Since that Civil War thread is popping off despite that book only being monthly, here's our own little thread to up weekly for mandatory Black Adam tribute, headscratching, wiki links on relatively unknown characters, and other sort of puzzling things.

Which is one of the things that's really appealing to me about this series, though. It's like a puzzle.

So. Black Adam killed noone last week. What's his body count so far? I remember Terra Man, the terrorist, and the extortionist. That's a little behind schedule, yeah?

Oh. And, after re-reading, thumbs down on the Great Ten. At least so far, but they do get at least a second chance.

These cats generally know how to work the angles, so keep an eye on this thread for future developments:

http://barbelith.com/topic/22239

Plus, those guys aren't nearly as funny as y'all.

Not my favorite issue, but still worth discussing.

The big thing for me was the Booster Gold stuff. And personally, I feel a little bad for the guy. Yeah, he's a con man, but Ralph didn't have to do him like THAT. I mean really, that whole "oh yeah, I forgot you were from the future!" scene was pretty damn silly. How in the hell do you forget you have a friend from the 25th century? Especially if you're a detective.
And then holding him responsible for the death of your wife? Come on, fam. Plus if characters start thinking along those lines, pretty soon they'll be blaming Booster for EVERYTHING. And yeah, it's a valid point, since he supposedly had all this information beforehand, but at the same time I can't help but wonder 'why are they just now considering this?'

The heaven scene was interesting too. Where are they? It's like Lost meets the book of Genesis meets the lotus eaters in that place. And who's the big guy with the spear?

No real opinion on the Batwoman/Montoya stuff. Did their relationship seem convincing to you? Let's see here, we have a hard boiled lesbian detective alcoholic and a ninja lesbian millionaire super hero...and I'm none of the above, soooo... I didn't really feel like I had any perspective by which to judge.

Well, besides Dibny blaming Booster for Sue's and Blue Beetle's death, I kind of like the way Ralph ethered him. It was some cold-hearted shit. But then again, it did kind of ignore how genuinely broken up Booster was after Blue Beetle got killed. I mean, he blasted on Batman for God's sake. He wasn't taking it lightly.

As for the Heaven scene, I'm think JR is on target that it has something to do with the New Gods. Remember, folks from Apokolipsis and the planet of the New Gods are actually HUGE if they don't go through a boom tube first (jeez, I can't believe I just wrote that). I'm hoping they keep up with that thread and don't like it fall by the wayside.

As for the Batwoman/Montoya sutff, eh... I'd rather see more of Montoya and the Question. Failed exes interacting ain't that intriguing to me.

or maybe one of the solicits i read (i fo that a little sometimes) referenced the character as an Apokoliptian.

I dunno, it seems likely but so far it's more interesting as just an alien baddy coming on strong as the blind guy tries to repair their ship.

The lotus-eater aspect is pretty interesting though. I wonder if we'll be seeing more Odyssean references... seeing Animal Man turned into a pig would be kind of ironic, wouldn't it?

I dunno, I felt this week was a bit filler... i mean, they had to knock Booster down, but it felt like nothing else happened this issue. The Kate/Montoya backstory was alright I guess but it did feel a little filler-ish. Heaven at this point feels like a dalliance... somehting I rested on for a minute wile switching channels, and watched long enough to get the drift, but then lost interest in again as soon as I realized the commercial break on the channel I'd been watching was over.

I am a bit surprised there were no hints whatsoever to the more mysterious plot elements that last week was so heavy on... in particular, Bosster's just discovered that he's broken time last week, and this week he's back onto the corporate sponsor thing?

Seemed like it was just there. And I know they're both in Gotham, but did they really have to be lesbian lovers beforehand? Like the two know main lesbians in the city had to cross paths and have a relationship. lol

I liked the Booster Gold stuff, but you know as the solicits hint.. he's not going to be around much longer.

All around it was a filler issue, almost as if they're trying to setup the next big thing.. but they could've done that without so much of this book going to the boring part of the Montoya storyline.

Steel: Obviously the focus of this issue. LOVED the cover artwork. I think the infection of Steel was a little unnecessary given what Natasha is getting up to. All in all, looking VERY forward to a Lex-Steel showdown next week... from the 'next week' pic it looks like Steel goes into it sans armor !?! Hmmm... Maybe Booster's smashed goggles were a false lead, and Steel goes down? Would make sense with the work they're putting in to set Natasha up as a legacy character...

Ralph: Hey, if everyone knows Gingold was his secret, why doesn't everyone drink Gingold? Stupid question, probably, but wouldn't you want to stretch? Either way, I really like Ralph's characterization here, but the resurrection cult story had better pick up a bit soon.

Black Adam, the Question, Montoya: Sorely missed.

Booster: Good to see him losing his shit. I'm thinking of betting that BG doesn't kick off, and the focus on him will be his 'redemption.' Unless the redemption is his ultimate sacrifice, but that would be too corny even for Booster.

But this issue was good. I gotta say, I'm not really seeing Luthor's gameplan here. So does his metagene treatment secretly brainwash people into being his superpowered slaves? Or does he just assume that the people will be so grateful to him that they'll be at his every beck and call? Seems like a pretty sloppy plan if you ask me. Then again I'm not the evil super genius, so what the hell do I know.

except in one of the OYL books (Superman?) that Luthor's rep gets ruined by it.

I dunno about the slaves thing.... I'd guess that the mind control is part of the process, but that's not really concerning me one way or another.

Obviously given what the 'samples' of Steel's blood did in the STAR Labs, the process is unsafe. Presumably Steel contributes to busting up the operation. I'm having visions of 'Darkman' here. Liam Neeson 'If only I can get it past the one hour mark' then BOOM flying out the window AAAAAaAAAAARRRRRZGZGGZGGGHHHHHHH. Splash! Except this is better.

As far as the Steel story goes, there wasn't really a story before this issue except for the Steel-Natasha strife. Which is alright, but fairly vin ordinaire.

Damn, can this isht get any cooler? YES! Another great issue with a few developments: 1) Luthor is a stone-cold muthafucker 2)Luthor is a mean summabitch!

Oh shit, SUPERNOVA popped up too. I'm thinking he murks Booster but turns out to be Booster; something fishy is popping off. Natasha went and fucked up BUT set up a monumental, and inevitable, throwdown between Steel and Lex. Dibny, stole the show, again, by propelling Ollie towards politics; that was my favorite part of the issue.

The space shit continues to draw me in; I'm wondering WTF is going on?

Stellar issue.

Remember in Week 6 when Booster walked into Rip Hunter's lab?

52
It popped up in Supergirl and the LOSH #17. The alien baddies were also mumbling it. LOSH takes place 1000 years in the future....

2000 Years From Now
The DCU has never been explored post-LOSH except in Kamandi: The Last Boy on Earth. The series explored "the Great Disaster".

Who is Super Nova?
He first appeared in 1968's World's Finest #178 when a depowered Supes rocked the moniker.

What Happened to the son of Superman?
Hmmmm...

Where is the Batman?
Chilling with the boys outside of Gotham. They'll appear...

Who is the Batwoman?
I think she may be a warped (wo)Man-bat.

Who is Diana Prince?
WW's adventures as a CIA agent during 52 will be explored...

Someone is monitoring. They see us. They see me.
The Monitors did pop un in BNW.

The Lazarus Pit Rises
Oooh, the Cult of Connor lurks...

I'm supposed to be dead? When am I?
Wizard points to Degaton being involved. He was all over JSA before the CRISIS popped off.

Thoughts?

More:
http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/WAcker/Wacker08.html

Another question: When was the first time Ollie asked Ralph what one man can do? I feel like I've read it but can't place it at all.

As for Ollie and Ralph? I don't know, maybe he did in Identity Crisis. WIKI Degaton though; his JSA appearences are great!

www.52thecomic.com then hit up www.wikipedia.com

Get in on the akshun!

http://52-pickup.blogspot.com/

That guy had to look up 'Elf needs food. Badly.'

there's NO way I should be able to pick up a reference the he didn't. unless this guy literally did NOTHING in the mid 80s except read comics. Which, I will admit, seems like a distinct possibility from the knowledge he is dropping here.

Well, I havne't been keeping up with 52 for a few reasons:
1) I vowed once IC was over that the days of hitting up the store every week would end

2) Unemployment leading to

3) Me being broke

So I hit up the shop today and picked up Weeks 5-8. This series just gets better and better. Its pretty damn accessible, and its seems like this is one of the few series dealing with superheroes where you don't have to worry about anything tying in with it, since everyone else has jumped ahead.
The only part of it that screams "Event" is how its being published, otherwise its just damn good comics.

Now that that's out of the way, I gotta big up Elongated Man for spitting that Ether. Never been so proud to see someone snitch before.

I cannot wait!

Luthor proved himself once again to be the gulliest of the gully in #8. I'm intrigued in that with this story, they're finally making Steel an interesting character. Since we know Steel won't destory Luthor (through One Year Later) it'll be interesting to see how it breaks down.

Throwing punches at Supes, having his boys beat Clark down, wrecking Metropolis....LEX IS DIRTY!

I definitely need to re-read this guy tonight... Fun issue. I wasn't too surprised by the twist in the Lex-Steel throwdown but it made me feel yucky anyway, esp. the way it ended.

The Heaven stuff continues to feel like comparative filler, though it's getting more of a vibe like Tarantino tackling a 50s B-movie sci fi going on now. I am liking it more weekly. I wasn't very clear on how they took out the big guy though.

I thought the Question/Montoya section was excellent though it was odd seeing Vic in a muscle shirt and tank top. And rippped. I've been doing some reading up on him and I haven't seen him presented in his civvies that way before. Continues to be the most exciting of the plot lines thus far.

Still learning the ins and outs of DC, so can someone give me a breakdown please? The Wikipedia entry isn't that helpful.

is from that 52-pickup guys' blog. (Very addictive, far more info than 52thecomic.com.) He mentions that Intergang is the Metropolis mob.

And here I'd been thinking it was another Secret Society of Supervillains type of affair.

http://www.supermanhomepage.com/comics/who/who-intro.php?topic=intergang

(adam's strange device was not a deux ex machina, right?)

in costumes which feature big Ls

doesn't bode too well for them in the future.

Week Nine

DAMN, LEX! YOU BASTARD. Another stellar read and installment here, folks. I loved Steel getting his ass beat by his niece, I was thrilled to see Adam's tech blast Devilance and the Batgirl cliffhanger was nice. The story is very tight and really compelling. MORE!!!

the incredibly necessary batwoman.

Just a little though.

I'm still amazed at this book's consistency, given the circumstances.

-I was happy to see more Animal Man in Space action in this one.

-I can't say the conflict between Steel and his Niece do much for me, but Lex's scheme is very interesting to me. We can deduce from the OYL titles that it didn't work out for him in the end, but in some strange way that makes it even more of a mystery. What goes wrong, I wonder.

-Question/Montoya/Batwoman might wanna pick up the pace soon

-No Black Adam head squishing : (

-No Booster Gold : (


Week 10 is out tomorrow! I love the cover!!

http://www.dccomics.com/media/covers/5540_180x270.jpg

Remember when the samples of Steel's blood blew up? My bet is Luthor's whole team is killed by the deal. Of course that's recycling an idea from the 90s JLA, but hey, that wasn't New Earth.

the guy at that blog you linked up is pretty harsh on the art continuity but I never notice any of the quibbles he writes about. He seems to focus on facial hair a lot. And that's all I'll say about that.

I wass going to ask if Steel has shown up in any of the OYL books, but I guess at this point none of the major 52 characters have, huh?

What I was noticing was how a couple pages were a little skimpy in the panels department. Can't really knock it though. I mean... it's weekly for shit's sake.

This week's headlines:

"Black Adam's Fabulous New Attire!" (or, "Kahndaq's Royal Stylist Takes an L.")
"...With One Not-So-Magic Word: Adam's Life Less Shazam-rific These Days"
"Dead Man Walking" (or, "Where the Heck Did Ibis the Invincible COme From")
"How to Lose and Regain Your Job in One Minute Flat!" (or, "Useful Strategies You Can Learn from Your Wife!")
"Booster Gold Turns Green with Envy!"
"Supernova: Exciting New Hero or Bootleg Captain Atom?"
"Would You Mind...Mr. Mind?!"

I would make some sort of joke about Batman and Robin's "trip around the world to rebuild their skills" and the fact that said trip is to be kept "off the record", using a snappy allusion such as "Brokeback Bat", but we've seen how well such jokes go over 'round these parts.

Any comic that features Black Adam is a-okay by me. I like that they're sort of advancing the T.O. Morrow/mad scientist stuff. And a lot of the Clark Kent stuff was dope, but it was also the serious of my problem with the issue.

