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View Full Version : 5.2 OR SO ABOUT 52 #23 WITH MICHAEL SIGLAIN


MattBrady
10-13-2006, 03:33 PM
<img src="http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/WAcker/Week22/52-Cv23-ns_t.jpg" border="0" align="right">Another week has come and gone, and we’re left with a few head scratches about this week’s issue of <b>52</b>. Sure, sure, we saw the Black Adam Family grow by one, where all the scientists are going, and a takedown of an Intergang cel in Yemen…but what about the details?

We caught up with <b>52</b> Editor Michael Siglain for some tips and hints about the stuff you may have missed.

<b>Newsarama</b>: Let’s start with the island - so this is where Magnus was taken to, Oolong Island? Has this ever been seen before?

<b>Michael Siglain</b>: Yep, the mystery of the missing scientists has been revealed, and while it might be new to some readers, Oolong Island dates back to <b>Wonder Woman #157-#158</b>, in which Steve Trevor was shot down over the island and held prisoner. In other words, if you're going to kidnap anyone in the DCU and strand them on a remote island, Oolong is the place to bring them. For those of you with an extensive DCU back issue collection, or for those of you who are savvy in the ways of the web, ya might want to check out those back issues for some possible future <b>52</b>ers.

<b>NRAMA</b>: Who the heck is that with the Cricketron? Got a field guide as to where we might be able to find these crazies in the DCU?

<b>MS</b>: The guy with the Cricketron is Baron Bug. The Baron has traded in his insect army for giant robotic bugs, but if you want to see the Baron and his “air force of monster mosquitoes” check out <b>House of Mystery #163</b>, from 1966. And yes, we do have a <b>52</b> field guide to the maniacs of the DCU: his name is Grant Morrison. (Like you didn't see that one coming?)

<b>NRAMA</b>: Very true. So - the scientist's lab - if they're creating the future, why does it kinda look like the past, or at least, what the future was supposed to look like from the vantage point of the past?

<b>MS</b>: The look of Oolong Island and the creations of the mad scientists that reside there are intentional. The island is not supposed to look overly futuristic, despite what Professor Morrow says or believes. It's supposed to have an almost dated, "Tracy Island" <i>Thunderbirds</i> vibe. This is the element that these scientists are comfortable in, and also the time period in which they thrived. Plus, it's always easier to show the future through the eyes of the past.

<b>NRAMA</b>: Fair enough – moving on to the scene with Whisper and the Intergang crew - they've got were-creatures in there - is there a relation between those creatures and the ones that took Magnus, and seem to be working for the owner of Oolong Island?

<b>MS</b>: Um...no comment.

<b>NRAMA</b>: Ho-kay – but how about the book Whisper is reading from - that's the Bible of Crime that has been mentioned in previous discussions, correct?

<b>MS</b>: Right – it’s the Book of Crime, otherwise known as the Crime Bible. It will play an important role in upcoming issues, and in the rest of the DCU. Only a handful of copies remain intact, and most of them are just poor imitations. But this is the real deal, and it dates back to mankind's very first murder. Again, interpret as you will.

<b>NRAMA</b>: Whisper is reading from “"The Epic of Moriartiy." Would that be, to pull a real world analogy - something like the Bhagavad Gita, but recasting Moriarity as the hero of the story and "the detective" as the enemy?

<b>MS</b>: That's one transcendental way of looking at it...though I’m not sure the people who study the Crime Bible are as self aware as all that. Another way is to see the book itself as the work of evangelists who sought to spread evil by prophesying about all manner of violent crime, kinda like a Special Executive for Counter-Intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion. Or something like that...

<b>NRAMA</b>: Was that a hint?

<b>MS</b>: Was <i>what</i> a hint?

<b>NRAMA</b>: Oh, this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship…

Moving on, and just to be clear - Osiris - he joins up with the Teen Titans for a brief while during the year of 52, right?

