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52*

 
  

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Yotsuba & Benjamin!
13:57 / 31.08.05
So, it looks like this ish of Wizard wasn't a total waste after all. (Not that the Superman preview was a waste AT ALL, it's just, usually if there's a preview I'm excited about, the rest of the magazine is traditionally filled with excrement.)

And it is! But there's a shiny gold nugget in there and it's that along with Johns, Waid, and Rucka, Mr. Grantby Morrison will also be writing for DC's mammoth weekly undertaking in some capacity. Keef Giffen will be doing "co-plotting and story breakdowns" so he'll have as much to do with the overall arc of the book as the rest of those mugs combined. J.G. Jones will be doing the covers.

And, supposedly, it'll be taking place in real time: when it's winter, it'll be cold; when it's Thanksgiving, cue very special Nightwing story.

Should be cool, and now that SK#4 has assuaged all our fears that Grant might have been about to drop the Seven Soldiers ball, this horrifically large undertaking just might be something to get excited about.

Just don't let Pascual Ferry near it. AM I RIGHT, FOLKS?

*rimshot*
 
 
FinderWolf
15:00 / 31.08.05
Could be interesting, could stink, we'll have to see how they play this...and it is very far off. But now we have a thread for it!
 
 
Billuccho!
18:35 / 31.08.05
Argh, DC, don't make me have to purchase this.

Pros: Morrison, Waid, Giffen
Cons: Johns, Rucka, etc.

I really don't want to give the Evil Corporation my money. Only for the good books, y'know? The ones that actually make the comics industry worth supporting.
 
 
Yotsuba & Benjamin!
19:05 / 31.08.05
I doubt they'll all be writing it at the same time. Well, okay, maybe Giffs will be. Who knows how cheap it will be, but I personally quite enjoy the output of Messrs Johns & Rucka so I'm in it for the long haul.

As far as the industry, cute little story from this morning. Basically, I happen to pass by my LCS on the way to work in the morning and I usually pass it when it opens on Wednesdays, so I mill about for a few minutes before they open. There's usually the same four or five people waiting there. Today there were like five more, and those five were a lot more eager to get in then we were. I was sort of curious what the deal was. Was there a signing today? Well, they burst into the store, barely letting the guy open up, and they haul ass (a not inconsiderable feat, I'll just say that) to the second floor. Not more than a minute later, the first of them returns with a stack of DC Direct action figures.

That's what has today's comic book fan by the throat, folks. Plastic representations of Amazo. So, basically, my point. The industry that you're hoping to support? By only getting quality books? It seemed pretty clear to me this morning that that puppy is dead and gone. I was still able to get my Cendreda sketchbook and Huzienga's Or Else along with my Marvel/DC stack, and for that I'm grateful, but I can assure you, that's not where the enthusiasm lies. Be thankful that good comics exist at all. Whether or not you buy ones that might not fall within the parameters of what you consider "quality" really doesn't make a difference anymore. We're not the mouths they're feeding anymore, and I doubt we ever will be. When people are about a hair away from knocking you down a flight of stairs to get at action figures in a COMIC BOOK STORE on a WEDNESDAY, well, the game is over, folks.

True story.
 
 
FinderWolf
19:46 / 31.08.05
well, this isn't necessarily related to 52, but I hear this 'comics are about to die out as we know them' all the time and I just don't buy it. While I know it's a fact that most of comic companies are kept afloat by licensing, movies, toys, etc. and not actual published comics, I won't believe comics are dead until I wake up one day and no comics are being published the way they are today.

Having said that, I like Johns' writing well enough, Rucka has been a bit hit/miss for me in his non-Batman DCU output but I am curious to see where this goes. Hopefully Waid and Morrison will be a leavening influence on the bad ideas that come up at DC editorial, as they had nothing to do with IC, Max Lord as supervillain, death of Blue Beetle, etc.
 
 
rabideyemovement
20:29 / 31.08.05
I'm excited about this. I'm not going to buy every issue, but they are going to get alot of moolah out of me. I've been impressed by the past two years of DC, especially the planning that goes into the crossovers. Sometimes they kill (and rape) characters that you love, but you know they'll probably be back at some point.
And by the way, Max Lord has played the villain several times before and the original Blue Beetle was kept alive by the Scarab aliens for years after he died. Ted Kord will live to BwaHaHa again.
 
