Friday, September 8, 2017

Reading Comics 214 "Understanding 52 - Part 6"

I began my commentary on 52 explaining its origins.  Well, here's what followed in its immediate wake, the spin-offs and sequel material:

  • WWIII #1-4 (2007) Running concurrent with 52 itself, expanding on Black Adam's last rampage.
  • The Helmet of Fate (2007) Including Black Alice, Detective Chimp, Ibis the Invincible, Sargon the Sorcerer, and Zauriel one-shots, this was a follow-up to that empty helmet following Ralph Dibney around for most of 52.
  • Black Adam: The Dark Age #1-6 (2007-2008) A follow-up to his experiences in 52
  • 52 Aftermath: The Four Horsemen #1-6 (2007-2008) A follow-up on Oolong Island.
  • Crime Bible: The Five Lessons of Blood #1-5 (2007-2008) Incredibly, the only solo spotlight Renee Montoya ended up having as the Question.  Later collected as The Question: The Five Books of Blood.
  • Countdown to Adventure #1-8 (2007-2008) Although nominally tied into DC's second weekly series effort, Countdown to Final Crisis, this is actually a sequel to Animal Man and Starfire's adventures in 52.
  • Infinity Inc. #1-12 (2007-2008) This one was the biggest disappointment for me, failing to live up to Steel's new potential as demonstrated by 52.
  • Booster Gold #1-47 (2007-2011) Clearly the longest-running spin-off, this one lasted all the way to and was involved in Flashpoint, the next DC revival project.  
  • The Great Ten #1-9 (2010) This is a personal favorite, from Tony Bedard and Scott McDaniel, which each issue explored the origins of the team's members.  Inexplicably, the concept hasn't been revisited in the pages of Gene Yang's New Super-Man (as far as I've been able to determine, at any rate).
  • The Multiversity #1-2 (2014-2015) Grant Morrison's latest megaproject (including Guidebook, Mastermen, Pax Americana, The Just, The Society of Super-Heroes: Conquerors of the Counter-World, Thunderworld, and Ultra Comics) explores the 52 worlds created during 52.
  • The Death-Defying Doctor Mirage #1-5 (2014-2015)
  • The Death Defying Doctor Mirage: Second Lives #1-4 (2015-2016) This was a Valiant comic, but I think it illustrates the untapped potential of Ralph and Sue Dibney as we last see them in 52

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