Reading Comics 210 "Understanding 52 - Part 2"

52, the 2006-2007 weekly series written by Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Geoff Johns, and Mark Waid, with art breakdowns by Keith Giffen and covers by J.G. Jones, remains one of my all-time favorite comics.  I recently completed a reread of the complete story, and wanted to undertake a sketch commentary for it.  This part will cover issues from the original first collection, meaning #1-13.  So here we go...

• #1 - The first page evokes the ending of Infinite Crisis, to which 52 serves as a sequel.  By the end of the series it'll be explained as the birth (or rebirth) of the multiverse.  Then we segue into vignettes introducing three of 52's main characters: Ralph Dibney, Renee Montoya, and Steel.  Dibney's house was destroyed during the Crisis, Montoya is drinking herself to an early grave thanks to the death of her partner Crispus Allen, and Steel is helping out with recovery efforts.  Then we meet Booster Gold, introducing the gimmick of trying to fill the void left by Superman by being a corporate sellout and all-around phony.  Eventually we return to Dibney, who appears suicidal, as we remember that his wife Sue was murdered viciously in the pages of Identity Crisis.  We'll discover much later what's really going on with him.  Then we meet Steel's niece, Natasha Irons, in her armor, for the first time in the series.  Steel is frustrated that Natasha is taking being a superhero for granted, complaining about being late for a Teen Titans meeting rather than helping the cleanup effort, so he takes her armor away.  Then we head to Kahndaq as Black Adam explains how he intends to set a new standard for international justice, immediately demonstrating it in the most vicious way possible.  Doctor Sivana and Mister Mind are the first mad scientists we meet, and the first mysteriously kidnapped.  Well, Sivana is, anyway.  We don't catch up with Mister Mind until...later.  Booster nearly crashes a memorial service for Superboy and other heroes lost in the Crisis, with some abetting from Skeets, but Clark Kent helps set him straight.  Finally, the Question begins his recruitment of Montoya.  The artist for the issue is Joe Bennett.  Paul Levitz provides the first commentary explaining how the idea for 52 happened, with Giffen and Waid offering additional brief insights. 
• #2 - Ralph Dibney visits his wife's grave, which in the first issue he'd been told had been desecrated.  Booster Gold visits Will Magnus, attempting to find out why Skeets was so wrong about the events of last issue's memorial service.  Magnus then visits T.O. Morrow, who's noticed the disappearance of other mad scientists.  The Question pays a visit to Renee Montoya.  Booster nearly botches another incident thanks to Skeets.  Montoya decides to take the Question up on his enigmatic begin a stakeout.  Dibney visits Wonder Girl, who has joined a cult believing Superboy will be resurrected.  The cult was responsible for desecrating his wife's grave.  The artist is again Joe Bennett.  Dan DiDio provides the issue's commentary. 
• #3 - Lex Luthor appears for the first time, but the Alexander Luthor from Earth-3 Luthor killed at the end of Infinite Crisis.  So, a corpse, indicating Luthor's typical duplicity will once again be at work in 52.  Power Girl pursues Terra-Man, but ends up in Kahndaq, where Black Adam intervenes, claiming sovereignty.  Natasha Irons is once again stymied by her uncle Steel, increasing the growing rift between them.  Arianna, the future Isis, debuts, brought before Black Adam as a "gift" from Intergang.  Black Adam refuses their offer, violently.  Terra-Man mistakenly believes they're on the same page.  Booster Gold and Skeets continue their shenanigans and win another corporate sponsor, but this one is shut down by the government and so Booster loses the deal.  He gets mad at Skeets for failing to know that.  Steel assists in examining the Luthor corpse, and helps identify the hoax.  The real Luthor appears, and the showdown with Steel begins.  Black Adam, with Adrianna in the crowd, makes a violent demonstration of Terra-Man for the world to see of how seriously he's taking his new dedication to justice.  The issue ends with a look at Mister Mind, apparently having woven a cocoon around himself.  The art is again by Joe Bennett.  Rucka provides commentary, the first time one of the writers does so at length.  He remarks that Crispus Allen, who clearly died at the end of Gotham Central (kind of the whole reason for Renee Montoya's state of mind during 52) was mistakenly drawn into the script by Bennett.
