Reading Comics 209 "Understanding 52 - Part 1"

I've attempted to provide commentary on DC's ambitious 2006-2007 weekly series project 52 twice before, once here (which I aborted for various reasons) and previously when it was being published each week (when I was writing about comics for the aborted Paperback reader website).  This time, I hope to do it true justice.

That means providing some context, explaining where its storylines came from.  Some are obvious enough, but I still feel it's necessary to spell them all out.  Here we go...

• Animal Man #1-89 (1988-1995) This is one of the less obvious ones, but arguably one of the most significant of the whole concept: 52 was Grant Morrison writing Buddy Baker for the first time since his breakthrough run on Animal Man itself.  Morrison's last issue was #26, but obviously the series continued for some time.  The whole thing was the first time the character had truly been relevant since his creation (Strange Adventures #180 from 1965).
• Steel #1-52 (1994-1998) One of the "Reign of the Supermen" characters, John Henry Irons, along with Superboy, is also an enduring legacy of the concept (begun in 1993's Adventures of Superman #500).  Yeah, his solo series lasted 52 issues, but it also established the existence of his niece Natasha Irons in its first issue.  In their later, early 21st Century appearances in the Superman comics, Natasha first wears her own armor, although as supporting players it's tough to point to these appearances as anything other than precedent. 
• JSA #1-87 (1999-2006) This is the Justice Society series that featured Black Adam (first modern appearance: Shazam! The New Beginning #1 from 1987) setting up his kingdom in Kahndaq.  Written by Geoff Johns.
• Gotham Central #1-40 (2003-2006) The series that explains what happened to Renee Montoya.  This was a character made famous in Batman: The Animated Series (first comic book appearance: Batman #475 from 1992), but whose significance increased exponentially in Gotham Central and then 52.  In fact, she transitioned directly from the former to the latter.  Series written by Greg Rucka.
• Identity Crisis #1-7 (2004-2005) Features the death of Sue Gibney, wife of the Elongated Man, Ralph Dibney (first appearance: The Flash #112 from 1960), which sets off his quest for closure in the pages of 52.  Identity Crisis also features the same tone 52 has, a more intimate look at superhero life than is usually seen in mainstream comics.
• Countdown to Infinite Crisis (2005) The death of Blue Beetle had a profound effect on Booster Gold (first appearance: Booster Gold #1 in 1986); these two were the backbone of the so-called Bwa-ha-ha era of the Justice League.  Booster subsequently appeared in The OMAC Project mini-series before his life takes a drastic turn in the pages of 52.
• Wonder Woman #219 (2005) This is the issue where Wonder Woman murders Maxwell Lord, which helps set the tone for Infinite Crisis and 52 itself.
• Infinite Crisis #1-7 (2005-2006) 52 is an immediate sequel to this.  Written by Geoff Johns.
• Rann/Thanager War: Infinite Crisis Special (2006) This Infinite Crisis special explains where Animal Man, Adam Strange, Starfire, and a host of other characters affected by the cosmic conflict were coming from.