<b>MS</b>: Well, he was pictured in <b>Teen Titans #38</b>. Is that vague enough for you?

<b>NRAMA</b>: You’ve learned this game well…okay – over to you for some teases for next week’s issue…

<b>MS</b>: Sure thing. Be on the lookout for a massacre in Metropolis, the return of The Great Ten, and, oh yeah, Pirates! See you next week!

<i>Down below: on the left would be Week 24, page 10, and on the right – that’s Week 25…awwwwwww.</i>

<center> <a href="http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/WAcker/Week23/52Week24_10.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/WAcker/Week23/5224p10_t.jpg" border="0"></a><a href="http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/WAcker/Week23/52Week25cvr.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/WAcker/Week23/52_Cv25_t.jpg" hspace="3" border="0"></a></center>

Mark Katzoff
10-13-2006, 03:41 PM
Oolong Island? So who's idea is it to bring Egg Fu into this? (The scary part is I remembered that off the top of my head.)

TS24
10-13-2006, 03:42 PM
52 just keeps getting better and better

Alexlucard
10-13-2006, 03:45 PM
More Ambush Bug please.

Lots more.

EvilErnie13
10-13-2006, 03:46 PM
Ambush Bug in da house!

Plus, nice usage of the helmet of Fate...

munkeypunk
10-13-2006, 03:46 PM
Egg Fu is coming! Those dirty liars...April Fool my butt...heh

SpyGuy
10-13-2006, 03:47 PM
Ambush Bug, Nightwing by George Perez and cute kids in Halloween costumes of characters you'd never see here on good ol' Earth-Prime. Can't wait for this issue.

Beefcliff
10-13-2006, 03:48 PM
MS: "....But this is the real deal, and it dates back to mankind's very first murder. Again, interpret as you will."

Vandal Savage?

sebzero11
10-13-2006, 03:49 PM
ah...a potential connection between the Intergang/Question-Montoya/Black Adam-Isis plot and the Missing Mads/Doc Magnus plot.
Hmmmmm...

I LOVE the Halloween cover for week 25!
DC, you guys BETTER do something with those covers when you collect 52!

Conor E
10-13-2006, 03:54 PM
MS: "....But this is the real deal, and it dates back to mankind's very first murder. Again, interpret as you will."

Vandal Savage?

Since it's the Crime Bible, I'd assume it's a reference to Cain and Abel.

Ace
10-13-2006, 03:55 PM
I so know a certain 5 year old who's going as the Question for halloween next year (Flash this year, Batman last)

pfunk70
10-13-2006, 03:57 PM
Special Executive for Counter-Intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion. Or something like that...

<b>NRAMA</b>: Was that a hint?

<b>MS</b>: Was <i>what</i> a hint?




Looks to be a SECRET to me. Had to move a few letters around to get to it though...

sebzero11
10-13-2006, 03:57 PM
Hey, Siglain,
I have a question. I know you just got here but.....what about the cover to week 25 made it get the mysterious no-pic DC-logo treatment in the solicits and on the DC web page? I know "everything is a clue" but c'mon, what could that pic give away? Really?

I'm just curious.

Garth Rockett
10-13-2006, 03:58 PM
MS: "....But this is the real deal, and it dates back to mankind's very first murder. Again, interpret as you will."

Vandal Savage?

I was thinking Cain, as in Cain and Abel. They are characters in the DCU...

sebzero11
10-13-2006, 03:58 PM
Since it's the Crime Bible, I'd assume it's a reference to Cain and Abel.
And Cain and Abel also "hosted' House of Mystery, where at least one of these mad scientists debuted.

KyleCowstar
10-13-2006, 03:59 PM
MS: "....But this is the real deal, and it dates back to mankind's very first murder. Again, interpret as you will."

Vandal Savage?

better. Cain and frickin Abel of the House books and Sandman.... :drool: ...

