52 was a weekly American
comic bookA comic book is a magazine made up of narrative artwork, often accompanied by dialog and often including brief descriptive prose...
limited seriesA limited series is a series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
published by
DC ComicsDC Comics is one of the largest and most popular American comic book and related media companies, along with Marvel Comics. It is the publishing division of DC Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary company of Warner Bros. Entertainment...
that debuted on May 10, 2006, one week after the conclusion of the seven-issue
Infinite CrisisInfinite Crisis is a seven-issue limited series of comic books written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway. The series was published by DC Comics, beginning in October of 2005...
. The series was written by
Geoff JohnsGeoff Johns is an American comic book and television writer, best known for his work for DC Comics, in particular for the characters Green Lantern and the Flash...
,
Grant MorrisonGrant Morrison is a Scottish comic book writer and artist. He is best-known for his nonlinear narratives and counter-cultural leanings.-Early years:...
,
Greg RuckaGregory "Greg" Rucka is an American comic book writer and novelist. He is married to fellow comic writer Jennnifer Van Meter...
, and
Mark WaidMark Waid is an American comic book writer. He is best known for his eight-year run as writer of the DC Comics' title The Flash, as well as his scripting of the limited series Kingdom Come and Superman: Birthright, and his work on Marvel Comics' Captain America.- Birth and early career :Waid was...
with layouts by
Keith GiffenKeith Ian Giffen is an American comic book illustrator and writer.-Biography:Giffen was born in Queens, New York City....
. 52 also led into a few limited series spin-offs.
52 consists of 52 issues, published weekly for one year, chronicling events that took place during the missing year after the end of
Infinite CrisisInfinite Crisis is a seven-issue limited series of comic books written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway. The series was published by DC Comics, beginning in October of 2005...
. The series covers much of the
DC UniverseThe DC Universe is the shared universe where most of the comic stories published by DC Comics take place. The fictional characters Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman are well-known superheroes from this universe. Note that in context, "DC Universe" is usually used to refer to the main DC continuity...
, and several characters, whose disparate stories interconnect. The story is directly followed by the limited series
Countdown to Final CrisisCountdown to Final Crisis, known as Countdown for its first 25 issues, is a comic book limited series published by DC Comics. It debuted on May 9, 2007, directly following the conclusion of the last issue of 52...
.
52 was also the first weekly comic book published by
DC ComicsDC Comics is one of the largest and most popular American comic book and related media companies, along with Marvel Comics. It is the publishing division of DC Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary company of Warner Bros. Entertainment...
since the short-lived anthology
Action Comics Weekly in 1988-1989.
Format
The use of a weekly publication format is unusual in the North American comics industry, a model traditionally based upon monthly publication.
52 is the longest weekly comic book series published by a major North American publisher. The record was previously held by
Action Comics Weekly. The story was originally conceived of as being a chronicle of what happened in the "missing year" between the end of
Infinite CrisisInfinite Crisis is a seven-issue limited series of comic books written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway. The series was published by DC Comics, beginning in October of 2005...
and the beginning of
One Year Later"One Year Later" was a 2006 storyline event running through the DC Universe. As the title suggests, it involves a narrative jump exactly one year into the future of the DC Comics Universe following the events of the Infinite Crisis event, to explore major changes within the continuities of the many...
. It would especially focus on how the world dealt with the disappearance of the "big three" heroes in the DCU,
SupermanSuperman is a fictional character, a comic book superhero widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective Comics, Inc...
,
BatmanThe Batman, originally referred to as the Bat-Man, is a fictional character, a comic book superhero co-created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger , appearing in publications by DC Comics...
, and
Wonder WomanWonder Woman is a DC Comics superhero created by William Moulton Marston. First appearing in All Star Comics #8 , she is one of three characters to have been continuously published by DC Comics since the company's 1944 inception .Wonder Woman is a member of an all-female tribe of Amazons...
. As the series went on it became more of a way to set the stage for upcoming storylines in the DC Universe.
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 JurgensDan Jurgens is an American comic book writer and artist. He is best known for creating the superhero Booster Gold, and for his lengthy runs on the Superman titles Adventures of Superman and Superman , particularly during The Death of Superman storyline. Other series he has been associated with...
and
Art ThibertArthur "Art" Thibert is a comic book artist, primarily known as a freelance inker, although he has a substantial résumé as a penciler and has even written some comics...
. Reminiscent of DC's earlier
History of the DC UniverseHistory of the DC Universe is a two-issue comic book limited series created by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez, and published by DC Comics following the end of Crisis on Infinite Earths. It was an attempt to summarize the new history of the DC Universe to establish what was canonical after Crisis...
limited series, in this story,
Donna TroyDonna Troy is a comic book superheroine published by DC Comics. She first appeared in The Brave and the Bold vol. 1 #60 , and was created by Bob Haney and Bruno Premiani.-Introduction:...
explores the history of the
DC UniverseThe DC Universe is the shared universe where most of the comic stories published by DC Comics take place. The fictional characters Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman are well-known superheroes from this universe. Note that in context, "DC Universe" is usually used to refer to the main DC continuity...
with the help of
HarbingerHarbinger is a fictional character, a DC Comics superheroine created in the early 1980s.-Fictional character biography:She and her associate, the Monitor, made several short teasing appearances in various DC comic books up until 1985, when the Crisis on Infinite Earths began...
