Misplaced Pages

52 (comics): Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 14:31, 7 November 2006 edit205.188.117.74 (talk) week 26 was never added← Previous edit Latest revision as of 03:18, 24 November 2024 edit undoCitation bot (talk | contribs)Bots5,404,672 edits Added date. | Use this bot. Report bugs. | Suggested by Superegz | Category:Comics by Mark Waid | #UCB_Category 12/38 
Line 1: Line 1:
{{future comic}} {{short description|1-year DC comic book series}}
{{Supercbbox| <!--Misplaced Pages:WikiProject Comics--> {{Infobox comic book title <!--Misplaced Pages:WikiProject Comics-->
title = 52 | title = 52
| image = Cover 52 Week One (May 10, 2006).jpg
| comic_color = background:#8080ff
| caption = Cover of ''52'' Week 1 (May 10, 2006). Art by ].
| image = ]
| caption = Cover to ''52'': Week One
| schedule = Weekly | schedule = Weekly
| format = | limited = y
| Superhero = y
| publisher = ] | publisher = ]
| date = May ] - May ] | date = May 2006 – May 2007
| issues = 52 | issues = 52
| main_char_team =]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>] | main_char_team = ]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]
| past_current_color=background:#5be85b
| writers = ]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>] | writers = ]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]
| artists = ]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>] | artists = ]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>Ruy Jose<br>Jack Jadson<br> ]<br>Ken Lashley<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]
<BR>'''Covers:'''<BR>] <br>'''Covers:'''<br>]<br>] (colors)
| TPB = Volume 1
| ISBN = 1-4012-1353-7
| TPB1 = Volume 2
| ISBN1 = 1401213642
| TPB2 = Volume 3
| ISBN2 = 1401214436
| TPB3 = Volume 4
| ISBN3 = 140121486X
|subcat=DC Comics
|sort=52
}} }}
'''''52''''' is a weekly American ] ] published by ] that debuted on May 10, 2006, one week after the conclusion of the '']'' miniseries. The series was written by ], ], ], and ], with layouts by ].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Cowsill|first1= Alan|last2=Dolan|first2=Hannah|chapter= 2000s|title = DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle|publisher=] |year=2010 |isbn= 978-0-7566-6742-9 |page= 325 |quote = The title was masterminded by writers Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, and Mark Waid, with Keith Giffen providing art breakdowns.}}</ref> ''52'' also led into a few limited series spin-offs.


''52'' consists of 52 issues, published weekly for one year, each issue detailing an actual week chronicling the events that took place during the missing year after the end of ''Infinite Crisis''. The series covers much of the ], and several characters whose disparate stories interconnect. The story is directly followed by the weekly limited series '']''. It was the first weekly series published by ] since the short-lived anthology '']'' from 1988 to 1989.
'''''52''''' is the title of a ] ] published by ], which debuted on May 10th, 2006, one week after the conclusion of the seven-issue '']''. The series is written by ], ], ] and ] with layouts by ]. Each issue of the series costs $2.50 ].


==Format==
''52'' is comprised of 52 issues, published weekly for one year, chronicling the events that take place during the ] after the end of '']''. The comic focuses on every character in the ] through characters whose stories are told exclusively in the book and occasionally cross over with each other.
The use of a weekly publication format is unusual in the North American comics industry, traditionally based upon a monthly publication. ''52'' and ''Batman Eternal'' (2014/2015) both hold the top position, of being the longest-published serialised weekly comic, published by a major North American publisher. The record was previously held by '']''. The story was originally conceived as being a chronicle of what happened in the "missing year" between the end of '']'' and the beginning of '']''. It would especially focus on how the world dealt with the disappearance of the "big three" heroes in the DCU, ], ], and ]. As the series went on, it became more of a platform for which to set the stage for upcoming storylines in the DC Universe.


==Back-up stories==
==Story as of Week 25==
===History of the DC Universe===
{{spoiler}}
A backup story titled ''History of the DC Universe'' appears in Weeks 2 through 11, with the creative team of ] and ].<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=6410 | title=DC Comics Solicitations for Product Shipping, May 2006 | work=] | date=February 13, 2006 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081026235244/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article | archive-date=October 26, 2008 }}</ref> Reminiscent of DC's earlier '']'' limited series, in this story, ] explores the history of the ] with the help of ]'s recording device. In the final chapter, both the device and a ] inform Donna Troy that she was supposed to have died instead of ].
In the aftermath of '']'', ], ] and ] have temporarily retired their costumed identities, and the remaining heroes attend a memorial for ] in Metropolis. ] attends the memorial, but when Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman do not arrive as Booster expects, the change in history makes his robot sidekick Skeets malfunction. ], normally flawless, later reports other incorrect historical data. Booster and Skeets search time traveler ]'s desert bunker for answers, but find it littered with scrawled notes (See "]" below). Booster finds photos of himself and Skeets surrounded by the words "his fault" with arrows pointing at both of them.


===Secret Origins===
], the retired Elongated Man, learns that his late wife ]'s tombstone has been vandalized. Dibny confronts ], accusing her of leaving a message on the tombstone: an inverted version of Superman's S-symbol, which in Kryptonian means "resurrection." Sandsmark and other members of the Cult of ] steal Dibny's wedding ring. Dibny tries to get Booster Gold to help him investigate, but when he realizes that Booster might have been able to save Sue, Dibny attacks him. While Booster later disperses a mob, an actor he hired for a staged battle reveals the truth to the press. Dibny tells reporters that Booster is a fraud.
Weeks 12 through 51 feature '']'', written by Mark Waid with a rotating team of artists.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=92806 | title=5.2 (or so) About 52: Week 30 | work=] | date=December 1, 2006 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061210192827/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=92806 | archive-date=December 10, 2006 }}</ref>


==Plot==
After Dibny finds Sandsmark, she tells him that the cult believes that Superboy's spirit is holy and can be resurrected, but they need to do a trial run. Dibny agrees to cooperate so that his wife may live again; however, he and his friends disrupt the ceremony, destroying the necessary elements. A straw doll dressed in Sue's clothing crawls to Dibny and calls out to him while it burns. The cult leader, Devem, tells Dibny that because of the disruption, he no longer can resurrect anyone. Dibny, mentally unstable, hides under a bridge and clutches the straw doll's remnants, saying that he will try again.
{{Long plot|date=August 2009}}
<!-- Must be less than 700 words. -->
In the aftermath of '']'', ], ], and ] temporarily retire their costumed identities and do not attend a memorial for ] in ]. Time traveler ] is shocked to not see the three heroes there, as this contradicts Skeets' historical data. Other contradictions, prompt Booster to search for answers in time traveler ]'s bunker, which is littered with ] and photos of Gold and Skeets surrounded by the words "his fault". Booster later discovers that his reputation and fame is diminishing. He tries to regain the spotlight by containing an exploding ], but seemingly dies in the attempt. Skeets regains access to Hunter's lab and realizes the photos and arrows are pointing at himself. He goes after Hunter and eventually finds him with Booster Gold, who turns out to have faked his death to help uncover Skeets' true intentions. Hunter and Booster attempt to trap Skeets in the ], but Skeets appears to consume the sub-dimension and pursues his two adversaries through time.