"52" was been touted as what the DC is like in a year without the big three (and, as we see, a year with Flash and the "Green Arrow"), and a comic that gives the lesser known characters time to shine. All fine and dandy, but Clark Kent got most of the ink this issue. Yeah, I liked a lot of it (getting "ired, his "suicide" attempt, him almost buring his hands on a boiling pot), however, Clark gets at least two other monthly titles, let the myriad of characters in DC get their 15 minutes.

Again, that's more of a problem I have with the principle of this issue, rather than the content. The story was cool by me.

that Clark himself is a minor character?

I dig it.

I'm assuming the spent shell from Sivanna's (I always want to call him Savanarola) lab was the badass mind-controlling caterpillar thingy from Marvel books of yore which I 've seen you reference?

I'm wondering at the implications as this seems (to me) to aim toward a Marvel feature in a bit.

http://www.marvelfamily.com/WhosWho/whoswho.asp?castid=154

He's popped up a bit in Modern Age books too: "The Power of Shazam!", "Kingdom Come" (the bioengineered mind-controlling worms), and even "JSA" during the Black Reign saga.

...and it appears that Mr. Mind has...hatched from a cocoon. Only God knows what he's evolved into.

Seeing him slipping up on his job was cool. It makes sense that in adjusting to his newfound mortality, he'd be a little cautious about getting those scoops. But I also liked the way it hinted that without the powers, Clark might not have been all that great of a reporter...which I've always sort of suspected. I mean, either be the most powerful superhero on Earth or be an ace reporter. But don't be both, man. That's just greedy.

So that was neat. Everything else though? Eh.

as they bring back some of the less PC characters of yore?

I already thought the Great Ten were dodgy enough on that front, but the rumor that someone like Egg Fu is wrapped up in the mad scientist scheme may be a bit too much. I must confess it will make me laugh though.

In fact, i'd love to see Black Adam crack Egg Fu's shell, yeah?

But in 2006, Batwoman can't be running around with no big ass bat-purse. It's just not a good look. So maybe DC's thinking is that not only should they revamp these outdated type characters, but they should push them even further into 'relevancy' by making them minorities of some sort...because in the not-so-progressive world of superhero comics, that sort of thing is cutting edge and will get you a blurb in the New York Post or something.

I can't really knock them though. The bottom line is that we're getting a little more diversity in our characters. To me that outweighs everything else, barring poor writing.

I don't like Steel as a metahuman. I'm sure they'll find a way to reverse most of the folks Luthor gave powers to and I hope that JH Irons is one of them. And the fight between him and Natasha seemed like just a bit much. I didn't enjoy that segment at all.

Peace,

*** MARBLES ***

i havent seen him pop up in any 1 year later stories

yeah rene montoya she's dead too

Wow, what a dope issue. Clark getting the drop on Supernova the way he did was fucking awesome. He knew he woulda been fucked had that dude not grabbed him. I have a rising suspicion that Supernova is either Booster Gold from the future or a New God. The Magnus scene was well executed too; I think Mr. Mind has hatched.... Hands down, Black Adam and his team killed it. Shit is about to get real, son; muffuckas' about too bring it. I can't wait to see how the girl plays into it and Adam's dialogue with her was great. LOL at Booster beginning to blow-up!

This was a real solid issue and yet, I failed to read the backstory, again. It ends next week, thank the gods.


Overall: A

I've been reading it, since I'm a relative newbie and not as familiar with it as y'all. But I can't say, not having read Zero Hour, that the History of the DCU made me understand what happened in it or why it may have had lasting significance.

And considering about a significant number of the weeks' histories by the end will be referring to continuity that's only been within the past year... ughh. I mean, how likely is it that a large number of folks reading 52 have no idea what happened in Identity Crisis or Infinite Crisis? Not very.

Hands down, I would rather have had full length issues. I am looking forward to the Secret Origins stuff; hopefully it's a lot better than the 'bruce wayne files' from the back pages of Justice.

Waid's writing them all, and just look at the artist lineup:

Wonder Woman - Adam Hughes
Elongated Man - Kevin Nowlan
Metamorpho - Eric Powell
Steel - Jon Bogdanove
Black Adam - JG Jones
Lobo - Keith Giffen
Joker - Brian Bolland
The Question - Joe Bennett
Animal Man - Brian Bolland
Adam Strange - Kevin Nowlan
Catman - Dale Eaglesham
Nightwing - George Perez

I ain't too proud to admit that so far I've been following 52 exclusively through digital scans. But dammit, I WILL own that Eric Powell Metamorpho story.

>I ain't too proud to admit that so far I've been following 52
>exclusively through digital scans.

or *i* won't be able to download comics

I didn't really need Wonder Woman, I think, but maybe since her origin has been retconned post-IC it makes sense. Some of those B-list characters will have me hype - I've read up on he Question a lot, and a little on Catman too, but as they've both been featured a lot more... Also I'm curious to see if all of these characters play into 52 a lot more. I'm still thinking the series title has something to do with the Joker...

Best issue yet? I think so! I see where the Montoya story is heading and I'm amazed and real happy to see where they are taking it. My god, Rucka is a genius. You have no clue what I'm talking about, huh? Hmmmm.... see: Lazarus pits, his initial run on Detective, Allen and Montoya's first appearances and Talia. All the stories really progressed nicely and I am loving the Dibny/Ressurection Cult one to death. HOLY JEEEEEEEZE! Did you see that ending? Shit is about to get real bizarre and Morrisoney. I loved this issue; everything about it was pure genius.

BATWOMAN is ill and her gully intro was off the fucking chain! 52 is DC's best book right now.

For what it's worth though, I think this has almost been getting better weekly. I'll pick up two issues next week and BAM!

It does keep getting better and it's killing the game right now so...

Gave me the serious heebie-jeebies.

But yeah, the Question/Montoya stuff was great, even though I could live without Batwoman. I don't find her that interesting.

Let me read it first but.....thoughts, anyone?

I was disappointed that Ralphy caved so quickly. I wonder if he goes crazy... I know the OYL Titans don't have Cassie back but she's off doing her own thing sans Cult, and the only reference I've seen to Ralph was Batman saying he was '....oitherwise occupied.'

The Black Adam show was good. I've learned most of my Marvel family history from Freddy, so I'm kinda anxious to see his response to this week. As an uninitiate and non-recipent of the Wisdom of Solomon, I know no better than to find this part of the story amusing.

Side news... thhere was a Batchick in the Birds of Prey, but it certainly did not appear to be Batwoman based on last week's 52 intro. It also didn't look like Cassie. Thoughts?

I'm disappointed the character origin was only 2 pages long. Did they stretch the story more? Then again, WW's origin is't that interesting to me, so *shrug* it's better than Donna And Her Mysterious Talking Orb.

The Isis superheroine character was created by Filmation Studios in 1975 as a female spin-off of their "Shazam!" live-action series starring Captain Marvel. On this show, Isis was Andrea Thomas, a schoolteacher who clutched a magic amulet andsaid the magic words "Oh Mighty Isis" to transform herself into the Egyptian goddess of yore.

"The Shazam!/Isis Hour" ran on CBS until 1977 ("Shazam!" had run on its own for a year prior). Issue 25 of DC Comics' "Shazam!" comic book had a special guest appearance from Isis. As such, she's sort of a second cousin to the Marvel Family (as is, according to DC, Kid Eternity. But that's another story).

Until now, DC claimed it had no rights to use the version of Isis from the TV show. And although the lady gracing the cover of "52" #12 isn't the exact same character, it's close enough to where somebody must have gotten somebody to get permission from somebody to use Isis in the comics again.

and why they have to make Cap crazy?

Ad they made Cap crazy for some (cheap) laughs. I guess the idea is that a kid forced to babysit the seven deadly sins would become unwound rather quickly.

he might be using cassie as his way into the cult

Wow, so Intergang is somehow connected to Kahndaq, Cap is looney, Black Adam got his lady in with the Shazam!!s and Dibny is down with the crazies....BEST ISSUE YET! Isis at the end had me shook; I got the feeling that Adam just fucked-up and created a monster. A very strong and powerful read, folks!

Gorgeous stuff.

in the tomb is? I dont know much about the Marvel Family and Black Adam.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/08/CptMarvel.jpg

That's Captain Marvel, the only superhero ever to outsell Superman during the Golden Age of Comic Books. He now sits at the former throne of the Wizard Shazam who used to empower the Marvel Family (now, it appears Captain Marvel powers the Marvel Family).

Read Up!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Marvel_%28DC_Comics%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Adam
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvel_Family
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Marvel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Marvel%2C_Jr.

I had expected - since he was taking over for solemn old Shazam! after all - that Billy was going to be bedecked in slightly more regal, uhm, regalia. You know, robes and shit, and hell, what's the wizard without his beard? Come to think of it, Cap as depicted in that spread back in Infinite Crisis #7 (ho hum, remember that?) _was_ actually in some sort of mysterious white hooded gear.

But to be Steve Buscemi with muscles? Unexpected. And poor Billy's childhood is completely lost, as he;'s stuck in Cap form forever.

more "wizard-like"

Keep an eye out for the "Trials of Shazam!" miniseries that starts next month. Captain Marvel will become the new Wizard (not sure what he'll change his name to, hopefully not Shazam), and Captain Marvel Jr. is going to get to move up one chair. THAT'S when Cap gets the new Space Ghost-ish duds. Remember that 52 happens a little less than year in the past of the "current" DC Universe happenings, so we're seeing Captain Marvel long before the "Trials" hit.

Mary Marvel, however, appears to be getting the dishrag treatment.

But as far as this issue of 52 goes, I'm sure the writers just wanted a cheap laugh out of a character they can't seem to write for.

pathos abounded.

but VERY well done, either way.

but I was thrown a little by him sitting at the throne and his madness. I thought I missed something there and maybe it was some sort of variation of the character.

That and the Booster Gold stuff have actually been my favorite plotlines so far, so the past couple of issues have sort of felt like filler to me. But one man's filler is another man's...well, something I guess.

So this Isis business is kind of a big deal, right? It's not like they get a new member of the Marvel family all that often, is it?

As for the Captain Marvel stuff...well, it's always a bit jarring when I see a character with such innocent roots get this kind of treatment. But then again, I've read Miracleman. So this is pretty tame by comparison.

All in all this issue left me kind of cold. All those pages of Black Adam and not one cranium crushed. What's the point? And then we had the Wonder Woman origin short, which was basically a Wikipedia excerpt with really pretty pictures. Huh.

YES! This issue was better than the last; get used to that! Holy sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeit!!!! Sue Dibny, or something, was resurrected and Hal, Ollie, Zauriel, 'Morpho and Ralph really fucked up! This issue was brilliant and it gave me the shakes; it's that crack!!!! Ralph is straight bannanas now, and it ain't no joke. Cassie snapping was too ill and Black Adam's relationship with ISIS is on that "gangster shit." I see trouble on the praire, pilgrims.

Another stellar installment, but this issue really flipped isht on it's axis. MUST COP!

Cassie is back in the flock in Titans OYL, so something must have gone wrong with the Krypton Kult. I'm seeing a full-out breakdown for Dibny only to begin rehabilitating himself by the series' end.

Or maybe he'll die, but I think they'll throw someone else under the axe.




***DEFINITION OF IRONY***
"Non-rappin ass niggas. I'd rather listen to ya instrumentals." - Young Jeezy

His story just god really intriguing and the Cassis stuff is good too because in TT OYL she is very angry and disillusioned.

I remember one of y'all saying Batman alluded to him still being around. But I think he's going to away from 52 for a little while now.

>I remember one of y'all saying Batman alluded to him still
>being around. But I think he's going to away from 52 for a
>little while now.

I think Booster gets murked (but comes back as Supernova,) Starfire gets blazed by LOBO and Black Adam takes the L for ISIS.

and described Ralph as '...otherwise engaged.'

I think Ralph is both down AND out for a while.

and described Ralph as '...otherwise engaged.'

I think Ralph is both down AND out for a while.

boning his newly resurrected wife

Call me an optomist

C'mon, Black Adam should have eviscerated all those slave-driving fucks. But Isis talks him into sparing their lives? Got him going soft and shit, talking about saving children. Black Adam is supposed to be a force of nature, not Teddy Ruxbin soft.

...She'll pull some shit that will make him go insaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaane or maybe he'll just drown the drama in a bottle of Thomas Jaeger and chase that with a Philly! It's inevitable, Hood.

Pretty great.

Where the doll grabs Ralph? Holy shit, man. Great writing. Even if it was just another stage trick (will we ever know?)

I'm wondering if Ralph becomes a villain...? He's one of the main 52 players, so writing him off after the first lap would seem a bit extreme.

Cassie's pissed, but she obviously stuck by Devam or whatever his name is... there was sort of an embrace thing going on there for a sec. What would St. Conner think? I'm interested to see how they go their separate ways.

I just read the Titans run leading up to Crisis. I hadn't realized Conner & Cassie uh, you know, uh, shagged. Would have been a great story point if they had Cassie get pregnant, but we would be knowing by now. Too bad.

