.

Smashed and remade into Ted Kord's goggles? When did that happen?

[skally19]

in countdown to infinite crisis remember ted found parts of skeets in his goggles.

[Dr.Geekibus]

D'oh! That's right. Thanks for reminding me. Cool. Wonder if that's just a red herring or if Deadpooligan is on the track.

[PastePotPete]

This was a cool issue.

Supernova is not Conner. Teen Titans negates the idea and Supernova pretty much proved it in his encounter with Wondergirl. I think the writers are going to keep teasing us with scenes like this.

Why does Supernova have to be someone we've met before? Is there a clue somewhere else that supports this? Or are we just assuming that this is so?

Archbishop Lobo was fun.
Forgive my lack of fanboy knowledge, but what is the name of that emerald eyeball thing and why is it such a big deal (it's also on the cover of a future issue.) I could be wrong, but I think I remember it from an old issue of Legionairres that I used to own.

[Sean Walsh]

Drew:

Pat's got a very distinctive and old-school style (he did give us UNTOLD TALES and SPIDER-GIRL after all) so it was nice to see a different take on it here. :)

And are you and Pat doing anymore issues of 52? Would certainly like to see you guys contribute again together...

Oh, and sorry for the typo. :p

[Sean Walsh]

Why does Supernova have to be someone we've met before? Is there a clue somewhere else that supports this? Or are we just assuming that this is so?

It's the mask.

Why's he hidin' his face unless his secret ID is a surprise? ;) :p

Forgive my lack of fanboy knowledge, but what is the name of that emerald eyeball thing and why is it such a big deal (it's also on the cover of a future issue.) I could be wrong, but I think I remember it from an old issue of Legionairres that I used to own.

It's the Emerald Empress's eye, so your visions of a LSH connection are indeed true.

The Fatal Five showed up in the present day during Our Worlds at War, so maybe Lobo and Co. got a hold of it after that?

[Michael Painter]

Actually, Sean, the Emerald Eye of Ekron has shown up in the present DCU beofre in Lobo's former book, L.E.G.I.O.N. Garryn Bek and his wife were possessed by the Eye, and later were freed by the team. It just looks like that Lobo is using the Eye to his own advantage now.
I loved the Space Dolphins in the issue, and I'm interested to see where these storylines are going.
And, the Brian Bolland origin story was amazing.

[Steve Brady]

The current "Skeets" is the one that came back with Booster during IC. I don't think he's meant to be reconstituted from the original that got destroyed, but rather Booster just stole another robot and called it Skeets.

[Loren]

I'm not sure if he was kidding, but last month Stephen Wacker (http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=81021) said in response to an L-Ron question, "L-Ron is Skeets. There, I said it."

Just thought that was worth sharing.

[K'Nort]

The way Skeets was talking, I wish they'd called Daniel 'Dave.'

Cassie needs therapy.

[SKJAM!]

It would appear that I was correct that Skeets moved the funeral where it was deliberately, though not so much about its motives for finding a Booster relative. Owie.

[MutoMikey]

Awesome issue. I still stand by the theory that Supernova is Connor. Have thought that since I heard the name. Here's what I think:
Remember when Cassie and those cult guys tried to bring back Sue Dibney and it 'kinda' worked? Didn't they try that with Connor (off panel)? Maybe it worked and Supernova is Connor but doesn't remember he is. He didn't have to be brought back where they were. He could have been brought back somewhere random on earth. They gotta bring him back, why else would they bring back Match in Teen Titans?

[TheCrisisKid]

I felt I was onto something when I posted my skeets thread. I truely think skeets is behind a lot of stuff, even if skeets doesn't know it is.

[Deadpooligan]

Awesome issue. I still stand by the theory that Supernova is Connor. Have thought that since I heard the name. Here's what I think:
Remember when Cassie and those cult guys tried to bring back Sue Dibney and it 'kinda' worked? Didn't they try that with Connor (off panel)? Maybe it worked and Supernova is Connor but doesn't remember he is. He didn't have to be brought back where they were. He could have been brought back somewhere random on earth. They gotta bring him back, why else would they bring back Match in Teen Titans?

I don't see any explanation for the teleporting powers though, or the fact that a punch from Booster Gold would daze Superboy...

I get the feeling this is gonna end up like the Monarch in Armageddon 2001. Just when somebody's got a hotline or keen internet instinct, they put it on poor Hank Hall. In this case, though I'm seriously doubting Hank Hall, they put it on another B-Lister.

We shall have no idea who it is. ;_;

[davros42]

Emerald Eye! Emerald Eye!!!!!

And creepy looking insecty things in space, eh? Destroying entire systems? Sounds a bit Sheeda-esque.

[Drew Geraci]

Drew:

Pat's got a very distinctive and old-school style (he did give us UNTOLD TALES and SPIDER-GIRL after all) so it was nice to see a different take on it here. :)

And are you and Pat doing anymore issues of 52? Would certainly like to see you guys contribute again together...

Oh, and sorry for the typo. :p

No sweat!

Actually Pat & I finished a second issue for the near future and are working on a third one 'way in advance. I apologize for not being specific, but I think Steve Wacker wants each new week to be a total suprise, so that's possibly why there's no story art credits in the solicits. Steve has a LOT of juggling to do, and other editors to consult so I can't speak for him. The best thing I can tell you is that several issues are worked on simultaneously, so 52 can come out every single week. No small feat in today's market.