], the Elongated Man, is told that the gravestone of his dead wife ] has been vandalized with an inverted ] "S", a symbol for resurrection. This was done by a cult that believes that ] can be resurrected, but would like to try first with Sue. Dibny and his friends disrupt the ceremony, and the effigy of Sue crawls to Dibny, calling out to him as it burns; he suffers a nervous breakdown as a result. Ralph seeks out the helmet of ], which promises to revive Sue if he makes certain sacrifices. While preparing a spell for Nabu, Dibny reveals the helmet is not the one talking to him, but sorcerer ]. Faust was posing as Nabu to give Dibny's soul to the demon ] in exchange for his freedom. Neron kills Dibny, but realizes too late that Dibny's spell has trapped him and Faust inside a circle of binding. With Ralph's death, Neron and Faust are seemingly trapped together for all eternity. Ralph and Sue Dibny are reunited in death and become ghost detectives.<ref name="dc-elon">{{Cite book | last=Beatty | first=Scott | author-link=Scott Beatty | contribution=Elongated Man | editor-last=Dougall | editor-first=Alastair | title=The DC Comics Encyclopedia | page=114 | publisher=] | location=] | year=2008 | isbn=978-0-7566-4119-1 | oclc=213309017}}</ref>
After Dibny recovers from his mental instability, he receives a visit from ], who brings with him the newly recovered helm of ]. The ] assembles in ] for a ] to reveal the helm's recent history. Nabu speaks through the helmet to Dibny, promising to fulfill his desires if he will make the sacrifices Nabu asks of him. Dibny accepts and leaves with the helm, beginning his pilgrimage and journeying through the ] and Native American lands of the dead, as well as Hell. During the pilgrimmage, Dibny is cautioned about the use of magic.
A mysterious superhero named ] appears in Metropolis, angering Booster, whose reputation has been ruined. ] jumps out of a window, forcing Supernova to catch him; the interview saves Kent's job. Booster strives to regain the spotlight by containing a nuclear explosion. Supernova attempts to save Booster after the explosion, only to return with Booster's charred corpse. Booster's funeral is held in an isolated church in a city he had never been to. The only attendees are several metahumans paid for their appearances. Skeets recognizes a man named Daniel Carter as Booster's ancestor and uses him to regain access to Rip Hunter's lab. When Skeets sees the arrows Rip Hunter drew on photos of him, he traps Carter in a time loop and leaves.
], ], and ] mourn the death of Booster Gold.|thumb|right]]
Sandsmark, again working as Wonder Girl, meets Supernova for the first time. She seems to think he is the dead Superboy ], but the hero becomes uncomfortable with her advances and leaves abruptly. Supernova later examines the ], particularly a gauntlet from Lex Luthor's battlesuit, which has several varieties of kryptonite embedded in it. Later, Lex Luthor dismisses Cassie's thought as a delusion, believing instead that Supernova is actually Superman in disguise.


] announces the ], a program designed to give ordinary people superpowers. ] (Steel) wants to join the Project, but her uncle ] forbids it. She enrolls anyway and becomes a member of Luthor's superhero team ] During a battle with the third ], Luthor deactivates the powers of one of Natasha's teammates with fatal results. The death of her friend prompts Natasha to question Luthor's motives. Angered by reports that he is incompatible with the treatment, Luthor deactivates the powers of the majority of the Everyman subjects, resulting in many of them falling from the sky to their deaths. After learning the reports were falsified, he gives himself the powers of Superman. John and the ] attack LexCorp and bring him to justice with Natasha's help. ] offers Natasha membership in the Teen Titans, but she declines in favor of forming a new team with her uncle.
] creates the ] and forges a coalition with several other countries against the ]' metahuman supremacy. ], whom Intergang offered to Adam as a slave, shows Adam how he can use his abilities to help his country rather than to fight the United States. Adam convinces ] to give Tomaz the power of Isis, and Isis and Adam travel to Africa, freeing children from slavery. The people of ] rejoice at the news of Black Adam's engagement to Isis. Captain Marvel marries the two in front of the assembled populace.


], ], and ] are marooned on an alien planet after the events of '']''. They are pursued through space by agents of ], whose forces are conquering and overrunning planets on a path of destruction toward Earth. With some help from Lobo, the ] and the Emerald ''Head'' of Ekron, the heroes defeat Lady Styx. During the fight, Animal Man dies. The aliens who gave him his powers later revive him with new powers. He now has the ability to gain powers from any sentient being in the universe. He uses it to return to Earth.
]


], the superhuman leader of Kahndaq, forges a coalition with several other countries against the ] and their metahumans: the Freedom of Power Treaty. He stops when ], a former slave, shows him how he can use his abilities more peacefully to help his country. Adam convinces ] to give Tomaz the power of Isis. Adam and Isis free enslaved children across ]. Meanwhile, the ] and ] start investigating ]. Following a lead, they fly to Kahndaq and prevent a ] at Black Adam and Isis' wedding. Adam awards them one of Kahndaq's highest honors. The four uncover Intergang, which is inducting children into a religion of crime based on its Crime Bible. Black Adam finds Isis' crippled brother Amon among the children and shares his power with him. Amon is reborn as ]. Osiris befriends a seemingly timid anthropomorphic ] named ], who joins Black Adam's ]. Adam and Isis inform the Freedom of Power Treaty member nations that Kahndaq is no longer interested in consolidating power or in executing superhumans.
The ] and ] uncover futuristic weapons in a warehouse in Gotham City. The Question believes that ] is preparing for an invasion of Gotham, and he and Montoya eavesdrop on Intergang. Transforming beast men attack the two, but ] appears and rescues them. Montoya and the Question fly to Kahndaq, where they find a room full of mangled dead bodies and empty boxes of rat poison. When they leave, they are arrested, but Montoya and the Question later escape from prison and prevent a girl from exploding a bomb at Black Adam's wedding - Montoya is forced to shoot and kill her. Adam bestows the two with the highest honor Kahndaq can give to those not born in the nation. When Montoya fails to appear, Adam finds her guilt-stricken and drunk, in bed with another woman. After Isis calms the situation, she and Adam agree to help Montoya and the Question defeat Intergang. They track down Intergang, which is forcing children to become operatives. Seeing that Amon Tomaz, Isis' brother, is crippled and beyond her ability to heal, Black Adam shares his power with Amon, telling Amon to say his name, and Amon is reborn as ]. Black Adam's new family travels to the Freedom of Power Treaty member countries to tell them that Kahndaq is no longer interested in consolidating power or executing metahumans. Parting ways, Black Adam and his family go to have dinner with ]'s family (who request his help in finding the missing Dr. Sivana), while the Question takes Renee to train with ].


], creator of the ], is abducted to Oolong Island, where Intergang and ] force kidnapped scientists to form the ] and develop new weapons for them. There, Magnus is ordered to build a Plutonium Man robot. The scientists activate three of their Four Horsemen, which target Black Adam. Suspicious of him, ] maneuvers Osiris into killing the ] and leaking footage of the incident to the media. With his reputation destroyed, Osiris retires from the public eye and acid rain ravages Kahndaq. Convinced that he is the cause of Kahndaq's new miseries, Osiris asks Captain Marvel to remove his powers. Isis and Black Adam stop him and the three return to Kahndaq. Sobek tricks Osiris into turning back into Amon and devours him, revealing himself to be the fourth Horseman, Famine. The other Horsemen join the battle. Isis is poisoned by Pestilence and dies while asking Adam to avenge her and Osiris' deaths.
Will Magnus visits ] at the Haven confinement center. Morrow believes that someone is abducting mad scientists, including ]. Magnus tries to rebuild his ], but he can't restore them, and he refuses to sell the robots' remains to the American government. Morrow disappears, but leaves a note in machine code for Magnus, who then is able to resurrect Mercury. Magnus is attacked by mindless Metal Men replicas; he escapes, but his home, and apparently Mercury, are destroyed. Magnus is taken to the tropical Oolong Island, where Intergang head ] and ] have been hiding kidnapped mad scientists to develop new super-weapons for them. There, he is greeted by Morrow and ordered by Intergang to rebuild Plutonium.


Grief-stricken and enraged to the point of madness, Black Adam destroys the country of Bialya, base of the Four Horsemen, murdering the country's entire population. He then attacks Oolong Island. The ] invade the island to arrest him and subdue the scientists, but Adam escapes and embarks on ], during which he kills several superhumans. Captain Marvel convinces the ] to revert Adam to Teth-Adam and changes Adam's magic word from "Shazam" to a new phrase. Teth-Adam goes missing in the resulting explosion and wanders the Earth powerlessly, trying to guess the secret word.
Despite the efforts of an undercover ] to dismantle ], the organization is recertified as a ] agency. ], as part of Checkmate, orders ] to form a team of fellow metahuman convicts for a mission to stop Black Adam. Alan Scott, offered the position of Checkmate's white king, asks ] if he will become his bishop.