I think Isis is going to find that power does, indeed, corrupt. Being a sensitive guy, I'm not mad that Adam hasn't squished anybody since issue 3 now.

>I'm wondering if Ralph becomes a villain...? He's one of the
>main 52 players, so writing him off after the first lap would
>seem a bit extreme.

I was thinking the same thing.

Elongated Man was in there.

It's unclear in my mind though whether that was a specific group shot or sort of a collage of everyone who's ever been in or considered for membership...

Still, a VERY interesting possibility.

He might do some nutty stuff while trying to get his wife back. And he could break some laws while doing so. But i think he's become such a sympathetic cat in this series that DC will take him to the lowest of lows and then bring him back as the hero he rightfully should be.

Either way, if they keep writing him as well as they have been I'm 150% satisfied.

Peace,

*** MARBLES ***

Ralph was written flawlessly. A sharp-minded detective who has had several friends return from the grave is curious as to whether a mystic cult can revive his brutally murdered wife (shades of "Pet Semetery" too). His buddies talk him out of it and he follows his head but is shaken to the core when a hint of the possibility of resurrection shows up.

I'm getting really tied into Montoya & the Question. I hope their relationship extends past 52. I don't know if Batwoman is going to have her own series but if so, these 2 need to be regulars in it.

Again, it's the best issue yet.

Peace,

*** MARBLES ***

His intro in the series did it for me.

There's not much out there aside from the Charlton stuff that I've been able to find. There was a 2005 mini that was good (though he's still 'Vic' there instead of 'Charlie'), but it was almost as much a Superman story as a Question story, for better or worse.

The one I really liked though was a Question-Huntress mini from 1999 that Rucka penned. Best pre-Simone characterization of the Huntress, and very good Question presentation. Rucka doesn't disappoint, I think.

He had his own book back in the 80's. It's one of the few DC characters I'm familiar with because it was published in the GREAT, anthology-styled magazine Thriller here in sweden (a book that also included V for Vendetta and Chaykins Blackhawk) and, later, as a back-up comic in Batman. It's definitely worth checking out-dark, "noir" type stories by Dennis O'neill and good art... BTW, the character was, apparently, originally invented by Steve Ditko (of spiderman fame) in the late 60's but never took off...

I've read that the O'Neill ones were great, and there's a torrent somewhere with that AND the old Charlton issues (his original appearances from the 60s) that I really need to pick up.

The oldest I've got from him was the Rucka-penned Huntress/Question teamup mini from 1999, which was pretty awesome.

poor ralph

having a straw man for a wife would be somewhat flawed logic, though

in the Smashable Comic Chicks thread.

It's too bad she got, well, smashed.

ralph was onto something talking to the resurrected heroes, but really he needs to talk to animal man and arrange a sit-down with grant morrison

'Hay Fever'

Peace,

*** MARBLES ***

Somebody, a black shadow, was in the last panel of Week 13 witnessing Ralph lose it. Oh shit!

phew.. what an issue.

more than a little disturbing.

http://dibnydiary.blogspot.com//

Discuss...

Q and Montoya will most likely run into Black Adam next week and you said Question was in the shadows at Dibny's breakdown (I haven't gone back to look at it yet). You think all these stories will crossover by the end of 52?




"Those aren't boobs...THEY'RE LIES!!!" - Stewie Griffin

spying on Ralph and his womannequin.

> You think all these stories will crossover by the end of 52?

Maybe, I don't see DC playing a 7 Soldiers card again and so soon.

but the still unexplained significance of FIFTY TWOOOOOOOOO looms large, so I say HELLS YEAH gents!

At any rate there will certainly be some flux as all characters cross the others' paths, don'tcha think?

following are a couple of excerpts from the newsarama interview linked below

http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=80090


NRAMA: How are you feeling right now about the story?

KG: Great.

NRAMA: Having seen the scripts through Issue #29, is there anything big coming that you can give us a hint about?

KG: It's getting more involved. When they hit #18 and #19, this thing hits the ground running. People have been saying, or at least I read online, "It's kind of slow. It's not moving that fast." All this set-up is going to pay off.

NRAMA: It's going to pay off that soon?

KG: It's going to pay off big. Around #18, #19, this thing hits the ground running and it just doesn't stop. And that's when a lot of these storylines accelerate. Ralph's storyline accelerates. The outer space heroes' storyline accelerates. Luthor's story. Everything. Everything.

And they also start meshing. Like, two of the storylines that are right now separate will come together for a while and turn into one storyline before branching off again.



NRAMA: Somebody said this weekend the ending was massive.

KG: Huge. They'll pull it off, but it's going to really ... well, the web will be buzzing.

NRAMA: It won't quite break in half?

KG: No, I hope not. But it's going to be a really major event at DC. And trust me, that's not the crossover double-talk that goes on sometimes. It's going to change the face of everything.

I am loving the Question and Montoya arc and am glad to see they'll be bucking heads with Adam. The look in to Khandaq was well-played, necessary and very intriguing. I really got the impression that Q is playing both sides though and Renee is just a pawn; the Steel stuff was great but I feel his story is moving along real slow. The Magnus/Morrow storyline is still pretty interesting and the inclusion of the government was mysterious. I think Intergang is the Illuminatti and they're planning to throw the DCU into chaos; they're everywhere OYL...

a. 52 Pickup dude does his research - apparently 'who are you?' was what the Question's mentor asked him repeatedly during his training until he responded 'That's the Question.' or something similar. Ergo, Q is training Montoya as his apprentice - are we seeing the creation of a new legacy character? Intriguing.
That said, in his last major pre-52 appearance, the Question was Vic Sage and he was a tv journalist. Has that been retconned or is it just being ignored here?

b. Does the Question win Montoya back from the other side? He's ripped, he annoys her, they're sharing a room in Khandac. Awwww yeah! Huntress would be out to put Montoya down, boys!

still quite good, but after last week they HAD to let us down a bit. Next week though, it's straight up as Booster gets his just desserts! HAHAHAHAHAHA

Either that, or he just decides to update his wardrobe a little and toss the Ambervisions out the window.

Looking forward to finding out if JR's guess that Supernova IS Booster works out... I'm guessing no though since Clark did get the interview with him and nothing (we know of) came with it...

Ah, the fog of mystery... Me gusta!

Man, was I glad to see those guys. I really like the way that artist (name slips me) draws that whole crew. If they ever get do get another shot at a title, my vote's for this dude (if Allred's busy). I just hope they don't bring them back super-angsty. They've already made Elongated Man and Captain Marvel nuts, after all.

And FINALLY, the Montoya-Question stuff is starting to grow on me. Now if only I could give a damn about Steel!!

Good issue.

I mean...I'm sayin'.

Booster in the future will have to come back and change things


!sig!
www.myspace.com/gemini2one

http://groups.myspace.com/snakesonplane

Beef is not what these famous niggas do on the mic
Beef is what George Bush would do in a fight - Mos Def

First they kill Sue Dibny.

Blue Beetle gets offed by Maxwell Lord, who in turn gets offed by Wonder Woman.

Elongated Man goes crazy.

Now Booster is dead, Captain Atom is at Wildstorm, and they're rejiggering Captain Marvel with a complete overhaul.

Someone tell Fire and Guy Gardner to watch their backs.

I think they "killed" him off and made Dibny go crazy to spend more time of the two remaining "central" storylines (Question and Montoya in Kandaaq/Steel in Metropolis) and maybe give a little more face-time to the Lost in Space trio; remember them?

I figure Booster comes back by week 39 or 40 or something.

Damn it, I can't wait to read this joint.

Booster I don't know about. I will confess that up until I read the issue, I thought the broken visor on the cover was a fakeout.

*edit* Blue Beetle #1, Guy is spazzing on Jaime and then after he calms down he says 'Bosster told me there wass a new Blue Beetle.' Of course, the scene is only 8-9 months in the future from where we are now, but I had the impression when I read it that Booster had told him recently.

I checked out the covers at 52thecomic.com and it doesn't look like they have any available past a few weeks off. Hmmmmm.

That's that reference, D!

Then he travels back in time as SUPERNOVA and wins back the people's trust.











Duh.

Damn, why didn't I think of that.

'Something's wrong with the timeline!' thing Skeets keeps jabbering on about.

I dunno, time travel makes my head hurt.

But I hope I'm not right. I mean, I love being right, don't get me wrong. But not about that kind of shit. I wanna be dazed and amazed!

!sig!
www.myspace.com/gemini2one

http://groups.myspace.com/snakesonplane

Beef is not what these famous niggas do on the mic
Beef is what George Bush would do in a fight - Mos Def

I looooved this issue! It was nice to see Supernova get his shine on and the interaction with Clark was very dope too. Booster getting clowned was awesome, his death was well-done and Ballostro's bio was very intriguing. My favorite thing of the issue was the crowd's sarcasm towards, Booster; their anger came off flawlessly through the dialogue. I love this series; fuck a Civil War!

And can I get an applause for the Montoya/Charlie part? So ill!!!

http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=81021

nuthin...they both suck cock ***budah bump***

.

LOL.

The explanation at the back of the issues has been helpful but at times it can me most confusing. Since I am now collecting this DC superhero shit in a MAJOR way (I'm just finding the stories, characters, and even the art mor einteresting than what Marvel is doing), I find myself getting more and more curious with each new purchase. So...some questions...if I may be so bold. These probably will run the gamut of DC history...

In 52 Week 2 - Is the guy who visits the Professor Morrow, Dr. Magnus I believe, is HE the Question? If not, who is he and what is his relevance?

In 52 Week 5:
The fuck happened out in space? Is that covered in Ran-Thanagar War, and if so, is it a decent cop? I just picked up the #1 from the "Countdown to Infinite Crisis" run and haven't read it yet.

Is Alan Scott the Green Lantern from Earth Two? What's the story behind his eyes? He mentions losing a daughter named "Jade", is that the Jade aka Cheshire?

Who or what is Red Tornado? I remember the two Dr.s discussing him in an earlier issue, week 2 I believe, and I got the impression he was a robot or something?

Firestorm and Cyborg are mutated together. Didn't Firestorm willingly blow himself up in Brave New World when he realized he would cause a nuclear reaction?

In 52 Week 6 - Who are the Chinese Metahumans? Are they good or evil?

In 52 - Week 10 - Is the explanation at the back the Infinite Crisis wrap-up? Did I just fuck my shit completely up and go ahead and read what happens in the series? Couldn't they put a little picture with a topless Power Girl holding up a sign saying something like **SPOILER ALERT!!**?

Wikipedia is your friend, and this article does a really nice job breaking down the whole 'multiverse' thing: http://www.moviepoopshoot.com/comics101/8.html


>In 52 Week 2 - Is the guy who visits the Professor Morrow, Dr.
>Magnus I believe, is HE the Question? If not, who is he and
>what is his relevance?

No, different people. Doc Magnus is the creator of the Metal Men, who you saw make a brief cameo 2 weeks ago.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_Men


>In 52 Week 5:
>The fuck happened out in space? Is that covered in
>Ran-Thanagar War, and if so, is it a decent cop? I just picked
>up the #1 from the "Countdown to Infinite Crisis" run and
>haven't read it yet.

The universe was shifting, Rann and Thanagar were at each others' throats, and...nobody really gave a damn. The space stuff was easily my least favorite aspect of IC, and yet... I'm really enjoying the space stuff in 52. Isn't it ironic?

>Is Alan Scott the Green Lantern from Earth Two? What's the
>story behind his eyes? He mentions losing a daughter named
>"Jade", is that the Jade aka Cheshire?

Make sure you read that Comics 101 article! Alan Scott was the very first Green Lantern, then the Earth-2 Green Lantern, and now since there's no Earth-2, he's just regular ol' Alan Scott, original Green Lantern again. Confused?

I think he wound up with Adam Strange's eyes during some teleportation mishap. Don't you just hate it when that happens?


>In 52 Week 6 - Who are the Chinese Metahumans? Are they good
>or evil?

They work for their government... So I guess they're a little of both?

Like I've said previously, I'm just catching up on all this ever since stumbling across my comics box at the way back of my garage. I've never been much of a Cape & Cowlick guy but I used to pick up tangential "supes" like PUNISHER, DAREDEVIL, & WOLVERINE. However, amongst my BONE, GOON, GROO, SCUD THE DISPOSABLE ASSASSIN, ROUTE 666, & RUSE collections, I found that I had strayed a bit and actually picked up some super-hero stuff from DC & Marvel about two-three years back. I copped this HAWKMAN/JSA crossover series, on recommendation of a guy at my LCS, that had Black Adam luring several super-heroes over to his side and cold gettin busy with the super-rumbles. That led me to picking up, and ultimately stopping at, Identity Crisis' #1 & #2. Other things, like real life, distracted me from comic collecting and they got packed away and forgotten. Until that damn day in mid-July when I found those books and re-read Iden. Crisis and was fuckin floored. I went out that afternoon and bought the whole damn series because I just HAD to find out what happened. Great story, very well delivered.