And about the teases...THAT is a JLA I'd want to frickin read about, and issue 25's cover is a beauty.

d0dg3r
10-13-2006, 04:02 PM
And I was sooooooooo sure that Oolong Island had something to do with the Black Dragon Society. I guess they still might have something to do with this, but right now it looks like I was overanalyzing.

Still, if we get some Egg Fu, written by this bunch... :D

EyesBL7
10-13-2006, 04:10 PM
I was a reformed Marvel Zombie who hated all things DC until ID Crisis. I got sucked into the Countdown Hype and almost wet my pants when IC #1 hit. When IC #7 arrived, I was a little disappointed but was still gung ho for *52 and and OYL. Now, roughly 6 months later I read but one OYL title (Catwoman) and Ive dropped *52. OYL was ended up being no where near as ambitious as it originally sounded. And while I found *52 interesting for the first 10 or so issues, I started to get lost. Oolong Island? Cricketron? House of Mystery from 1963? Its WAAAAAAAAY over my head as a DC neophyte. I cant enjoy the subtle nuances of the book the way a DC maniac can. And frankly I dont care what happens to Ralph Dibney and his magic helmet. This book is a hardcore DC fans wet dream, but for the casual or unintiated DC reader its nothing more than a headache.

Black_Sentry
10-13-2006, 04:14 PM
Looks to be a SECRET to me. Had to move a few letters around to get to it though...

it's spectre from the old james bond movies

munkeypunk
10-13-2006, 04:14 PM
NRAMA: Fair enough – moving on to the scene with Whisper and the Intergang crew - they've got were-creatures in there - is there a relation between those creatures and the ones that took Magnus, and seem to be working for the owner of Oolong Island?

MS: Um...no comment.

No these Animal people, wearing blue pants no less, are not the same as the 'Mad-nappers', they are the Animal people from Kamandi's world in the future.
Also the red monsters were wearing slave like clothes, much like the children.

Druesome
10-13-2006, 04:14 PM
Looks to be a SECRET to me. Had to move a few letters around to get to it though...
Though, if you don't reorganize the words, you can get SPECTRE out of it:

SPecial Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion.

Druesome
10-13-2006, 04:15 PM
it's spectre from the old james bond movies

Man, you guys reply fast around here.

Andrew.T
10-13-2006, 04:17 PM
I am SOO on that like a fly on $#!%.

Bring it on!!!!!

Stressfactor
10-13-2006, 04:19 PM
Looks to be a SECRET to me. Had to move a few letters around to get to it though...

Or maybe its supposed to be SPECTRE? Weren't those the guys that had a few run-ins with James Bond?

At any rate... from the teaser page... Bulleteer... headlights... heh.

The Big Cat
10-13-2006, 04:19 PM
Looks to be a SECRET to me. Had to move a few letters around to get to it though...

Wasn't SPECTRE, the ultra-secret organization The Martian Manhunter used to go against?

James Seals
10-13-2006, 04:24 PM
Nice! New wallpaper!

That cover's awesome. Makes up for this week's "Booster Beano" deprived Black Adam.

-James

Ranadiel
10-13-2006, 04:27 PM
The disgrace! That Boster kid is getting candy in Dr. Fate's helmet. Oh how the mighty have fallen..... Hmm perhaps Booster is the new Dr. Fate?:eek:

P.S. I called the mad scientist/Intergang connection months ago(I think a week after Renee faught the bug monster thing).

NoFace
10-13-2006, 04:31 PM
Note that in the new preview cover of 52 #25, the kids in Steel and Booster costumes could be younger versions of John Henry Irons and Michael Carter. But the Question seems to be a mix of Vic (red hair) and Montoya (female). Could be a major clue, could be that they felt obliged to include a girl, or it could just be a...wait for it...red hairing.

khuxford
10-13-2006, 04:35 PM
I'm thinking the cat on the cover has more meaning than the 3 kids. :p

mrbones
10-13-2006, 04:35 PM
GIFF you sly dog you...I hope this is the new group that YOU and DEMATT are gonna write to satisfy us rabid JLI fans. If so BWAHAHAHAHA!!! (GOOD!)

munkeypunk
10-13-2006, 04:37 PM
After he had given up his John Jones persona he became Marco Xavier in order to infiltrate the international crime cartel known as VULTURE

jlaking
10-13-2006, 04:44 PM
On cover #25, I wonder what the possible clue on the cat is?