's recording device. In the final chapter, both the device and a
MonitorThe Monitor is a fictional character created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Pérez as one of the main characters of DC Comics' Crisis on Infinite Earths limited series....
inform Donna Troy that she was supposed to have died instead of
JadeJade is a fictional character, a superhero in the DC Comics DC universe. Known affectionately as "Jennie" or "Jen", she is the daughter of Alan Scott, the Golden Age Green Lantern. Her mother is Rose Canton, the Golden Age villain known as Thorn...
.
Secret Origins
Weeks 12 through 51 feature
Secret OriginsSecret Origins was an American comic book series published by DC Comics. Although the title had existed in several prototype forms in the 1960s and 1970s published under the title Secret Origins of Super Heroes , its most well-known incarnation was a 50-issue series Secret Origins was an American...
written by Mark Waid with a rotating team of artists.
Story
In the aftermath of
Infinite CrisisInfinite Crisis is a seven-issue limited series of comic books written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway. The series was published by DC Comics, beginning in October of 2005...
,
SupermanSuperman is a fictional character, a comic book superhero widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective Comics, Inc...
,
BatmanThe Batman, originally referred to as the Bat-Man, is a fictional character, a comic book superhero co-created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger , appearing in publications by DC Comics...
, and
Wonder WomanWonder Woman is a DC Comics superhero created by William Moulton Marston. First appearing in All Star Comics #8 , she is one of three characters to have been continuously published by DC Comics since the company's 1944 inception .Wonder Woman is a member of an all-female tribe of Amazons...
have temporarily retired their costumed identities, and the remaining heroes attend a memorial for
SuperboySuperboy, also known by his Kryptonian name Kon-El and his human alias Conner Kent, is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the DC Comics universe. He is the binary clone of Superman and his arch nemesis Lex Luthor, making him a hybrid human/Kryptonian...
in
MetropolisMetropolis is a fictional city that appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and is the home of Superman. Metropolis first appeared by name in Action Comics #16, in 1939....
. Time traveler
Booster GoldBooster Gold is a fictional character, a superhero in publications from DC Comics. Created by Dan Jurgens, he first appeared in Booster Gold #1 and has been a member of the Justice League, DC Comics' all-star team of heroes...
attends the memorial, but when Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman do not arrive as he expects, he suspects his robot sidekick
SkeetsSkeets is a fictional artificial intelligence robot from the future in the DC Comics Universe. Usually seen as a companion to Booster Gold, he co-stars in the limited series 52 and the subsequent Booster Gold.-Booster Gold:...
is malfunctioning. After Skeets reports other incorrect historical data, Booster searches fellow time traveler
Rip HunterRip Hunter is a DC Comics character who first appeared in Showcase #20 . Following 3 more appearances in Showcase , Rip Hunter was given his own series, which ran for 29 issues . He later starred in the eight-issue Time Masters series , written by Bob Wayne and Lewis Shiner...
's desert bunker for answers, but finds it littered with enigmatic scrawled notes and photos of himself and Skeets surrounded by the words "his fault" with arrows pointing toward them. Booster's reputation is ruined by his unscrupulous attempts to maintain his
corporateA corporation is a legal entity separate from the shareholders and employees. In British tradition it is the term designating a body corporate, where it can be either a corporation sole or a corporation aggregate...
sponsorships, as well as the arrival of a mysterious new superhero named
SupernovaSupernova is an identity used by three characters in the , all related to the Carter bloodline. The first appearance of this character was in the weekly DC Comics series 52 where the mystery of his true identity and purpose was one of the recurring themes of the series.-52:The character of...
. Booster tries to regain the spotlight by containing an exploding
nuclear submarineA nuclear submarine is a submarine powered by a nuclear reactor. The performance advantages of nuclear submarines over "conventional" submarines are considerable: nuclear propulsion, being completely independent of air, frees the submarine from the need to surface frequently, as is necessary for...
, but is seemingly killed in the attempt. Skeets uses Booster's ancestor Daniel Carter to regain access to Hunter's lab, where he sees the photos and arrows pointing at Skeets himself. Realizing that Hunter is aware of his plan, Skeets traps Carter in a
time loopA time loop or temporal loop is a common plot device in science fiction in which time runs normally for a set period but then skips back like a broken record. When the time loop "resets", the memories of most characters are reset...
in the bunker and sets out to locate Hunter himself. He eventually corners Hunter and Supernova in the bottle-city of
KandorKandor is the name of the former capital city of the fictional planet Krypton in the DC Universe. It is best known for being stolen and miniaturized by the supervillain Brainiac...