That led me to ask the proprieter of the comic shop near my work, which is basically the super mall of comic shops here in Sacramento, "where do I go from here"? ...Fuck...One month and about $150-$200 later I'm slowly catching up on all the great stuff that's out right now. You had mentioned that re: the "Countdown to Inf. Crisis", the space stuff was probably least interesting to you. I'm pretty much the same way as of right now, having not read any of it. I absolutely LOVED the "Day of Vengeance" storyline. I didn't want that to end. The theme of defining and perhaps eradicating the role that Magic has in the DC Universe really grabbed me, plus the art and characters were great. Spectre kicking ass on a cosmic level was amazing. I just read somewhere that there is a "one-off" dealing with DOV in which we see the Wiz Shazam get killed and the Rock of Ages (?) gets re-built....do you know the name of that or how its avaiable? Did you follow the rest of the "Countdown to..." stuff? Can you reco anything?

Please excuse the long-windedness, I'm just dealing with a serious Comic Jones right now.

Villains United is now Secret Six and it's hot fiyah!
OMAC is now Checkmate and it's hot fiyah too.

JLA "Crisis of Conscious" arc serves as a sequel to Identity Crisis and it fucking rocked hard.

The OMACs weere just about the second-dumbest thing in Infinite Crisis, imho, but i have great faith in Rucka.

What's going to be up with the forthcoming OMAC mini? I didn't much like the short in Brave New World, but... *shrug*

The latest OMAC mini looks cheese and crackers!

>
>The explanation at the back of the issues has been helpful

I think you're the only one who thinks that.

> but
>at times it can me most confusing.

That's more like it!

>Is Alan Scott the Green Lantern from Earth Two? What's the
>story behind his eyes? He mentions losing a daughter named
>"Jade", is that the Jade aka Cheshire?

No... Alan Scott's kids are the superheroes Jade and Obsidian. Jade was basically a Green Womantern or something but it doesn't matter since she's dead now. Obsidian is kicking it out in LA with Manhunter and more intimately with her law firm partner.

Jade/Cheshire is no relation. There was some stuff about her parentage in a good Birds of Prey arc - supposedly she's the illegitimate daughter of some bastard senator. Incidentally, she has a kid with Arsenal (see the new JLA #1 cover) and just had another with Catmann. She's currently kicking it in the Himalayas somewhere... see Villains United #2.


>Who or what is Red Tornado? I remember the two Dr.s discussing
>him in an earlier issue, week 2 I believe, and I got the
>impression he was a robot or something?

I've actually never read a comic with him in it, but I believe the current explanation is that he was originally a superpowered android, but was later determined to be a Wind Elemental or some BS who was using the android body as his shell.

>Firestorm and Cyborg are mutated together. Didn't Firestorm
>willingly blow himself up in Brave New World when he realized
>he would cause a nuclear reaction?

You mean Identity Crisis? If that's confusing it's 'cause DC decided to make Firestorm into a legacy character. So they killed off Ronnie Raymond and infused the "Firestorm matrix" into Jason Rusch. The new Firestorm I think had already been introduced when Identity Crisis ran, and Jason was the Firestorm in space with the Infinite Crisis crew who ran into those pesky zeta beam problems. Jason was merged with Dr. Stein as well but it seems Dr. Stein has absconded, so now he merges with some politico chick, but somehow they can't be more than a mile apart.

>>Firestorm and Cyborg are mutated together. Didn't Firestorm
>>willingly blow himself up in Brave New World when he
>realized
>>he would cause a nuclear reaction?
>
>You mean Identity Crisis? If that's confusing it's 'cause DC
>decided to make Firestorm into a legacy character. So they
>killed off Ronnie Raymond and infused the "Firestorm matrix"
>into Jason Rusch. The new Firestorm I think had already been
>introduced when Identity Crisis ran, and Jason was the
>Firestorm in space with the Infinite Crisis crew who ran into
>those pesky zeta beam problems. Jason was merged with Dr.
>Stein as well but it seems Dr. Stein has absconded, so now he
>merges with some politico chick, but somehow they can't be
>more than a mile apart.
>
>

Hear ye! Hear ye! The new FIRESTORM book is bannanas; I highly reccomend it.

Y'know, I thought Tawny and Uncle Marvel had been retconned out of existence... maybe that's a New Earth thing. Either way, Freddy crowdsurfing amused me. I'm assuming it was more calming for some of us to see Billy appear to be of soud(er) mind this week as well.

The return of the Lost in Space crew: is that supposed to be a cliffhanger? Meh.

I'm rather confused how there were no repercussions from the shooting of the bomber, too... obviously the crowd saw it.

"Ba de ya...never was a clooooudy daaaaaaaaaaaaaaay..."

Oh, and Dudley and Tawny were both regulars in Jerry Ordway's "Power of Shazam!" series in the late 1990s. No retconning there.

Nice to see Mary Marvel in red again. The timing was perfect, since next week the Marvel Family is going to get turned intside out.

Hands down the best issue yet. The Montoya/Question arc really played itself well (The Wire Season 2 stuff was ill), the Intergang suicide-bombing attempt at Black's wedding was gully, the talking tiger was ill and you know Black saw that shit go down. I guarantee he was just keeping it on the low, for now, so he could be with his chick? Pussy over fighting any day, right? A spectacular issue and I really dug the ending; LOBO is back, bitches!!!!!!! One of the Lost In Space heads is going to get murked. It looks like 52 all comes together in 17; I'm hyped!

I love seeing Montoya go through the highs and lows; she is such a dope character. She just murked a girl with a space gun....DRINKING TIME!!!!

Tot is the dude funding Charlie and Renee's quest; any guesses as to who it is?

-the Question himself... in last year's Question mini, Vic Sage was a very successful star investigative TV reporter
-the Question's old mentor, I don't know his name but I've seen references to him
-Richard Dragon, the martial arts expert who trained the Question in fighting.

But that brings me to something that's been nagging at me... the possibility that the Question isn't the Question.
First of all, it's been known (to readers) all along that the Question's secret identity is Vic Sage. Yet: a) he has Montoya calling him Charlie; and b) the 'headliners' section at 52thecomic.com says his civilian ID is unknown.


Hmmm.... I'm going to go check the Wiki and see if it's been updated.

From the Wiki.
---

Sage was approached by a scientist named Aristotle Rodor, who had previously been Sage's professor, and Rodor told Sage about an artificial skin called Pseudoderm he co-developed with Dr. Twain. Pseudoderm was intended to work as an applied skin-like bandage with the help of a bonding gas, but had an unforeseen toxicity which was fatal when applied to open wounds. Rodor and Twain agreed to abandon the project and parted ways, but Professor Rodor discovered that Dr. Twain had decided to proceed with an illegal sale of the invention to Third World nations, regardless of the risk to human health.

Sage resolved to stop him but had no way of going after Dr. Twain without exposing himself. Rodor suggested that Sage use a mask made of Pseudoderm to cover his famous features. Armed with information, and more importantly a disguise, Sage eventually caught up with Dr. Twain, stopping the transaction and extracting a confession, and then leaving Twain bound in Pseudoderm in an ironic twist. On television, Sage reported on Dr. Twain's illegal activities.

Sage decided that this new identity, partially inspired by The Spirit, would be useful for future investigations, and partnered with Professor Rodor, who supplied the Pseudoderm and eventually modified the bonding gas to change the color of Sage's hair and clothing. The two men became good friends, with Sage affectionately referring to Rodor as "Tot".

Nice intel report, D!

Call it a hunch, but there was a qoute on the chalkboard along the lines of, "Don't trust The Question, he lies." It seems a bit too convenient that he and Montoya found the weapons in the warehouse and those decapitated bodies in Kahndaq. Why would he be setting Montoya up though? That baffles, me.

As for Tot, I'm thinking it is somebody helping prep for the apparent invasion...

Hey What's Happenin' Shazam!!

I heard you was out with Isis last night!!

Yeah man I was out with Isis!! Who told you that man?

Don't worry about that... how is she?

Super BAD super bad...

I heard you gave up the diamond, too....

Oh come on you didn't see me give up no diamond!

Freddy told me all about it!

Freddy told you I gave up the diamond?

Yup!

You ain't seen me give up no diamond.

Ain't no big thang!


*IIIIIIII....IIIII AIN'T GOT NO HEADS .... TO SQUIIIIIISHHHHHH....NOOOO HEADS TO SQUIIIIISHHHHHHH*






*cough*

...sorry.

just #148, though.

Meltdown in LA is having a 50% off sale on all back issues in our bins. Come by-there's some goodies in there.

Meltdown Comics
7522 Sunset Blvd.
LA, CA

http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=82275

Not bad, not bad... it's bonus week for buckshot, as we see much more of the Lost in Space crew AND a bit of the metafiction mishmash that he loves to love.

The Purple & Green Posse makes an appearance, and it goes about as expected: intrateam strife, drug abuse, difficulty dealing with the newfound powers, etc. It's obvious that Natasha is still in Luthor's pocket. Of course we know that this can't go well.

So why is Lobo holding Superman's cape on the cover? Doesn't make any sense. Unless it's something silly, like Lobo has joines the Cult of Conner.

Speaking of silly, why'd they spell Conner with an 'e'?

Red Tornado's appearance is odd to me, as JLA #1 was just going on about him being dead... the body in this one is able to say '52.'

Also, wasn't Red Tornado's voicebox glued onto someone else's chest in one of the early issues, where it also yelled 52? Hmmm. THhat was too long ago.

Lobo and Starfire's lack of dialogue in the vacuum of space is why this series is brilliant; the attention and application of detail is logical yet, rare and welcome.

Damn..............best issue yet! No lies. LOBO taking off Starfire's top was too funny, the Lex Squad stuff was humorous and a bit gripping. The ending was ill; Devilance getting his block knocked off and his guts splattered, was hella' grimey! I love this muffucking series.

>Red Tornado's appearance is odd to me, as JLA #1 was just
>going on about him being dead... the body in this one is able
>to say '52.'

JLA #1 is OYL; 52 is the missing year between IC and OYL.

>Also, wasn't Red Tornado's voicebox glued onto someone else's
>chest in one of the early issues, where it also yelled 52?
>Hmmm. THhat was too long ago.


No, that was Herald and his vocal chords were rewired but yeah, he proclaimed: "52!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" See TT, OYL for more and he'll also show up in Secret Six with his Doom Patrol clique!

but never mind

that he's turned up in the 'never-never' is of more import

the potential cringe-factor (for me) is high and rising

ha

LOL...TOUCHE!

it's not JUST supes' cape, lobo also has batman's cowl and wonder woman's lassoo & sword in hand

and doesn't it look familiar?

remember the cover to #1?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/ce/52_1.jpg/225px-52_1.jpg


speaking of 'metafiction mishmash', lobo's breaking of the 4th wall and addressing the reader is archly apt

..only 35 to go, huh?

much fun was had getting through that asteroid field/space debris, ala 'empire strikes back'.. does that mean that adam strange is the 'han solo' character?

and buddy's in touch with a 'force', of sorts..

speaking of buddy, i enjoyed his conversation with kori where he mentions meeting higher beings and coming to understand life, the universe and everything.

i wonder if he'll remember meeting grant morrison?

that splash-page of devilance having died before lobo is, uh, smokin' (atmospheric, no?)

it's very cool to see the main man back in action

speaking of action, i think it's about to heat up for our intrepid 'lost in space' crew

as for lobo's having problems stemming from joining the church, who knows where that will lead

but

issue #19 has animal man's origin
issue #20 has adam strange's origin
issue #21 is full-length story with no back-up

there doesn't seem to be a planned origin story for starfire.

could we be about to lose the sexiest ever titan?

*frowns*

i'm already fretting about wonder woman's line about the need to visit buddy's wife OYL in the new justice league, as it is

i really hope that his story's not NEARLY over yet

but kori's death would make me feeling gray, son

though it's clear from multiple OYL stories that the crew hasn't made it home yet, and noone knows where they are. So they might die, but if so I bet it won't be for a while.

As far as Adam Strange/Han Solo... Han wasn't blind until the beginning of Return of the Jedi. But I _loved_ the Empire reference... it was so obvious.

So with Red Tornado's voice box shouting '52' again, any further guesses on the significance?

that booster gold's comes up in week 24 lends credence to the idea that his story isn't yet over either

Sometimes, it's very interesting what gets weeded out at an early stage. For example, in the original version of the Black Adam/Isis wedding, Shazam (not Cpatain Marvel) precided over the wedding. I guess Geoff Johns an' 'nem forgot that they killed Shazam off in IC.

http://www.dccomics.com/sites/52/?action=sketchbook&w=16&p=12

Also, Keith Giffen seems to have beef with Tawky Tawny. Read the side of the page:

http://www.dccomics.com/sites/52/?action=sketchbook&w=16&p=9

but that kinda stuff is still mostly beyond my ken. And interest... at least on a weekly basis.

