52 Week 31 (***SPOILERS***)

[Jim Yost]

Okay, so I've got one question - is Lady Styx a new character? Well, maybe it's two questions - is this arc fast becoming DC's riff on Annhilation, or is it me?

And for the record, I've mentally switched most of my bet over to Jack Knight being Supernova. Knows Ralph well, there's a DEVICE capable of what Supernova's done, his logo's got a similarity to Jack's, there's the fact that a supernova is flashier than a star, and if one of the keys is stepping up with Superman gone... well Jack did idolize him, right? Plus didn't know that Superman was Clark, hence the relationship in the early issue when they met...

Just thinking. Just when I was about to bolt...

[skally19]

i loved this issue. so much. it was awesome. and i'm liking the jack knight supernova. but the booster gold, rip hunter, daniel carter, supernova thing is just soo tempting and awesome that i'll go with that. maybe that's why supernova didn't want his name mentioned. awesome awesome issue.

[titanfan]

I'm going with Scott Free.

Device = Mother Box
Knows Ralph = Check
Knows Booster enough to lecture him = Check
Can break into Batcave with zero problems = Check

What he's doing in Metropolis, I have no idea though.

[Jim Yost]

I'm going with Scott Free.

Device = Mother Box
Knows Ralph = Check
Knows Booster enough to lecture him = Check
Can break into Batcave with zero problems = Check

What he's doing in Metropolis, I have no idea though.

These things all went thru my head too... I just couldn't figure out what the link between Scott and Superman was. And is he dead now anyway? Seeing as Shiloh was MM in the 7S series, right?

[Joe Acro]

These things all went thru my head too... I just couldn't figure out what the link between Scott and Superman was. And is he dead now anyway? Seeing as Shiloh was MM in the 7S series, right?
Scott Free is not dead. The last we saw him, he was retired, living a regular man's life with his wife Barda.

[Xero]

How come we've never seen Metal Men made out of Prometheum, Nth Metal or Kryptonium? : )

[Lonewolf36]

I think Supernova is Snapper Carr

Back in JLA 149 and 150 Snapper wore the Star-Tsar suit which gave him similar powers flight, enhanced strength, stellar energy manipulation. The Suit could be the device Ralph is referring to.

He previously had teleportation power which he lost but could have regained.

Ralph was there when he was unmasked as Star-Tsar.

He knows Cassie from their time in Young Justice Together.

I believe he was aware of the Batcave's location.

The Key and Privateer (Mark Shaw) was responsible for Snapper taken up the Star-Tsar identity.

[Nintendite]

How come we've never seen Metal Men made out of Prometheum, Nth Metal or Kryptonium? : )

I'm about to get a bit random here... but who else would think it would be freaking sweet if there were a Adamantium Metal Man in a crossover with Marvel? Anyone?



...

Anyway... I can kinda see one of the Starmen being Supernova... but the Snapper Carr theory actually makes a surprising amount of sense, and would be JUST twisted enough to work.

[Jack Zodiac]

The Key and Privateer (Mark Shaw) was responsible for Snapper taken up the Star-Tsar identity.

The Key. Good call. Ralph even makes a joke about it. Y'know what, I bet it is Snapper, but why the hell is he so adamant about hiding his idenity from all of the other heroes?

Also, Lady Styx... between this and Mystery in Space, she's lookin' pretty interesting, but whoever called this story out on being incredibly similar to Annihilation nailed it. Very similar, and very sudden.

EDIT: Y'know, on second thought, Supernova didn't even recognize Cassie. Twice. Couldn't be Snapper, unless they're effectively removing Young Justice from continuity. Scott, however, makes perfect sense, especially since Ralph "sussed out" what kinda' device would be capable of all of those things, and a Motherbox can do damn near anything.

[Sean Walsh]

Good to see I'm not the only one who thought it's Scott Free.

The key comment.......referring to his Mother Box?

Ralph's comment about "from an angle" means something, though. Hrm...