 
Haus of Mystery
20:34 / 31.08.05
Nowt wrong with the idea of a weekly comic neither.
 
 
Keith, like a scientist
20:56 / 31.08.05
i'd love to see this turn out to be a completely serial weekly story like 24 (obvious inspiration) that set ups and follows a number of storylines concurrently. a truly grand and large scale story.
 
 
Yotsuba & Benjamin!
21:44 / 31.08.05
The article implies that that's exactly what it will be, Keith. And Grant will be fresh off writing the Soldiers, which we all now realize is the most well-put together crossie ever.

Oh and a quick note of clarification, I'm not saying the industry's dead, Wolf. It's fucking immortal, and we're just on the lowest part of the totem pole.
 
 
Benny the Ball
16:36 / 01.09.05
I read about this in Wizard too. Must say I quite like the look of it (mainly based on the people that they have working on it). I for one have really been enjoying OMAC, Johns for me is the weak link - his stuff just isn't cutting it for me. But Giffen and Morrison rebuilding the DCU - nice.
 
 
Mark Parsons
17:55 / 01.09.05
"Having said that, I like Johns' writing well enough, Rucka has been a bit hit/miss for me in his non-Batman DCU output but I am curious to see where this goes.

I enjoyed the two Wonder Woman trades that Rucka wrote. The series built slowly, but the effect was satisfying in the end.
 
 
Aertho
18:43 / 01.09.05
But Giffen and Morrison rebuilding the DCU

Bringing back the dead C-list JLA, I hope?
 
 
Benny the Ball
19:14 / 01.09.05
Seven Soilders? Plus some others? JLA disbanded, the big seven scattered to the winds - if we're lucky Gypsy will come back and J'onn will still be the heart.
 
 
COBRAnomicon!
19:30 / 01.09.05
Vibe will come back from the dead and will breakdance his way to the front of the new JLA. Count on it.
 
 
FinderWolf
19:32 / 01.09.05
JLA 2: Electric Boogaloo!

Sorry, had to be said.

I see the 52* title and keep thinking of that baseball thing, 62* (the thing about the home run record with the asterisk footnote; HBO did a movie about it at one point)...or is it 61*?
 
 
FinderWolf
19:42 / 01.09.05
how the hell will J.G. Jones do 4 covers a month? I bet you they change cover artists in 1 1/2 months after this thing starts.
 
 
Mark Parsons
23:04 / 01.09.05
One cover a week seems pretty reasonable, no?
 
 
FinderWolf
23:05 / 07.11.05
from a DC panel at Wizard World Texas,courtesy of Newsarama:

>> 52, the tentatively titled weekly comic between Infinite Crisis and One Year Later…, will launch in May. Wayne said the price point for the series remains to be announced; Didio said he wasn't even sure what it would be, but he did add that the four writers on the series -- Greg Rucka, Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison and Mark Waid -- were all literally writing every issue together, rather than rotating each issue. He also started to reveal something about the back-up stories planned for each issue until Wayne stopped him.
 
 
Yotsuba & Benjamin!
14:03 / 08.11.05
Head on over to Wordballoon for a fantasgreat interview with Greg Rucka (or as I like to call him, 'The RKA'). There's some really good behind the scenes chat about 52. It does seem to contradict the statement that everyone's writing the book at the same time. Rucka talks about how when they started the project (which is by necessity hell of underway) they each picked particular characters and hoped they'd be solely responsible for them over the course of the series, however the schedule (which implies some kind of round robin set-up) meant that they'd all end up having to both give up their favorites for a time and also work on others'. He also talks about his hopes for the end product, what he describes as "not a graphic novel, but rather a novel". Poor quoting out of context, so go listen to it, and spring for the extended version thru bitpass if you like. Good stuff for all you potential 52 5ans.
 
 
Yotsuba & Benjamin!
16:08 / 09.11.05
From Di-Di-Di-DiDio:

Q: Will we be seeing some of Grant Morrison's Seven Soldiers characters after Infinite Crisis, like Guardian and Bulleteer, assuming they don't die in the final issue? Will the Seven Soldiers be folded into the DCU?

DD: You can count on seeing them in 52.
 