I get a kick out of the articles sometimes, but they don't really add much to the overall story. I liked the one about how history textbooks were found to be incorrect post-Infinite Crisis.

What saith the Posse?

I loved this issue thoroughly... Ralph's characterization seems to be on point, though I am hoping the mystery regarding how he got pulled back together after the Cult of Conner fiasco comes to light before long (I'm sure it will, but I probably would have preferred following the story as it occurred, dig?)

Detective Chimp, gents!

Black Adam busting through the wall onto Montoya's little scene made me laugh out loud.

I don't care about why Intergang used a kid... but I am curious about how they fooled the kid into thinking this was an act of religious martyrdom.

Anyway. Discuss.

Interesting development on the Booster Gold tip, huh?! And damn, Dibny isn't crazy either. The Question/Montoya and Adam confrontation was classic and I loved the back-up. Not as good as Week 17 but next week looks like a doozy; LOBO, a Booster Gold appearance and more space goodness? Great.

It was the Phantom Stranger.... that's who was lurking in the background as Ralphy broke down with Straw Doll Sue under the bridge.

If you've been reading some of the other books - Blue Beetle at least - the Stranger has been popping up and talking about this new age of magic and the folks who will be important in its development.

So obviously he was interested in Ralphy b/c Ralphy is going to be instrumental in opening up the new age.

He still might be crazy though.

http://dibnydiary.blogspot.com/

Friday, September 08, 2006

What A Wonderful Week It's Been

It's been fantastic every step of the way! First Dr Willis suggested a relaxing trip to one of the resorts I used to visit with my late wife. Apparently I need to 'reconnect' - think of my wife in the context of happier times rather than as a charred corpse murdered BY LORING, that sun-orbiting bitchhag -

What's that you say, Dr Fate? Anger is not the path toward enlightenment? Yes, Dr Fate, yes. What? You think I should take another of my pink pills? But I've had so many already - yes, Dr Fate. You know best. Yes, I'll take one right now. Yes.

Anyway, I figured the best place to 'reconnect' would be in Marseilles, one of the most beautiful and culturally vibrant places on Earth! Of course, when I've had one of my special pink pills, everywhere seems like the greatest city on Earth! And that reminds me, I should really have another. Should I, Dr Fate? Yes. He says yes.

I didn't want to be bothered while I was 'reconnecting', but I was thinking that my old buddies in the Famous Fictional Detectives' Inspirations' Grandfathers' Neighbors Club Of Marseilles might want to know I was in town, so I cleverely used the alias of the guy who was the neighbor of the grandfather of the guy who was the inspiration for Sherlock Holmes. Needless to say, I was expecting Henri or Jean-Luc or one of the other crazy guys in the FFDIGNCOM to turn up dressed as Bob Hepplethwaite or Mrs. Lancaster or another famous neighbour of the grandfather of the real-life person who'd inspired a famous fictional detective. That would've made my weekend!

Instead, who should I look up from my pina colada and see? Bobo.

What's that you say, Dr Fate? I have to be nice to Bobo? He was only trying to help? I should take a pink pill? Yes, Dr Fate. Yes. I should take a pink pill. You're quite right. I must be nice to Bobo. Bobo has a charming personality, he doesn't have a massive drinking problem, and he doesn't smell like an old carpet that's been defecated on by an army of tramps! And he's not a god-damned, greasy, dirty ape bastard who still! After five years and seven months! Has not returned my DVD copy of World's Wierdest Police Chases Vol. III which features a getaway car crashing into my stretchy body and then pinging back to crash into another getaway car, in slow motion! And me and Sheriff John Bunnell giving two thumbs up to the camera! And that damned dirty chimp has been sitting on it for five whole -

Yes, Dr Fate. I'm being unfair. You're quite right. I said all that when he showed up and he had a perfectly good explanation that he lost it in a drinking contest and besides he was bringing me work. I shouldn't snap. Yes, Dr Fate. Yes. Another pink pill? But I only just had one - no, Dr Fate, you can't have too much of a good thing. You're quite right. Yes.

These pink pills certainly are tasty.

Anyway, Bobo had a bit of work for me involving my old detective's club that I left behind like the pathetic bunch of losers they were and the mystical helmet of Dr Fate, which is sitting next to me in this cafe. Apparently Tim Trench put it on and died horribly, which means I can maybe get the thirty bucks he owes me out of his will. Anyway, I heard Bobo was hanging around with all these big-ass mystic types now, so I figured if I brought them in, they'd just do all the work for me. I've noticed that generally if some big magic person gets involved with anything, they'll be the ones to say something like "There are forces here beyond your ken puny mortal, blah blah blah, we must venture to Egypt and the sit of the yadda yadda yadda..." which is a pain in the ass if you're not getting paid, but it's excellent if you are, because you can just sit back and watch the money roll in while some gimp in a Harry Potter costume does all the heavy thinking.

And that's exactly what happened this time! I just sat back, made a few random cryptic comments about this being a desperate crisis and hey presto! A free trip to Egypt and two hundred dollars - without me lifting a finger! Forget magic, baby, this is the Tenth Age of Dibny, and don't you forget it. Anyway, the jet lag was going to be a complete bastard, so I popped a couple of pink pills, and then I had another two because it was so hot -

- and that's when Dr Fate's helmet started to talk to me.

I mean, first it showed me this crazy vision that seemed almost like a hallucination caused by overmedication, but this was definitely real. And then he started telling me what to -

What's that you say, Dr Fate? I have to leave this place and be back about my pilgrimage? I have spent too long with the petty responsibilities of the mortal world? Yes, Dr Fate. Yes, I have spent too long. Yes. No, Dr Fate, there are plenty of pink pills left. I have hundreds of them in my jeep. No, Dr Fate, I've never tried taking five at once. Yes, Dr Fate, that does sound like a great idea.

Well, time to get back to my mystical quest! Like I said, it's been a terrific week of adventure, and I don't need another pink pill to know that next week should be even better! Although having said that, another one wouldn't hurt. Anyway, I should have a moment next week to tell you how it's all going, and I'll let you know if Dr Fate has any instructions for you out there!

Apart from that you should see Dr Robert Willis and get hold of some of his special pink pills. And eat them. Do that now.

I loved that bit.

This was a really good issue. Dibny is bonkers for sure. But that's not to say the helmet isn't talking to him. The DCU is wacky like that.

I hope Dibny isn't going to become the new Dr. Fate or anything like that. That sort of thing is never a good look.

Holy shit!!!! First, go read Green Lantern 13. Second, read this joint while sitting down in order to prevent a shattered tailbone. This was pure fiyah!!!! PIFF! PIFF! PIFF!

Archbishop Lobo preaching to the masses left in Universal destruction's wake. The devastation is coming...

The religous space inclusions? Brilliant and classic Morrison!!!

Skeets murking Booster? Yep, for reals!!!

EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE SCREAMS CLASSIC.


52 owns the game.

Skeets, how could ya?

Well, I kind of saw this coming, but this was great regardless. I love a good heel turn. And I'd never been enamored with the Booster storyline, but now I'm intrigued.

All we gotta do now is figure out who will use his name on the next MF Doom album.

just dropped GL...but 52 was slick...don't think skeets took out booster....but created booster.....
it's seems you can tell when Grant is writing.




>Holy shit!!!! First, go read Green Lantern 13. Second, read
>this joint while sitting down in order to prevent a shattered
>tailbone. This was pure fiyah!!!! PIFF! PIFF! PIFF!
>
>Archbishop Lobo preaching to the masses left in Universal
>destruction's wake. The devastation is coming...
>
>The religous space inclusions? Brilliant and classic
>Morrison!!!
>
>Skeets murking Booster? Yep, for reals!!!
>
>EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE SCREAMS CLASSIC.
>
>
>52 owns the game.

kon-el??

In the real world, that's a good way for DC to continue using the character while avoiding the legal issues of the Superboy name. I'm curious to see if it's really him, how he got to that point, and how Wonder Girl figured it out.



"Those aren't boobs...THEY'RE LIES!!!" - Stewie Griffin

but then again, why would she call him kon-el?

My guess at this point is that she's wrong, but that's a big teaser to put in there. I bet they leave us hanging on it for a few weeks.

Has any reference been made to Supernova in any OYL books?

>but then again, why would she call him kon-el?

I think Wonder Girl either recognized his voice or she is just crazy with sorrow and is hoping it's him.

>My guess at this point is that she's wrong, but that's a big
>teaser to put in there. I bet they leave us hanging on it for
>a few weeks.
>
>Has any reference been made to Supernova in any OYL books?

Yes, there was a headline, on the Daily Planet, in the initial Superman OYL arc referencing him.

And aren't we getting our fill of grief stricken nutcases with the Ralph Dibny plotline?

But 'Kon-El' is a bit formal, don't you think? And I think it's important to make that disctinction. She didn't call him Conner. So like... Dubya-Tee-Eff?

If there is a Supernova/Superboy link, I wonder if it has anything to do with all that soul searching Conner was doing pre-IC. Also, Supernova's logo is the same as Metropolis's TV station Galaxy Broadcasting System's. Hurm.

Has Supernova popped up in any OYL titles? And in OYL Teen Titans, isn't Tim *still* trying to clone Conner?

ie.: Was it a setup?

I'm assuming the 'he' of 'he knows' is Rip Hunter. But what does he know? I think he knows that Skeets is the one who broke time... but why would Skeets do that on purpose?

Is Daniel getting sent back to the past, or rather, looped in time, going to mean that Booster doesn't get born at all now? UH OH.

ow come Skeets wasn't hooked into Booster's goggles the first time Booster went down there?


Either way, it's pretty obvious Skeets is responsible for a lot of shit going down... whether he yet qualifies as a villain or what, I don't know yet.

I'm finally caught up... Damn these weekly titles, it's so easy to fall behind!!


>I'm assuming the 'he' of 'he knows' is Rip Hunter. But what
>does he know? I think he knows that Skeets is the one who
>broke time... but why would Skeets do that on purpose?

Maybe... But what if the 'he' was actually referring to Booster? After all 'he' would have gone down there and seen all that stuff (and intentionally not reported it to Skeets?) So maybe now Skeets is on some 'oh shit Booster knew it was me all along/ the jig is up' type stuff. This also adds some extra 'oomph' to the theory that Booster faked his own death. Maybe he was just trying to get some distance from Skeets?

I mean, obviously Rip Hunter knows something is up too, since he's presumably the one who wrote all that stuff in the first place...

As to what Skeets is actually up to? I have no idea.

>Is Daniel getting sent back to the past, or rather, looped in
>time, going to mean that Booster doesn't get born at all now?
>UH OH.

You guys ever see that episode of Futurama where Fry travels back in time and becomes his own grandfather? Hmmmmmmmmm

>How come Skeets wasn't hooked into Booster's goggles the first
>time Booster went down there?

I was wondering that too.

>Either way, it's pretty obvious Skeets is responsible for a
>lot of shit going down... whether he yet qualifies as a
>villain or what, I don't know yet.

Yeah, I don't think it's gonna be that simple.

Time travel makes my head hurt!

So Cyborg Superman knows what 52 is, the Guardians created the Corps in order to preserve 52 and Superboy Prime is somehow involved. Also, they allude to 52 being a path in an uncharted sector of space.

I'm thinking it leads to the new Earth 2, first seen in JLA #0.

Any more thoughts?

be where Archbishop Lobo reigns supreme?

He said the Corps had a number for it, but aside from that I was getting kinduva Wild West feel.

I mihgt have to hit the store again tomorrow to grab that Green Lantern. In the meantime I'm gonna head to the 52 pickup blog to get filled in.

and don't feel like I learned much from it.

Except that the Guardians are the ones who know what 52 is, and that it is some sort of guiding principle for them. 'Path' could easily be a figurative path as well - ie, the path to righteousness or whatever. I was amused by them using it as sort of a 'Let's Go' type cheer - like they should have all had their hands in the middle for the big pre-game rally. "52! 52! 52!" Or they should have been giving each other pounds. "Yo, 52." "52, dawg."

Not sure how Superboy Prime will figure into it.

There have been so many allusions at this point... I really hope the 'answer,' if there is one, isn't some kind of metaphysical bs when it comes.

Devilance The Pursuer was a New God, he was charged with the task of capturing/killing our space-bound heroes, because they saw something at the edge of the universe in IC. It was hinted that they saw HEAVEN and were not supposed to, right? Well, what if "Heaven" is behind the Source Wall i.e. that huge barrier at the edge of the DC Universe where it is rumored the Anti-Life equation can be found (see: Darksied).

