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Week 1 of 52

This is not going to be an easy task and I know that I've promised many a things on this site that don't always happen as scheduled... However, DC's 52 event has me genuinely excited... Partly because I am truly curious to see how we got to 1 Year Later in the DC Universe; and, because I am a big fan of every writer involved in the 52 stories: Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid and Keith Giffen.

And so... Without further ado... The Geek in the City reports on week 1 of 52:

Infinite Crisis is over, thank God, what started so very strong ended at Day of Judgment levels… I’m not sure what happened. I am no DC apologist; I learned my lesson with The Phantom Menace. You drop a stinker I am going to call you on it. I expect much more from Geoff Johns… However, no one can hit grand slams every time at bat. There, that is done… Time to get on with the DC Universe:

The point of 52? DC big three are missing for an entire year to pick up the pieces of their poor superhero work. Thankfully, the world is not without heroes as many of DC B and C list character step up to the plate. (What is up with all the baseball references, I don’t even like baseball)...

Who are (at this moment) the main characters of 52?

Steel (whom I’m still pleasantly surprised to see alive), Ralph Dibny (widower of Sue "women in refrigerators" Dibny), Renee Montoya (easily one of the most three dimensional characters in comics), Booster Gold (still reeling from the death of his boyfrie…I mean, hetero-life mate Ted Kord), Black Adam (a 40s & 50s villain brought shiningly into the modern era with Johns deft hands) and The Question (a character that any and all true comic fans should be happy to see back in the limelight).

Whew, long friggen sentence. Also, I promise weeks 2 – 52 won’t be this long, since I doubt I’ll need to drop all the "while you were out" exposition.

52 literally begins one week after the final panel of Infinite Crisis #7. The world is still reeling from the earth shattering events. Of all the heroes, it would seem that only Steel gives a rip for helping the little guy pick up the pieces. He travels the globe helping disaster services. Booster Gold is doing what he does best: Taking down baddies while getting screen time and lucrative advertising deals. However, for all his bravado, Booster is still nervous and tense about the upcoming funeral for Ted Kord. Nice to see the writers are staying true to the characters. Ralph Dibny, not able to go on is about to take his life when he receives a message that someone has left a note on his dead wife’s tombstone. Although no longer a member of the Justice League, you can't take the detective out of Dibny and he moves to learn more, given a cause again. Black Adam has returned to his country and vows to make right and delve out justice to his people. Intending to lead the world be example, Adam starts by "disarming" a would-be bomber post haste! The Question returns to Gotham and alters the cities most famous landmark... Finally, former Detective Renee Montoya tries to put her shattered life together after losing her girlfriend and burying her partner (the newly resurrected Spectre).

Good set-up. The issue has enough going on that I am legitimately excited for what comes next. There are a lot of questions in the DC Universe and I have faith in the writers that they will make the revealing compelling.

I sense the groundwork being laid for an exciting future. Is the Question going to take Renee under his wing…? Will they both follow the lead of DC’s second best detective, Ralph Dibny? How long will the DC Universe allow Black Adam to rule his land by force? Will Booster start a new League? Will DC wise up and get rid of Winnick so we can have a real Outsiders book? So many questions… I can’t wait for the answers.

Tune in this time next week for Week 2 of 52.