The Question and Montoya train with ] in ], where Montoya learns that the Question is dying from lung cancer and wants her to replace him. After they discover a prophecy in the Crime Bible about ]'s death, the two join her fight against Intergang in Gotham City. When the Question's condition worsens, Montoya journeys back to Nanda Parbat in a failed attempt to save his life. Shortly after they leave Gotham, Intergang discovers Batwoman's identity and attempts to sacrifice her to fulfill the prophecy. Montoya, as the new Question, tries to save Batwoman, who gets stabbed by Mannheim with a ceremonial dagger. Batwoman fatally wounds Mannheim and survives. After she recovers, Montoya shines the restored ] to call her back to work.
] (John Henry Irons) deactivates his niece ]'s armor after an argument about responsibility. During Irons' autopsy of what appears to be Lex Luthor's dead body, Luthor storms in with a group of reporters and declares the body to be that of an impostor who was responsible for the crimes with which he is charged. After a pat on the back from Luthor, Irons discovers that he can change his skin to stainless steel. Natasha finds out about Irons' new powers and accuses him of hypocrisy. Natasha goes to LexCorp and is selected by Luthor for metagene therapy. An enraged Irons attacks Luthor, but Natasha and a squad of other metahumans save him. Irons tries to convince Natasha to come home, but she refuses, beats him, and sends him away. Natasha continues her career in Luthor's metahuman team, making television appearances.


Skeets is revealed to be ], who has been using Skeets' metallic body as a cocoon to metamorphose into a gigantic, monstrous form that feeds on ] itself. Rip Hunter and Booster escape to the end of the ''Infinite Crisis'' and witness the secret creation of 52 identical parallel universes. Mister Mind intends to consume them. The Phantom Zone is restored, and Mister Mind alters events in the 52 universes, creating new histories and a new status quo for each. The heroes trap him in the remains of Skeets' shell and send him back in time to the beginning of the year, where he is captured by Dr. Sivana, trapped in a time loop for all eternity. Will Magnus later rebuilds Skeets, using a copy he had made of the robot's memories.
Kala Avasti, S.T.A.R. Labs scientist, tells Irons that she has discovered a trigger in Luthor's gene therapy that allows him to take away metahuman powers. Luthor's team of metahumans, using the purchased title of defunct superhero team ], fight a new ], another Luthor creation. The ] arrive, expressing concern about the operation. Luthor manipulates his metahumans' superpowers, turning Trajectory's speed powers off when she faces Blockbuster alone. Left powerless and disoriented, Blockbuster kills her. At Trajectory's funeral, several Titans quit, and ], ] and ] share their suspicions with Irons. Luthor himself attempts to gain powers through his therapy, but is told that it is incompatible with his physiology.


===World War III===
Following his grandfather's wishes, Jon Standing Bear smothers him with a pillow and accepts the identity and powers of ]. As Super-Chief, Standing Bear joins a new Justice League formed by ] and ]. The League take on an invasion of pirates and robots staged by an armored Skeets, during which a number of new metahumans granted powers by Lex Luthor get in the way, leading to a massacre, and Skeets kills Super-Chief.
{{Main|World War III (DC Comics)#52}}
Week 50 of ''52'' and the four-issue '']'' ], which was released the same week, depict the superhumans' battle with Black Adam. ''World War III'' also depicts ]'s transformation into the ''Dweller of the Depths'', ]'s change in outlook, ]'s assumption of the ] mantle, ]'s return to the 21st century, ] pretending to be ], and ] being drugged to turn evil and join ].


==Collected editions==
Six injured heroes return to Earth after the fight at the center of the universe during the Infinite Crisis. During a medical crisis, a message plays from a part of the ] that is embedded in ]: "It's coming! 52! 52!". A badly damaged Red Tornado utters the number ] twice to ] in the ]n ]. A mechanic rebuilds him with scavenged materials.
The lead stories of the series are collected, with commentary from the creators and other extras, into four ]:


* ''Volume 1'' (collects #1–13, 304 pages, May 2007, {{ISBN|1-4012-1353-7}})<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=7125 | title=''52 Volume 1'' profile | work=DC Comics.com | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130621160601/http://www.dccomics.com/comics?gn=7125 | archive-date=2013-06-21 }}</ref>
], ], and ] are marooned on an alien planet. Strange, blind from the loss of his eyes, struggles to repair a damaged Thanagarian spaceship. The ] ], captures them and reveals that he was sent to capture the heroes, who are considered guilty of having seen something that humans are thought unfit to see. The three steal Devilance's lance for use as a power source for their ship, and they finally take off. As their power reserves later run low, ] saves the travelers from Devilance by tearing him apart. Starfire convinces him to help them by offering payment. Starfire tells her companions that Lobo has found religion, turning his back on violence. Lobo takes the three to his church among the refugees huddling in the ruins of sector 3500 and tells them that Devilance's pursuer is the same being that destroyed the sector. He then reveals the ] to them. A swarm of creatures attack the planet, and Starfire uses the Eye of Ekron, which alerts the "Emerald Head of Ekron" to their location.
* ''Volume 2'' (collects #14–26, 304 pages, July 2007, {{ISBN|1-4012-1364-2}})<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=7446 | title=''52 Volume 2'' profile | work=DC Comics.com | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208174757/http://www.dccomics.com/comics?gn=7446 | archive-date=2016-02-08 }}</ref>
{{endspoilers}}
* ''Volume 3'' (collects #27–39, 304 pages, September 2007, {{ISBN|1-4012-1443-6}})<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=7806 | title=''52 Volume 3'' profile | work=DC Comics.com | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208174800/http://www.dccomics.com/comics?gn=7806 | archive-date=2016-02-08 }}</ref>
* ''Volume 4'' (collects #40–52, 304 pages, November 2007, {{ISBN|1-4012-1486-X}})<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=8178 | title=''52 Volume 4'' profile | work=DC Comics.com | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208174803/http://www.dccomics.com/comics?gn=8178 | archive-date=2016-02-08 }}</ref>


All 52 issues were also available in the ''52 Omnibus'' hardcover (1,216 pages, November 2012, {{ISBN|978-1401235567}}).
==Back-up stories==
].|100px|thumb]]
===''History of the DC Universe''===
A back-up story titled "History of the DC Universe" appears in Weeks 2-11, with ] and ] as the creative team similarly to the history DC Comics published in a two-issue limited series at the conclusion of '']'' in 1985.<ref>http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=6658</ref> The story of the universe's history is seen through the eyes of ] as she explores it through the dead ]'s recording device. In the final chapter, both the ] in Harbinger's recording device and the ] ] confront Donna Troy with the startling notion that she - and not ] - was supposed to have died.


The collection has also been made available in a two-volume edition that includes bonus material after each chapter:
===''Secret Origins''===
].|100px|thumb]]
Weeks 12 through 52 feature a back-up feature, '']'', the majority written by Mark Waid.
{|
|valign="top"|
*'''Week 12''' - ], art by ].
*'''Week 13''' - ], art by Kevin Nowlan.
*'''Week 14''' - ], art by Eric Powell.
*'''Week 15''' - ], art by ].
*'''Week 16''' - ], art by ].
*'''Week 17''' - ], art by ].
*'''Week 18''' - The ], art by Joe Bennett.
*'''Week 19''' - ], art by ].
*'''Week 20''' - ], art by Kevin Nowlan.
*'''Week 21''' - No back-up; full-length story.
*'''Week 22''' - ], art by ] and ].
*'''Week 23''' - ], art by ].
*'''Week 24''' - ], art by Dan Jurgens.
*'''Week 25''' - ], art by ].
|width="50"|&nbsp;
|valign="top"|
*'''Week 26''' - ], art by Joe Bennett.
*'''Week 27''' - ], art by ] .
*'''Week 28''' - ], art by ].
*'''Week 29''' - ], art by ].
*'''Week 30''' - No back-up; full-length story.
*'''Week 31''' - ], art by ].
*'''Week 32''' - ], art by ].
*'''Week 33''' - ], art by ].
*'''Week 34''' - Not specified in solicitation.
*'''Week 35''' - Unknown, previously solicited as Black Canary.
*'''Week 36''' - ], art by ].
*'''Week 37''' - ], art by ].
*'''Week 38''' - ], art by ].
*'''Week 39''' - ], art by ].
|}


* ''Volume 1'' (collects #1–26, 584 pages, June 2015, {{ISBN|978-1401263256}})
The following origins have been announced but have yet to be scheduled:
* ''Volume 2'' (collects #27–52, 616 pages, January 2017, {{ISBN|978-1401265649}})
*''']''', art by Unknown. <ref> ] at 2006 San Diego Comic Convention International</ref>
*''']''', art by ].
*''']''', art by ]- previously scheduled for Week 27


Other connected collections include:
==Format==
The use of a weekly publication format is unusual in the North American comics industry, a model based upon monthly (or less frequent) publication. This has been done at least twice before by DC Comics. In 1988, the eight-issue '']'' limited series was published weekly as an "event" in DC continuity, with each issue tying into various ongoing monthly publications. Shortly thereafter, for less than one year in 1988 and 1989, the long-running series '']'' was retitled as ''Action Comics Weekly'', and published weekly from issue #601 to issue #642 until changing back to a conventional monthly format.