Well, remember when The Flashes took out SBP, in IC4? What if somehow they took him into sector 3601, the expanse *that may* lay behind the source wall? The guardians could be nervous about Prime because he may know the Anti-Life equation and the secrets of this "heaven"? Maybe the Guardians are guarding that sector because it holds the "key to controlling the universe"??? Or maybe 3601, is Heaven and somehow it has been corrupted thus, bringing many recently deceased heroes/villains back to life? Finally, what if 3601 is the second universe? I think the Flashes are deeply entrenched in the "52". Where's Wally West and his family? 52!

I know this sounds like some jibber-jabber, but GL #13 has me wondering...

Especially with the part about the Flashes. Wally's got to be hiding somewhere.

I also think when Adam Strange activated that Zeta-Beam (or whatever he calls it), that was supposed to take all the heroes back to Earth, they accidently went through 3601 or 52, and Strange, Starfie and Animal Man "landed" just outside of it.

Or something. My head hurts.

The Animal Man back-up was pretty.

speaking of which, have you ever read the first 26 issues of 'animal man'?

as some of morrison's best work, if you haven't, you really must

Bolland is the GOAT cover artist.

And everyone needs to read Animal Man. Especially a self respecting Morrison fan such as yourself, JR. Amazon and Ebay have trades on the cheap - look into it!

And hardcore Bolland completists might wanna check into Image's anthology series 'Negative Burn', as he's been contributing to that one recently. The book isn't particularly mind blowing or anything, but if you're hard up for some Bolland, you can find him there.

any of you unethical bastards want the Morrison Animal Man links, all you need to do is say the word

Hook them up, young Shogun. Please?

I'm still keep keepin on with this title and I have to say that this book, along with the Identity/Infinite Crisis books and all the Inf. Crisis tie-in books, has led me to declare that DC whips Marvel's anal cavitus at this super-hero shit. I have been following both avidly for about 3 months now and can say for certain that the DC titles pique my interest more and just flat out LOOK better.

52 is a great example of this. A weekly book with one of their top writers and amply capable illustrators has yet to sag for even one of the past 20 weeks. Nothing short of an amazing accomplishment right now. As great as its going right now, however, I cannot say that I haven't been thoroughly lost at times. Right now the plan is that I'm going to go back at week 26, put everything else I cop that week aside, and go over all of the books for a little "half-time game review" to try and understand a little more and pick up the pieces that have me perplexinated. Fer insterance: Doc Magnus was choppin it up with some psycho talking doc for the first coupl eof issues and then..."whaaa haaaap'm??!?" Did I miss the wrap up? And I have just accepted that I will not.nevr.ever.nerverver.understand the riddle wrapped inside of an enigma wrapped inside of a mystery known as "Red Tornado". Following (somewhat) his storyline in 52, JUSTICE, Infinite Crisis, and JLA - I cannot figure out what the holy happenstance is his current status.

But I'm sure plunking down another $40-$50 bucks every week for the rest of my life for these silly funny books with the pretty pictures will sort it all out for me.

52 has been quite amazing so far, given it's a weekly comic. What gets me more, is the fact that 52 revolves around second-tier characters; not Batman, not Superman and not even Wonder Woman. DC is by far the better company when it comes to creating a property, updating it, preserving it and keeping it fresh.

I think a big factor is that, DC characters are generational heroes (legacy characters). This is nice in the grand scheme of things because it gives DC options when things begin to get stale or when the fans "want more."

I'm not going to knock Marvel because like DC, they have let a few properties go; The Flash is now the equivalent to Marvel's X - Men property (to an extent).

With that said, Marvel seems to be following in DC's footsteps, which is a positive thing, by creating younger versions of their main titles. Books like New X-Men, Young Avengers, Runaways (to an extent) and even Spider Girl, offer new readers the oppurtunity to ignore years of back-story and get in on the ground floor of the next generation's big series. Marvel also has the Ultimate line which isn't necessarily redundant but it offers newer readers the chance to read classic stories that are reimagined in order to seem relevant today.


But yeah, I ride with DC any day of the week. The build-up to IC was simply astounding and spectacular. Although IC, the mini, wasn't all that great, what has followed has been classic material. 52 is fire, the OYL arcs-to now have stayed kicking and the level of creative effort going in to these books is wonderful. DC does all they can do to cater to their fans; they're very appreciative of us. Also, DC creators really love what they do and seem to be given creative freedom (not that much editorial dircetion) with their books.

Highlight: Lobo's self-reference as The Main Man.

Interesting shit going down... we all knew there was a flaw in the Everyman plan, but we didn't know what it was. But do we really know what it is now?

Space: Hey, it felt like the Invisibles for a second there. I'm enjoying it a lot, but I have to say, if it weren't for Lobo and especially his outdated slang I wouldn't be enjoying it nearly as much.


And hey, I don't know much Adam Strange, but didn't he always have a nice 1950s-ish ray gun? Since when does his suit shoot 'masers' out on thought command?

Lobo stole an omnipotent being's eye and that is why he is on the run??? AWESOME, I love shit like this in my funny books. Humor and "epicness" go together like PB and J for me; it grrrrrrrrrreat! -Tony the Tiger. Hell, even the Steel scene was rad and neat. The definate highlight, for me, was the grim and gritty humor. The ending with the refugee-planet being blown apart was an "oh shit" moment. I am really digging the space-plot above all else; Animal Man, Adam and Kory are such awesome characters. LOL at Animal Man shooting fireballs. This issue was impressive and cot damn, the 52 Titans show up next week? This title rules!

I don't suppose there's any chance the 'Nova is J. Todd?
Sure, the obvious flaw with that would be that Jason was around pre-IC and he's obviously still around one year later, but...

Also I'm not sure what his interest in the power gauntlet should be... I thought Manhunter Kate Spencer had some sort of power gauntlet that had come from Batman somehow, but then again that doesn't mean Batman couldn't have kept a spare pair.

Luthor used it to create/splice Supergirl into 2, pre-IC!

...in a world without a Superman?

Hmmm...



Hey, do you think Batman has the courtesy to cover stuff like that up when Superman comes over? Seems like it would be a bit awkward to just have laying out at dinner parties.

What makes Vixen different from Animal-Man, powers wise? Don't they both take on the abilities of animals, or does Animal-Man need to be near an animal to replicate? No snark, no hate, just wondering.




"Those aren't boobs...THEY'RE LIES!!!" - Stewie Griffin

Vixen, Animal Man, Bwanan Beast, and essentially everyone else who has animal powers in the DCU get their abilities from the same place.

I think it has changed since it was revealed in Animal Man, but their are essentially totems like Vixen and BB rock that allow them to tap into some energy field that gives them animal abilities. These same aliens recontructed Buddy Baker's body from scratch so that his body could tap into the field without alternative measures. Essentially his whole body is the totem.

Lobo is an OK enough idea for a character but I always find the execution to be exceedingly corny. The church stuff and the fish thing only served to take up space. It was filler and it wasn't funny.

What's with all of the Legion of Super Heroes references in 52? First, it was Dev-Em and now the Emerald Eye of Ekron.

Steel as a metahuman is wack and I truly, truly hope that they take the powers away. I'm glad that there's a hint of this happening & I hope he's first in line.

Definitely, one of the weaker issues.

Peace,

*** MARBLES ***

but the introduction of Lobo has kept me interested. And it's probably going to be one of the most important in terms of DCU architecture, as all indications are that 52 is some sort of cosmic or space-related deal.

Also, the fact that the space crew still aren't home several months into the regular DCU one year later storylines indicates that there's something else going on here that will likely continue going on.

Can't help with the Legion references, as everything I know about the Legion came from you.

Because I really want to see where they are going with Booster Gold and I am tired of waiting every couple of weeks!


!sig!
www.myspace.com/gemini2one

we use to gang bang but a lot of that died down
children of the hat tiltin' keeping hope alive now - Lupe

I'm glad a couple of y'all are coming around on the Booster Gold storyline. It's been one of my favorites from the jump off.

b/c they've each been increasing in dopeness pretty constantly... ones I didn't expect to like much have turned out to really pique my interest. And the cliffhangers, while it kills me to be left hanging for multiple weeks as the focus shifts to other stories, are doing their job of keeping me interested very well.

I was salty at Booster for overdoing the corporate thing and setting up villains for him to fight. As a longtime fan, I know that he was much better than that.

But this latest revelation with Skeets (the nastiest name for any comics character ever) just opened up another can of worms.

*Montoya & the Question remain my faves. I don't know how working with Black Adam will affect this story though.

*Supernove earned my respect for giving Booster a stern talking to. And why's he creeping in the Batcave? Kryptonite glove? Huh? What?

*Ralph Dibny's quest to bring his wife back was fantastic, especially that climatic event at the cult meeting. I wonder if this Nabu/Dr. Fate thing is another attempt to revive Sue?

*Poor Wonder Girl isn't dealing with the loss of her boyfriend very well at all. She honestly needs some help.

*Sorry, gang, I'm just not feeling the space story.

that's been dangling for weeks with no new info, and is at this point the most potentially open as to where the hell it's gonna go.

*spoiler* rumor has it the plot is being masterminded by none other than Egg Fu! Toothpick's gonna go apeshit when he sees that!

Luthor's squad adopts the Infinity Inc. moniker, his actions lead to one of his lackies getting murked, the badass 52 TEEN TITANS show up and Red Tornado gets all Mad Maxxed-out down in Austrilia!

All in all, this was a great issue. Whenever Luthor schemes, I smile. The "neglected" stories get developed and some great dialogue abounds. I would have liked to see more TT action but the hints that Power Boy and Little Barda, are indeed from Apokolips, sufficed. Definatly a character develoment week, but it was done well.
B+

Red Tornado's obviously got his android body back at some point, and then he gets killed again.

But the question is, if Morrow has already disappeared, how does REd Tornado get his android body back together, before being killed... again?

had absolutely nothing to do with what was going on inside the magazine.

That's just sloppy.


Overall though, a lot of fun. Luthor's got some stones... but what could he gain by killing off a member so early? Also, possible racism ? OMINOUS!

And Dibny is somehow turning into a badass... I like him embracing the magic in an antagonizing way, though I'm not clear why he has to go to hell.

Digging the Dibny-Goes-Underworld story arc so far. Still not sure if he's crazy yet or not. And why isn't he sippin' on the gingold yet? Come on man...ELONGATE ALREADY!!! (no homo)

What I really dug was Luthor being the vicious bastard he is. A bit of meta-humor there with the 'We had 4 writers' bit. And could the 'we'll re-record the fight dialogue in post' comment be a friendly poke at DC tweaking the Infinite Crisis art for the trades? Hmmmm?

What I DON'T like is anytime Steel and Natasha come within 3 feet of each other. As a comic reader I'm no stranger to melodrama but this is just pushing it to ridiculous heights. Easy on the angst, guys. Easy on the angst.

including a cover of an early Waid issue of the Flash on her wall...


(the above lifted wholesale from 52-pickup)

Friday, September 29, 2006

I'm Not Letting Dr Fate Have The Map Again

He was the one who kept moaning and bitching at me to get on with this goddamned pilgrimage through the nether realms of mysticism and now he's not holding his end up. To start with, we had a huge argument at the airport about the ticket, because Dr Fate wanted to bump the ticket up to Business Class. On my dime. Apparently in Economy Class he feels cramped. Apparently ostentatious golden hats need more legroom. Well, boo hoo, Dr Fate, maybe if your non-existent legs need to stretch you can goddamned walk to Egypt next time. Also, currently your half of the 'pilgrimage' comes to $1,340 plus tax - that is money that I am owed, Dr Fate, so the sooner you can break out the Enchanted Wallet of Xyliphetas and pay me back, the sooner you can come out of the luggage compartment and take in the in-flight movie. That's all I'm ready to say on the matter.

And not content with all that, he then proceeds to go off and force himself on the creatures of the underworld.

First, after dragging me into some dark dimension or other that he swears is the correct route to the Fiery Pit, he tells me to wait at the top of the Nigh-Infinite Stairs Of Negruthazzar while he goes and 'interrogates' the Demonic Guardian Of The Gate Of Mictlan. 'Interrogation' is allegedly what the hip kids are calling it these days. So I'm sitting on a mysterious stairway to nowhere, twiddling my thumbs for seven hours and eventually I start hearing this wierd groaning sound and I figure Dr Hat probably needs help, or at least something vaguely interesting might be happening to him which would beat sitting at the top of some metaphysical stairs without even a pack of cards or a book because Dr Bitch had to spend all of my duty free money on a walkman and a tape of The Greatest Hits Of Lionel Ritchie.

