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12:15 / 08.12.06

Mother Box would be my guess, although she doesn't really do the "eye beam" thing.

Hallo, Paper Spaceboy

13:33 / 08.12.06

There's a pretty good argument made for it being Snapper Carr in the Supernova suit, using something akin to his old Star-Tsar powers, over to at the 52 Pickup blog.

13:41 / 08.12.06

I don't know. I don't see any reason Snapper would pretend not to know Cassie.

So did that 52 Pickup guy really not realize the Marseilles postmark was just there to indicate that Ralph sent her the package? Talk about not seeing the forest for the trees.

rabideyemovement

14:40 / 09.12.06

Alright, I was presuming that Ralph was talking about "the Key" which was taken from Grant Morrison's Prometheus and kept in the JSA museum. The Key, which was some sort of alien artifact, was a living computer which could give the user superabilities and also access to the Phantom Zone. So far that would account for Supernova's powers. It needn't be Prometheus behind the mask (because i could never fathom him in the role of hero), but maybe someone reengineered the Key to work as part of a suit. Maybe their entire suit is a hodge podge of hi-tech villainous weaponry, since I can't recall Prometheus ever flying.

At least I assumed this was the Key Ralph was talking about. It would definitely allow someone to vanish things into another dimension.

Hallo, Paper Spaceboy

15:30 / 09.12.06

"Superman being gone was the key." One of two keys...Jimmy Olsen, maybe? Might explain the proclivity for kryptonite and the offbeat history of powers. He'd certainly be a candidate for keeping the "Super" going.

Spyder Todd 2008

15:49 / 09.12.06

See, as I was reading that I thought it was a rather blatant reference to the Key, as in the villain. I don't think Supernova is the Key, as that wouldn't really make any sense at all, but I'm wondering if he doesn't have something to do with Supernova's abilities.

18:48 / 09.12.06

I have to say, I'm impressed with the fact that none of us really seem certain as to Supernova's identity. A true mystery in comics that's hard to solve seems a rare thing in this day and age. Not sure if it's the Prometheus Key or the JLA villain "the key" - or something else entirely. What are Supernova's powers, really - flying, making shiny bright lights, and making things 'disappear' or 'dissolve' - Phantom Zone seems sort of likely here. I dunno. I'm really in the dark. Why would anyone's voice sound like Superboy/Kon-El, that's the weird thing...or is the idea that his voice didn't sound particularly like Kon-El but Cassie was just wishful thinking...?

So yes, this does like classic GM 'huge menace that destroys everything in its path, mercilessly, on its way to Earth' -- we saw that a lot in Grant's JLA run and in Seven Soldiers, but it's still fun. The cubes did look too much like the Borg, I'll agree with that.

>> I liked Captain Comet preparing to jettison his "primary consciousness." I'm assuming it's going to end up in a younger, hipper, possibly female body.

Well, there is a 'new' Captain Comet in the pages of the Jim Starlin-written MYSTERY IN SPACE miniseries, the first issue of which came out a month or so ago. I didn't read it, but at first I figured it was a new guy taking up the Capt. Comet mantle; now I guess it's the same guy in a new body which is indeed younger and hipper (and a slightly updated hipper costume design).

I do like it whenever this Chris Batista guy draws the book, moreso than some of the other artists, Pat Oliffe being a workmanlike old-school style but not very dynamic.

As for the freako-shapechanger on Infinity, Inc. storyline...meh. I don't care much about Lex's superteam, we all know where that story is going, I think. Lex's team goes bad, Natasha realizes the error of her ways, etc. etc.

rabideyemovement

20:28 / 09.12.06

i just keep thinking that if it is someone playing hero by stealing various superdevices from museums (Prometheus' Key, Lex's Glove, etc.), then it would remind me of one other person who started their super-career by stealing devices from museums... a certain someone who was incinerated in 52, though we've been promised his story isn't over yet.

Could Michael Jon Carter masquerade as Booster, Rip, and Supernova all in the same timeline? Actually, i guess if you throw in his cousin Daniel, then it might be more plausible...

Hallo, Paper Spaceboy

22:08 / 09.12.06

As for the freako-shapechanger on Infinity, Inc. storyline...meh. I don't care much about Lex's superteam, we all know where that story is going, I think. Lex's team goes bad, Natasha realizes the error of her ways, etc. etc.

That whole plot thread is pretty much like filler in between the more interesting ones - it feels like so much dead weight. I'm most enjoying the "Island Hell of Doctor Magnus" with its cockeyed Watchmen vibe, and the interesting bits with Charlie and Renee. The space heroes are usually kind of flat when they're even remembered at all, and Batwoman really hasn't done anything to distinguish herself yet, which is too bad...

The Infinity, Inc. stuff is just bland. Occasionally it burbles with something recognizeable as "entertaining" - I'm thinking of nouveau Jade's appearance and the intimations of "too much legacy" - Todd's one of the only two Infinity survivors.