* ''52: The Companion'' (224 pages, October 2007, {{ISBN|1-4012-1557-2}})<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=7964 | title=''52: The Companion'' profile | work=DC Comics.com | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208174805/http://www.dccomics.com/comics?gn=7964 | archive-date=2016-02-08 }}</ref>
==References to the number "52"==
* ''DC: World War III'' (collects ''52'' Week 50 and the entire four-issue '']'' ], 128 pages, December 2007, {{ISBN|1-4012-1504-1}})
Reinforcing the title, the number 52 appears, in the background of panels within the ''52'' series; as the series continues, however, the number 52 features more prominently, appearing in the foreground or in dialogue. The number is even mentioned by Dominators in '']''. Additionally, the ''52'' logo is shaped like the Greek symbol ].
* ''52 Aftermath: The Four Horsemen'' (Collects #1–6, 144 pages, May 2008 {{ISBN|978-1401217815}})
* ''The Question: The Five Books of Blood'' (collects "Crime Bible – Five Lessons of Blood" #1–5, 128 pages, June 2009, {{ISBN|978-1401223359}})
* ''Wizard'' #184


==Spin-offs==
Week One
Taking advantage of the popularity of the series, DC issued several series of comics based on the individual threads of ''52'' that began several months after ''52'' ended. ''Booster Gold'' (vol. 2) is an ongoing series that sees the eponymous hero and Rip Hunter travel through time to fix history as "the greatest superhero never known". The six-issue ''52 Aftermath: The Four Horsemen'' miniseries covers the Four Horsemen's battle with Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. ''Black Adam: The Dark Age'', another six-issue miniseries, follows Teth-Adam's quest to restore his powers and bring Isis back to life; it takes place between the end of ''52'' and ]'s corruption in ''Countdown to Final Crisis''.
*The fireman talking to Steel has the number 52 on his jacket.
*Renee Montoya drinks at "].", whose name is a reference to the number of cards in a deck; the bar has a playing card motif.


Two strands of the ''52'' story were taken and put together with back-ups from the new ''Countdown to Final Crisis'' story. ''Countdown to Adventure'' looks at the fate of space-travelers Adam Strange, Animal Man, and Starfire in their new roles after their journey over the course of eight issues, with a back-up story following Forerunner. ''Countdown to Mystery'' is another eight-issue series looking at the new Doctor Fate and a back-up story focusing on ].
Week Two
*The flight numbers of both the flight Booster saves (2824) and the flight he means to save (2428): 28 + 24 = 52.
*The address of the building The Question hires Renee Montoya to investigate is 520 Kane St.
*One of Dr. Morrow's news clippings states Dr. Tyme has stolen 52 seconds.
*The Red Tornado's last words are "It's coming! 52! 52!"


These include:
Week Three
* '']'' vol. 2 #1–47 – The further adventures of Booster Gold, Supernova, and Rip Hunter as they try to preserve the fractured timeline.
* ] tells ] that 5,079,432 people were killed during the Infinite Crisis. The numerals 5 and 2 begin and end the number.
* '']'' #1–6 – In the aftermath of ''World War III'', Black Adam tries to recoup his losses, for both his powers and his personal life.
* Steel mentioned "The NX-520" during his phone conversation with a member of S.T.A.R. Labs.
* '']'' #1–12 – Steel and the remaining members of Luthor's Everyman Project team together to form a new Infinity Inc.
* '']'' #1–5 – The Question and Batwoman investigate crimes, leading them deeper into the Crime Bible.
* ''52 Aftermath: The Four Horsemen'' #1–6 – Follows ], ], and ] against the Four Horsemen of Apokolips.
* '']'' #1–8 – Follows ] and the new version of the Metal Men as they battle Will's brother, David, who wants to destroy them.
* '']'' – Follows Batwoman and the Question.
* '']'' #1–9 – Follows the Chinese superteam.


==In other media==
Week Eight
===Action figures===
*Steel watches WLII, a news channel. In Roman numerals, LII means 52.
In September 2006, ] premiered a line of ]s based on ''52''. The first wave, featuring figures based on Batwoman, Isis, Booster Gold, Animal Man, and Supernova, was released in May 2007.<ref>DC Comics.com DC Direct , accessed April 14, 2011.</ref>
* Day three of Week Eight is considered the 52nd day of this 365-day timetable, which marks the first known sighting of ].


===Novelization===
Week Nine
], under the imprint of the Berkley Publishing Group and published by the Penguin Group, released a ] written by ], with cover art by J. G. Jones and Alex Sinclair, and its design by George Brewer.
*Devilance refers to the "two score and twelve walls of heaven" - two score and twelve being 52.
*In ]'s bunker:
:*The atomic time lock is set to open on midnight, January 1, 52 B.C.
:*A list of numbered papers 51.53.54.56, with the conspicuously missing 52.
:*A sheet with 520 Kane St., the address the Question meets Renee Montoya.
:*The chalkboard is headlined with "Time is Broken" and peppered randomly with "52."
:*Te versus (Au + Pb) - Te is the symbol for ], element 52
:*All the clocks are set at 12:52 am, or 00:52(52)


The novel primarily adapts the weekly limited series and the ''World War III'' tie-in miniseries. The novel deals with the plotlines of Montoya, the Question, Black Adam, Booster Gold, Skeets, and the 52 Earths, dropping the Luthor/Steel/Everyman Project, Ralph Dibny, and space plotlines completely and including only part of the "Science Squad" storyline, keeping in the evil geniuses and their work for Intergang but leaving out Will Magnus' ongoing plot; in his introduction, Cox explains that it was not possible to adapt all the plotlines of ''52'' within a novel of reasonable length. Outside of the loss of these various storylines from the book, events play out in an essentially identical manner, with most of the dialogue itself even lifted from the comics verbatim. There are some minor cosmetic changes along the way (for instance, on Week 3, Black Adam kills ] thug Rough House as opposed to ]), but in the final chapter, a ''lot'' of the specifics of Mister Mind's cross-time battle with Rip Hunter, Booster Gold, and Supernova are altered. The villain reveals himself in front of a gathered group of heroes in Metropolis, rather than to just Booster and Rip in the ]; the rebirth of the multiverse is credited to Mister Mind's transformation, rather than the Crisis; and the weapon stolen from Steel by Booster during World War III is actually put to use against Mind, which it was not in the comic, and is the cause of his unexplained-in-the-comic shrinking.
Week Ten
*When Renee is looking at the ] game between the ''Gotham Knights'' and the ''Stars'' from ], the ''Stars'' are winning 5-2.


===Audiobook===
Week Eleven
In December 2007, GraphicAudio released the first half of a full cast audiobook adaptation based on the novel by Greg Cox. Like GraphicAudio's ], this spans two volumes (each 6 hours long) with 6 CDs and features a full cast, music, and sound effects. Volume 2 was released in February 2008.
*In Day 6, the first panel shows Renee's pack of cigarretes, clearly showing 5 to the left, then the one she is holding, and then 2 to the right; a 52 made out of cigarettes.