 
FinderWolf
23:23 / 21.12.05
from a newsrama interview today on IC:

>> Dan DiDio: Hawkman and Birds Of Prey artist Joe Bennett will be the lead artist on 52, and he will be joined by JSA artist Don Kramer and JLA artist Chris Batista. They will be working from Keith Giffen’s layouts and will set the style and tone for the DC Universe in the missing year of 52.

>> Q: Seven Soldiers and Infinite Crisis both wrap in April. Coincidence? Any Soldiers ongoings appearing OYL?

DD: It is only a coincidence, but Grant promises that the surviving members of the Seven Soldiers will be seen at various times in 52.

And DiDio also said re: Waid and Legion and 52*:

Q: Will the Legion be affected by 52 or Infinite Crisis in ways other than introducing Supergirl?

DD: With Mark Waid involved in both series there is a very good chance that the world of the Legion will be affected by 52 in more than one way.

and: >> DD: If you haven’t heard, Question will be a major player in 52.
 
 
FinderWolf
23:57 / 21.12.05
Yotsuba Birdie/Finder simultaneous posting powers, activate!
 
 
Yotsuba & Benjamin!
01:16 / 22.12.05
Only months apart! That's some Earth 2 shit!
 
 
Yotsuba & Benjamin!
07:25 / 22.12.05
From tha new Wizzard:

G
A
R
G
A
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T
U
A
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S
P
O
I
L
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R
S

The Main Players

-Black Adam : DC's Dr. Doom
-Booster Gold: The Sell-Out
-Renee Montoya: The Drunk Knight
-Elongated Man: Too Far Gone?
-Steel: Lex's New Nemesis
-The Question: The New Batman

1. Luthor's JLA: With the JLA disbanded, the bald baddies forms his own Justice League, comprised of entirely new characters plus one familiar face.

2. Wholesale Destruction: An entire country within the DC Universe will be leveled by a known power player, killing every man, woman and child within.

3. Batwoman Begins: A new female crimefighter takes to the streets of Gotham, but who's behind the mask? Here's a hint: It's not who you think.

4. Steel: The Conscience of the DCU: John Henry Irons steps back into the Steel armor and steps up his game to cover for the absence of several heroes following Infinite Crisis, ruffling some feathers with his philosophy that true heroes do their job without accolades.

5. Star Wars: A new villain will be introduced in the outer reaches of space. Early word has this new tyrant giving Darkseid a run for his money.

6 Cast of Millions: Forget just the Big Three, the Justice League or even everybody that has appeared in Infinite Crisis-- this series will indeed star the entire DCU.

7. Back in the Saddle: Keith Giffen returns to DC in a major way to co-plot and do layouts on 52, bringing his grand sense of scope and knack for humor to the table.

8. Weird Science: A shadowy figure is abducting big brains like T.O. Morrow, Will Magnus and Dr. Sivana, with an eye toward altering the world of technology.

9. Renee Montoya: DC's Drunk Detective: Introduced in the 1990's "Batman: The Animated Series," then making the jump to comics as the lead of Gotham Central, Renee Montoya has sunk to her lowest point as an alcoholic dectective and must find her way back to respectability.

10. For Freedom!: From the ashes of the original team's gory demise in Infinite Crisis, a new team of Freedom Fighters emerges to take up the fight!

11. Drawing Blood: Joe Bennett, who showed he could draw the nastiest fight scenes around during his time on Hawkman, will now have the entire DCU at his disposal as one of the main artists on 52.

12. Girls Gone Wild: Down-on-her-luck Montoya will see her bed become a revolving door of lovers -- one of whom will make her mark on the DCU before all is said and done.

12. Man becomes Superman: A DC hero known for getting the job done without metahuman powers will get their abilities augmented in a major way.

13. Dynamic Duo: M.I.A.: Batman and Robin won't step foot in Gotham for the entire year. What's keeping them away?

15. The Ultimate Insult: A beloved DCU character no longer of the living will have their grave defaced in a shocking act.

16. Encore: Writer Geoff Johns looks to follow up his work on Infinite Crisis by telling an even bigger story, if you can believe that.

17. The Question: Getting Answers: If you loved him on "Justice League Unlimited" get read for the Question to return to the DCU in a major way, becoming a lynchpin of 52 and setting himself up as Gotham's new protector.