It means a lot to hear such nice words about the art! We bust our chops to do the best we can and never like to come up short.

Drew G:)

[Sean Whitmore]

I don't see any explanation for the teleporting powers though, or the fact that a punch from Booster Gold would daze Superboy...


The teleporing could be tech, perhaps in the suit itself. And Booster has staggered Superman in the past.


SEAN

[Jack Zodiac]

I'm pretty sure that Skeets we see here is NOT the Skeets we thought we knew. And the 'He knows' in a different voice is definitely a clue.

Basically, Skeets never knew what was in the lab. Booster either told him a lie or omitted details because he realized who fault the time divergence really was. Skeets needed Daniel's DNA because Booster's suit is genelocked to only allow Carter DNA to use the goggles. But because he had to stay and hold the timelock open, he couldn't enter the room. He had to use Daniel to find out what Rip knew. Now, he knows that Rip knows....hence the "He knows."

Daniel was expendable from the moment Skeets scanned him. But by getting rid of Daniel, did Skeets cause the time anomally by destroying Booster's ancestor?

Jamie

I thought I remembered something about Booster's suit being genelocked. I mentioned it last week, but no one seemed to remember anything about it.

I'm sure the normal word bubble was intentional. His visor flashed oddly when he said it, too. Either someone's controlling Skeets, that's a different Skeets, or Skeets is an even bigger con artist than Booster and Maxwell Lord put together. And yes, by shunting Daniel into the timestream, he's no doubt kicked into gear a slew of anomalies involving "the Carter blood."

That also reminds me, did anyone else notice Skeets speaking awfully out of character here? Use Booster's DNA to bioengineer an identity for him? Booster was a powerless man outside of the suit, and since when can Skeets bioengineer anything? And then his dialogue towards the end. Skeets jumped from sounding like a snarky C-3PO to a human being.

Anyway, all of that aside, the Pope Lobo stuff was awesome! I can't wait to see him accompany the space heroes through "hell," and continue the Odyssey parallel. And who could that alien chick Lobo talked about, the one who put a price on the heroes' heads, possibly be in regards to the New Gods? I hope the focus of the story shifts to the space adventurers for a while so it'll all come together.

Good week! And a great Origin at the end.

[Jack Zodiac]

I've been waiting to see the fan's reaction to Pope Lobo for months! I loved that scene the most!

Ditto. I loved his redesign from a two weeks ago, but a Pope hat tops the chimney-sweeper. :p

Seriously, your alien ghetto was well done. Like something out of a Starlin story. I thought it was great and fit that part of the issue especially well. Very nice inkin'. :)

[Jack Zodiac]

My theory: somehow Booster Gold is possessing Skeets. Don't ask me how.

See, this one passed through my mind, especially when Skeets, of all people, brought up "the Carter blood." I don't know how that would happen, though, nor why Michael would be such a giant dickwad to an ancestor. So, for now, it's on my crackpot backburner. ;)

[Jack Zodiac]

I'm not sure if he was kidding, but last month Stephen Wacker (http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=81021) said in response to an L-Ron question, "L-Ron is Skeets. There, I said it."

Just thought that was worth sharing.

Ah-ha! Max probably planted him in Skeets's body as a way to slowly get revenge on all of his old Justice League cronies! Sadistic bastard.

[Jack Zodiac]

Awesome issue. I still stand by the theory that Supernova is Connor. Have thought that since I heard the name. Here's what I think:
Remember when Cassie and those cult guys tried to bring back Sue Dibney and it 'kinda' worked? Didn't they try that with Connor (off panel)? Maybe it worked and Supernova is Connor but doesn't remember he is. He didn't have to be brought back where they were. He could have been brought back somewhere random on earth. They gotta bring him back, why else would they bring back Match in Teen Titans?

They're bringing back Inertia, too, and as far as I know, Bart isn't and isn't looking to be a Teen Titan anymore.

[Jack Zodiac]

Emerald Eye! Emerald Eye!!!!!

And creepy looking insecty things in space, eh? Destroying entire systems? Sounds a bit Sheeda-esque.

When I saw the chick, with her bug body and faerie lookin' wings, that's the first thing that popped into my mind, but I don't know. Sheeda seem to be a nice mix of magic and future technology, not alien. We'll see, though. I'm positive Grant has a gaint storyline in mind for them.

[Cassius6303]

I thought I remembered something about Booster's suit being genelocked. I mentioned it last week, but no one seemed to remember anything about it.

I'm sure the normal word bubble was intentional. His visor flashed oddly when he said it, too. Either someone's controlling Skeets, that's a different Skeets, or Skeets is an even bigger con artist than Booster and Maxwell Lord put together. And yes, by shunting Daniel into the timestream, he's no doubt kicked into gear a slew of anomalies involving "the Carter blood."

I think it's a completely different Skeets, always has been. The original Skeets was incorporated into the suit and Beetle's goggles. The question is, is it a newer model or from a divergent timeline? (I'm thinking divergent timeline...)