Voice cast credits as follows:
Week Twelve
* Ken Jackson : Black Adam, Skeets, Mr. Mind
*A Gotham City billboard with "52" is visible in the background as Renee walks home in the rain.
* Barbara Pinolini : Renee Montoya
*Sandsmark's apartment number is 322 3+2=5 leaving it to be 52.
* Bruce Rauscher : The Question, Phantom Stranger, Dr. Cyclops, Leonard Akteon
* Colleen Delany : Isis, Wonder Woman, Superwoman
* David Coyne : Booster Gold, Boss Mannheim, Daniel Carter, Captain Boomerang, Beefeater
* James Konicek : Clark Kent, Count Vertigo, First Beast-man
* Nanette Savard : Lois Lane, Whisper A’Daire, Zalika
* M.B. Van Dorn : Katherine Kane, Batwoman
* Michael Glenn : Osiris, Richard Dragon, Hourman, Beastboy
* Terence Aselford : Captain Marvel, Jay Garrick, Captain Marvel Jr., Mind-Grabber Kid
* Susan Lynskey : Mary Marvel, Plastique, Madame Xanadu
* James Lewis : Nightwing, Kyle Abbot, Baron Bug, Agent Rogers, Jimmy Olsen
* Karen Carbone : Power Girl, Claudia Lanpher
* Ted Stoddard : Aristotle Rodor
* Eric Messner : Atom-Smasher, Dr. Death
* Erika Rose : Amanda Waller, Natasha Irons
* Michael John Casey : Persuader, Dr. Kim, Zorrm
* Elisabeth Demery : Zatanna, Stargirl, Mallory, Veronica Cale
* Jeff Baker : Alan Scott
* Elliot Dash : Mr.Terrific, Steel
* Dylan Lynch : Waverider, Col. Harjvati, Electrocutioner
* Thomas Penny : {{proper name|J’onn J’onnz}}, Rigoro Mortis, News Anchor, Black Lightning, Bike Boy
* Tim Carlin : Perry White, Jim Corrigan, Benny the Mover
* Cate Torre : Lady Sivana, Mildred Heiny, Yellow Peri, Carjack Lady
* Jim Lawson : Metamorpho, Louie the Mover, ], Panic Dad
* Arianne Parker : Firehawk, Firefighter, Kahndaqi woman
* Christopher Graybill : T.O.Morrow, Roggra, Noose, Mirage
* Michael Replogle : Dr.Tyme, Manthrax
* Christopher Walker : Strauss, Kahndaqi dissident, Aged servant
* Jacinda Bronaugh : Vicki Vale, Bobbi Bobbins
* Richard Rohan : Dr. Sivana, Rip Hunter, Sabbac, Azraeuz, The Blimp
* Mort Shelby : Sobek, Wildcat, Mammoth, Tawky Tawny, Rough House


===''The Flash''===
Week Fifteen
In ] series '']'', the term '52' is often used as an ]. For example, in the episode "Things You Can't Outrun", the Flash team opt to incarcerate criminal metahumans in "Area 52" at ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://comicbook.com/2014/10/22/the-flash-easter-eggs-and-dc-comics-references-in-things-you-can/|title=The Flash: Easter Eggs and DC Comics References in "Things You Can't Outrun"|website=comicbook.com|date=12 November 2014 |access-date=9 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20160313113542/http://comicbook.com/2014/10/22/the-flash-easter-eggs-and-dc-comics-references-in-things-you-can/|archive-date=13 March 2016}}</ref> In the second season, inter-dimensional breaches are made between ] and ], and 52 separate portals are located.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://moviepilot.com/posts/3590276 |title=Possible New 52 reference in the Flash: Flash of Two Worlds - moviepilot.com |access-date=2016-03-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312133044/http://moviepilot.com/posts/3590276 |archive-date=2016-03-12 }}</ref>
*Sanjay's computer has a stickie that reads "Khandaq Embassy 555-2222".


==See also==
Week Seventeen
* '']''
*The damaged upper body of ] utters "52...52" to ] in the Australian outback.
* ]

* '']''
Week Nineteen
* The Cover of this issue sports the year 5252. <ref>''52'' Week 19</ref> It also sports the year 8'''5''','''2'''71. This second year is that of ].
*The past-due bills on Daniel Carter's coffee table, shown on page 1, reveal that his address is 1834 Hoyle Street. 18+34 = 52. Also, ] is best known for providing detailed descriptions for games, such as poker, a game that uses 52 cards in a standard deck.
*The flashbacks to his football injury, as well as the picture on the wall of his home, reveal that Daniel Carter's jersey number was 52.

Week Twenty
* The clock at Wayne Manor reads 12:52 when Supernova is in the Batcave.
* When he begins his hunt for the space heroes in possession of his Eye, ] swears, in an "alien" font, "I will kill you in 52 ways."

Week Twenty-Two
* On Page 15, When Jon kicked some guy out the bus window, They Are Near "Highway 52" when the road sign is seen near Metropolis (note that Highway 52 is actually located at northwest-southeast which is between Portal, North Dakota and Charleston, South Carolina).
* Jon Standing Bear stopped at Metropolis when his bus arrived at "Gate 52" on Page 16.

Week Twenty-Four
* ] says 52 several times, although these are likely due to Ambush Bug's ]. A panel later, ] says he doesn't know anything about 52 during his phone call with ].

One Year Later And Beyond
*'''Supergirl and the Legion of Superheroes #17''': After ] arrival 1,001 years in the future with the Legion, the Dominators say "fiffdetuuu" as they discuss their bio-weapon being delivered to Earth.
*'''Robin #153''': ] and ] defuse a bomb, and the number left on the timer is 52.
*'''Green Lantern (4th series) #13''': During a meeting of the ] regarding ], ] says, "So we have all come to the same conclusion. The need for the ] has become quite clear," and all of them reply, "52."

Other '52' References
* Week 1 was released on May 10th, 2006. In the United States, new issues of comic books are released every Wednesday. The Wednesday 52 weeks after the initial release date falls on May 2nd 2007. Hence, the series will end on '''5'''/'''2'''/07.

==Rip Hunter's lab==
When Booster enters ]'s bunker in Week 6, he finds it in disarray. Among the details of Hunter's lab, a giant globe is marked with red X's and the words "] Why? How?” A time machine sits broken. Notes scrawled everywhere indicate that there is a problem with the time stream, and as noted above, the number 52 figures prominently in these writings. Many of the writings foreshadow and refer to DC Universe events and characters, some of which are not yet introduced by the time of Booster's discovery.<ref>http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/WAcker/Week9/52Wacker09.html</ref> A multitude of clocks are all stopped at 12:52 (00:52). Monitors show images of ], ], a sailing ship with the flag of the ], ], the ], and a dinosaur.

Papers on the floor bear the titles of canceled DC series, including superhero comic '']'', 1940s humor title '']'', and '']'', a 1980s ] about an actor-turned-vigilante. Also on the floor is a book titled ''Who's Who'', using the logo for the DC series of the same name, and two notes: "FIND THE SUN DEVILS" and "What is spanner's galaxy?" '']'' and ''Spanner's Galaxy'' are the titles of two more 1980s maxi-series.
]'s bunker.
''52'' Week Six. Breakdowns by ]. Pencils by ]. Inks by ].]]