I think I'll probably be a little disappointed if Supernova's Booster, but it does seem likely - although Ralph would have been more familiar with him, wouldn't he? They're conversation felt more like one between acquaintances at best...

23:11 / 09.12.06

From a recent Newsarama interview with the editor of 52 re: Supernova (no spoilers, just one hint):

(hint space)

>> NRAMA: So - Ralph knows who Supernova is, something he figured out by looking at his powers from the proper angle. Flight, apparent teleportation, light discharges...those are the powers, right? Any hints as to which way to look at them?

MS: Ralph is still one of the world’s greatest detectives, so it wasn’t difficult for him to put all the pieces together and determine the identity of person behind the mask. As for you internet sleuths and would-be detectives, if you search back through all of the issues, you should be able to make a fairly educated guess regarding Supernova’s true identity. However, because it’s the Christmastime—which is the season of giving — I’ll give you all a hint: don’t look at just one person’s powers. After all, nobody said that Supernova was one individual.

Rachel Evil McCall

01:35 / 10.12.06

Todd's one of the only two Infinity survivors.

Two? Atom Smasher, Northwind, and Brainwave are all still alive, last I checked...

12:17 / 10.12.06

For those of us not reading 52 for a while, how does the gimmick of "None of the Big Three" work here? Is it adding to the story? Giving Renee, Charlie, Steel, Booster etc a chance to shine?

Regrettable Juvenilia

13:45 / 10.12.06

And how did it work in the issue all about Batman, which had Batman on the cover?

14:32 / 10.12.06

For those of us not reading 52 for a while, how does the gimmick of "None of the Big Three" work here? Is it adding to the story? Giving Renee, Charlie, Steel, Booster etc a chance to shine?

Quite nicely in my opinion. Although technically one of the Big 3 is present in the form of Clark Kent from time to time. I haven't read the Batman-centric issue yet, but I would presume that it doesn't actually involve Wayne and his youthful wards turning up to stomp all over Intergang before Batwoman and the Questions can react.

What seems strange is the lack of any storyline that involves Wonder Woman's part of the DC Universe. There are currently numerous plotlines developing in Metropolis sparked off by the absence of Superman. Similarly there is the ongoing Questions/Batwoman storyline in a Batman-less Gotham.

I presume that the Black Adam stuff is supposed to represent that part of things. But it doesn't really come across like that.

Other than that, it's nice to see the DC Universe from a couple of tiers down. Even the big shots still active like the Green Lanterns and Martian Manhunter are being kept mostly out of the limelight, with only brief appearances.

By the by, looking over Rip Hunter's chalkboard again I saw this little nugget:

"The four horsemen will end her rain."

Looks like Khandaq may be looking for a new queen after it gets a kicking from Intergang super-weapons and a Suicide Squad invasion. Pity, I quite like Isis.

Essential Dazzler

15:32 / 10.12.06

What seems strange is the lack of any storyline that involves Wonder Woman's part of the DC Universe.

Rich Johnston had this to say about Wonder Woman in 52

Okay, a late comic book written by a writer known for Hollywood isn't the biggest shock story. But when the writer's contract gives him strong creative control of the book, and the people over on "52" don't know what the plan is for Wonder Woman so they can't tease plans with "52," or have Donna Troy take up the mantle for the period of the book.

16:59 / 10.12.06

But when the writer's contract gives him strong creative control of the book, and the people over on "52" don't know what the plan is for Wonder Woman so they can't tease plans with "52," or have Donna Troy take up the mantle for the period of the book.

That's piss-poor sentence construction.

17:00 / 10.12.06

And how did it work in the issue all about Batman, which had Batman on the cover?

Ah well, you see, Bruce Wayne appeared and dealt with his Bat-issues but never wore his batsuit.

17:02 / 10.12.06

"The four horsemen will end her rain."

Animal Man, Starfire, lobo and Adam Strange vs. Lady Styx

rabideyemovement

19:18 / 10.12.06

That sounds like a more likely guess.
I loved Lady Styx's earring as she ate the power rings.

Yotsuba & Benjamin!

20:59 / 10.12.06

And how did it work in the issue all about Batman, which had Batman on the cover?

Kind of the most boring issue of the lot, although this cover implies it might have some legs:

Regrettable Juvenilia

21:05 / 10.12.06

Is she meant to have just pushed him off the edge, or what? Get yr shit together, Jones.

D Terminator XXXIII

21:08 / 10.12.06

No no, he's obvs giant nightwing, resting suggestively on the christmas tree. Don't you see?

Yotsuba & Benjamin!

21:10 / 10.12.06

Is that a joke? I mean clearly he's leaping off trying to look cool for her. God damn, between this and "Hey, for those of us who haven't bothered to read this book, is it good yet?" I'm starting to think some of you just don't like 52 very much.