That also reminds me, did anyone else notice Skeets speaking awfully out of character here? Use Booster's DNA to bioengineer an identity for him? Booster was a powerless man outside of the suit, and since when can Skeets bioengineer anything? And then his dialogue towards the end. Skeets jumped from sounding like a snarky C-3PO to a human being.

He can't. That was just his way of convincing Daniel to be his monkey. He needed the goggles to be able to see what was in the lab and the only person able to use the suit was of the Carter lineage.

I also think Skeets was giving Booster bad info the whole time. Remember, Magnus checked him out and there was nothing wrong as far as he could tell.

Anyway, all of that aside, the Pope Lobo stuff was awesome! I can't wait to see him accompany the space heroes through "hell," and continue the Odyssey parallel. And who could that alien chick Lobo talked about, the one who put a price on the heroes' heads, possibly be in regards to the New Gods? I hope the focus of the story shifts to the space adventurers for a while so it'll all come together.

I'm not sure she (Lady Styx) has anything to do with the New Gods but do we have a listing of the races in the Vega system.

Jamie

[Jack]

Ah, if Skeets has been manipulating Booster all this time, then can redemption for him really be too far off?

[DarkCrisis]

Sure Skeets is evil. Worked for Max Lord didn't it?

[Ian J.N.]

Ah, if Skeets has been manipulating Booster all this time, then can redemption for him really be too far off?
Booster's redemption, I think, will come through Daniel returning as the new and improved Booster Gold. Mind you, I said the same thing about Blue Beetle...

Or it could be that they introduced and disposed of Daniel just to nail shut the coffin. With his ancestor looping ad infinitum (or at least until 1,000,000 AD), Booster Gold has been obliterated from time. Gads! That takes care of the time travel loopholes.

[Joe-Dono]

see below, there was a strange double post thing.

[Joe-Dono]

I didnt expect what happend to happen.


Skeets is evil, I cant wait for the whole story to pan out and find out what really happend to time to make it broken.

Nice to see Weather Wizard, I always liked him.

Im not sure if it should be Pope Lobo or Pimp Lobo but eather way its all good.

I thought Daniel was gonna be hte new Booster Gold, Guess i am wrong.

One last thing TOO MENY AD'S

[Sean Walsh]

Sure Skeets is evil. Worked for Max Lord didn't it?

Yes, but Skeets is a computer. He could've been programmed to be evil!

(Then again Max was a semi-computer for a while too)

I blame Bill Gates!

[Sean Walsh]

So I'm gonna say this Skeets is not THE Skeets.

Wasn't it revealed that Skeets was dismantled in order to help build Brother Eye or something in COUNTDOWN?

And given the word balloon thing, which if it wasn't an error meant he spoke as a human there when he first said "He knows".......

......y'think this Skeets might be Maxwell Lord?!

[Cassius6303]

Actually, I think it might be Tomorrow - The Future Man a pre-Crisis off-shoot of T.O. Morrow.

Who you say?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T.O._Morrow

Jamie

[rexcase]

my theory:
we're all assuming that "he knows" is referring to rip hunter.
i think skeets is talking about booster himself. booster didn't tell skeets about the blackboard, because he figured out that skeets was misleading him.
possibly he faked his own death in order to investigate further, without skeets knowing.

[Ian J.N.]

So I'm gonna say this Skeets is not THE Skeets.

Wasn't it revealed that Skeets was dismantled in order to help build Brother Eye or something in COUNTDOWN?

And given the word balloon thing, which if it wasn't an error meant he spoke as a human there when he first said "He knows".......

......y'think this Skeets might be Maxwell Lord?!
Damn, wish I thought of that. That's a really good theory. It fits having Max be a part of the Booster story, and it makes sense that he would upload his consciousness to escape death, given the telepathic nature of his abilities and the fact that he's done it once before. I'm thinking he uploaded to Brother I right before Wonder Woman killed him, and then to Skeets 2.0 (conveniently in the vicinity) while Brother I went down. (Any time before that doesn't make much sense, 'cause why would a Max-possessed Skeets help destroy his own satellite.)

That said, I don't think Max has been pulling strings the whole time.
1. Skeets seemed genuinely distressed at Booster's death ("Michael!").
2. Wacker confirmed that running into Daniel was a coincidence, not a nefarious scheme.
3. Throughout the series, Skeets has only done what Booster asked of him. Yes, he could have mislead Booster with the facts, citing "time anomalies," but that would imply that time isn't actually broken. Rip Hunter's chalkboard is pretty adamant that it is.

[Ian J.N.]

'Kay, I'm going to throw my hat into ring on the "Who is Supernova?" speculation: It's Daniel Jon Carter.

Daniel emerges in 1,000,000 AD. He appropriates futuristic technology and travels to the past using Rip Hunter's time machine (sound familiar?), escaping as Earth's dying sun goes supernova. Humbled by the hell his glory-seeking put him through, he becomes a superhero.

[MutoMikey]

(Again with the Supernova, sorry)

They're bringing back Inertia, too, and as far as I know, Bart isn't and isn't looking to be a Teen Titan anymore.

Well Johns might bring Bart back for that 1 story as a surprise. You know that "once a titan, always a titan" thing. So as 'left field' as that is to the 'who's supernova debate', I think it still leave the option that Connor's Supernova.

But the 'he knows thing', with Booster, wouldn't that be ' he knew?