A set of blackboards is covered with more clues:
*"TIME IS BROKEN"
*The number 52 in a circle litters the boards, the circles sometimes overlapping. The symbol of overlapping circles has been used in the past by DC Comics to represent alternate Earths, or alternate Earths fusing (such as in ]).
*"Dead by lead?" - In the DC Universe, the ] race is especially vulnerable to lead poisoning. The pre-Crisis Daxamite ] is a 20th century hero whom Superman preserves for 1,000 years in the Phantom Zone when the former contracts lead poisoning. Mon-El re-appears post-Infinite Crisis in ''Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes'' #23 (December 2006). Lead is also the name of one of the ].
*"Further time is different" - A new version of the DC Comics character ] appears in the limited series ''Crisis Aftermath: The Battle for ]'' and ''Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters''.
*"The four horsemen will end her rain?" - ] mentions "four horsemen", and Isis creates rainstorms to express sadness.<ref>''52'' Week 25</ref>
*"He won't smell it."
*"Find the last 'El'" - "El" is the family name of both Superman (Kal-El) and Supergirl (Kara Zor-El). After the fight in space, Supergirl was sent to the 31st century, when she joins the Legion of Super-Heroes. It is also the name pre-Crisis Superboy gives to Mon-El, another hero who joins the Legion one thousand years into his own future. In addition, for a period of time, Conner Kent (Superboy) uses the name "Kon-El".
*"MAN OF STEEL" - This was the title given to John Henry Irons in promotional material for the ''Reign of the Superman'' storyline that DC published following the '']'' storyline. In ''52'', Irons' skin becomes stainless steel. It is also one of the aliases given to Superman.
*"<s>Sonic disruptors</s> --> Time Masters --> Time Servants" - In DC Comics, Rip Hunter was given the title "Time Master". This also appears to be an in-joke, as the "Sonic Disruptors" series, published by DC years ago, was cancelled before being completed, apparently because the creators working on the project could not complete it on time.
*"The reach. The reach. The reach." - In the current ''Blue Beetle'' title, the insane villain Bottom Feeder raves of an 'army' he sees in his dreams, raving that "The Reach are coming! And they bring doomsday!".
*"Tornado is in pieces" - ] was shattered in the fight in space.
*"I'm not ]"
*"It hurts to breathe"
*Circled: "The Scarab is eternal?" - The new ], ], is the new host of the blue scarab owned by ], the original Blue Beetle.
*"2,000 years from now"
*"Where is the ] Heir?" In the "One Year Later" stories, a character named Arthur Curry, who looks exactly like Aquaman, appears. A character called the Dweller in the Depths is heavily implied in the ''Aquaman'' series to be the original Aquman.
*"Who is ]?" - Supernova is a new character who first appears in ''52'' Week Eight.
*"Σ What happened to the son of Superman?" - The question of Superman's offspring is the subject of a large number of "imaginary stories" and ] comics, including ''Son of Superman'', a 2000 Elseworlds ], and '']'' limited series, which featured the debut of the time/reality concept "]."
*"Σ Where is the Batman?" - A month after the Infinite Crisis, Batman, Robin and Nightwing travel the world and are absent during the year in which ''52'' takes place.
*"Σ Who is the ]?" - Batwoman is a new character who debuts in ''52'' Week Eleven.
*"Σ Te versus (Au+Pb)" - As noted above, the atomic number of ] (Te) is 52. The other elements mentioned are ] (Au) and ] (Pb). Gold and Lead are names of ], and ] attempted to ] lead into gold. Additionally, "Tellurium"'s root word is "tellus" (which is Latin for "earth"). ] is a member of the pre-] Legion of Super-Heroes. Booster Gold and Mon-El, who has a weakness to lead, are also characters based in the future.
*Circled: "Σ Who is Diana Prince?" - In the "One Year Later" ''Wonder Woman'' series, Wonder Woman appears as Diana Prince, a secret agent.
*"SECRET FIVE!" - The ], following the events of ''Infinite Crisis Special: Villains United'', are down one member. In the ''Secret Six'' limited series by ], they recruit the ].
*"Σ Who is ]?" - See above.
*"Σ Don't ask the Question. It lies." - A possible reference to the character The Question, one of the stars of 52.
*"Σ World War III? Why? HOW?"
*"<s>IM</s>MORTAL SAVAGE" - ] spends the year depicted in ''52'' in space, and when he returns, he has lost his immortality.
*"Σ Someone is monitoring. They see us. They see me." - The ] returns in '']''. Additionally, series writer Grant Morrison previously has ] in his stories, having comic book characters realize their true, fictional nature. In the ''Animal Man'' series, the main character also steals a time machine from Rip Hunter.
*"The ] RISES".
*"KHIMAERA LIVES AGAIN" - In the initial "One Year Later" storyline in '']'', Khimaera appears as a new antagonist.
*"Σ The old Gods are DEAD, the new Gods want what's left." - The "]" refers to the protagonists of Jack Kirby's "]" comic book stories whose worlds were created from the remains of two of the Old Gods.
*"I'm supposed to be DEAD?" - Donna Troy, Dick Grayson and Kyle Rayner each receive visits from Monitors, who tell them they were not supposed to survive the Infinite Crisis.
*"WHEN AM I?".
*Circled: "OTHERS?".

==Action figures==
In September 2006, ] premiered a line of ]s based on ''52''. The first wave, featuring figures based on Batwoman, Isis, Booster Gold, Animal Man and Supernova, is scheduled to ship in May 2007.


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
<div class="references-small">
<references />
</div>
==See also==
*]
*]


==External links== ==External links==
* {{Comicbookdb|type=storyarc|id=2216|title=''52''}}
*.
*
* (newsarama.com)
* , ], December 29, 2006
*
* , ], December 23, 2005
*
* , Newsarama, December 23, 2005
* - Full list of every issue of “52” ever published w/ Cover Art and more.
*
*
*

{{DC Crisis Anthology}}
{{Grant Morrison}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:52 (Comics)}}
]
] ]
]
]
] ]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 03:18, 24 November 2024

1-year DC comic book series
52
Cover of 52 Week 1 (May 10, 2006). Art by J. G. Jones.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
ScheduleWeekly
FormatLimited series
Genre
Publication dateMay 2006 – May 2007
No. of issues52
Main character(s)Adam Strange
Animal Man
Batwoman
Black Adam
Booster Gold
Ralph Dibny
Lex Luthor
Will Magnus
Bruno Mannheim
Renee Montoya
Question
Starfire
Steel
Science Squad
Infinity, Inc.
Creative team
Written byGeoff Johns
Grant Morrison
Greg Rucka
Mark Waid
Keith Giffen
Artist(s)Joe Bennett
Chris Batista
Eddy Barrows
Todd Nauck
Keith Giffen
Ruy Jose
Jack Jadson
Darick Robertson
Ken Lashley
Phil Jimenez
Dan Jurgens
Justiniano
Mike McKone
Jamal Igle
Dale Eaglesham
Covers:
J. G. Jones
Alex Sinclair (colors)
Collected editions
Volume 1ISBN 1-4012-1353-7
Volume 2ISBN 1401213642
Volume 3ISBN 1401214436
Volume 4ISBN 140121486X

52 is a weekly American comic book limited series published by DC Comics that debuted on May 10, 2006, one week after the conclusion of the Infinite Crisis miniseries. The series was written by Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, and Mark Waid, with layouts by Keith Giffen. 52 also led into a few limited series spin-offs.

52 consists of 52 issues, published weekly for one year, each issue detailing an actual week chronicling the events that took place during the missing year after the end of Infinite Crisis. The series covers much of the DC Universe, and several characters whose disparate stories interconnect. The story is directly followed by the weekly limited series Countdown to Final Crisis. It was the first weekly series published by DC Comics since the short-lived anthology Action Comics Weekly from 1988 to 1989.

Format

The use of a weekly publication format is unusual in the North American comics industry, traditionally based upon a monthly publication. 52 and Batman Eternal (2014/2015) both hold the top position, of being the longest-published serialised weekly comic, published by a major North American publisher. The record was previously held by Action Comics Weekly. The story was originally conceived as being a chronicle of what happened in the "missing year" between the end of Infinite Crisis and the beginning of One Year Later. It would especially focus on how the world dealt with the disappearance of the "big three" heroes in the DCU, Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. As the series went on, it became more of a platform for which to set the stage for upcoming storylines in the DC Universe.

Back-up stories

History of the DC Universe

A backup story titled History of the DC Universe appears in Weeks 2 through 11, with the creative team of Dan Jurgens and Art Thibert. Reminiscent of DC's earlier History of the DC Universe limited series, in this story, Donna Troy explores the history of the DC Universe with the help of Harbinger's recording device. In the final chapter, both the device and a Monitor inform Donna Troy that she was supposed to have died instead of Jade.

Secret Origins

Weeks 12 through 51 feature Secret Origins, written by Mark Waid with a rotating team of artists.

Plot

This article's plot summary may be too long or excessively detailed. Please help improve it by removing unnecessary details and making it more concise. (August 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

In the aftermath of Infinite Crisis, Clark Kent, Bruce Wayne, and Diana Prince temporarily retire their costumed identities and do not attend a memorial for Superboy in Metropolis. Time traveler Booster Gold is shocked to not see the three heroes there, as this contradicts Skeets' historical data. Other contradictions, prompt Booster to search for answers in time traveler Rip Hunter's bunker, which is littered with notes and photos of Gold and Skeets surrounded by the words "his fault". Booster later discovers that his reputation and fame is diminishing. He tries to regain the spotlight by containing an exploding nuclear submarine, but seemingly dies in the attempt. Skeets regains access to Hunter's lab and realizes the photos and arrows are pointing at himself. He goes after Hunter and eventually finds him with Booster Gold, who turns out to have faked his death to help uncover Skeets' true intentions. Hunter and Booster attempt to trap Skeets in the Phantom Zone, but Skeets appears to consume the sub-dimension and pursues his two adversaries through time.