, where Supernova reveals himself to be Booster Gold, having faked his death with the help of Hunter to uncover Skeets' true intentions. Hunter and Booster attempt to trap Skeets in the
Phantom ZoneThe Phantom Zone is a fictional prison dimension featured in the Superman comic books and related media published by DC Comics. It first appeared in Adventure Comics #283 , and was created by Robert Bernstein and George Papp...
, but Skeets appears to consume the sub-dimension and pursues his two adversaries through time.
Ralph DibnyThe Elongated Man is a fictional comic book superhero in the DC universe. He is a reserve member of the Justice League. His first appearance was The Flash vol. 1, #112...
, the Elongated Man, is told that the gravestone of his dead wife
SueSusan "Sue" Dearbon Dibny is a fictional character from DC Comics associated with the Elongated Man. Created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino, the character first appeared in Flash vol. 1 #119...
has been vandalized with an inverted version of Superman's "S" symbol, the
KryptonianKrypton was/is a fictional planet in the DC Comics universe, and the native world of the super-heroes Superman and, in some tellings, Supergirl, and Krypto the "super dog". Krypton has been portrayed consistently as having been destroyed just after Superman's flight from the planet, with exact...
symbol for resurrection. He confronts Cassandra Sandsmark, and she tells Dibny that she is in a cult which believes that
SuperboySuperboy, also known by his Kryptonian name Kon-El and his human alias Conner Kent, is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the DC Comics universe. He is the binary clone of Superman and his arch nemesis Lex Luthor, making him a hybrid human/Kryptonian...
can be resurrected, but they would like to try it first with Sue. Despite his initial consent, Dibny and his friends disrupt the ceremony, and the effigy of Sue crawls to Dibny, calling out to him as it burns; Dibny suffers a nervous breakdown as a result. Ralph later encounters the helmet of
Doctor FateDoctor Fate is the name of a succession of fictional sorcerers who appear within DC Comics' universe. The original version was created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Howard Sherman, and first appeared in More Fun Comics #55...
, which promises to revive Sue if he makes certain sacrifices. Dibny journeys with the helmet through the
afterlivesThe afterlife is the idea that the consciousness or mind of a being continues after physical death occurs. In many popular views, this continued existence often takes place in a spiritual or immaterial realm. Major views on the afterlife derive from religion, esotericism and metaphysics...
of several cultures, where he is cautioned about the use of magic for personal gain. After several failed attempts to resurrect his wife, Dibny prepares a spell in
Doctor FateDoctor Fate is the name of a succession of fictional sorcerers who appear within DC Comics' universe. The original version was created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Howard Sherman, and first appeared in More Fun Comics #55...
's tower. Dibny puts the helmet on and shoots it to reveal it as the sorcerer
Felix FaustFelix Faust is a fictional sorcerer and supervillain that appears in stories published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in 1962 as an adversary of the Justice League of America...
. Faust was posing as Nabu to give Dibny's soul to the demon
NeronNeron is a fictional demon, a comic book character published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Underworld Unleashed #1, , and was created by Mark Waid and Howard Porter.-Fictional character biography:...
in exchange for his freedom. Neron kills Dibny, but realizes that Dibny's spell has trapped him and Faust inside. Ralph and Sue Dibny are reunited later as ghost detectives.
Lex LuthorLex Luthor is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. He is the archenemy of Superman and first appeared in Action Comics #23 , and was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Luthor is described as "a power-mad, evil scientist" of incredible...
announces the Everyman Project, a program designed to give ordinary people superpowers.
John Henry IronsSteel , also known as the Man of Steel, is a fictional character, a superhero in the . He is the third character known as Steel and was created by Louise Simonson and artist Jon Bogdanove in Adventures of Superman #500...
deactivates his niece
NatashaNatasha Irons is a fictional character, a superhero in the DC Universe and the niece of John Henry Irons . Natasha first appears in Steel #1 . She becomes the fourth superhero to use the name Steel when her uncle is injured. In the 2006 limited series 52, Natasha gains superpowers and uses the...
's Steel armor after an argument about responsibility, then denies her pleas to be allowed to join the Everyman project. Following an encounter with Luthor, Irons' skin transforms into
stainless steelIn metallurgy, stainless steel, also known as inox steel or inox, is defined as a steel alloy with a minimum of 11% chromium content by mass. Stainless steel does not stain, corrode, or rust as easily as ordinary steel...
, causing Natasha to accuse him of hypocrisy. Out of spite, she enrolls in the Everyman Project and becomes a member of Luthor's superhero team Infinity, Inc. Irons learns that Luthor can deactivate Everyman Project-given abilities and that they expire naturally after approximately six months. Luthor negates the powers of one of Natasha's teammates during a battle with fatal results, and Irons uses the death of her friend to convince Natasha to question Luthor's motives. After Luthor, angered by reports that he is incompatible with the treatment, deactivates the powers of the majority of the Everyman subjects on New Year's Eve, resulting in many of them falling from the sky to their deaths, Natasha works undercover to expose Luthor. Luthor later learns the reports were falsified by employees out of fear for what he might do with genuine superpowers, and gives himself
the powers of SupermanThe powers of DC Comics fictional character Superman have changed a great deal since his introduction in the 1930s. The extent of his powers peaked during the 1970s and 1980s to the point where various writers found it difficult to create suitable challenges for the character...