• #4 - Renee Montoya  begins the stakeout requested by the Question.  We get the first indication that the heroes who went into space, including Animal Man and Adam Strange, during Infinite Crisis are going to be returning.  Booster Gold has an unhappy reunion with former Justice League teammate Fire, who expresses her disappointment in his conduct.  The Question shows up in Montoya's card.  She blows smoke in his, er, lack-of-face, which is something she'll regret later.  Steel begins to show signs of having been infected by Lex Luthor in their encounter last issue, foreshadowing the Everyman project.  Ralph Dibney and Wonder Girl attend a Cult of Connor (Superboy) ceremony, in which Dibney is the subject, and his wedding ring is stolen.  Montoya and the Question find the first evidence, namely a monster goon and a fancy gun, that Intergang has come to town.  Survivors from the space heroes, including Green Lantern Alan Scott, contingent arrive via Zeta Beam, much worse for wear...Joe Bennett is once again artist.  Rucka again provides commentary.  He mentions that Montoya chewing aspirin is probably a detail Giffen came up with, an old alcoholic's trick.  He also references a sequence that Morrison clearly was responsible for.  Waid chimes in briefly to agree that Montoya and Question's interactions in this issue are a key sequence in the whole series, setting the tone for the development of their relationship.  Well, see what I wrote above...
• #5 - Animal Man's family opens the issue, losing hope that Buddy Baker is coming home.  Green Lantern Alan Scott, who was in the space mission with him, appears and offers new hope.  Lex Luthor announces his Everyman project (Booster Gold takes a quick dig at Skeets for failing to tell him about it; Renee Montoya appears with a bandage over the wound she received last issue; Clark Kent appears).  Steel is called in to consult on the returning space heroes, many of whom are in critical condition, none of whom in the pages of 52 receive any significant follow-up past what we see here.  Alan Scott again offers his thoughts on whether Adam Strange survived; he's not hopeful.  In a glimpse at the chaos that created all the carnage, we see Red Tornado exploding, as well as Animal Man and Starfire near Strange.  He also mentions the loss of his daughter Jade.  Montoya is seeming downright chipper for a change as Maggie Sawyer visits her, trying to figure out where her head's at.  Montoya pulls out the fancy gun she acquired last issue after Sawyer leaves.  Mal Duncan, one of the space hero survivors, is the first to utter "52" in the pages of 52, thanks to the bits of Red Tornado lodged in him.  Then we finally meet up with Animal Man, Starfire, and Adam Strange, apparently stranded in paradise.  Chris Batista provides art for the first time.  Waid provides commentary.  He says this particular script was mostly Morrison with a little Rucka. 
• #6 - Booster Gold opens the issue by officially revealing he's been supplementing his heroic adventures with some outright shams, including a fake villain-for-hire.  The Great Ten debut, informing Green Lanterns Hal Jordan and John Stewart that China is not their jurisdiction.  The Great Ten are the first significant new creations to appear in 52.  Will Magnus and T.O. Morrow have another discussion, this time veering in the direction of the missing mad scientists.  We get a glimpse of Egg-Fu, who's responsible.  As the Green Lanterns continue their showdown with the Great Ten, Black Adam appears, bringing with him his emerging global coalition, including the Great Ten and Russia's Rocket Reds.  Booster visits Rip Hunter's bunker, where he and Skeets find chalkboards and other notes full of clues about the future.  We're led to believe that Rip has pegged Booster as the biggest real threat, while we learn later...Joe Bennett is again on art.  Giffen provides commentary, including the first glowing praise of a Jones cover.  Waid also chimes in concerning Rip Hunter's clues, stating for the record that some of them will never be addressed. 
• #7 - Animal Man, Starfire, and Adam Strange begin to discover that their paradise isn't what it seems.  Renee Montoya realizes she's got to find some sources outside the enigmatic Question if she's going to get to the bottom of their mystery.  She decides it's probably going to be Kate Kane, the future Batwoman.  Booster Gold is visited by Ralph Dibney, who like Fire before him is greatly disappointed by him.  Montoya visits Kate, and it's awkward, as they're former lovers.  Booster is exposed as a fraud by the fake villain-for-hire from last issue.  Starfire comes face-to-face with Devilance the Pursuer, whom we first glimpsed two issues ago.  The art is by Ken Lashley.  The commentary is by Waid, who discusses the finer points of ratcheting up the drama between Booster and Dibney. 
• #8 - Steel and his niece Natasha Irons aren't getting along any better.  Natasha mentions interest in the Everyman project for the first time.  Steel's Everyman infection continues to evolve.  Ralph Dibney visits Green Arrow to discuss the Cult of Connor.  Steel gets his DNA analyzed to find out what's going on, realizing that Lex Luthor deliberately infected him with the Everyman metagene.  We get our first glimpse of Supernova, who becomes a signature new superhero of 52 (until we learn who he really is).  Booster Gold angrily confronts Skeets about this latest unannounced bit of significant history; Clark Kent is on the scene to catch the rant.  Natasha becomes convinced that Steel has become involved in the Everyman project he's previously warned her to stay away from, and their relationship further deteriorates.  Animal Man, Adam Strange, and Starfire fall further into Delivance the Pursuer's trap.  Luthor personally recruits Natasha to the Everyman project, and begins the process of giving her powers.  Eddy Barrows provides the artwork.  Rucka provides the commentary.  He mentions how Barrows gives Natasha cleavage in a welding sequence, whether by his own initiative or an editor's, a sexy look the script did not call for.