Doombug
10-13-2006, 04:45 PM
I was a reformed Marvel Zombie who hated all things DC until ID Crisis. I got sucked into the Countdown Hype and almost wet my pants when IC #1 hit. When IC #7 arrived, I was a little disappointed but was still gung ho for *52 and and OYL. Now, roughly 6 months later I read but one OYL title (Catwoman) and Ive dropped *52. OYL was ended up being no where near as ambitious as it originally sounded. And while I found *52 interesting for the first 10 or so issues, I started to get lost. Oolong Island? Cricketron? House of Mystery from 1963? Its WAAAAAAAAY over my head as a DC neophyte. I cant enjoy the subtle nuances of the book the way a DC maniac can. And frankly I dont care what happens to Ralph Dibney and his magic helmet. This book is a hardcore DC fans wet dream, but for the casual or unintiated DC reader its nothing more than a headache.
Why bother posting in this thread if you've dropped the book? :confused:

Kenro
10-13-2006, 04:45 PM
This is Egg Fu? Wow, he's... a huge Egg.

Wow, bigger than the one that hatched Mothra.

http://www.reappropriate.com/aaheroes/images/eggfu.jpg

khuxford
10-13-2006, 04:46 PM
After he had given up his John Jones persona he became Marco Xavier in order to infiltrate the international crime cartel known as VULTURE

Now THIS is an angle that would be GREAT for Martian Manhunter. Think about it...he could be SEVERAL villains infilitrating the Society at once...kinda hedging his bets...

BinMan
10-13-2006, 04:47 PM
oh Egg Fu, you ARE a card

nadir
10-13-2006, 04:49 PM
i think the cover to 25 is foreshadowing the death of steel via decapitation.

only steel and booster are holding reciprocals to carry their trick-or-treat booty. booster's head burnt up good when he died and he has fate's helmet. that steel is holding a pumpkin makes me think of another literature reference - the legend of sleepy hollow. it very well could mean that he loses his head somewhere in 52.

that steel also has his mask raised makes me think this more.

very interesting and fantastic cover.

SSK17
10-13-2006, 05:07 PM
in the headline part it says Death of Kite Man. But he supposedly died early in the crisis when Deathstroke threw him off a building with no kite....did he not die? Did he get reincarnated as a cat?

FallenFate
10-13-2006, 05:18 PM
in the headline part it says Death of Kite Man. But he supposedly died early in the crisis when Deathstroke threw him off a building with no kite....did he not die? Did he get reincarnated as a cat?

I'm betting the Green Lantern referred to on the cover isn't the normal DCU GLs either, but the Tangent one we saw at the end of Crisis.

canugrok
10-13-2006, 05:31 PM
Hey, Siglain,
I have a question. I know you just got here but.....what about the cover to week 25 made it get the mysterious no-pic DC-logo treatment in the solicits and on the DC web page? I know "everything is a clue" but c'mon, what could that pic give away? Really?

I'm just curious.


Three of the characters who do not make it to the end of the book alive.

Just my opinion.

M-Stranger
10-13-2006, 05:36 PM
Wasn't Oolong one of the tribes on Survivor? The one with the hot chick in the bikini?

I caught the SPECTRE reference when I read it. Didn't put it together with Bond right away but I recognized the anagram. Sweet! Hmmm maybe an early version of SHADE?

Kent Horton
10-13-2006, 05:37 PM
Damn, that is one ugly-ass kid dressed as Booster.

More Ambush Bug please.

Lots more.

Seconded.