. He discovers Natasha's spying and beats her violently using his newfound powers. Irons and the Teen Titans attack Lexcorp and bring Luthor to justice with Natasha's help.
Beast BoyGarfield Mark "Gar" Logan, known as Beast Boy or Changeling, is a fictional character, a superhero appearing in comic books published by DC Comics...
offers Natasha, in her rebuilt Steel armor, membership in the Teen Titans, but she declines in favor of forming a new team with her uncle.
Animal ManAnimal Man is a fictional DC Comics superhero. As a result of being in proximity to an exploding extraterrestrial spaceship, Buddy Baker acquires the ability to temporarily “borrow” the abilities of animals...
,
StarfireStarfire is the name of several fictional comic book characters published by DC Comics. The most prominent Starfire is Koriand'r, the third character to use that name...
, and
Adam StrangeAdam Strange is a fictional superhero published by DC Comics. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Mike Sekowsky, he first appeared in Showcase #17 .-Publication history:...
are marooned on an alien planet after the events of
Infinite CrisisInfinite Crisis is a seven-issue limited series of comic books written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway. The series was published by DC Comics, beginning in October of 2005...
. They are pursued through space by agents of
Lady StyxLady Styx is a fictional supervillain in the . Her first appearance occurred in the weekly series 52.-Publication history:Lady Styx first appeared in 52 #31 as the main antagonist to Adam Strange, Animal Man, and Starfire. She later made appearances in Omega Men and Countdown to Adventure...
, whose forces are conquering and overrunning planets on a path of destruction toward Earth. They are rescued and joined by Lobo, who possesses the
Emerald Eye of EkronThe Emerald Empress is a fictional character, a DC Comics supervillain that is an enemy of the Legion of Super-Heroes and a member of the Fatal Five...
and claims he has found religion and turned his back on violence for the sake of his beloved Space Dolphins. Lady Styx hired Lobo to capture the heroes, but he instead delivers them to her so they can fight her. The heroes triumph, and it is revealed there is an Emerald Head of Ekron, who is a
Green LanternGreen Lantern is the name of several fictional characters, superheroes appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The first was created by writer Bill Finger and artist Martin Nodell in All-American Comics #16 ....
that fights alongside them to reobtain his eye (which is, in fact, a supercharged
Power RingPower ring or ring of power may refer to:*Seal #Signet rings*Ecclesiastical rings*In fiction:**In DC Comics' Green Lantern Corps:*** Power ring , a ring which is the source of the super powers of the Green Lantern Corps...
). During the fight, Animal Man is injected with a toxin and dies. After Starfire and Strange lay his body to rest and leave, Animal Man awakens to find the aliens who gave him his powers standing over him, upgrading his powers to allow him to gain powers from any sentient being in the universe. Animal Man acquires the powers of
Sun-EaterA Sun-Eater is a fictional, artificially created living weapon in the DC Comics universe. It has played an important role in various storylines.-History:...
s, which he uses to return to Earth. He is pursued by Lady Styx's assassins, who are killed by Starfire just as they arrive at his home.
Black AdamBlack Adam is a fictional comic book character, created in 1945 by Otto Binder & C. C. Beck for Fawcett Comics. Originally created as a one-shot villain for Fawcett Comics' Marvel Family team of superheroes, Black Adam was revived as a recurring supervillain after DC Comics began publishing Captain...
, the superhuman leader of
KahndaqKahndaq is a fictional Middle Eastern country in the DC Comics Universe. Its real world location is on the continent of Africa, between Egypt and Israel...
, forges a coalition with several other countries against the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
' superhuman supremacy under the Freedom of Power Treaty until Adrianna Tomaz, a former slave, shows Adam how he can use his abilities more peacefully to help his country. Adam convinces
Captain MarvelCaptain Marvel is a fictional comic book superhero, originally published by Fawcett Comics and later by DC Comics. Created in 1939 by artist C. C. Beck and writer Bill Parker, the character first appeared in Whiz Comics #2...
to give Tomaz the power of Isis, and Adam and Isis free enslaved children across
AfricaAfrica is the world's second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area. With a billion people in 61 territories, it accounts for about 14.8% of the...
. The
QuestionThe Question is the name used by a number of comic book superheroes in the DC Comics universe. The original one was created by Steve Ditko, and first appeared in Blue Beetle #1 . Originally created for Charlton Comics, he was acquired by DC Comics in the early 1980s and incorporated into the DC...
,
Renee MontoyaRenee Montoya is a fictional comic book character published by DC Comics. The character was initially created for Batman: The Animated Series, and was preemptively introduced into mainstream comics before the airing of her animated debut in 1992....