18. Ralph Dibny: The Next Step: Nobody in the DCU has suffered more in the past two years than Elongated Man, but in 52, Ralph Dibny tries to move on in way that will shock you.

19 On the Edge: A respected former member of the Justice League his bottom and contempletes suicide. Will this beleaguered Leaguer pull the trigger?

20. Real Time: Like on TV's "24" this number-titled series unfoldes week by week at the pace of real life, putting fans right in the thick of things.

21. Bad As He Wants to Be: With the White House way behind him, Lex Luthor gets back to basics and pushes the envelope, becoming more evil and ruthless than ever.

22. Big Break: After years of toiling in relative obscurity, Chris Batista made his mark on JLA last year-- now he'll try to cement himself as one of the best artists around.

23. Wedding Bells: One of the DCU's most eligable bachelors finally meets the super-woman who can tame him enough to settle down.

24. The Mad Genius: Writer Grant Morrison will be unleashed upon DCU once more, bringing with him the seemingly endless fountain of new concepts and characters he displayed in JLA and Seven Soldiers.

25. Final Farewell: Some members of the team Donna Troy took into space during Infinite Crisis won't be back by the first issues of 52, and some won't be coming back at all.

26. Wind of Change: A new Red Tornado unlike anything that's come before will ride the eye of the storm into 52 and possibly beyond.

27. Booster Gold: The Big Time, At Last: Booster Gold was considered a joke as a member of the Justice League International, but 52 sees him take his shot as a A-list hero.

28. Fortune & Glory: One character's long-fought quest for respect comes to an end when they become the leader of their own country.

29. Ralph Gets Some!: Mr. Dibny finds himself getting busy with somebody other than his beloved Sue. Who's the lucky lady (or fella)?

30. Fate: With Hector Hall out of the picture for the time being, someone new will step up to the golden mantle of Dr. Fate and become the world's most powerful sorcerer.

31. DC Encyclopedia: Nobody knows the DCU better than writer Mark Waid, and he'll be putting every ounce of his trivia knowledge to good use redefining everybody from Superman to Ambush Bug.

32. From Beyond the Grave: Having seen Superman, Green Arrow and now Hal Jordan return from the dead, a former Justice League member attempts to resurrect an old friend.

33. Monster Mash: Lex Luthor changes the face of humanity forever through a series of experiments on Monster Island.

34. Family Drama: A rift forms between Steel and his niece when she makes a decision affecting the entire DCU.

35. Black Adam: Choosing a Side: Black Adam has walked the line between hero and villain for the past 3,200 years. 52 will provide the most in-depth look yet at what motovates this complex character and his sense of honor.

36. Rising Star: Don Kramer came out of nowhere to wow fans as artist on JSA for the past two years--now he'll get to ply his knack for drawing sprawling casts on an even bigger stage.

37. The Main Man?: Is Lobo going back to basics? We've heard whispers, but it's too soon to say...

38. Mr. Versatile: Greg Rucka can write anything from superheroes to comedy to epionage drama, and he'll be tested in every area over the course of 52.

39. Whodunnit?: The Question will put Montoya's detective skills to the test with a mystery that ends up taking a year to solve.

40. Changing the Future: Booster Gold and sidekick Skeets will attempt to use their knowledge of the past from the future to prevent major disasters before they happen. Will they succeed, or destroy the timestream in the process?

41. JLA=S.E.X.: Two former Justice Leaguers you would NOT expect will bump uglies by year's end. Awk-ward!

42. Who's Who: Each issue of 52 contains a two-page origin story on one of the DCU's heroes or villians, as written and drawn by top industry talent. Get caught up!

43. Crossing Over: A well-established character with a lot of history will make their first appearance in the DCU.

44. Not That There's Anything Wrong With That: A new gay character make their first appearance in 52, before moving on to their own ongoing series.

45. 52 Wednesdays: The first weekly comic attempted in over 15 years-- since the demise of Action Comics Weekly in 1989--52 will give fans a reason to get excited about going to the comic shops every single week.

46. Microsoft Man: Signing endorsement deals left and right, Booster Gold becomes a corporate hero, but when push comes to shove, who's pulling the strings?

47. Look! Up in the Sky!: A mysterious and powerful new character named Supernova will make his debut in Metropolis. But is this actually a famillar face with a new look?