So what do I come down the Infinite Stairwell to find? A demonic guardian knocked out and tied up with his own limbs while Dr Fate rubs his grotesque helmet-face between his satanic buttocks and makes little cooing noises. I tell you, it made me feel physically sick, and I said so, but Dr Fate screamed that I didn't understand his needs and that he was sick of me judging him and WHY COULDN'T I LEAVE HIM ALONE?? And then he burst into tears. After that he stopped speaking to me altogether, which was frankly a relief although it did leave me to find some explanation to give to the creature so he didn't sue us blind the minute he woke up from whatever rohypnol trance he'd been put into. God knows I've managed to avoid enough legal trouble lately without being ensnared in Dr Fate's web of sickness.

I figured the only way out was to smooth things over and make sure he didn't go around complaining about how he'd been treated, so I decided to act like I was in charge and not to be messed with. That involved waving a packet of dental floss around and making up some nonsense about his bones cracking and shattering. And then kicking him down the stairs. Just one of the many tricks you learn when you're Ralph Dibny, Mystical Detective.

Anyway, from there on we simply had to cross over the Mictlan Gate and finally enter the depths of Hell for the next step of my mystical journey. Dr Fate still didn't have a word to say to me so I took the iniative, crossing the Threshold Of Thresnabazog to find myself on some terrible plane of drab greyness. Wrecked and twisted buildings lay everywhere, a spectral wind howling between them, and on the faces of the damned spirits who lurked in this hideous place was written a terrible despair, as though all hope of redemption had been ripped bodily from them by their unspeakable circumstances.

That's when I turned around and saw a big sign saying 'WELCOME TO DONCASTER'.

Anyway, I'm now stuck in Doncaster, which is apparently on Earth although you could have fooled me. Dr Fate still refuses to speak to me, although he's racking up immense bills on my mobile phone calling the USA to loudly inform the Spectre that he's not paying for another ticket to Egypt just so we can start all over again. I must have somehow missed him paying the first time.

Hopefully next week we can actually get somewhere more mystical than Doncaster, but I'm really starting to have doubts about Dr Fate's navigational abilities, and everything else about him - although frankly, I think he's just jealous of my new stylin' safari pants. According to the guy who lives in a box outside the train station, I'm like a young, hip, ginger version of Des Lynham, whoever he is.

The Big 3 "discussed" Booster's potential membership i.e. HE LIVES?!

So maybe he doesn't live? Maybe he's alive and nobody knows? Can't call it at this point.




"Those aren't boobs...THEY'RE LIES!!!" - Stewie Griffin

RIP BOOSTER!

or, booster is dead, dead, dead. Or at least the JLA thinks so effective several months in the future from 52.



But then again, maybe Batman knows something the rest of us don't.

...Teen Titans! Miss Manhunter recieves a transmission...

I'm not heading back to the shop this week...

....She picks up a transmission along the lines of, " aunt Kathy is back in Gotham." So, one of the new Titan's aunt is Batwoman.

Ever since I read in some post on here earlier this week a poster mention reading something in "Checkmate" that they thought might forebode upcoming events in 52, I have been mulling over an issue of 52 and Shadowpact that I think may constitute a boo-boo in the continuity of the DC multi-poly-omni-quasi-verse.


Anyone else following Shadowpact? If not, I don't blame ya because its fuckin disappointing. I loved the hell out of the Days of Vengeance storyline, the best of the Infinite Crisis tie-ins IMO, and was geeked to see that they got their own title, an on-going run at that, and that Willingham was still signed on to do it. However, my excitement has been tempered more and more as each new issue comes out. I'll get to why below, but first:


*********SPOILERS ABOUND***************














The Shadowpact (Detective Chimp, Blue Demon, Enchantress, Nightshade, Ragman, and some guy who has a magic sword and runs a magic bar gets all medieval on that ass and is named Jim ) starts out right after the events depicted in the Days of Vengeance bonus issue. To recap: the newly formed Shadowpact, with the aid of all of the "good" magicians, have now defeated the Spectre and rebuilt the Rock of Eternity, and they were there with Detective Chimp as he and the Phantom Stranger instructed Billy(?) to cast Dr. Fate's helmet towards the heavens so that "fate" would decide who would next wear the helmet. Now as the new series begins we see Superman doing his super guy thing, flying over and scanning the countryside for people in need of rescue. He comes upon a giant red bubble covering an entire town and goes to investigate. After realizing he can't do anything to penetrate it he calls upon Green Lantern to come and see if the ring can get in there. It doesn't and they soon realize that the red bubble is magic in nature and that is why they are powerless to get inside and investigate. Phantom Stranger appears out of nowhere, as he is wont to do, and reveals that perhaps the Shadowpact, the no-names who just saved the universe, would be good candidates for dealing with this. Long story short, they are indeed good candidates, and get in the town and save it from the horrible events unfolding underneath the "bubble of blood".



This unfolds over the first 3 issues of Shadowpact and it starts out really, really good. The first 2 issues, expertly DRAWN by Bill Willingham and with interesting and compelling action unfolding, were building the story great. I was geeked for like a 6 issue arc of just balls out magic battling all contained in this little town, with all the non-magic residents joining in and shit, maybe dukeing it out for a whole damned year. But then it gets all wrapped up in this sloppy ass bow in one issue (3)! And in order to defeat the evil magicians, Enchantress casts a giant spell that sucks a year off all of their lives and they have all now "magically" aged a year. So they walk out of the de-bubbled town, all bearded and wondering about their apartments, to go home and rest before re-grouping and facing the next adventure. What a fuckin let down. Then the next issue is this miserably boring "a day in the life of..." one shot that follows Blue Demon around for a day and we see all his troubles and travails as he's trying to get to a team meeting. No other team members make an appearance, Willingham isn't on pencils, there is no reference to anything that has happened in the first (3) issues, and it really couldn't be any dumber. THEN!!! THEN!!! Then the next issue (5) goes BACK to them leaving the blood bubble town and discovering that they've lost a year and dealing with all of the things you would have to deal with if, in one blink of your eyes, the world aged a year without you. "WHA' HAAAPPPEMM?!?" - Fred Willard



So, now that we're all —-> here <—- together, I query you good people the same query I queried of myself. How could Detective Chimp, the magical talking pipe smoking recovering alkie, nee "Bobo", be involved in ANY of the events depicted in 52 when, to him and the aforementioned other Shadowpacters, the entire 52 effectively went on WITHOUT them. Well at least went on without them for 51.25 weeks. I'll allow the were there for the first .25 of week 1 and the last .25 of week 51. Admittedly the issues are not in front of me but I don't remember any instances of DC magically "stepping out" during any time, and that wouldn't even be allowable because he shows up in approximately week 18 or so.


Am I right?

that is, issue #1 began a year after Infinite Crisis ended. Which would mean that DC and the rest were around during the 52 period and therefore free to hang with Dr. Fate's old helm, find Ralph Dibny, travel to Giza, whatever.

Problems with that: Superman was still depowered at the start of the OYL, so #1 would really have had to have been Fifteen Months Later or something along those lines.

If you're right, and it began right after IC's completion, then the problem is that Superman was definitely depowered at that point.


given your summary, I'm kinda glad I only read Shadowpact #1. I've since read a good bit more of Willingham's stuff and might try to find some of the other books, but the whole 'did they just age a year, or did a year actually pass?' question doesn't turn me on much.

*shrug* i dunno... you're probably the magic expert here outside of Nukkapedia and his Shazamarific worldview. I think 52/OYL has a LOT of little things in it that weren't completely ironed out amongst the various editors.

and they were there with Detective Chimp
>as he and the Phantom Stranger instructed Billy(?) to cast Dr.
>Fate's helmet towards the heavens

Billy Batson, aka Captain (Shazam!) Marvel.

I saw Harvey Birdman this past week...fucking Apache Chief gets introduced into the DCU proper????!!!! Hell yeah and he has a cool legacy to boot. Luthor stays a pissy little baby, the Metal Men attack and the conspiracy against mad scientists is revealed. Brilliant issue, classic cover, a heart-stopping ending, an incredible intro and a giant robot. CLASSIC! CLASSIC! CLASSIC!

Hats off to DC for putting out the best comic on shelves today, every week. The impossible is possible. My COTW.

I could definitely feel the despiration of Dr. Magnus as he tries to figure out a situation he doesn't understand and is clearly in over his head. I've always been very intrigued by the mad scientist subplot and I wish they would give it more shine.

it was a fine issue

but next week could well have black adam squishin' faces once again!

*crosses fingers*

And Luthor trying to get his metagene on was pretty crucial. I mean it's one thing to hop into a green and purple robocop suit. But real-live superpowers? I'm kinda surprised he took it there. Clark Kent is somewhere eating a warm pretzel right now and you're throwing a tantrum in your secret lab, you old bald headed chump!!

The Super Chief stuff is promising I suppose. The thing about 52 is that it's such a juggling act. I'm already invested in 4 or 5 different subplots, so I'm not so quick to fall in love with the newer elements. You gotta win me over if you're gonna burn up potential Animal Man in Space pages.

I'm going to have to try to hit the store somehow.

Unless someone wants to hit me with a link to tide me over...

I imagine you're pretty busy right now

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=2X8LD1QA

Thanks, buck-->

the magnus robnot fighter refference on tehr cover

the fast back bus thats super chief was riding on


I thought some of the images were a nod to turok

the robot that fired on magnus hous loks like a sentinel

Magnus and Turok...both Golden Key & Valiant characters at some point in their careers.

Who owns them now, I wonder?

Since they made a semi-succesful videogame franchise out of him, but I heard they want out of business, too, so I don't know where it is now.

But does anyone know what happened with Priest trying to get the rights to Quantum & Woody?




"I hold to a simple philosphy: Assume everyone's a piece of crap and then be pleasantly surprised if you find anyone who ain't." Luke Cage

WWW.PREPTIMEPOSSE.BLOGSPOT.COM
Comic Geeks Who Actually Get Laid!

what an effing great issue! fun for the (now) whole family, even.

magnus finds trouble in paradise, being held on 'ooloo' island (or 'black dragon island'- see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oolong) along with the missing mad scientists/evil geniuses. apparently, they're working for people who "have a very long reach, will, and no small degree of ambition," to quote morrow, who have 'creating the future' on their minds.

..wasn't there something said a while back about an upcoming machine war?

while renee & charlie take a dare and enter a gang of trouble, discovering isis' badly beaten brother amon in the process. montoya kicks ass while the question steals a book (marked 'the epic of moriarty, book of crime', curiously enough.) marvelously, black adam and isis arrive in time to save the day, but not amon's legs. sadly, adam is too whipped to squish any faces here, but he does imbue amon with his power.

(it's notable just how much amon and freddie freeman have in common; see http://en.nukkapedia.org/wiki/Captain_Marvel%2C_Jr.)

and with isis' first mission complete, the adams family are on their way to china- will the great ten find them altogether ooky?

and then the 'next in 52' picture tease is a very tasty pinup of a bunch of dead justice leaguers, with 'blue & gold' front and centre- *sniff* - next to.. general glory? (god, i hated him) interesting, considering that we apparently meet the '52 justice league' next issue..

>(it's notable just how much amon and freddie freeman have in
>common; see
>http://en.nukkapedia.org/wiki/Captain_Marvel%2C_Jr.)

of course you mean http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Marvel%2C_Jr.

seeing as I took the Corkster's advice re: Columbus Day and won't be hitting the shop until lunch today. But I guess yo don't have Columbus Day in Australia, huh?

As I may have mentioned before, the 52-pickup guy says it's been confirmed that Egg Fu is the mastermind behind the missing scientists plot, so I'm wondering if he's acting solo or not.

A lot of the readers there also theorize as to Isis being a plant for Intergang... I'd guess that if Amon is on the scene, they're wrong. Either way, it sounds interesting.

Hey, here's a thought: if Green Lanterns and Black Adam have run into the Great Ten before, how come Checkmate didn't know about it when they ran into them in that first arc of the relaunch?

>seeing as I took the Corkster's advice re: Columbus Day and
>won't be hitting the shop until lunch today. But I guess yo
>don't have Columbus Day in Australia, huh?

australians being most sensitive when it comes to the effects of colonialism on indigenous peoples


>As I may have mentioned before, the 52-pickup guy says it's
>been confirmed that Egg Fu is the mastermind behind the
>missing scientists plot, so I'm wondering if he's acting solo
>or not.

i don't know egg fu (to subvert keanu) but it doesn't sound like a one man operation


>A lot of the readers there also theorize as to Isis being a
>plant for Intergang... I'd guess that if Amon is on the scene,
>they're wrong. Either way, it sounds interesting.

given her powers, an intergang connection would seem unlikely, imo


>Hey, here's a thought: if Green Lanterns and Black Adam have
>run into the Great Ten before, how come Checkmate didn't know
>about it when they ran into them in that first arc of the
>relaunch?

..bureaucracy at work?

to the island of Oolong.

http://www.dialbforblog.com/archives/369/

Contrast the comic content with your statement on sensitivity.

It shouldn't amuse me, but... I couldn't stop reading.