GIFF you sly dog you...I hope this is the new group that YOU and DEMATT are gonna write to satisfy us rabid JLI fans. If so BWAHAHAHAHA!!! (GOOD!)

I'm not particularly a fan of the JLI, but I agree, Giffen & DeMatteis need to turn this version of the league into the new "I Can't Believe . . ." team.

munkeypunk
10-13-2006, 05:37 PM
Wasn't Oolong one of the tribes on Survivor? The one with the hot chick in the bikini?

I caught the SPECTRE reference when I read it. Didn't put it together with Bond right away but I recognized the anagram. Sweet! Hmmm maybe an early version of SHADE?

That's what I thought as well. SHADE's making the round these days

M-Stranger
10-13-2006, 05:40 PM
I see the clue in the cover there. Look at the cat's coloring on its back. Its a map of Khandaq!

bluebird
10-13-2006, 05:46 PM
Wednesday can't ocme soon enough. Ambush Bug, a cool new version of the League, and Jimenez art! I would love to see this 52-version of the League, presuming they have more than one adventure, get an issue or two or six in JLA: C.

Cain has already appeared in 52. Well, his mailbox did, anyway.

Lex
10-13-2006, 06:20 PM
Yay for pirates! They make every comic better.

And I loved that preview page with Ambush Bug.

P.S. Leave Kite-Man alone! If only a writer would come along and do to him what Gail has done with Catman.

avengingtitan
10-13-2006, 06:53 PM
So much for Supernova being Ambush Bug.

j2lepew
10-13-2006, 07:03 PM
There's something about the numbers. Look at them. Issue twenty-five is being pubished on the 25th of October. Then, 52 is the flip of 25.

DigitalAtman
10-13-2006, 07:13 PM
Oolong Island? Cricketron? House of Mystery from 1963? Its WAAAAAAAAY over my head as a DC neophyte. I cant enjoy the subtle nuances of the book the way a DC maniac can. And frankly I dont care what happens to Ralph Dibney and his magic helmet. This book is a hardcore DC fans wet dream, but for the casual or unintiated DC reader its nothing more than a headache.

As a casual, unititiated DC reader myself, I couldn't disagree more. I never heard of Oolong Island or Cricketron or its inventor before this issue, and I've never read House of Mystery. A good story is a good story. I'm loving 52. I'm much more of a Marvelite myself and I sooo wish Marvel had something like this, the whole "fan's wet dream" thing, but I'm finding I don't need to know the references to enjoy the book. I know there's a lot going on here that other, more seasoned DC fans will get a kick out of that I have no idea about, but there's more than enough to keep me engaged, and I think that would be true even if I'd never heard of ANY of its characters before.

Xero
10-13-2006, 07:23 PM
All about VULTURE (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VULTURE).

yoshimi20
10-13-2006, 08:22 PM
As a casual, unititiated DC reader myself, I couldn't disagree more. I never heard of Oolong Island or Cricketron or its inventor before this issue, and I've never read House of Mystery. A good story is a good story. I'm loving 52. I'm much more of a Marvelite myself and I sooo wish Marvel had something like this, the whole "fan's wet dream" thing, but I'm finding I don't need to know the references to enjoy the book. I know there's a lot going on here that other, more seasoned DC fans will get a kick out of that I have no idea about, but there's more than enough to keep me engaged, and I think that would be true even if I'd never heard of ANY of its characters before.

I agree I only started reading DC very recently and 52 was one of the first things I started with and it's the most enjoyable thing I read from DC. I actually like all the weird references to the past too. While I probably don't appreciate them in the same way as people who've been reading DC for years, they do add a classic feeling to the whole series. And I've never felt totally lost reading 52, in fact some of the other DC ongoing series were probably harder to get into for me.

wildcard9
10-13-2006, 10:01 PM
I loved Ambush Bug's appearence in the sample page. He's back, as good as ever!! I could not be happier!!