[Cassius6303]

I still maintain that the powers Supernova has been shown with (barring teleportation) belong to Triumph. A time-lost hero/villain who never felt he had a fair shake once he was found.

Jamie

[Jack Zodiac]

my theory:
we're all assuming that "he knows" is referring to rip hunter.
i think skeets is talking about booster himself. booster didn't tell skeets about the blackboard, because he figured out that skeets was misleading him.
possibly he faked his own death in order to investigate further, without skeets knowing.

I like this theory, but Booster's actions throughout the series are too consistent to lead people to believe he faked his death on a whim in a nuclear explosion.

[Jack Zodiac]

I still maintain that the powers Supernova has been shown with (barring teleportation) belong to Triumph. A time-lost hero/villain who never felt he had a fair shake once he was found.

Jamie

Who was blowed up real good in Morrison's JLA. :p Not saying he couldn't be him, just that there's a nice obstacle to have to work around if it is him.

[kalorama]

I like this theory, but Booster's actions throughout the series are too consistent to lead people to believe he faked his death on a whim in a nuclear explosion.

Yeah, that seems a bit too much. Either he and Supernova were in cahoots and planned the whole exploding ship thing or Booster would have to be even more of an opportunist than people thought.

As for Supernova, if he's not Conner, what about him made Cassie think he was? It's unlikely she'd mistake any of the pther "suspects" for Conner, even with a mask.

[Jack Zodiac]

Well, she has to have a reason behind thinking it's him. Given that she can't see his face, I'd say his voice. Maybe Lex used whatever he could salvage from Cadmus to clone another Kon-El and used the Everyman Project to give him new powers.

[kalorama]

Well, she has to have a reason behind thinking it's him. Given that she can't see his face, I'd say his voice. Maybe Lex used whatever he could salvage from Cadmus to clone another Kon-El and used the Everyman Project to give him new powers.

His voice wouldn't be any more immediately recognizeable than his face through the mask. Given their relationship, it's likely she sensed it was Superboy on a deeper level beyond just physical recognition. Which could make it hard to swallow when it (inevitably) turns out not to be him.

[MWGallaher]

Well, she has to have a reason behind thinking it's him. Given that she can't see his face, I'd say his voice. Maybe Lex used whatever he could salvage from Cadmus to clone another Kon-El and used the Everyman Project to give him new powers.
I think Cassie is just obsessed. She's "seeing" her boyfriend where he's not.
I'm really hoping the Supernova mystery works out like the Sensor Girl mystery in the LOSH many years ago--an existing character whose known powers are being used in a novel but consistent way. There have been (at least the way I read it) suggestions that that is the case, that the powers he appears to be exercising aren't exactly the ones he actually is exercising.

[blackphoenix]

I have no idea what's going on with that floating eyeball, and i guess it'll take to week 52 to finally find out.

Supernova is NOT Kon-El. Come on, in the Teen Titans OYL, Robin is still trying to bring him back!

I hate Lobo. I'm still pissed that Starfire let that bastard(yes, BASTARD, not bastich or whatever) tear her bra off and oogle her boobs a few issues back(why did she let him do that again??).

[Jack Zodiac]

I hate Lobo. I'm still pissed that Starfire let that bastard(yes, BASTARD, not bastich or whatever) tear her bra off and oogle her boobs a few issues back(why did she let him do that again??).

'Cause he can throw down with Superman, and they're stranded in space with a busted ship and New Gods hunting them down?

[Magneto_X]

I hate Lobo. I'm still pissed that Starfire let that bastard(yes, BASTARD, not bastich or whatever) tear her bra off and oogle her boobs a few issues back(why did she let him do that again??).

Lobo did what now?!? :D

[Sean Whitmore]

I hate Lobo. I'm still pissed that Starfire let that bastard(yes, BASTARD, not bastich or whatever) tear her bra off and oogle her boobs a few issues back(why did she let him do that again??).


Because the 'Bo is irresistable? :)


SEAN

[Sean Whitmore]

I think Cassie is just obsessed. She's "seeing" her boyfriend where he's not.


I'm honestly wondering how and why we're ever supposed to take Cassie seriously again after this series.


SEAN

[Kid Lantern]

Skeets = Blue Beetle :evilsmile

Also: wasnt skeets pulled apart by checkmate?

[SlightlyMad]

I think the theory that Daniel becomes Supernova, but if that's the case, why didn't he tip himself off, or just stop Skeets when he confronted Booster or at any other point before he gets locked away?

It seems more likely that Daniel has become a late addition of a past crossover: Booster Gold One Million (maybe he can get a Justice League A membership & his own planet).

I like the theory that Booster faked his death, went back in time & became Supernova, but then he would've run the risk that Skeets could've scanned him & worked out who he was.

As for why Supernova appears to be in the Batcave checking out Jason Todd's costume (is Jason accounted for OYL?) & what Rip Hunter's involvement is/will be... The guy in the comic shop said this week's episode was the biggest head-scratcher yet & he wasn't wrong!

[BoosterBronze]

I for one am glad Daniel got sucked into time. I think I'd rather have no Booster than a fake Booster. :::sobs:::

[Sean Walsh]

I'm honestly wondering how and why we're ever supposed to take Cassie seriously again after this series.

Well, she seems kinda fine in TITANS OYL. So I presume she'll have some epiphany or redeeming moment later in 52...