*ssssiiiiigggghhhhhh*

This is why we don't have nice comics.

Hallo, Paper Spaceboy

23:55 / 10.12.06

Mine are nice comics. We often have luncheon together and certainly, at tea time, Nextwave offers me the biscuits first. 52 certainly means well and is genuinely pleasant to be around, but often has difficulty bringing up interesting conversation.

It has it's moments, though: the Sivana Family were great, obviously I'm secretly in love with some of the back-up origins, I walked away wanting to read more about the 52 Justice League with Bulleteer and Firestorm rather than the regular brand JLA. I love that one panel of Renee meditating in front of Charlie's bed; it was snacky. Obsidian dealing with the dark side of legacies and his sister's pretend successor was an up-point to an otherwise lackluster Lex Luthor storyline. There's a lot of really good shit going on, but it tends to get mired in the other stuff and the pacing can be off.

08:57 / 11.12.06

"The four horsemen will end her rain."

Animal Man, Starfire, lobo and Adam Strange vs. Lady Styx

Hmm, maybe. Although what with the superweapon Intergang are going to unleash on Khandaq being called The Four Horsemen, and Isis having the powers of weather control it seems more likely to me that that is what's being predicted.

09:24 / 11.12.06

the superweapon Intergang are going to unleash on Khandaq being called The Four Horsemen

Oh yeah I forgot about that.

15:33 / 11.12.06

>> But when the writer's contract gives him strong creative control of the book, and the people over on "52" don't know what the plan is for Wonder Woman so they can't tease plans with "52," or have Donna Troy take up the mantle for the period of the book.

Well, doesn't WW writer Alan Heinberg at least TELL the DC editors what's he's planning/coming with Wonder Woman? He's only writing 5 issues for crying out loud, and then some new-to-comics novelist is taking over writing the ongoing series for a while (a female writer, possibly WW's first female writer since Trina Robbins did a miniseries in the 80s). I would think Heinberg had to give a plot summary to DC, no? The editors sound like they're totally in the dark about where Heinberg will leave Diana plot-wise, which would seem practically impossible, or not allowed to do anything with WW until Heinberg's arc is over, the more likely scenario.

And Nightwing will be courting Batwoman only to realize she likes girls? (insert collective groan from audience here) Is that what the cover is suggesting...? Although he just gave her a Christmas gift, could be a platonic "welcome to the Bat-family, hope you don't get killed" gesture...

Hallo, Paper Spaceboy

16:12 / 11.12.06

The editors sound like they're totally in the dark about where Heinberg will leave Diana plot-wise, which would seem practically impossible, or not allowed to do anything with WW until Heinberg's arc is over, the more likely scenario.

Which doesn't make sense either, given that Heinberg's established that Donna has been active as Wonder Woman during the missing year - they don't need to show us what Diana's up to, sure, but we know about Donna already.

Yotsuba & Benjamin!

15:11 / 13.12.06

Grant straight up hijacked the Dibneyverse this week. So sad. So beautiful. So Grant. So 52.

15:53 / 14.12.06

Look careful in the swarm of Titans recruits - it's the grown-up Mas y Menos!

Jake, Colossus of Clout

16:23 / 14.12.06

Does anyone else get the feeling that Morrison's writing more of this series than he used to? Ralph's visit to Nanda Parabat in this issue and the space sequences last week took up most of the comics and felt very Grant-y. A few months ago, I was wondered if he was writing even one or two pages, and now his fingerprints are all over everything. 52 is much the better for it, too. I really look forward to reading every week nowadays.

17:22 / 14.12.06

Look careful in the swarm of Titans recruits - it's the grown-up Mas y Menos!

"Más y Menos, sí podemos!"

17:45 / 14.12.06

Well George does seem to have cut back on his workload lately, what with the career break from Batman, and everything going else he's officially working on going bi-monthly, quarterly, bi-annual and so on, so it's possible he's putting in more hours on 52.

Funnily enough, it looks as if he decided to slow down a bit at around about the same time that Barbelith began to wonder if he was over-stetching himself - I maintain that even though he's apparently 'disappointed' with how it turned out, he reads this site all the time, and is more influenced by it than he'd care to admit.

For example, I don't want to bring all that stuff to do with All Star Superman again, but maybe, just maybe, he'd have finished it by now if what happened in the thread to do with the project ... hadn't.

If so, can I be first to say that I now think he isn't doing enough?

17:47 / 14.12.06

you mean a 'living' message board has created a 'living' writer to write a 'living' comic-book?

18:04 / 14.12.06

Funnily enough, it looks as if he decided to slow down a bit at around about the same time that Barbelith began to wonder if he was over-stetching himself - I maintain that even though he's apparently 'disappointed' with how it turned out, he reads this site all the time, and is more influenced by it than he'd care to admit.

Shall I ready the swingball set for you, sir?

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