Hokeyboy
10-13-2006, 10:33 PM
Looks to be a SECRET to me. Had to move a few letters around to get to it though...
Reminds me more of SPECTRE, the evil nasty organization that James Bond used to scrap with.

Herowatcher
10-13-2006, 10:54 PM
Two Ambush Bugs in the DCU now???....oh wait...the one in blue is the Blue Beetle imposter. :p

Ambush Bug is a fun character, but I can only take him in small doses.

Moriarty
10-13-2006, 11:46 PM
The cover to week 25 is the most hilarious thing I've seen in ages.:D

Midgarn
10-13-2006, 11:49 PM
What might be an interesting intersection of plotlines is if Ralph and the Fate helmet stopped by Kahndaq, picked up the Crime Bible, then took it by the House of Mystery to give back to Cain (whom, in grand DCU fashion, just finished killing Abel. For the fifth time. That day.;) )

samnoir
10-13-2006, 11:56 PM
God I hope this leads to a new Ambush Bug series.

___________________________________

VINTAGE X-MEN PAPERBACK for sale on EBAY! BYRNE. CLAREMONT. WEIN. COCKRUM.! (http://stores.ebay.com/HOUSE-OF-FUN)

FRANK CHO RARE SIGNED LTD ED. BOOK and MAGAZINE for sale on EBAY! SHANNA UNCENSORED ARTWORK! SKETCHES. (http://stores.ebay.com/HOUSE-OF-FUN)
___________________________________

Brainlock
10-14-2006, 08:19 AM
IRWIN!!! AND A GREAT BIG OL' NOD TO JULIE!!!
:D :D :D :D :D



:eek: oh my god, they killed Charlie Brown!! :eek:
You blockheads!:mad:

:cool:

jonnynyc
10-14-2006, 10:07 AM
EGG FU!!! - genius
wow 52 does just keep getting better and better
and to the dude who complained:
when i read and i don't know something i just look it up on wiki
its kind of fun to use my time to find out info rather that use it to complain on message boards

Barnum01
10-14-2006, 11:19 AM
MS: "....But this is the real deal, and it dates back to mankind's very first murder. Again, interpret as you will."

Vandal Savage?

or Cain and Abel from the "House" books...


Who better than to host the Halloween week issue than these two Brotherly hosts!

(as has been suggested by more than one poster...so I'm late to the game)

Barnum01
10-14-2006, 11:23 AM
removed by poster...sorry

Mischiefdrag
10-14-2006, 11:36 AM
This post is to All Marvel Reader,

52 has been on time alot longer then several Marvel books, like Civil War, Ultimates 2, anything written by Kevin Smith or drawn by Joe Quesada. But not to leave out DC's Wonder Woman or All-Star Batman and Robin that is late too.

But 52 has yet to miss a ship date. And it ships weekly damn it, weekly, not monthly. I know that some of the earlier mentioned books have switched from monthly to bi-monthly to get those books on some type of a damn schedule. Look when was the last time a book written by Bendis was late. Or Jeph Loeb, Mark Bagley, Ron Garney, Tom Grummett were late.

That was for All Marvel Reader

Mischief

Korvac
10-14-2006, 11:48 AM
The Bug is back and all is right with the world again.

saintstryfe
10-14-2006, 12:00 PM
The First Murder?

Well that seals it for me: DC is importing KANE.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/kane.jpg

Common. You'd markout too.

/read that godawful Undertaker book from 98

Commander X
10-14-2006, 12:12 PM
I noticed that it's a little girl dressed as The Question on the cover for #25... wasn't there a rumor somewhere that Montoya was coming out of 52 as a new Question? Is this a lil' bit of foreshadowing?

... I hope not. I really enjoy Montoya, but I just discovered Vic Sage and I'm diggin' him, don't take hime away already! This is what I get for lagging behind in my fanboy duties.

kyussfan
10-14-2006, 01:10 PM
The cover of #25 says "Death of Kite Ma"n?

jlaking
10-14-2006, 04:59 PM
The cover of #25 says "Death of Kite Ma"n?