[skally19]

I think the theory that Daniel becomes Supernova, but if that's the case, why didn't he tip himself off, or just stop Skeets when he confronted Booster or at any other point before he gets locked away?


because then he wouldn't be able to become supernova. isn't that kinda "duh".

[SlightlyMad]

Well why isn't he waiting outside the bunker to squish Skeets then? :confused:

[Jack Zodiac]

As for why Supernova appears to be in the Batcave checking out Jason Todd's costume (is Jason accounted for OYL?)

Yep. He was masquerading around as Nightwing.

[wes_rk]

I have to say I'm very intrigued and want to find out why Supernova is in the cave checking out Jason's custume, how he got in, why does he know where the cave is, etc. I hope we get some answers, but with 52, you never know.

[SamuraiJack]

Well, she seems kinda fine in TITANS OYL. So I presume she'll have some epiphany or redeeming moment later in 52...

Which seems very likely since according to the timeline a scant few weeks have passes since her boyfriend 'died'. I'm betting by the time 52 wraps she'll have come to terms with his loss and stopped being such a nutter about bringing him back, which will explain why she seems fine in TT...

[Sean Whitmore]

I don't think she sounds all that fine over in TT. She spent the first few OYL issues fighting the Brotherhood alone because she was pissed at the Titans for not being there for her.

And now we know that "being there for her" equals "drinking the Krypto-Kool-Aid".


SEAN

[Ian J.N.]

Well why isn't he waiting outside the bunker to squish Skeets then? :confused:
Memory loss? Secret plan with Booster Gold whom Supernova teleport-swapped with his future remains so as to make Skeets think he was dead? Work with me here! :)

But yeah, I agree, the theory poses more questions than answers. I just find it odd that Daniel would be done away with so quickly. It seems more likely that he's being set up to become a superhero a la Booster Gold, especially now that a time machine has been thrown into the mix (Rip Hunter's time machine, no less). Could be that "Buddy Platinum" or whoever will show up in a future issue, but consider this: Within the Booster plotline we've been introduced to two new characters. One is a civilian with a yet to be revealed superhero identity. The other, a superhero with a yet to be revealed civilian identity. Awfully tempting to connect the two, isn't it?

[Jack Zodiac]

And now we know that "being there for her" equals "drinking the Krypto-Kool-Aid".

I can see Conner's return already. "Get yo' hands off my Kool-Aid, boy wonder!"

[Sean Walsh]

Which seems very likely since according to the timeline a scant few weeks have passes since her boyfriend 'died'. I'm betting by the time 52 wraps she'll have come to terms with his loss and stopped being such a nutter about bringing him back, which will explain why she seems fine in TT...

When the thing with Ralph and Cass came to a head a few issues back, I had this alternate idea for an ending:

Ralph, outraged at what Cass and the others were doing, breaks up the gathering with GL and the others.....but then snaps as Cass while she's trying to fight them (say she says something off-handedly offensive about Sue).

Suddenly he uses his thought-worn out elastic powers and wraps them around Cass, trying to suffocate and possibly kill her. GL and the others stop the fighting and frantically try to stop Ralph. But before much of a struggle, he stops - and as Cass is hacking, coughing and catching her air, he just yells...

"THAT'S THE CLOSEST YOU'LL EVER BE TO CONNER AGAIN. EVER."

...and storms off.

THAT would've snapped her back into reality. :p

[DonC]

I don't think she sounds all that fine over in TT. She spent the first few OYL issues fighting the Brotherhood alone because she was pissed at the Titans for not being there for her.

And now we know that "being there for her" equals "drinking the Krypto-Kool-Aid".


SEAN


Hey, Krypto Kool-Aid is yellow and made by a dog. I wouldn't drink it either.

[TCJohnson]

Michael Jon Carter will be back.

Why didn't he tell Skeets about what he found in Rip Hunter's place? Because he knew he was evil. The problem was that he couldn't get away from Skeets. Skeets was observing his every movie. He couldn't tell everybody about Skeets. He tried to foil Skeets plans by acting like like a complete and total idiot and jerk. Skeets was obviously trying to set him in a position and power for his own plans, and Booster Gold purposefully ruined that. After all, it was the week after he found Rip Hunter's bunker that things began to go down hill for him. He hires Mantrhax and then purposely bounces the check. That was the beginning of the end for Booster...or for Skeets plan.

Booster realizes he has to get away from Skeets. So he makes plans with Supernova (either by later traveling into the past and letting Supernova know, or Supernova is from the future.) Supernova summons the creature...after all, nobody is hurt. And the two of them fake Booster's death so that the two of them can start working against Skeets.

Well, it's a theory.

[Damo]

=*******(

Blue Beetle dead. Maxwell Lord evil and dead. Booster dead. Skeets evil.

*Sighs.* I'm gonna go watch "The Greatest Story Never Told". Listen to Skeets being voiced by Billy West. Why'd you have to go there DC? Man...

[The Purple Skull]

SPOILER Alert



I noticed while reading the latest Green Lantern, the Guardians mentioned the number 52 in regards to Cybrog Superman & the Manhunters trying to find the hidden path within Sector 3601. Anyone wanna take a shot at what that might mean?