[skally19]

i like daniel carter, rip hunter thing. maybe michael is forever dead. but daniel not only became rip hunter but now supernova. that's why he didn't want his name mentioned at all. and they keep talkin how no one knows rip's real name

[Matthew E]

I'd like to post this about Lady Styx before anybody else does. (Assuming I am doing it before anybody else does.)

Lady (Styx)

Lady, when you're with me I'm smiling
Give me all your love
Your hands build me up when I'm sinking
Just touch me and my troubles all fade
Lady, from the moment I saw you
Standing all alone
You gave all the love that I needed
So shy, like a child who has grown

You're my lady of the morning
Love shines in your eyes
Sparkling, clear, and lovely
You're my lady

Lady, turns me on when I'm lonely
Show me all your charm
Evenings when she lays down beside me
Just take me gently into your arms

You're my lady of the morning
Love shines in your eyes
Sparkling, clear, and lovely
You're my lady

Lady of the morning
Love shines in your eyes
Sparkling, clear, and lovely
You're my ... lady

--

I have to wonder if this is what DC had in mind.

[Ian J.N.]

I really like the Scott Free theory, but I'm thinking Supernova is Steel, who's undercover so as to better take down Luthor.

I will now support my hypothesis with moderate quantities of panache:

=========

Metropolis based: Check.

Experienced: Check.

Would lecture Booster on responsibility: And how.

Would know the location to the Batcave: Presumably he would as a trusted JLA member. (Question: Steel's the go-to tech guru... Do we know who designed the Batcave's state-of-the-art security system?)

"Superman being out of the picture was key": Steel first appeared after Superman's death/disappearance. In fact, he was mistaken for a resurrected Superman. Very similar to the whole Supernova/Superboy thing, no?

"The powers threw me...": Supernova's powers (obviously) are quite different than Steel's abilities. You can say that about 98% of DC's heroes, but Steel stands out in a couple respects. 1) Though not associated with teleportation, he has had that ability in the past (or so Wikipedia tells me. Could anyone elaborate?). 2) His niece went from an Iron Man type hero to one with light-based powers. Storywise, it fits having Steel make a similar transition. John Henry Irons, Supernova v. Natasha Irons, Starlight--lots of significant parallels and literary type stuff there.

"...but when I saw them from the proper angle, I sussed out the one device that could tie them all together.": I don't know to what Ralph's referring, but regardless, if Supernova's powers stem from an ingenius (i.e. knowledgeable) use of pre-existing technology, who better a candidate than John Henry? In fact, for John Henry to be Supernova, the powers would pretty well have to be technology based. What a convenient coincidence!

CONCLUSION: Steel

[Ian J.N.]

i like daniel carter, rip hunter thing. maybe michael is forever dead. but daniel not only became rip hunter but now supernova. that's why he didn't want his name mentioned at all. and they keep talkin how no one knows rip's real name
Yeah, I really liked the idea that Supernova was Daniel Carter, as a kind of Booster Gold of Tomorrow! However, that theory was centred on Supernova's powers being based on uber-futuristic technology. This issue says they come from a present-day device, so... humbug.

[StrikeForce Albert]

IF it is Booster Gold, I'm thinking he modified his force field to do all this stuff.

[Joe Acro]

(Question: Steel's the go-to tech guru... Do we know who designed the Batcave's state-of-the-art security system?)
Based on Identity Crisis, I would say Scott Free probably had a hand in it.

[Cthulhudrew]

Based on Identity Crisis, I would say Scott Free probably had a hand in it.

Probably a lot of it was done by Harold Allnut as well as Batman himself.

[Jack]

I'm still going with Supernova being Rip Hunter. That's been my prediction since his very first appearance (I thought of it first, hahahahahaha), and that's what it will stay until he's revealed. Time control, experienced hero, need to keep his identity secret (to the extent of not even wanting it said out loud), big part of the 52 story already, knowledge of the future to explain his mysterious actions.

He might also be one of the Booster Golds, but that's another matter.

