DC Comics. Written by Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid; Breakdowns by Keith Giffen; Art by various; Cover by J.G. Jones
Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are gone!! Where are they? What are they up to after the exhaustion of Infinite Crisis?
If that's what you think 52 is about, you will initially be disappointed. The hero void is filling fast and that's what 52 is all about--at least in the first half split over two trade volumes. This is the story on Earth during the year DC "skipped" between the end of the Infinity Crisis and current continuity.
Booster Gold, Black Adam, The Question, Steel, Batwoman, Metal Men, SuperNova--these are the heroes you'll read about--although their heroism and motives are somewhat questionable at times.
But wait--there's Clark Kent! So the big "S" is not dead and gone--he's recharging his solar battery? Lex Luthor figures big for his "Everyman" Project--which equates to "So who wants to be a superhero?" LexCorp is accepting applications and you too can join Lex's Justice League. But be careful--what Lex can give--Lex can also take away! Stories intertwine and paths cross, DC Universe personalities abound (Yes they even worked in everybody's "Main Man" Lobo)!
Reading these trades--not knowing anything about the ongoing 52 series, is both enjoyable and tedious. Enjoyable? The comedic moments, off the wall characters and action. Initial communication attempt between Starfire and Lobo in volume 2 for example. Can't hear their words in space, but visual is overly sufficient. Tedious? Yes-each trade slogs you through 13 weeks (issues) interrupted between each with staff commentary (both good and bad) and alternate sketches of certain scenes (alternate endings of the Booster Gold Supernova confrontation being my favorite). Each issue leaves you hanging, so you want to keep going. At the end of 52, Volume 2, you are 26 weeks into the 52. I don't think I would have had the patience for the weekly releases--but now I have a different problem. When does Volume 3 come out? AAARRRGGHHH!!!! September 19th!!!! I better go grab Infinite Crisis in the meantime and REALLY get caught up!
John Kilgallon