[ScottDMSimmons]

I'm really hoping the Supernova mystery works out like the Sensor Girl mystery in the LOSH many years ago--an existing character whose known powers are being used in a novel but consistent way. There have been (at least the way I read it) suggestions that that is the case, that the powers he appears to be exercising aren't exactly the ones he actually is exercising.

I'm sticking by my Ray Palmer theory.

[Cthulhudrew]

I have to say I'm very intrigued and want to find out why Supernova is in the cave checking out Jason's custume,

He's probably thinking "what kind of pervert puts his dead underage partner's tighty-greenies on display where only he will see them every day? Sicko." :D

[Dr.Geekibus]

I'm not buying the Ray Palmer theory, although you could say he was shrinking and then reappearing to make it look like teleportation. Also, Palmer was a member of the Titans for a while and I would imagine since then he's at least had a runin or two with Cassie (she joined after he left).

See, this is what makes comics fun these days. An honest to goodness mystery. Now as long as DC doesn't pull a Monitor=Cap Atom=Hank Hall switcheroo again, I'll be pleased to wait and see how it all falls together.

[filthysize]

What if Skeets is not evil?

What if he had to send Daniel in the time vortex, so that, uhhhh.... he'll land in the 25th century, lose his memory, and adopt the name Michael?

....

Hey, it could happen.

[batturtle]

I really hope that Skeets isn't evil.
Maybe he's robo-brainwashed.
As a friend of mine pointed out...it was funny how Clark offered him a lift.
Isn't that like offering a toaster a lift?
And wouldn't people be like, 'Hey...how come Clark is hanging out with Booster's pet robot?'

Ah well...
Poor poor JLI.

[TheTen-EyedMan]

SPOILER Alert

I noticed while reading the latest Green Lantern, the Guardians mentioned the number 52 in regards to Cybrog Superman & the Manhunters trying to find the hidden path within Sector 3601. Anyone wanna take a shot at what that might mean?

52 ways to leave your lover.

52 wasted weeks?

52 ways to get bored with comics again.

52 ways to find some relief?

Whoa...just channelled Johnny Cash for a minute.

I'm off to snog Reese Witherspoon.

[rexcase]

Michael Jon Carter will be back.

Why didn't he tell Skeets about what he found in Rip Hunter's place? Because he knew he was evil. The problem was that he couldn't get away from Skeets. Skeets was observing his every movie. He couldn't tell everybody about Skeets. He tried to foil Skeets plans by acting like like a complete and total idiot and jerk. Skeets was obviously trying to set him in a position and power for his own plans, and Booster Gold purposefully ruined that. After all, it was the week after he found Rip Hunter's bunker that things began to go down hill for him. He hires Mantrhax and then purposely bounces the check. That was the beginning of the end for Booster...or for Skeets plan.

Booster realizes he has to get away from Skeets. So he makes plans with Supernova (either by later traveling into the past and letting Supernova know, or Supernova is from the future.) Supernova summons the creature...after all, nobody is hurt. And the two of them fake Booster's death so that the two of them can start working against Skeets.

Well, it's a theory.


thanks. this is what i was trying to get at in my earlier post, but didn't really phrase right.

i'm sticking with this theory

[Brother Zag]

Okay, maybe I'm reading too much into this... but could Skeets have disappeared when he discovered it was "his fault"? All of a sudden, he's gone from the frame... then he's back again. Could the real Skeets have blipped out of time in that frame? What would that mean? Did we just see time itself readjust? Curious...

[Ian J.N.]

I really hope that Skeets isn't evil.
Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but (http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=84184):

Waid: Okay, if you think back to one of our previous interviews about 52, sharp readers will recall that we once revealed how Grant said something random in a conference call, around issue five or so, that blew everyone's mind and changed everything. Now it can be revealed: Grant said, simply, "What if Skeets is evil?" That was the second biggest "Boy, we sure didn't plan that at the initial meeting!" bombshell any of the writers ever unleashed upon the others. (The first biggest was something Geoff said about what the 52 Missing Seconds were protecting. I'd tell you more, but I feel another wet cough coming on.)

I hope, at least, that the Skeets/Booster friendship was sincere, even if Skeets may have been working his own agenda.

[Count Vertigo]

I'm wondering if Rip Hunter's apparent mental breakdown had something to do with the missing scientists such as T.O. Morrow and Dr. Sivana (did anyone notice the jar with the discarded cacoon? Does this mean Mr. Mind or another mind-worm is going to be seen?) is tied in with Carter being sucked into that portal.

[Kent H]

Michael Jon Carter will be back.

Why didn't he tell Skeets about what he found in Rip Hunter's place? Because he knew he was evil. The problem was that he couldn't get away from Skeets. Skeets was observing his every movie. He couldn't tell everybody about Skeets. He tried to foil Skeets plans by acting like like a complete and total idiot and jerk. Skeets was obviously trying to set him in a position and power for his own plans, and Booster Gold purposefully ruined that. After all, it was the week after he found Rip Hunter's bunker that things began to go down hill for him. He hires Mantrhax and then purposely bounces the check. That was the beginning of the end for Booster...or for Skeets plan.

Booster realizes he has to get away from Skeets. So he makes plans with Supernova (either by later traveling into the past and letting Supernova know, or Supernova is from the future.) Supernova summons the creature...after all, nobody is hurt. And the two of them fake Booster's death so that the two of them can start working against Skeets.