[Sean Walsh]

Question - was Xax a long-time Green Lantern, or someone new to this new GLCorps? The name and character seems familiar....

...oh, how I ache when I realize I had all these 1980's GL comics but sold them on eBay when I figured I wouldn't need them anymore.... :p

[Jack Zodiac]

Yep, Xax of Xaos is an old school Green Lantern, and it was cool seeing him again, even if it was only long enough for him to die. :p

[Tobias March]

I'd like to post this about Lady Styx before anybody else does. (Assuming I am doing it before anybody else does.)

Lady (Styx)

Lady, when you're with me I'm smiling
Give me all your love
Your hands build me up when I'm sinking
Just touch me and my troubles all fade
Lady, from the moment I saw you
Standing all alone
You gave all the love that I needed
So shy, like a child who has grown

You're my lady of the morning
Love shines in your eyes
Sparkling, clear, and lovely
You're my lady

Lady, turns me on when I'm lonely
Show me all your charm
Evenings when she lays down beside me
Just take me gently into your arms

You're my lady of the morning
Love shines in your eyes
Sparkling, clear, and lovely
You're my lady

Lady of the morning
Love shines in your eyes
Sparkling, clear, and lovely
You're my ... lady

So....you a Freaks and Geeks fan? :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jy4mvCIhW1I

[Ian J.N.]

I'm still going with Supernova being Rip Hunter. That's been my prediction since his very first appearance (I thought of it first, hahahahahaha), and that's what it will stay until he's revealed. Time control, experienced hero, need to keep his identity secret (to the extent of not even wanting it said out loud), big part of the 52 story already, knowledge of the future to explain his mysterious actions.

He might also be one of the Booster Golds, but that's another matter.
I'm not sold on the Rip Hunter theory--How does his identity make "perfect sense" to Ralph? What's the relation to Superman's disappearance?--but it's certainly become more enticing. Unlike other candidates, Rip actually satisfies why an existing DC hero would create, and rigorously protect, a new identity--Skeets' vendetta. Plus, as you say, he's had presence in the story already, while being conveniently absent.

Speculation: Skeets will attack Supernova after coming to the same conclusion you did. He'll be wrong though, and that's how we'll discover Supernova's true identity.

Further speculation: Down the road, we'll discover that Rip Hunter whisked away Booster Gold at the moment of his death to school him in his destined role. Booster becomes "Rip Hunter" while Rip returns to die in Booster's place, so as to satisfy the time paradox (and DC's adamant assertions that that was the death of Booster Gold). Yeah, I totally lifted the idea from Armageddon 2001.

[MicroZone]

I still think that Supernova is the only major DC hero that is still unaccounted for, even when anyone at DC asks about him: Ray Palmer, who is simply using his atom belt in a totally new way.

[Jack]

I'm not sold on the Rip Hunter theory--How does his identity make "perfect sense" to Ralph? What's the relation to Superman's disappearance?--but it's certainly become more enticing. Unlike other candidates, Rip actually satisfies why an existing DC hero would create, and rigorously protect, a new identity--Skeets' vendetta. Plus, as you say, he's had presence in the story already, while being conveniently absent.

Speculation: Skeets will attack Supernova after coming to the same conclusion you did. He'll be wrong though, and that's how we'll discover Supernova's true identity.

Further speculation: Down the road, we'll discover that Rip Hunter whisked away Booster Gold at the moment of his death to school him in his destined role. Booster becomes "Rip Hunter" while Rip returns to die in Booster's place, so as to satisfy the time paradox (and DC's adamant assertions that that was the death of Booster Gold). Yeah, I totally lifted the idea from Armageddon 2001.
Well, my idea about Rip Hunter being linked to Superman's disappearance is that he knows how the timeline was supposed to go without Booster/Skeet's interference. We've known since the very beginning that in the original timeline, Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman didn't vanish for a year, because they were supposed to come make a speech at the funeral which would form the greatest Justice League ever and be remembered for centuries.

So, Rip Hunter would know that Superman wasn't supposed to disappear, and therefore know that someone had to take his place.