48. Cover Me: J.G. Jones will provide the art for not one, not two, not 33 , but all 52 covers of 52. With Jones' smooth, innovative style, that's another 52 reasons right there.

49. Powerless: One of DC's biggest icons spends the years as a civilian, unable to prevent what they once would have handed with ease.

50. Don't Get Too Attached: One of the six leads of 52 won't see the end of the year. Who'll bite the dust?

51. Dream Team: Morrison, Johns, Waid, Rucka, Giffen---any of these names is enough to get the average fanboy to wet himself, but ALL of them on the same book? Every week? Break out the adult diapers!

52. The Journey: By the time the first issue of 52 hits the stands, we'll already know where the DCU is headed thanks to the "One Year Later" jump, but more than half the fun is trying to piece together how everything got there as the mysteries unravel. "


Just the fact that Renee Montoya is in there is totally the raddest. DC's Ana Lucia to the rescue!

The last issue of Gotham Central contained totally the worst and most evil thing ever to happen in the DCU. It's nice to know that it will have a long reaching impact with Renee running around in high profile.

Oh, and I think she hooks up with the Bulleteer. And Katana.
 
 
Sniv
11:25 / 22.12.05
Did I read this right? Since when was Renee gay? Granted, the last time I read about her and a partner was during the Contagion crossover (tiiiiime ago, her b/f Johnny bought the farm). Methinks I should be reading Gotham Central.
 
 
NezZ
11:42 / 22.12.05
WOW what a post. An exciting year ahead me thinks.
 
 
Yotsuba & Benjamin!
12:06 / 22.12.05
She is totally gay.
 
 
H3ct0r L1m4
12:19 / 22.12.05
13. Dynamic Duo: M.I.A.: Batman and Robin won't step foot in Gotham for the entire year. What's keeping them away?

BOTH Marilyn Manson and Elton John's wedding parties.
 
 
FinderWolf
12:32 / 22.12.05
>> Only months apart! That's some Earth 2 shit!

Oh yeah, i see now that it's the same sentiment expressed by DiDio but in 2 separate interviews. Didn't look too carefully at the date/post. Still, though, I like the idea of an Earth-2 timewarp...
 
 
Our Lady Has Left the Building
15:54 / 22.12.05
I think Montaya's being gay was confirmed shortly after No Mans Land ended I think.

15. The Ultimate Insult: A beloved DCU character no longer of the living will have their grave defaced in a shocking act.

The bastards just won't let Sue rest in peace!

44. Not That There's Anything Wrong With That: A new gay character make their first appearance in 52, before moving on to their own ongoing series.

< sigh >

I hope DC's attitude towards the gayers has improved since I was reading them in the early 90s. There was Maggie Sawyer and her partner who went in a lot for hands on shoulders but absolutely no kissing, hugging, sexing or even mentioning of the L word. Nice to see Montaya becoming a slut because of the drink, because promiscuity = bad mmmkay?
 
 
Aertho
23:18 / 22.12.05
Also:



Teh Neue Ghey?
 
 
Aertho
00:33 / 23.12.05
Didn't we just do this?
 
 
Imaginary Mongoose Solutions
02:12 / 23.12.05
I wonder if this:

43. Crossing Over: A well-established character with a lot of history will make their first appearance in the DCU.

44. Not That There's Anything Wrong With That: A new gay character make their first appearance in 52, before moving on to their own ongoing series.


Has anything to do with this (from Lying in the Gutters):

Batman analogue created by Warren Ellis and Bryan Hitch for "Stormwatch," before he made "The Authority" title his own and Mark Millar and Frank Quitely got him splashed across the world media as a gay icon, The Midnighter... is getting his own series from Wildstorm. There. Nothing like a ridiculously long run on sentence to announce an LITG scoop.

But, nevertheless, this is the first solo superhero series from the DC Universe starring an openly gay character. Trust it to be the one who runs around in leather all the time.
 
 
Mario
10:42 / 23.12.05
The well-established character is the Spirit.
 
 
Benny the Ball
11:06 / 23.12.05
really? I thought it'd be someone from Vertigo, but most of the ones that I could think of have already danced around in the DCU. Either that, or something to do with Captain Atom being over in the Wildstorm universe...
 
  

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