Well, it's a theory.

The problem is, Booster was already acting like a jerk and idiot before going to the lab. His egocentric arguement with Fire, and the first incident with Manthrax, where Booster gives him the check, both occurred before he went into the lab.

[TheCrisisKid]

Is it possible that Skeets could have time traveled back or ahead in time and changed something so that Booster would change emotionally and mentally? Could he have went back and found a young booster gold, before he learned morals or had life experiences that shaped him into the BG that we know, and told him what he told the ancestor to booster gold, "I can give you powers, blah, blah,.. and you can be rich if you do this and this". So Skeets grabs this immature, undeveloped version of BG and brings him back to the current time, and tries to pass him off as the real Booster Gold.

Maybe?

[LtMarvel]

The latest Comics Buyer's Guide had an interview with Kieth G....his favorite scene so far is Thanksgiving at the Sivana house , which, of course, hasn't been published or mentioned in the advance solits!

[SpaceBooger]

ok so here is my take based off the preview pages for this week:
SuperNova may be some form of Dick Grayson
Reasons:
1 he knows where the batcave is
2. he is looking at dick's robin costume
3. in nightwing oyl dick says he is still banged up and not 100% from the past year

so dick may be supernova i cant explain the powers but the IC build up to make nightwing a great character (the teen titans issue with conner) is continued in 52 while explaining his weakness in his own title

[Cassius6303]

I posted this yesterday in a different thread but I'm beginning to suspect that Supernova is actually Ambush Bug....no, I'm not crazy. Here's why:

1) We have only ever seen Supernova use two powers, flight and teleporation. Ambush Bug was a teleporter, I don't know if he ever displayed the powers of flight. Every use of his powers in a fight was some type of teleporation, even his 'disintegration' ray, in which Clark described the chunk of ground as "Vanishing, or some sort of disintegration" (not the exact quote). Look back at the Week 15 breakdowns on the 52 site. In the original version, originally Booster dies because he was teleported in half.

2) He was an ex-villain that became a hero. Waid has hinted at this being the case in past interviews.

3) He's Metropolis based.

4) Who's Who described him as being 5'10", 125 lbs. Sort of matches Supernovas frame, somewhat.

5) He knows Superman's Secret Identity and has been influenced by Clark for much of his existence. It would not be out of character for him to attempt to step into his shoes during Clark's absence.

6) In Week 9, he appears right outside the Daily Planet....almost as if on purpose. In the past, he's shown he has outside knowledge of continuity/events.

7) Speaking of continuity, Supernova himself is pre-Crisis continuity. It's not that hard of a stretch to believe he lifted this on purpose.

8) Continuity itself is messed up. He's acted in the past on behalf of Jonni DC, Continuity Cop to fix things up. In fact, Jonni is the one who originally wiped Egg Fu from continuity in the first place.

Jamie

[Jack Zodiac]

Reasons why it can't be Ambush Bug:

1. Supernova seems to be quite sane. Even if we know nothing about him, we can agree that he hasn't done or said anything verging on crazy yet.

2. Ambush Bug was comic relief. In this day and age at DC, he's much more likely to be killed than reformed into another character.

3. His suit's his skin, and I doubt he's hiding antenna underneath that little mask.

4. I don't ever recall seeing him teleport anything but himself. Not that he really ever used his powers much.

But, most importantly!

4) Who's Who described him as being 5'10", 125 lbs. Sort of matches Supernovas frame, somewhat.

5. His actual height, recorded in his latest "Who's Who" entry in the binder edition, is "1" to 9" depending on the size of the panel."

Take that! :D

[Cassius6303]

Reasons why it can't be Ambush Bug:

1. Supernova seems to be quite sane. Even if we know nothing about him, we can agree that he hasn't done or said anything verging on crazy yet.

2. Ambush Bug was comic relief. In this day and age at DC, he's much more likely to be killed than reformed into another character.

3. His suit's his skin, and I doubt he's hiding antenna underneath that little mask.

4. I don't ever recall seeing him teleport anything but himself. Not that he really ever used his powers much.

But, most importantly!



5. His actual height, recorded in his latest "Who's Who" entry in the binder edition, is "1" to 9" depending on the size of the panel."

Take that! :D

LOL! All right, I'll bite.

1. Yet.

2. I think his inclusion is temporary. Supernova doesn't exist OYL as far as we know.

3. Really? Why else use a full face mask? And look at the symbol's location on 'nova.....just about the starting spot of AB's antennae.

4. I don't recall it either but the entries I've seen on Wikipedia and the AB archive implied that he can do more with it. Heck, he has the power to break the fourth wall. :D

5. You got me there.....;)

BTW, I present to the court Ambush Bug's first ever DCU appearance:

DC Comics Presents #52


Jack, I also think I may have figured out who Isis and her brother is...

Jamie

[Jack Zodiac]

GASP! You're right, that was his first appearance. Maybe 52 is all one big event to build up Ambush Bug!

And Supernova hasn't been seen OYL, but he has been mentioned in "Up, Up, and Away" on newspaper covers. Personally, as a huge Ambush Bug fan, I'd be disappointed if they turned him into a real hero. :p

[Cassius6303]

GASP! You're right, that was his first appearance. Maybe 52 is all one big event to build up Ambush Bug!