, and
BatwomanBatwoman is a fictional character and female counterpart to the superhero Batman, created by Bob Kane and Sheldon Moldoff. This character appears in publications produced by DC Comics and related media. Batwoman made her first comic book appearance in Detective Comics #233...
, meanwhile, discover that
IntergangIntergang is a fictional organized crime organization in Superman and other DC comics. Armed with technology supplied by the villainous New Gods of the planet Apokolips, it is a potent foe who can seriously challenge the most powerful superheroes...
is preparing to invade
Gotham CityGotham City, another name for New York city appearing in DC Comics, and is best known as the home of Batman. Batman's place of residence was first identified as Gotham City in Batman #4 .- Origin of name :...
. The Question and Montoya fly to Kahndaq to investigate further, and they prevent a suicide bombing at Black Adam and Isis' wedding, for which 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, and Amon is reborn as Osiris. Osiris befriends a seemingly timid anthropomorphic crocodile named
SobekSobek is a fictional supervillain published by DC Comics. He first appears in 52 #26 , and was created by Geoff Johns, Greg Rucka, Grant Morrison, Mark Waid, Keith Giffen and Pat Olliffe.-Fictional character biography:...
, 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 MagnusDoctor Will Magnus is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe. He first appeared in Showcase #37 alongside his creations, the Metal Men; he was created by Robert Kanigher and Ross Andru.-Character history:...
, creator of the
Metal MenThe Metal Men are fictional characters, a team of robot superheroes created by writer Robert Kanigher, pencilled by Ross Andru and inked by Mike Esposito for DC Comics in 1962. They made their first appearance in Showcase #37-40 as part of a four-issue series created as a last-minute filler feature...
, is abducted to Oolong Island, where Intergang and Chang Tzu are forcing kidnapped scientists to develop new weapons for them. Magnus' anti-depressants are confiscated and he is ordered to build a Plutonium Man robot, but Magnus also secretly rebuilds miniature versions of the Metal Men. The scientists activate three of their Four Horsemen of
ApokolipsIn the DC Comics fictional shared Universe, Apokolips is the planet ruled by Darkseid, established in Jack Kirby's Fourth World series. It is also integral to many DC Comics stories. The planet is considered the opposite of New Genesis....
, which target Black Adam. Suspicious of Black Adam,
Amanda WallerDr. Amanda Blake Waller is a character published by DC Comics. She first appeared in Legends #1 in 1986, and was created by John Ostrander, Len Wein, and John Byrne...
destroys Osiris' reputation by maneuvering him into killing the
PersuaderThe Persuader is the name of three fictional characters featured in comic books published by DC Comics. Nyeun Chun Ti first appeared in Adventure Comics #352 , and was created by Jim Shooter and Curt Swan...
and leaking footage of the incident to the media. Osiris retires from the public eye as a result, and acid rain ravages Kahndaq. Osiris, convinced that he is the cause of Kahndaq's new miseries, asks Captain Marvel to remove his powers, but he is confronted by Isis and Black Adam and returns to Kahndaq. Sobek tricks Osiris into turning back into Amon and devours him, revealing himself to be the fourth Horseman, Famine. The other Horsemen battle Black Adam and Isis. 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
BialyaBialya is a fictional country appearing in many comic book series published by DC Comics. It was notably featured in issues of Justice League International as written by Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis. It originally appeared in Justice League #2 The name appears to be a word play of the country...
, base of the Four Horsemen, and murders the country's entire population before killing the last of the Horsemen. He attacks Oolong Island, but the scientists capture and imprison him. The
Justice Society of AmericaThe Justice Society of America, or JSA, is a DC Comics superhero group, the first team of superheroes in comic book history. Conceived by editor Sheldon Mayer and writer Gardner Fox, the JSA first appeared in All Star Comics #3 ....
invade the island to arrest Adam and subdue the scientists, but Adam escapes and embarks on
a week-long rampage across the globeWorld War III is the title of two comic book sagas published by DC Comics and involving many of the superheroes of the DC Universe. The first was published in 2000 in the JLA ongoing series, the second was published in 2007 as a limited series of its own....
, during which he kills several superhumans. During an enormous battle between many superhumans and Black Adam, Captain Marvel is unable to convince the
Egyptian pantheonMost Egyptologists today side with Sir Flinders Petrie that Egyptian religion was strictly polytheistic. His contemporary adversary, E. A. Wallis Budge, however, thought Egyptian religion to be primarily monotheistic where all the gods and goddesses were aspects of the God Ra, similar to the...
to remove Adam's powers, so he instead reverts him to Teth-Adam and changes Adam's magic word from "Shazam" to an new phrase. Teth-Adam goes missing in the resulting explosion and wanders the Earth powerlessly as he tries to guess the new magic word.
