#dc's 52

[the-overanalyzer]

there had to have been a few of those cultists who felt really vindicated when kon actually did come back to life

[the-overanalyzer]

52 from 52 - #16

Let Us Pray That We’re Not Getting Married Today

Adam is never really unsympathetic (once the public bisecting stops), but he does get considerably less cuddly once the Thing That Happens happens. Issue #16 might be the most adorable the character has ever been in his entire publication history to this point. It’s also really nice to see to see Billy get in some good-natured teasing. 52 represents a very brief high point for the entire Marvel Family, with everyone more or less at the top of their game before the steep decline of Trials, Countdown, JSA, and Titans all put the franchise through the wringer.

[the-overanalyzer]

52 from 52 - #20

Eye Do This

Honestly, it was a missed opportunity to not have Kori go full Emerald Empress for a couple of issues. C’est la vie.

[the-overanalyzer]

52 from 52 - #12

That Still Only Counts As One

Since Shazam’s death during the leadup to Infinite Crisis, Captain Marvel has been confined to the Rock of Eternity as the new wizard, and cabin fever has set in hard. It’s not everyday you see Golden Age paragon Billy Batson sporting a Joker-grade crazyface.

[the-overanalyzer]

52 from 52 - #30

The Healing Shiv

So, the premise of 52 as it was originally pitched was “the DC Universe coping with the absence of the Trinity in the wake of the crisis, and how that led to the new status quo of One Year Later”. But as these things go, the tale changed in the telling, and the focus shifted to a more self-contained set of stories, with the setup aspect being largely forgotten. We still get glimpses of the Trinity, though. Clark Kent is still in Metropolis working as a journalist, and he has a small but substantial impact on a couple of the main storylines. Wonder Woman gets basically two scenes about how she’s Not So Perfect After All, Now Are You? and I hate it. Bruce, meanwhile, had to come to terms with how his mindset had deteriorated the last few years, the negative impact that had on those around him, and how he couldn’t keep walking that path or it was going to end in disaster. Naturally, the best way to do this is to hike into the desert and get the Ten-Eyed men to literally “kill his demons”.

Because we can’t show Bruce Wayne in therapy actually working through his problems, nooooo, desert wizards with eyeballs on their fingertips will use magic swords to mystically undo years of accrued cynicism. Well, it’s still better than what Diana got.

[the-overanalyzer]

52 from 52 - #15

Of Like Minds

Everyone on this page is lying through their teeth. Including those who don’t have any.

[the-overanalyzer]

52 from 52 - #14

Still Not Funny

The foreshadowing of the various story outcomes in this book is constant throughout this book, but Vic Sage’s death is the most jaw-droppingly unsubtle of them all. Compare this to Mr. Mind later on. The difference is that one is “neat sci fi twist that’s only telegraphed if you’re really paying attention and is really cool regardless”, and one is “the immensely tragic, premature end for a man who was nowhere near done yet that can only hit home if you’re forced to see it coming well in advance”. If you do somehow manage to miss it, you aren’t alone; Renee is blissfully unaware of what’s coming, still viewing this as a case to be solved, and not as a dying man’s last hurrah.

[the-overanalyzer]

52 from 52 - #29

Prozac Elimi-Nation

And you thought Thanksgiving with your family was bad. Here’s the “reminder” portion of the “Will Magnus has a real mental illness that really affects him” arc. Ultimate payoff still to come. I really don’t remember Veronica Cale acting...like this in Wonder Woman. I’m assuming some of the difference is down to Morrison doing most of the Science Squad stuff, but it’s only an assumption on my part that they did. IDK, maybe hanging out with Circe just really changed her.