• #9 - Lex Luthor explains his vision of the future, "where every man becomes a super man."  Steel, his skin now fully encased in, well, steel, angrily confronts him about Natasha's disappearance.  She shows up with the rest of the new Infinity, Inc. and angrily rejects her uncle.  Adam Strange, Animal Man, and Starfire work on escaping Devilance the Pursuer.  They succeed, for now.  The Question shows his face (heh) inside a lesbian bar to chat with Renee Montoya.  He calls himself Charlie for the first time.  We catch our first glimpse of Batwoman.  Shawn Moll is the artist.  In commentary, Giffen laments his initial design for Infinity Inc.'s costumes.  He also gives Morrison props for the deep cull of Devilance the Pursuer. 
• #10 - Black Adam's posturing before his new allies is interrupted by Adrianna, the future Isis.  Perry White chews out Clark Kent (who lost his powers at the end of Infinite Crisis) for losing his reporting edge.  This inspires Clark to pull a Lois Lane so he can get the scoop on Supernova.  Black Adam and Adrianna talk, in which she's the first to succeed in piercing his hard exterior.  Clark and Lois talk about Supernova, whom later observers will be convinced is Superman.  Clearly not.  Booster Gold and Skeets wonder who's under the mask, too. Ironically, as it turns out.  Will Magnus and T.O. Morrow again chat.  Morrow produces the husk of Mister Mind's cocoon.  Chris Batista is the artist.  Rucka provides the commentary.  He declares the Clark/White confrontation to be one of his favorite 52 moments, and admits it was written by Waid. 
• #11 - Ralph Dibney begins to lose his cool over the Cult of Connor, attacking some kids for wearing a button emblazoned with its symbol.  Renee Montoya and the Question, Charlie, chat about smoking.  Kate Kane, Batwoman, provides some useful information.  Charlie tries to get Montoya to admit her biggest problem.  They discuss key Intergang figures, and then are confronted by them.  They survive thanks to Batwoman's full debut.  Montoya realizes Batwoman and Kate are one and the same.  Dibney visits a storage shed that's been ransacked, with only an outfit of his late wife Sue's missing.  We see Wonder Girl at a Cult of Connor ceremony with a wicker figure wearing the outfit, and Dibney's stolen wedding ring from the fourth issue.  Joe Bennett and Todd Nauck provide the art.  DiDio and Rucka provide commentary.  DiDio laments that Batwoman in the media was dismissed as a lipstick lesbian.
• #12 - Renee Montoya chats with Maggie Sawyer again, her old boss from Gotham Central, who advises her to quit playing detective.  The Question, Charlie, naturally disagrees, and suggests they visit Kahndaq, where we've previously seen Intergang surface.  In Kahndaq, meanwhile, is a suddenly benevolent Black Adam, thanks to the influence of Adrianna.  They visit the Rock of Eternity and Captain Marvel, who's having a rough time replacing Shazam as its main occupant.  Ralph Dibney visits Wonder Girl, suggesting he may want to take the Cult of Connor's attempts to resurrect his wife Sue seriously after all.  Adrianna is transformed into Isis, another signature creation of 52.  The art is by Eddy Barrows.  Jones provides the commentary, explaining how he came up with this issue's cover.
• #13 - Ralph Dibney attends the Cult of Connor's ceremony to resurrect his late wife Sue.  He brings with him Green Lantern Hal Jordan, Green Arrow, Metamorpho, and Zauriel, all of whom have either been themselves resurrected or have intimate experience with the afterlife.  Wonder Girl is also in attendance as she hopes for the eventual resurrection of Superboy.  Isis helps Black Adam continue redeeming his image, and in the process they begin the search for her brother, Amon, the future Osiris.  Dibney has decided that the ceremony is a fraud, but...was it?  Did he act too hastily? The issue and the volume ends with Dibney having apparently gone mad, clutching at the wicker husk of his late wife...The art is from Todd Nauck.  Waid provides commentary.  He mentions how original series editor Stephen Wacker caught a continuity mistake before it happened, replacing Hawkwoman in the Dibney sequence with Zauriel, Hawkwoman being one of the space heroes on the mend and last seen...supersized.  As I said, they didn't really follow up on those guys...He also mentions the real menace in Dibney's arc throughout 52 appearing in shadow for the first time this issue. 

Only three volumes to go!