The Question and Montoya train with
Richard DragonRichard Dragon is a fictional character created by Dennis O'Neil and Jim Berry in the novel Dragon's Fists under the pseudonym "Jim Dennis." O'Neil later adapted the character for DC Comics in the comic book Richard Dragon, Kung Fu Fighter....
in
Nanda ParbatNanda Parbat is a fictional city in the DC Comics universe. Nanda Parbat first appeared in Strange Adventures #205 , and was created by Arnold Drake and Carmine Infantino, the creators of Deadman.-History:...
, 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, joins
NightwingNightwing is a name that has been used by several fictional characters in the DC Comics Universe. It was conceived as a Kryptonian analogue to the character of Batman, with Nightwing's frequent partner Flamebird based on Robin...
and former Intergang member
Kyle AbbotKyle Abbot is a fictional villain in DC Comics, first appearing in Detective Comics #743.-Character history:Formerly an agent for the late Ra's Al Ghul, Kyle is the bodyguard of Whisper A'Daire, empowered by his mistress with the same serum that gave her immortality and shapeshifting abilities...
in trying to save Batwoman, but they are unable to prevent Mannheim from stabbing her with a ceremonial dagger. Batwoman fatally wounds Mannheim and survives. After she recovers, Montoya shines the restored
Bat-SignalThe Bat-Signal is a fictional distress signal device appearing in the various interpretations of the Batman mythos. It is a specially modified Klieg searchlight with a stylized symbol of a bat attached to the light so that it projects a large Bat emblem on the sky or buildings of Gotham City...
to call Batwoman back to work.
Skeets is revealed to be
Mister MindMister Mind is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain created for Fawcett Comics, and now owned and published by DC Comics. Created by Otto Binder and C. C...
, who has been using Skeets' metallic body as a cocoon to metamorphosize into a gigantic, monstrous form that feeds on
timeTime is a component of the measuring system used to sequence events, to compare the durations of events and the intervals between them, and to quantify the motions of objects...
itself. Rip Hunter and Booster escape to the end of the Infinite Crisis, where they witness the secret creation of 52 identical
parallel universesParallel universe or alternative reality is a self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a multiverse, although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute physical reality...
, which Mister Mind intends to consume. Daniel Carter reappears as the new Supernova and saves Hunter and Booster, restoring the Phantom Zone in the process. Mister Mind alters events in the 52 universes, creating new histories and a new status quo for each. Booster and Supernova trap Mister Mind 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. Hunter, Booster, and Supernova agree to keep the restored multiverse's existence a secret, and Will Magnus rebuilds Skeets, using a copy he had made of the robot's memories.
World War III
Week 50 of
52 and the four-issue
World War IIIWorld War III is the title of two comic book sagas published by DC Comics and involving many of the superheroes of the DC Universe. The first was published in 2000 in the JLA ongoing series, the second was published in 2007 as a limited series of its own....
limited seriesA limited series is a series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
, which was released the same week, depict the superhumans' battle with Black Adam.
World War III also depicts
AquamanAquaman is a fictional comic book superhero who appears in DC Comics. Created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger, the character debuted in More Fun Comics #73 . Initially a backup feature in DC's anthology titles, Aquaman later starred in several volumes of a solo title...
's transformation into the
Dweller of the Depths,
Martian ManhunterJ'onn J'onzz, also referred to as the Martian Manhunter, is a fictional character that appears in publications published by DC Comics. Created by writer Joseph Samachson and artist Joe Certa, the character first appeared in Detective Comics #225 J'onn J'onzz, also referred to as the Martian...
's change in outlook,
Donna TroyDonna Troy is a comic book superheroine published by DC Comics. She first appeared in The Brave and the Bold vol. 1 #60 , and was created by Bob Haney and Bruno Premiani.-Introduction:...
's assumption of the
Wonder WomanWonder Woman is a DC Comics superhero created by William Moulton Marston. First appearing in All Star Comics #8 , she is one of three characters to have been continuously published by DC Comics since the company's 1944 inception .Wonder Woman is a member of an all-female tribe of Amazons...
mantle,
SupergirlSupergirl is a fictional comic book Superhero that is depicted as a female counterpart to the DC Comics iconic superhero Superman. Created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino in 1959 and appearing in Action Comics...
's return to the 21st century,
Jason ToddJason Peter Todd is a fictional character appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. Jason Todd first appeared in Batman #357 and became the second Robin, sidekick to the superhero Batman, when the previous Robin Dick Grayson went on to star in The New Teen Titans under the moniker of...
pretending to be
NightwingNightwing is a name that has been used by several fictional characters in the DC Comics Universe. It was conceived as a Kryptonian analogue to the character of Batman, with Nightwing's frequent partner Flamebird based on Robin...
, and
Cassandra CainCassandra Cain is a fictional character in the DC Universe who served as Batgirl from 1999 to 2009. The daughter of assassins David Cain and Lady Shiva, she was deprived of speech and human contact during her childhood as conditioning to become the world's greatest assassin...
turning evil and joining
DeathstrokeDeathstroke the Terminator , originally simply the Terminator, is a fictional character, a supervillain and sometime anti-hero in the DC Comics Universe. He is a mercenary and assassin who first appeared in The New Teen Titans #2...