Or maybe they'll kill Kite Man's mom, Kite Ma.

Solidius
10-15-2006, 02:50 AM
Okay, I got the cat clue. The cat is Supernova.

Hellstone
10-15-2006, 03:56 AM
I was a reformed Marvel Zombie who hated all things DC until ID Crisis. I got sucked into the Countdown Hype and almost wet my pants when IC #1 hit. When IC #7 arrived, I was a little disappointed but was still gung ho for *52 and and OYL. Now, roughly 6 months later I read but one OYL title (Catwoman) and Ive dropped *52. OYL was ended up being no where near as ambitious as it originally sounded. And while I found *52 interesting for the first 10 or so issues, I started to get lost. Oolong Island? Cricketron? House of Mystery from 1963? Its WAAAAAAAAY over my head as a DC neophyte. I cant enjoy the subtle nuances of the book the way a DC maniac can. And frankly I dont care what happens to Ralph Dibney and his magic helmet. This book is a hardcore DC fans wet dream, but for the casual or unintiated DC reader its nothing more than a headache.

I don't follow your reasoning. I'd wager that not even one of a hundred hardcore DC fans have ever heard of Cricketron or Oolong Island before. And know what? It doesn't matter. They're cool concepts, good characters, and that's enough. Every character whose history is important to the story gets a good presentation and is fleshed out as the story moves along. The rest of the characters, you don't need to know what they have done before in the DCU. Everything that has to be said about them is said in the book.

Even for a diehard DC nerd like me, Cricketron is a new character. That's not a bad thing.

The fact that you don't LIKE the story is another matter entirely, and one I respect. But I can't see that it has anything to do with the use of obscure characters.

/ola

Drcharles
10-15-2006, 04:56 AM
Whats Happened to Week # 23 ? or is it a mistake :confused:

Dave Fury
10-15-2006, 02:16 PM
I don't follow your reasoning. I'd wager that not even one of a hundred hardcore DC fans have ever heard of Cricketron or Oolong Island before. And know what? It doesn't matter. They're cool concepts, good characters, and that's enough. Every character whose history is important to the story gets a good presentation and is fleshed out as the story moves along. The rest of the characters, you don't need to know what they have done before in the DCU. Everything that has to be said about them is said in the book.

Even for a diehard DC nerd like me, Cricketron is a new character. That's not a bad thing.

The fact that you don't LIKE the story is another matter entirely, and one I respect. But I can't see that it has anything to do with the use of obscure characters.

/ola

I've been reading DC Comics since the seventies and I've never heard of either. It's just a damn good storyline. Also, it's introducing brand new characters. I'm really suprised how well this series has done. I figured it'd be a top 40 - 50 book, selling about 30,000 copies an issue. That this is still in the top ten is just amazing. And, it's fantastic that it's been able to do it by removing Batman, Superman, and pretty much the rest of the JLA, JSA, and Teen Titans.

As for Marvel doing something like this. I'm sure they could. They've got some great writers and this type of pace would be perfect for Bendis and Brubaker. But, I think it works because it focuses completely on B level characters and introducing new characters. You wouldn't be able to have Spider-Man, Wolverine, the FF, the Avengers, etc. And, I don't believe Joe Q. is capable of doing that. Like that new Thunderbolts series. I'm sure that a well written, weekly series starring Spider-Man and Wolverine would sell. But, as DC is proving, it can also succeed using some minor Marvel characters (like Tigra, Will O' Wisp, Torpedo Man, ROM (if they could get the rights, etc.).

UniverseMaster
10-15-2006, 08:21 PM
Hey, Siglain,
I have a question. I know you just got here but.....what about the cover to week 25 made it get the mysterious no-pic DC-logo treatment in the solicits and on the DC web page? I know "everything is a clue" but c'mon, what could that pic give away? Really?