..awesome!

the 52 team are bringing back obscure parts of the DC universe in most interesting ways

how they're going to revamp egg-fu, i have NO idea

they'll surely be treading on egg-shells with the 'yellow peril' aspects, lest they're left with egg on their faces

(but, again, dude's name is EGG-FU)

(oh, and just to clarify re: columbus day, we really don't celebrate any such thing here)

You do know that in Egyptian mythology, prior to Isis combing the earth for him as we have already seen take place in the comic, those two siblings were fuckin'? And Osiris got cut up into millions of tiny bits and scattered all over, which is why Isis had to search for his pieces?

Verrry interesting... but incest is still quite the taboo subject; I can't imagine that aspect of the divine relationship will be picked up on in any but the subtlest of ways.

I'm getting the feeling more and more that the plots are going to turn out interrelated, and how. I kinda hope it's *not* the New Gods though and/or Apokolips, though.

Only complaint this week was that Isis's "I know where to start... China!" kinda came outta nowhere, if you know what I mean. Why start saving the world in China, instead of... Somalia? or Bangladesh? Maybe Isis *does* have something up her... well, where her sleeve would be.

Freddy, has Osiris existed previously in the Marvel family mythos? Since Isis's history was somewhat brief it seems unlikely to me, but you're the expert.

Oolong Island: Interesting idea, as 'oolong' is brewed from tea leaves that are partway through the fermentation process.... not green, not yet black, but... half-baked, so to speak.
And I LOVED the interaction on the island. The girl getting pissed that Magnus wasn't paying attention to her was classic.

And what's up with the 'Is renee the ANSWER?' tag on the bottom of the cover? I'm getting the feeling almost every week that the pacing of the interior and the cover copy are increasingly off. maybe intentionally so, though.

>You do know that in Egyptian mythology, prior to Isis combing
>the earth for him as we have already seen take place in the
>comic, those two siblings were fuckin'? And Osiris got cut up
>into millions of tiny bits and scattered all over, which is
>why Isis had to search for his pieces?
>
>Verrry interesting... but incest is still quite the taboo
>subject; I can't imagine that aspect of the divine
>relationship will be picked up on in any but the subtlest of
>ways.

so THAT'S how it is in their family! (c) bueller's principal


>I'm getting the feeling more and more that the plots are going
>to turn out interrelated, and how. I kinda hope it's *not* the
>New Gods though and/or Apokolips, though.

..we'll see

i wonder if seven soldiers of victory ties in as well?


>Only complaint this week was that Isis's "I know where to
>start... China!" kinda came outta nowhere, if you know what I
>mean.

i thought so too. still, it's refreshing to see a woman who doesn't dilly-dally about getting ready. time to go, let's go.

>And I LOVED the interaction on the island. The girl getting
>pissed that Magnus wasn't paying attention to her was
>classic.

yeah, the island was funtastic

>Freddy, has Osiris existed previously in the Marvel family
>mythos? Since Isis's history was somewhat brief it seems
>unlikely to me, but you're the expert.
>

Osiris is brand-new, son. A Geoff Johns original.

THE OTHER COTW....

Whacked-out mad scientists,with hordes of hoes, tripping, building robots and arguing on an island. Piff! Goddamn it, I declare: PIFF! What never ceases to amaze me is the fact that this continually is THE BEST comic you can buy, and it's weekly, for Christ's sake!!!!

The Question and Montoya part was PIFF! Monstermen beating up would-be suicide bombers, getting blasted by space lasers and recieving glorious knockouts by the hands of, Black Adam. He's that dude!!! Osiris? FUCKING PIFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Wildcat origin? PIFFFFFFFFFFF! This Issue? Spectacular, yes!

A+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Where's the dude we fell in love with 4 months ago? Hah?

He had AMPLE head squishin' opportunity in this issue, and did NOTHING.

On top of that, now he's handing out superpowers to his in-laws whom he's never even met before. Seriously, is anyone in Kandaq gonna be left without powers when this is all over? This dude is WHIPPED.

Maybe it was just the Isis/Osiris connection, but I was picking up a weird sort of Quicksilver-Scarlet Witch vibe between those two. Hell, do we know for sure that they're even siblings? Or is this just one of those Sam Cooke 'Cousin of Mine' type situations?

I liked the touch of Intergang treating criminality like some type of religion. That was neat.

And like everyone else, I'm loving mad scientist island. This shit is gonna be WILD.

Another satisfying issue, although I felt like it was one of the weaker ones art-wise.

Black Adam has become such a wuss. All these Intergang twerps should been ripped in half or eviscerated or something. Instead, once again they're spared because "there's been too much killing." GTFOHWTBS!!! This is like watching Clint Eastwood or Lee Marvin singing in "Paint Your Wagom."

I have a feeling the dude's getting played.


I dunno... Has he turned up in any OYL books? I don't follow JSA at all.

Come to think of it, I don't think any of the major 52 players have shown up in OYL. For obvious reasons though. I think Dibny and Booster are the only one that have even mentioned.

Yeah, Black Adam is probably getting played. I hope it sets him off on a blood soaked rampage.

i want to see Black Adam kick ass again. I believe he will fuck up some peeps in about 6 issues. Heads impaled on posts.

or at least with powers. That is, if we're to accept Judd Winick's resetting of the Marvel Family/Shazam! table. (in the current "Trials of Shazam!" miniseries, all of the Marvels save for Cap have lost their powers).

My guess is that Black Adam and Osiris are gonna bite the big one. I dunno about Isis; it probably depends upon whether DC bought the character's rights from Filmation or were just leasing them.

WHAT?! They already killed, Super Chief. NO! I hope him and Booster, come back to lay the smackdown on Super Skeets. Speaking of which, he is now the official METAL-FACED TERRORIST. He is fucking mean, dude! Any predictions as to who his enemy is, PTP?

Okay, so this issue was thick and solid, literally. It is the first issue that didn't feel like a 52 issue; the art was wrong.

Logistics aside, The story was great and Ambush Bug got his ill on. I endorse this issue.

A

>Speaking of which, he is now the official METAL-FACED
>TERRORIST. He is fucking mean, dude! Any predictions as to who
>his enemy is, PTP?

"He knows!"

Then he somehow opens up a time hole, saying he has to draw someone out.

Interesting that the Booster origina said Skeets has no martial capabilities, but he sure put a hurtin' on Sagonowahna wahn wahna wahnabe.

Speaking of which, RIP Super Chief. I can't believe they created a new hero to kill him an issue later!

Also, there were a bunch of 52 spoilers or at least hints in the January solicitations but I'm not going to go back and find them now.

Personally, I liked this issue a lot. For the bootleg JLA stuff if nothing else. It might have been the most "fun" issue of 52 thus far, the only real comp being the mad scientist intro last week.

Especially Ambush Bug. His "This Shirt's a Clue" t-shirt on the cover? "Send up a plot and three pages of dialogue! The weekly grind is tearing me apart! Fifty-Two!" And in Firebird's line of J'onn, and the segue into where indeed he was. It was all brilliant stuff.

And, not for nothing, I'd read a mini-series with this configuration fo the JLA. Sure, it'd be like a blatant rip-off of Nextwave, but sometimes the scrubs are more interesting.

Back to Martian Manhunter, they explained his abscence in a way that made sense, and showing that 1) Ted Kord is not forgotten 2) not everyone thought Booster Gold was a bozo.

I was highly satisfied. And yes, Black Adam has to stop being such a whipped wuss.

Did anybody NOT play themselves in this issue?

The JLA stuff was good. Ambush Bug's meta-commentary was funny stuff, and probably a much-needed release for the 52 writing staff. RIP Superchief, why do I get the feeling we'll be seeing you again? The scene where new Firestorm rings up Ollie was great. You got a real feel for the hierarchy of the DCU there. Firestorm is evidently not sitting at the cool lunch table.

Black Adam shoulda never gave his brother in law super-powers! That shit's gonna bite him in the ass, trust. Nepotism kills, kids!

And Martian Manhunter...sheesh. Listen, man. You're a telepathic shapeshifting alien with powers comparable to Superman... how did you manage to screw things up again? Whatta maroon!

telepathic shape-shifter commits fraud to manipulate the american government to suit his own agenda

..is that ethical?

Ethics has become a problem for Mr. Jonnz.

I'm wondering if Jonn sabotages the Checkmate/SS operation in Khandaq somehow...

Of course it's not ethical...but it *should* be EASY. And yet, JJ completely botches it.

...in Metropolis and end up killing all those wanna-be metahumans.

But he just seemed so damn surprised when Checkmate got re-instated with new and improved UN status. The dude's a mind reader on capitol hill...There shouldn't be any surprises!!

And can he just read minds or can he affect them in any way? You'd think that being in (or at least near) a position of influence he'd have knocked out war, hunger, and pork barrell spending before lunch (Batman would have!).


Dude couldn't even stop Checkmate!

>The dude's a mind reader on capitol hill...There shouldn't be any surprises!!

Indeed, he shouldn't have been so surprised. But I guess at that point, it was beyond his control.

>And can he just read minds or can he affect them in any way?
>You'd think that being in (or at least near) a position of
>influence he'd have knocked out war, hunger, AIDS, and pork
>barrell spending. Dude couldn't even stop Checkmate!

I don't think he influence minds, and if he does, he follows that Professor X system of ethics where he'd never willfully force another person to do something.

he thoght he had this one in the bag, so he steered clear.

But it's surprirsing that between Waller and J'onn, it's Waller that's in action OYL. He shoulda knocked her outta the game for good.

I was kinda surprised there wass no play on the 25 <-> 52 relationship, but that's no big deal. Also disappointed we didn't see (or at least, i didn't notice) Ambush Bug under cover as I thought had been indicated in last week's 'Next week in 52' bar. But maybe I misremember, I didn't go back to check.

Small complaints though.

Loved the Halloween stuff... I really get a kick out of the way DC works their characters into the wardrobe of everyday folks via the Superman and Batman tees, and the carryover of that into Halloween costumes was pretty cool. Loved the cover.

I'm getting some ominous feelings on Osiris... I think Freddy will turn up some junk on him. Nukkapedia - any dominant theories out there in Shazam-land?

I hate to say it, but Egg Fu actually looked kinda bad ass. No mustache, though, that's definitely a downer.

I like the continued play on what it means to be a mad scientist. It's hard not to root for Magnus holding out, but at the same time the Oolong Island spirit is pretty catchy. There's something about fun-loving criminals.

And Mannheim Steamroller - damn. Bad ass. Weird, but bad ass.

COMIC.OF.THE.MONTH.

Why? It wasn't all that groundbreaking but god damn, this is the epitomy of pulp fiction. This issue has everything that the comics of old and today embody. What more can I say???

This was an unbelievable read and I'll be damned, again, if this wasn't the best issue yet. The mysteries are off the chains! Mannheim went back to Apokalips in Superman OYL after warning Supes of some major isht, the Marvel mythos are crazy and Checkmate is in shambles. I cannot wait to see led up to all of this. 52 is really rocking now.

Intergang is headquartering in Gotham, where Two-Face is the city's sole-controller. Mannheim and Intergang are decalring war on Kahndaq, with Egg-Fu's mad scientists. Meanwhile, Osiris may be Intergang's inside man and Adam just shut off his allies. Man, BA is fucked!!!


52 rules, again and again. Best comic series ever? We'll see...

And it's very cool to me that it serves as both a fanboy's dream in terms of rerviving old characters in new & exciting ways, an introduction of new major themes to the DCU, and finally and perhaps ironically the best DCU introduction series around, as Brother Afron pointed out earlier this week.

I tink we need a new post after week 26 though.

Lastly, putting Jiminez's "more realistic pencils" on the colder section of the issue (Faust's demise?), was brilliant. Again, everybody deserves to read this book.

he does seem easily corruptible. Black Adam was a supervillian for over half a century, so I'd assume that, in the transfer of power, Osiris may have gained a bit of what makes Black Adam so volatile.

Truth be told, I have a sneaky feeling about BOTH Osiris AND Isis.

Something about BA's new boo and bro just don't feel right (c) the Legendary




"I hold to a simple philosphy: Assume everyone's a piece of crap and then be pleasantly surprised if you find anyone who ain't." Luke Cage

www.preptimeposse.blogspot.com
Comic Geeks Who Actually Get Laid!

Place your bets, now.

>Truth be told, I have a sneaky feeling about BOTH Osiris AND
>Isis.

that Isis was actually an Intergang agent.

I'm actually looking forward to shit coming together in Khandaq... we've got Question/Montoya there, the Black Marvel family there, Intergang moving in, Checkmate pulling an operation with Mr. Smasher, and maybe Tigress and Ice or whatever his name is, and Intergang getting assistance from Egg Fu/Dr. Yes (under new less un-PC moniker) and his cadre of mad scientists... Pretty masterul if it all comes together like that (and I expect it will.)