.
The Science Squad
The Science Squad are a group of fictional
mad scientistA mad scientist is a stock character of popular fiction, specifically science fiction. The mad scientist may be villainous, benign or neutral, and whether insane, eccentric, or simply bumbling, mad scientists often work with fictional technology in order to forward their schemes, if they even have...
supervillains in the DC Comics Universe. The group was created by writer
Grant MorrisonGrant Morrison is a Scottish comic book writer and artist. He is best-known for his nonlinear narratives and counter-cultural leanings.-Early years:...
who stated, "I love writing cowardly, petulant, irascible supervillains much more than I enjoy writing truly evil ones, so this whole plot strand was a joy from beginning to end." The members of the team are:
Veronica CaleVeronica Cale is a fictional character who has appeared in various comic books published by DC Comics. Primarily an enemy of Wonder Woman, the character exists in DC's main shared universe, known as the DC Universe. She was created by Greg Rucka in Wonder Woman v2, #196...
,
Doctor DeathDoctor Death is a fictional character, a comic book mad scientist and supervillain appearing in publications by DC Comics. The character was created by Gardner Fox and Bob Kane as an enemy of the superhero Batman, and first appeared in Detective Comics #29, released July 1939...
,
Doctor SivanaDoctor Thaddeus Bodog Sivana is a fictional comic book supervillain. Created by Bill Parker and C. C. Beck, he first appeared opposite superhero Captain Marvel in Whiz Comics #2 by Fawcett Comics...
,
I. Q.I.Q. is a fictional supervillain published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Mystery in Space #87 , and was created by Gardner Fox and Carmine Infantino. I.Q...
(Ira Quimby),
Will MagnusDoctor Will Magnus is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe. He first appeared in Showcase #37 alongside his creations, the Metal Men; he was created by Robert Kanigher and Ross Andru.-Character history:...
,
T. O. MorrowT. O. Morrow is a fictional character a comic book supervillain published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Flash #143 , and was created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino. He is usually referred to as "T.O. Morrow", a play on the word "tomorrow".-Publication history:The original T. O. Morrow...
, Komrade Krabb, Dr. Tyme, and Rigoro Mortis, and are commanded by Chang Tzu. They are featured prominently throughout the series, particularly in Week 46.
Secret message
Dan DiDioDan DiDio is the Senior Vice President — Executive Editor, DC Universe, for DC Comics.Wizard magazine recognized him as its first ever “Man of the Year” back in 2003 for his work on the DC Universe line.-TV work:...
included a hidden message in his
DC Nation column in the in back of Week 37. The message is spelled out using the first letter of every third word: "
the secret of fifty-two is that the multiverseThe DC Multiverse is a fictional continuity construct that exists in stories published by comic book company DC Comics. The DC Multiverse consists of numerous worlds, most of them outside DC's main continuity allowing writers the creative freedom to explore alternate versions of characters and...
still exists"
Collected editions
The lead stories of series are collected, with commentary from the creators and other extras, into four
trade paperbacksIn comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...
:
- Volume 1 (collects #1-13, 304 pages, May 2007, ISBN 1401213537)
- Volume 2 (collects #14-26, 304 pages, July 2007, ISBN 1401213642)
- Volume 3 (collects #27-39, 304 pages, September 2007, ISBN 1401214436)
- Volume 4 (collects #40-52, 304 pages, November 2007, ISBN 140121486X)
Other connected collections include:
- 52: The Companion (224 pages, October 2007, ISBN 1401215572)
- DC: World War III (collects 52 Week 50 and the entire four-issue World War III
World War III is the title of two comic book sagas published by DC Comics and involving many of the superheroes of the DC Universe. The first was published in 2000 in the JLA ongoing series, the second was published in 2007 as a limited series of its own....
limited seriesA limited series is a series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
, 128 pages, Dec. 2007, ISBN 1401215041)
Spin-offs
Due to the unpredicted popularity of the series, DC issued several series of comics based on the individual threads of
52 that began several months after 52 ended.
All-New Booster Gold is an ongoing series that sees the eponym and Rip Hunter travel through time to fix its convoluted history as "the greatest superhero never known."
52 Aftermath: The Four Horsemen miniseries is six issues long, covering the Four Horsemen's battle with Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. The other strand of that story from 52 is taken up in
Black Adam: The Dark Age, another six-issue series following Teth-Adam's quest to bring Isis back to life; it takes place between the end of 52 and
Mary MarvelMary Marvel is a fictional character, a comic book superheroine, originally published by Fawcett Comics and now owned by DC Comics. Created by Otto Binder and Marc Swayze, she first appeared in Captain Marvel Adventures #18 in...
's seduction in
Countdown.