[Green Gardner]

Gosh, you've gotta love those Guardians. "Request denied. With honors." And then they take away what slim chance for survival Xax had left? I can only assume they were laughing about all of this off panel.

[Ian J.N.]

So, Rip Hunter would know that Superman wasn't supposed to disappear, and therefore know that someone had to take his place.
Rip Hunter would know. Would Ralph?

[Be Stiff]

That scene of Comet flayed and tied to a starship to die was not something I needed to see at this time of year, thanks. Dropping this before they top it by having Animal Man's skull drilled out and squicked :(

[milk114]

anyone wanna post spoilers?

[Damo]

All I'm saying is that those aliens had it coming. Freaking Sliding Albion, that'll teach ya!

(Please let someone know what I'm going on about...)

[Damo]

That scene of Comet flayed and tied to a starship to die was not something I needed to see at this time of year, thanks. Dropping this before they top it by having Animal Man's skull drilled out and squicked :(

Bad... but seeing as how he "jettisoned core conciousness", and we were told this is his FIRST death, I'm thinking he'll be back.

Then leave again.

Then be back again.

Some sort of revamp thing...

(Man, I wish my mind had its own escape pod...)

[Jack Zodiac]

Bad... but seeing as how he "jettisoned core conciousness", and we were told this is his FIRST death, I'm thinking he'll be back.

He is back. Mystery in Space takes place One Year Later, and in issue four, which also came out this week, we're treated to a brief recap about Lady Styx and how she's now aware that Captain Comet didn't actually die back then.

[titanfan]

Gosh, you've gotta love those Guardians. "Request denied. With honors." And then they take away what slim chance for survival Xax had left? I can only assume they were laughing about all of this off panel.

Then they showed Lady Styx wearing Xax as an earring. Gross.

[hitokiri_]

am i the only one here who thinks daniel carter is supernova?

[Damo]

Yes. Yes you are. ^_~

[LtMarvel]

I'll bet I'm the only one who thought J'Onn was Supernova... :(

Another good issue...I'm looking forward to Captain Marvel, Jr in the next issue!

[DWEarhart]

Got this from over here. (http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/mar07/solicitations.html) I think it's for #45.
This cover is brutally awesome.


http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/mar07/52_45.jpg

[shanejayell]

For guys who are supposed to be "Guardians of the Universe" the Oans can be right bastards. Wonder if :"Ganthlet's Tale" by Larry Niven is still in continuity, as it's the first solid evidence of their bastardness?

[LtMarvel]

Wow, an amazing cover!

[Gingold]

I think Supernova may be Ray Palmer. I'm not really sure why.

[shanejayell]

Why not Jack Knight? He knows Ralph and the cosmic rod could do a LOT of the stuff Supernova does.

[Gingold]

I don't think any of the writers would touch Jack Knight. He's James Robinson's baby.

[Don]

Supernova is John Henry Irons.

His back-story is based around being there when Superman isn't; and he's received the key to the city at least once.

[van_line]

I think Supernova may be Ray Palmer. I'm not really sure why.

Minor Spoilers***


I would say either Ray Palmer or Daniel Carter/Rip Hunter. Of course I think the important clue was "the two keys" and also the newest issue of the Atom someone says "it's not the atom's belt" or something like that.

[Apathy Boy]

Supernova is John Henry Irons.

His back-story is based around being there when Superman isn't; and he's received the key to the city at least once.Oh, I think you're onto something there. Replacement Superman, based in Metropolis, powers based on technology? Yeah, John Henry Irons fits the bill.

That would also explain why he's gotten so little face time in comparison to the other lead characters.

[DMike]

I don't think any of the writers would touch Jack Knight. He's James Robinson's baby.

Then again, they've also mentioned that Jack will have some kind of cameo in 52.

[Apathy Boy]

Then again, they've also mentioned that Jack will have some kind of cameo in 52.A picture of Jack and Courtney was hung in the background in the "Last Days of the JSA" issue.