I'm just curious.
All but one of the covers each month are blacked out now, due to the spoilerrific nature of some of the covers and the way 52 is being solicited now. If I had to guess, they're only putting up the covers when previews of them are popping up on Newsarama.

Not From Around
10-16-2006, 01:23 PM
I don't care what the CBLDF says, I am NOT putting the "Crime Bible" on the shelves of this library! Next thing you know people will be asking us to stock Abdul Alhazred's blasphemous "Necronomicon." And you know that one brings nothing but trouble everywhere it goes!

Jude Terror
10-16-2006, 03:07 PM
I was a reformed Marvel Zombie who hated all things DC until ID Crisis. I got sucked into the Countdown Hype and almost wet my pants when IC #1 hit. When IC #7 arrived, I was a little disappointed but was still gung ho for *52 and and OYL. Now, roughly 6 months later I read but one OYL title (Catwoman) and Ive dropped *52. OYL was ended up being no where near as ambitious as it originally sounded. And while I found *52 interesting for the first 10 or so issues, I started to get lost. Oolong Island? Cricketron? House of Mystery from 1963? Its WAAAAAAAAY over my head as a DC neophyte. I cant enjoy the subtle nuances of the book the way a DC maniac can. And frankly I dont care what happens to Ralph Dibney and his magic helmet. This book is a hardcore DC fans wet dream, but for the casual or unintiated DC reader its nothing more than a headache.
I am also a Marvel guy who was uninterested in anything DC (with the exception of Batman and certain trades) until Identity Crisis, and I was also disappointed with Infinte Crisis. However, I have been totally hooked on 52, and it just keeps getting better. For me, the focus on more obscure characters and lack of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman is a big plus, and the quality of the story has got me to try out other DC books that I enjoy, like the new JLA and Uncle Sam and the Freedom fighters. Can anyone recommend some other good DC books (other than Superman or Wonder Woman)?

bluebird
10-17-2006, 12:52 AM
I am also a Marvel guy who was uninterested in anything DC (with the exception of Batman and certain trades) until Identity Crisis, and I was also disappointed with Infinte Crisis. However, I have been totally hooked on 52, and it just keeps getting better. For me, the focus on more obscure characters and lack of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman is a big plus, and the quality of the story has got me to try out other DC books that I enjoy, like the new JLA and Uncle Sam and the Freedom fighters. Can anyone recommend some other good DC books (other than Superman or Wonder Woman)?

HITMAN, HOURMAN, RESURRECTION MAN and STARMAN are the best goddam superhero comics DC ever put out. STARMAN is all available in trade, and about half of HITMAN is...though back issue bins are your friends here. I think a fan of 52 would particularly like STARMAN, as it's chock full of some of the most obscure DC characters, and weaves them all into the main story very, very well. MOrrison's run on JLA also rules the school, and is all available in trade.

Based on the titles you mentioned above, you'd probably dig JSA, soon to be relaunched and more awesome than ever. Birds of PRey has been consistently enjoyable since Gail Simone took over, and her All-NEw Atom is suprrisngly good (the art changes like ever other issue, though).

Jude Terror
10-17-2006, 01:42 AM
HITMAN, HOURMAN, RESURRECTION MAN and STARMAN are the best goddam superhero comics DC ever put out. STARMAN is all available in trade, and about half of HITMAN is...though back issue bins are your friends here. I think a fan of 52 would particularly like STARMAN, as it's chock full of some of the most obscure DC characters, and weaves them all into the main story very, very well. MOrrison's run on JLA also rules the school, and is all available in trade.

Based on the titles you mentioned above, you'd probably dig JSA, soon to be relaunched and more awesome than ever. Birds of PRey has been consistently enjoyable since Gail Simone took over, and her All-NEw Atom is suprrisngly good (the art changes like ever other issue, though).

Sounds good, thanks. I will check those out, especially Birds of Prey, as I've liked things that Gail Simone has written in the past.