Not all the mini-series are six issues, though, as Renee Montoya and Kathy Kane take up their newly donned guises to battle against Intergang in
Crime Bible: Five Lessons In Blood a five-issue series, each issue focusing a particular section of the bible in question.
Two strands of the 52 story were taken and put together with back-ups from the new
Countdown 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 supporting story following Forerunner.)
Countdown to Mystery is another eight-issue series looking at the Helmet of Fate and its new occupier with the other story focusing on
EclipsoEclipso is a fictional character and a supervillain in the DC Comics Universe. His character is the incarnation of the Wrath of God and the Angel of Vengeance who turned evil and was replaced by the Spectre...
.
These include:
- Booster Gold vol. 2 - The further adventures of Booster Gold, Supernova, and Rip Hunter as they try to preserve the fractured timeline.
- Black Adam: The Dark Age - In the aftermath of World War III, Black Adam tries to recoup his losses, for both his powers and personal life.
- Infinity Inc - Steel and the remaining members of Luthor's Everyman Project team together to form a new Infinity Inc.
- 52 Aftermath: The Crime Bible: Five Lessons of Blood
The Crime Bible is a fictional religious book that has appeared in various comic book series published by DC Comics. The book and the religious groups that have formed around it exist within DC's main shared universe, known as the DC Universe....
- The Question and Batwoman investigate crimes leading them deeper into the Crime Bible.
- 52 Aftermath: The Four Horsemen - Follows Superman
Superman is a fictional character, a comic book superhero widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective Comics, Inc...
, BatmanThe Batman, originally referred to as the Bat-Man, is a fictional character, a comic book superhero co-created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger , appearing in publications by DC Comics...
, and Wonder WomanWonder Woman is a DC Comics superhero created by William Moulton Marston. First appearing in All Star Comics #8 , she is one of three characters to have been continuously published by DC Comics since the company's 1944 inception .Wonder Woman is a member of an all-female tribe of Amazons...
against the Four Horsemen of Apokolips.
- Metal Men
The Metal Men are fictional characters, a team of robot superheroes created by writer Robert Kanigher, pencilled by Ross Andru and inked by Mike Esposito for DC Comics in 1962. They made their first appearance in Showcase #37-40 as part of a four-issue series created as a last-minute filler feature...
- Follows Dr. William "Will" MagnusDoctor Will Magnus is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe. He first appeared in Showcase #37 alongside his creations, the Metal Men; he was created by Robert Kanigher and Ross Andru.-Character history:...
, and the new version of the Metal Men as they battle Will's brother David who wants to destroy them.
Action figures
In September 2006,
DC DirectDC Direct is the collectibles division of DC Comics, the Time Warner subsidiary that publishes comic books and licenses characters such as Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash, Batman, Batgirl and Hawkgirl. DC Direct produces statues, props, replicas and prints for the direct market, a...
premiered a line of
action figureAn action figure is a posable character figurine, made of plastic or other materials, and often based upon from various movie, comic book, video game, or television program characters. These action figures are usually marketed towards boys...
s 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 BooksAce Books is the oldest active specialty publisher of science fiction and fantasy books. The company was founded in New York City in 1952 by Aaron A. Wyn, and began as a genre publisher of mysteries and westerns...
, under the imprint of The Berkley Publishing Group and published by The Penguin Group, released a
novelizationA novelization is a novel that is written based on some other media story form rather than as an original work.Novelizations of films usually add background material not found in the original work to flesh out the story, because novels are generally longer than screenplays...
written by
Greg CoxGreg Cox is a science fiction writer. He lives in Oxford, Pennsylvania, U.S..He has written numerous Star Trek novels, including The Eugenics Wars , The Q Continuum, Assignment: Eternity, and The Black Shore...
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 Roughhouse as opposed to
Terra-ManTerra-Man is a fictional character and supervillain who appears in Superman stories published by DC Comics. Terra-Man first appeared in Superman #249, March 1972.-Pre-Crisis:...
), 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 SolitudeThe Fortress of Solitude is the occasional headquarters of Superman in DC Comics. Its predecessor, Superman's "Secret Citadel", first appeared in Superman #17, where it was said to be built into a mountain on the outskirts of Metropolis...
; 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 the Infinite Crisis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infinite_Crisis#Audiobook 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 Strange, 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
External links
- DC's official website devoted to 52
- Andrew Dowdell's Complete 52 Coverage and Annotations: 52 Pickup, Silver Bullet Comics, December 29, 2006
- Dan Didio spills on DC's "52", Newsarama
Newsarama is an American website that publishes news, interviews and essays about the American comic book industry. In addition, the site hosts an Internet forum for comic-book fans.-History:...
, December 23, 2005
- Crisis Counselling Supplemental Interview with Dan Didio on 52, Newsarama
Newsarama is an American website that publishes news, interviews and essays about the American comic book industry. In addition, the site hosts an Internet forum for comic-book fans.-History:...
, December 23, 2005
- Issues #1-5 online
- Issue summaries - full plot summaries
- An audio preview of the audiobook by GraphicAudio