Ralph Dibny, the Elongated Man, is told that the gravestone of his dead wife Sue has been vandalized with an inverted Kryptonian "S", a symbol for resurrection. This was done by a cult that believes that Superboy can be resurrected, but would like to try first with Sue. Dibny and his friends disrupt the ceremony, and the effigy of Sue crawls to Dibny, calling out to him as it burns; he suffers a nervous breakdown as a result. Ralph seeks out the helmet of Doctor Fate, which promises to revive Sue if he makes certain sacrifices. While preparing a spell for Nabu, Dibny reveals the helmet is not the one talking to him, but sorcerer Felix Faust. Faust was posing as Nabu to give Dibny's soul to the demon Neron in exchange for his freedom. Neron kills Dibny, but realizes too late that Dibny's spell has trapped him and Faust inside a circle of binding. With Ralph's death, Neron and Faust are seemingly trapped together for all eternity. Ralph and Sue Dibny are reunited in death and become ghost detectives.

Lex Luthor announces the Everyman Project, a program designed to give ordinary people superpowers. Natasha Irons (Steel) wants to join the Project, but her uncle John Henry Irons forbids it. She enrolls anyway and becomes a member of Luthor's superhero team Infinity, Inc. During a battle with the third Blockbuster, Luthor deactivates the powers of one of Natasha's teammates with fatal results. The death of her friend prompts Natasha to question Luthor's motives. Angered by reports that he is incompatible with the treatment, Luthor deactivates the powers of the majority of the Everyman subjects, resulting in many of them falling from the sky to their deaths. After learning the reports were falsified, he gives himself the powers of Superman. John and the Teen Titans attack LexCorp and bring him to justice with Natasha's help. Beast Boy offers Natasha membership in the Teen Titans, but she declines in favor of forming a new team with her uncle.

Animal Man, Starfire, and Adam Strange are marooned on an alien planet after the events of Infinite Crisis. They are pursued through space by agents of Lady Styx, whose forces are conquering and overrunning planets on a path of destruction toward Earth. With some help from Lobo, the Emerald Eye of Ekron and the Emerald Head of Ekron, the heroes defeat Lady Styx. During the fight, Animal Man dies. The aliens who gave him his powers later revive him with new powers. He now has the ability to gain powers from any sentient being in the universe. He uses it to return to Earth.

Black Adam, the superhuman leader of Kahndaq, forges a coalition with several other countries against the United States and their metahumans: the Freedom of Power Treaty. He stops when Adrianna Tomaz, a former slave, shows him how he can use his abilities more peacefully to help his country. Adam convinces Captain Marvel to give Tomaz the power of Isis. Adam and Isis free enslaved children across Africa. Meanwhile, the Question and Renee Montoya start investigating Intergang. Following a lead, they fly to Kahndaq and prevent a suicide bombing at Black Adam and Isis' wedding. Adam awards them one of Kahndaq's highest honors. The four uncover Intergang, which is inducting children into a religion of crime based on its Crime Bible. Black Adam finds Isis' crippled brother Amon among the children and shares his power with him. Amon is reborn as Osiris. Osiris befriends a seemingly timid anthropomorphic crocodile named Sobek, who joins Black Adam's Black Marvel Family. Adam and Isis inform the Freedom of Power Treaty member nations that Kahndaq is no longer interested in consolidating power or in executing superhumans.

Will Magnus, creator of the Metal Men, is abducted to Oolong Island, where Intergang and Chang Tzu force kidnapped scientists to form the Science Squad and develop new weapons for them. There, Magnus is ordered to build a Plutonium Man robot. The scientists activate three of their Four Horsemen, which target Black Adam. Suspicious of him, Amanda Waller maneuvers Osiris into killing the Persuader and leaking footage of the incident to the media. With his reputation destroyed, Osiris retires from the public eye and acid rain ravages Kahndaq. Convinced that he is the cause of Kahndaq's new miseries, Osiris asks Captain Marvel to remove his powers. Isis and Black Adam stop him and the three return to Kahndaq. Sobek tricks Osiris into turning back into Amon and devours him, revealing himself to be the fourth Horseman, Famine. The other Horsemen join the battle. Isis is poisoned by Pestilence and dies while asking Adam to avenge her and Osiris' deaths.

Grief-stricken and enraged to the point of madness, Black Adam destroys the country of Bialya, base of the Four Horsemen, murdering the country's entire population. He then attacks Oolong Island. The Justice Society of America invade the island to arrest him and subdue the scientists, but Adam escapes and embarks on a week-long rampage across the globe, during which he kills several superhumans. Captain Marvel convinces the Egyptian pantheon to revert Adam to Teth-Adam and changes Adam's magic word from "Shazam" to a new phrase. Teth-Adam goes missing in the resulting explosion and wanders the Earth powerlessly, trying to guess the secret word.

The Question and Montoya train with Richard Dragon in Nanda Parbat, where Montoya learns that the Question is dying from lung cancer and wants her to replace him. After they discover a prophecy in the Crime Bible about Batwoman's death, the two join her fight against Intergang in Gotham City. When the Question's condition worsens, Montoya journeys back to Nanda Parbat in a failed attempt to save his life. Shortly after they leave Gotham, Intergang discovers Batwoman's identity and attempts to sacrifice her to fulfill the prophecy. Montoya, as the new Question, tries to save Batwoman, who gets stabbed by Mannheim with a ceremonial dagger. Batwoman fatally wounds Mannheim and survives. After she recovers, Montoya shines the restored Bat-Signal to call her back to work.

Skeets is revealed to be Mister Mind, who has been using Skeets' metallic body as a cocoon to metamorphose into a gigantic, monstrous form that feeds on time itself. Rip Hunter and Booster escape to the end of the Infinite Crisis and witness the secret creation of 52 identical parallel universes. Mister Mind intends to consume them. The Phantom Zone is restored, and Mister Mind alters events in the 52 universes, creating new histories and a new status quo for each. The heroes trap him in the remains of Skeets' shell and send him back in time to the beginning of the year, where he is captured by Dr. Sivana, trapped in a time loop for all eternity. Will Magnus later rebuilds Skeets, using a copy he had made of the robot's memories.

World War III

Main article: World War III (DC Comics) § 52

Week 50 of 52 and the four-issue World War III limited series, which was released the same week, depict the superhumans' battle with Black Adam. World War III also depicts Aquaman's transformation into the Dweller of the Depths, Martian Manhunter's change in outlook, Donna Troy's assumption of the Wonder Woman mantle, Supergirl's return to the 21st century, Jason Todd pretending to be Nightwing, and Cassandra Cain being drugged to turn evil and join Deathstroke.

Collected editions

The lead stories of the series are collected, with commentary from the creators and other extras, into four trade paperbacks:

All 52 issues were also available in the 52 Omnibus hardcover (1,216 pages, November 2012, ISBN 978-1401235567).

The collection has also been made available in a two-volume edition that includes bonus material after each chapter:

Other connected collections include:

Spin-offs

Taking advantage of the popularity of the series, DC issued several series of comics based on the individual threads of 52 that began several months after 52 ended. Booster Gold (vol. 2) is an ongoing series that sees the eponymous hero and Rip Hunter travel through time to fix history as "the greatest superhero never known". The six-issue 52 Aftermath: The Four Horsemen miniseries covers the Four Horsemen's battle with Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. Black Adam: The Dark Age, another six-issue miniseries, follows Teth-Adam's quest to restore his powers and bring Isis back to life; it takes place between the end of 52 and Mary Marvel's corruption in Countdown to Final Crisis.