And Supernova hasn't been seen OYL, but he has been mentioned in "Up, Up, and Away" on newspaper covers. Personally, as a huge Ambush Bug fan, I'd be disappointed if they turned him into a real hero. :p

I know, I figured you'd be all over this based on your old avatar.

I think he's there for a larger purpose if it is him. Here's some of the supporting information I've found besides what I've already posted.

We've only ever seen him use some form of Teleporation, right. And he feels the need to step in for Superman while he is away. And he somehow knows the location of the Batcave and the items shown in the preview both have ties to continuity messes (Jason Todd back from the dead and the reapearrance of certain types of Kryptonite).

And Waid said he could be a villain....Schwab has been both at one time or another.

Supernova was a concept taken from the pre-Crisis continuity....he could have easily pulled it from an earlier story. Clark doesn't seem to recognize it.

Jonni DC eliminated Egg Fu from continuity....Egg Fu is back. Ambush Bug helped Jonni on occassion.

He knows he's in a comic book. In fact, it seems this knowledge threw him into fits of depression....if one of the other theories are true, then this could be the secret to the Anti-life equation.

He was sent to Comic Book limbo after the end of Son of Ambush Bug....is it the same limbo Buddy Baker went to in the classic Animal Man story? More than one of those characters that Buddy met in limbo have made their way back into the DCU. One of them made an appearance not two weeks ago. Are the walls breaking down?

What if the fourhorsemen are Waid, Ruck, Johns, and Morrisson? What if the 'her' that line referred to was Jonni DC and her (old) continuity?

And FWIW, I'm putting money on Isis being Amazing Grace....

Jamie

[Jack Zodiac]

...so she's looking for Glorious Godfrey? Oy vey. :p

Have you read Teen Titans recently? In the last one, there was a picture line up of the members from the missing year. One was sponsored by Black Adam. His name was Osirism, who was, in mythology, Isis's brother (and husband, but hopefully they won't explore that angle :p).

[Cassius6303]

Yessir, I am following most DC titles. And remember, he served prior to OYL.

"The old Gods are DEAD, the new Gods want what's left." Didn't the Marvel Family receive their powers via the old Gods (via Shazam)?

Jamie

[Sean Walsh]

And FWIW, I'm putting money on Isis being Amazing Grace....

My god, my insanity is spreading.......I PREACHED THIS WORD MONTHS AGO! :D

[Sean Walsh]

...so she's looking for Glorious Godfrey? Oy vey. :p

AND THIS ONE TOO!!!! Hee hee! :p

[Jack Zodiac]

I don't think anything will be as ridiculous and insane as my ranting that Ambush Bug was behind the murders in Identity Crisis. :p And we'll see. I don't know if I can handle the idea of Glorious Godfrey being reborn into New Earth as a little Egyptian boy. That's too off-the-wall. That's subway pirates crazy.

[Cassius6303]

My god, my insanity is spreading.......I PREACHED THIS WORD MONTHS AGO! :D

Then Amen brutha!

I had seen speculation a while back that she was a New God but I never put it together until today.

That and I wasn't around here a few months ago.:D

Jamie

[Paul McEnery]

LOL! All right, I'll bite.

1. Yet.

2. I think his inclusion is temporary. Supernova doesn't exist OYL as far as we know.

3. Really? Why else use a full face mask? And look at the symbol's location on 'nova.....just about the starting spot of AB's antennae.

4. I don't recall it either but the entries I've seen on Wikipedia and the AB archive implied that he can do more with it. Heck, he has the power to break the fourth wall. :D

5. You got me there.....;)

BTW, I present to the court Ambush Bug's first ever DCU appearance:

DC Comics Presents #52


Jack, I also think I may have figured out who Isis and her brother is...

Jamie
Well, I reckon you're right about the Bug part, anyway.

It's just that I think he's the bug that was in Sivana's jar.

[Paul McEnery]

I'm also putting my money on Isis being a plant by Intergang designed to destroy Black Adam.

[Sean Walsh]

Then Amen brutha!

I had seen speculation a while back that she was a New God but I never put it together until today.

That and I wasn't around here a few months ago.:D

It was almost 2 months now. And said theory was tied in with Intergang (I'm readin' Paul's mind too it seems!)

http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showpost.php?p=3443791

(Can't believe I almost forgot the particulars of my own theory...)

[Cassius6303]

It was almost 2 months now. And said theory was tied in with Intergang (I'm readin' Paul's mind too it seems!)

http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showpost.php?p=3443791

(Can't believe I almost forgot the particulars of my own theory...)

LOL! The funny thing was this was pointed out to me over on 52 Pickup today by Squashua. It's a good theory.

And I don't think anyone is really falling for the whole Isis storyline anymore. Most people began to wonder about her when she kept putting off the search for her brother and the suddeness to which Adam proposed.

Jamie

[Jack Zodiac]

Well, I reckon you're right about the Bug part, anyway.

It's just that I think he's the bug that was in Sivana's jar.

Supernova? If so, I expect an incredibly good explanation for: a. why he's acting as a hero, b. why he's dressed like Nova, and c. why he's been mistaken for Kon-El and how he knew how to get into the Batcave.