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.