Two strands of the 52 story were taken and put together with back-ups from the new Countdown to Final Crisis story. Countdown to Adventure looks at the fate of space-travelers Adam Strange, Animal Man, and Starfire in their new roles after their journey over the course of eight issues, with a back-up story following Forerunner. Countdown to Mystery is another eight-issue series looking at the new Doctor Fate and a back-up story focusing on Eclipso.

These include:

  • Booster Gold vol. 2 #1–47 – The further adventures of Booster Gold, Supernova, and Rip Hunter as they try to preserve the fractured timeline.
  • Black Adam: The Dark Age #1–6 – In the aftermath of World War III, Black Adam tries to recoup his losses, for both his powers and his personal life.
  • Infinity Inc. #1–12 – Steel and the remaining members of Luthor's Everyman Project team together to form a new Infinity Inc.
  • 52 Aftermath: Crime Bible – Five Lessons of Blood #1–5 – The Question and Batwoman investigate crimes, leading them deeper into the Crime Bible.
  • 52 Aftermath: The Four Horsemen #1–6 – Follows Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman against the Four Horsemen of Apokolips.
  • Metal Men #1–8 – Follows Dr. William "Will" Magnus and the new version of the Metal Men as they battle Will's brother, David, who wants to destroy them.
  • Detective Comics – Follows Batwoman and the Question.
  • The Great Ten #1–9 – Follows the Chinese superteam.

In other media

Action figures

In September 2006, DC Direct premiered a line of action figures based on 52. The first wave, featuring figures based on Batwoman, Isis, Booster Gold, Animal Man, and Supernova, was released in May 2007.

Novelization

Ace Books, under the imprint of the Berkley Publishing Group and published by the Penguin Group, released a novelization written by Greg Cox, with cover art by J. G. Jones and Alex Sinclair, and its design by George Brewer.

The novel primarily adapts the weekly limited series and the World War III tie-in miniseries. The novel deals with the plotlines of Montoya, the Question, Black Adam, Booster Gold, Skeets, and the 52 Earths, dropping the Luthor/Steel/Everyman Project, Ralph Dibny, and space plotlines completely and including only part of the "Science Squad" storyline, keeping in the evil geniuses and their work for Intergang but leaving out Will Magnus' ongoing plot; in his introduction, Cox explains that it was not possible to adapt all the plotlines of 52 within a novel of reasonable length. Outside of the loss of these various storylines from the book, events play out in an essentially identical manner, with most of the dialogue itself even lifted from the comics verbatim. There are some minor cosmetic changes along the way (for instance, on Week 3, Black Adam kills Intergang thug Rough House as opposed to Terra-Man), but in the final chapter, a lot of the specifics of Mister Mind's cross-time battle with Rip Hunter, Booster Gold, and Supernova are altered. The villain reveals himself in front of a gathered group of heroes in Metropolis, rather than to just Booster and Rip in the Fortress of Solitude; the rebirth of the multiverse is credited to Mister Mind's transformation, rather than the Crisis; and the weapon stolen from Steel by Booster during World War III is actually put to use against Mind, which it was not in the comic, and is the cause of his unexplained-in-the-comic shrinking.

Audiobook

In December 2007, GraphicAudio released the first half of a full cast audiobook adaptation based on the novel by Greg Cox. Like GraphicAudio's audiobook of Infinite Crisis, this spans two volumes (each 6 hours long) with 6 CDs and features a full cast, music, and sound effects. Volume 2 was released in February 2008.

Voice cast credits as follows:

  • Ken Jackson : Black Adam, Skeets, Mr. Mind
  • Barbara Pinolini : Renee Montoya
  • Bruce Rauscher : The Question, Phantom Stranger, Dr. Cyclops, Leonard Akteon
  • Colleen Delany : Isis, Wonder Woman, Superwoman
  • David Coyne : Booster Gold, Boss Mannheim, Daniel Carter, Captain Boomerang, Beefeater
  • James Konicek : Clark Kent, Count Vertigo, First Beast-man
  • Nanette Savard : Lois Lane, Whisper A’Daire, Zalika
  • M.B. Van Dorn : Katherine Kane, Batwoman
  • Michael Glenn : Osiris, Richard Dragon, Hourman, Beastboy
  • Terence Aselford : Captain Marvel, Jay Garrick, Captain Marvel Jr., Mind-Grabber Kid
  • Susan Lynskey : Mary Marvel, Plastique, Madame Xanadu
  • James Lewis : Nightwing, Kyle Abbot, Baron Bug, Agent Rogers, Jimmy Olsen
  • Karen Carbone : Power Girl, Claudia Lanpher
  • Ted Stoddard : Aristotle Rodor
  • Eric Messner : Atom-Smasher, Dr. Death
  • Erika Rose : Amanda Waller, Natasha Irons
  • Michael John Casey : Persuader, Dr. Kim, Zorrm
  • Elisabeth Demery : Zatanna, Stargirl, Mallory, Veronica Cale
  • Jeff Baker : Alan Scott
  • Elliot Dash : Mr.Terrific, Steel
  • Dylan Lynch : Waverider, Col. Harjvati, Electrocutioner
  • Thomas Penny : J’onn J’onnz, Rigoro Mortis, News Anchor, Black Lightning, Bike Boy
  • Tim Carlin : Perry White, Jim Corrigan, Benny the Mover
  • Cate Torre : Lady Sivana, Mildred Heiny, Yellow Peri, Carjack Lady
  • Jim Lawson : Metamorpho, Louie the Mover, Fred Farrell, Panic Dad
  • Arianne Parker : Firehawk, Firefighter, Kahndaqi woman
  • Christopher Graybill : T.O.Morrow, Roggra, Noose, Mirage
  • Michael Replogle : Dr.Tyme, Manthrax
  • Christopher Walker : Strauss, Kahndaqi dissident, Aged servant
  • Jacinda Bronaugh : Vicki Vale, Bobbi Bobbins
  • Richard Rohan : Dr. Sivana, Rip Hunter, Sabbac, Azraeuz, The Blimp
  • Mort Shelby : Sobek, Wildcat, Mammoth, Tawky Tawny, Rough House

The Flash

In the CW series The Flash, the term '52' is often used as an Easter egg. For example, in the episode "Things You Can't Outrun", the Flash team opt to incarcerate criminal metahumans in "Area 52" at S.T.A.R. Labs. In the second season, inter-dimensional breaches are made between Earth-One and Earth-Two, and 52 separate portals are located.

See also

References

  1. Cowsill, Alan; Dolan, Hannah (2010). "2000s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. p. 325. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. The title was masterminded by writers Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, and Mark Waid, with Keith Giffen providing art breakdowns.
  2. "DC Comics Solicitations for Product Shipping, May 2006". Comic Book Resources. February 13, 2006. Archived from the original on October 26, 2008.
  3. "5.2 (or so) About 52: Week 30". Newsarama. December 1, 2006. Archived from the original on December 10, 2006.
  4. Beatty, Scott (2008). "Elongated Man". In Dougall, Alastair (ed.). The DC Comics Encyclopedia. New York: Dorling Kindersley. p. 114. ISBN 978-0-7566-4119-1. OCLC 213309017.
  5. "52 Volume 1 profile". DC Comics.com. Archived from the original on 2013-06-21.
  6. "52 Volume 2 profile". DC Comics.com. Archived from the original on 2016-02-08.
  7. "52 Volume 3 profile". DC Comics.com. Archived from the original on 2016-02-08.
  8. "52 Volume 4 profile". DC Comics.com. Archived from the original on 2016-02-08.
  9. "52: The Companion profile". DC Comics.com. Archived from the original on 2016-02-08.
  10. DC Comics.com DC Direct "Action Figures – ALL", accessed April 14, 2011.
  11. "The Flash: Easter Eggs and DC Comics References in "Things You Can't Outrun"". comicbook.com. 12 November 2014. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  12. "Possible New 52 reference in the Flash: Flash of Two Worlds - moviepilot.com". Archived from the original on 2016-03-12. Retrieved 2016-03-12.

External links

DC Comics Multiverse
List of worlds
Crossover events
Major events
Minor events
Other comics
Other media
Film
Television
Video games
Grant Morrison bibliography
2000 AD
DC Comics
Marvel Comics
Vertigo
Boom! Studios
Early work
Notable characters
Related articles
Categories: