5.2 (or so) ABOUT 52 #36 WITH MICHAEL SIGLAIN

[MattBrady]

So – if the crowd that’s sharpening pitchforks, kerosenin' up their torches and ordering plane tickets for New York City, home to the offices of DC Comics can pause for a moment, let’s take a look at this week’s installment of 52. Week 36, and where are we?

Those who said last week that Lobo was merely setting up Lady Styx (not to be confused with “Lady” by Styx) with a Trojan Horse deal, collect your money and move to the head of the class.

Those who said that Animal Man would be the space hero to buy it, dry your eyes, and also, move to the head of the class.

Those who bet that Charlie would be dead by this week, perhaps clued in by Week 34’s dead body on the cover – stay in your seats. He still gasps, wheezes and lives…barely. And he's won a half-way 'round the world trip, courtesy of Kate Kane!

Oh – and those of you holding out hope that this week we’d learn the identity of Supernova…er...come back next week, maybe?

Got it? Good.

Over to Editor Michael Siglain.

Newsarama: This was a pretty straightforward issue this week, so there may not be too many questions, but you guys are going to be roasted for killing Animal Man…

Michael Siglain: We killed Animal Man!?! Oooo…that can't be good...

NRAMA: Funny guy. So clear this one up - Lobo's plan all along was one of trickery? Or what was Lobo's plan with Lady Styx? Or did he have a plan?

MS: Lobo's plan was a very simple one: find and capture the prisoners and deliver them to Lady Styx in order to collect the bounty that she placed on their heads. We're dealing with Lobo here, not Brainiac. It's not a complicated plan.

NRAMA: If Lady Styx had paid him, would he have walked away?

MS: You're asking if the man who killed his entire planet just for fun would walk away from the space heroes if he was paid? That's like asking if Egg-Fu gets nervous at Easter time. It's a no-brainer. Lobo would've walked away and not even looked back.

NRAMA: Does Egg-Fu get nervous at Easter time?

MS: Very.

NRAMA: Yeah, but then we didn’t see Lady Styx talking while Lobo's dolphin was "translating" what she was saying. I mean - jeez - that got kind of mean...and personal. Could it be suggested that the Fishy has more compassion and conscience than Lobo?

MS: Huh. You think Fishy might've helped our heroes? Interesting theory. I guess we'll never really know, will we?

NRAMA: Hey – play Continuity Cop on this one - how did Kory get Animal Man's shirt back on in this issue, but last issue, was wearing her regular outfit after Lobo yanked it off in #17?

MS: Easy. Kory put it on in between issues. The idea was to show Buddy die as a man fighting for his family, and not as someone with a giant "A" on his chest. That being said, Giffen wanted Buddy to complain to Starfire that he "gets cold, too!" but it never made it into the final issue. We didn't want the levity of that line to take people out of the scene. We're witnessing a character die, and there's nothing funny about it.

NRAMA: Unless Lobo is involved…

MS: Unless Lobo is involved.

NRAMA: Lady Styx Strangeloves the Green Lantern ship into a Sun Eater...now - again, as we've seen her in Mystery in Space...she gets better, right? What does that say for the Green Lantern's chances?

MS: Since two people went into the Sun Eater, and we've seen Lady Styx in Mystery in Space, I guess it's not looking too good for that GL...

NRAMA: Is the threat to Earth from Lady Styx gone?

MS: Not by a long shot!

NRAMA: What happens to Lady Styx's followers without her?

MS: They're wandering around aimlessly, kinda like zombies in a Romero movie. At least, that's what's happening to them now...

NRAMA: Why does Adam tell Buddy to use his powers? What animal is around there to help him out of this one?

MS: This is the last-ditch effort of our heroes to stop Lady Styx and save their lives, so they'll try anything at this point. They're desperate. Adam tells Buddy to use his powers in the hope that he can get something out of one of the weird creatures that they're going up against. Sadly, it doesn't work.

NRAMA: Okay – flat out - is Buddy dead - as in all life activities have ceased, and he is now decomposing?

MS: Buddy is freshly dead, so expect some decomposition in the weeks to follow.

NRAMA: And another hero who was popular in the '80s buys it...this is the real reason why the writers aren't talking about which sections they wrote, right? It's kind of like a witness protection this way?

MS: Yeah, and after they kill off--um, perhaps it would be better if Ididn't finish that sentence. The writers do write everything together, and they were in complete agreement that Animal Man should die in battle.

But if it's any consolation, DC Direct is making a really cool Animal Man toy that should hit stores in May. Does that ease the pain at all?

NRAMA: Only a little. But - as we've talked about before, with Steve, the space trip is the Odyssey - there's a joyful reunion with the family at the end of that one...can fans hold out at least a glimmer of hope?

MS: Well, I'm not sure if there will be a joyful reunion, but there will be a reunion...of sorts.

NRAMA: Not saying you’re gonna be, and not saying you're not...but I think you could all save yourself a lot of being yelled at during con season if you can just say if what we see in #36 is Animal Man's final appearance...so...do Buddy fans have any more chances to see him? Perhaps a little more ambulatory?

MS: Do flashbacks count? And what about that DC Direct figure?

NRAMA: So - jumping ahead (barump-bump) to Rip and Supernova...So has he been hiding in Kandor all along? And what - he doesn't have a universal adaptor? Why's he trying to power up the Chronosphere?

MS: Yep, Rip and Supernova have been kicking it in Kandor. They know what's going on, and what Skeets' ultimate goal is, so they're taking the necessary precautions against him.

NRAMA: Are there Kryptonians in Kandor these days?

MS: Actually, it's filled with little blue men who wear white pants and white hats. Kinda freaky if ya ask me.

NRAMA: Kandor is the home of the Blue Man Group?

MS: Okay, okay. You will see Kryptonians next issue. Happy?

NRAMA: Okay - let's try a little more with looking forward here – since things are moving along at a pretty quick clip now, can you offer updates on when we'll touch the following storylines again in a major way:

MS: All right. I'll resist the urge to use the Magic 8-Ball and answer the questions to the very best of my ability.

NRAMA: Supernova? Any firm word on whereabouts we may learn his identity?

MS: Sure. Week 52.

NRAMA: Renee and Charlie?

MS: Before the month is over, things will go from bad to really, horribly, unbelievably bad for Renee and Charlie.

NRAMA: The Black Adam Family?

MS: One member of the family wants out, but whether or not he or she is let out remains to be seen...

NRAMA: The scientists on the island?

MS: It's only a matter of tyme before we learn the secret of the Four Horsemen.

NRAMA: Spellcheck there, buddy…

MS: Don’t touch it! Leeeeave it!

NRAMA: Alright, alright…Everyman/Natasha/John Irons/Steel?

MS: Weeks 39 and 40 are very important to Steel and his crew.

NRAMA: Elongated Man?

MS: His journey with Fate will play a very important role towards the end of February.

NRAMA: Any that we missed?

MS: Tons! You've forgotten all about Gotham City, where Intergang is still a major threat, Batman is still "dead", and Batwoman and Nightwing are working together. Plus, in the weeks to come, you'll believe a man can fly. And if that's not enough, World War III is coming!

NRAMA: Fair enough – so, over to you for the tease of Week 37…

MS: You got it - next week it's the no-holds-barred battle you've been waiting for: Supernova & Rip Hunter vs Evil Skeets! Want a preview? Here you go:

MS: And, oh yeah, I lied. We learn the true identity of Supernova next week.

[Groovie Mann]

looking good.

[strong guy79]

I don't even understand it...

Why? I've been restraining myself for so long, but I think DC just really wants to get rid of it's older fans.

That's the only reason I can come up with...

[Sean Walsh]

Um.........

Seriously. Even though they hide his face, I'm pretty sure anyone who sees those last few panels knows who Supernova is now.

Nice.

[holtom2000]

gah! i never should have opened this up. i won't get my hands on this until February. damn my curiosity!

[panicbxmb]

next week is gonna be nuts

[Ferris4469]

Cant be Atom...they wouldnt give it away in the promo page!

[SkipShot]

Supernova = Ray Palmer!

I knew it...

Oh yeah...and Animal Man biting it sucks all kind of donkey parts.Where's a Superboy to punch a wall and make everything all better when you need him...

[dchart1]

Supernova sures looks to be Ray Palmer....

[Newcastle]

It's Sue Dibny!

[mrorangesoda]

Originally Posted by strong guy79

I don't even understand it...

Why? I've been restraining myself for so long, but I think DC just really wants to get rid of it's older fans.

That's the only reason I can come up with...

What Animal Man? I'm as bummed as the next guy, but I've said since the onset, if Buddy's going to die, Morrison has more than earned the right to pull the trigger in my book, and I'm glad it's him doing it.

Also, do you really consider people who read comics in the late 80s early 90s older fans? I mean, relative to a fan who started last year or something I can see, but really?

[antimonitor5]

This is the best comic series I have ever read...Each week I can not wait to tear into each issue and then every other comic is usually a disapointment...52, however, never disapoints...

We have so much stuff coming up:
What happens to:
the space heroes???
the scientists on Ooling Island???
Time is broken???
The 4 Horsemen???
Dibny???
The Great Ten???
Supernova???
Intergang???
The Crime Bible???
52???
The Question & Montoya???
Steel???
Luthor???
The Everyman Project???
World War III???
The Time War???

I am so in love with this series...I read each issue over an over...

Just stunning work...

I hope DC will match the heights of this series again...

[grabbingsand]

Is there an advance cover for next week already? The little B&W image in the back of this week's issue is too small to discern just who is reflected in Skeets's menacing visage.

[sebzero11]

Well, I guess that safely ends anybody's speculating that Supernova is Booster. His sizing up screams Ray Palmer to me. Unless he's a Kandorian, and we've all been suckered.

Still pissed about Animal-Man, but I saw it comin'. I mean, c'mon...who didn't!?

::Sigh::

[God-Man]

I forgot that Lady Styx is in Mystery in Space. Guess her story isn't over after all.

[antimonitor5]

I still think Supernova is Booster...I just think he is using the Atom's shrinking technoology, like how he took Luthor's gauntlet, the staffs of the starmen, sahow thief's dimensionometer and so on...

No way would the ruin the reveal a week before the issue comes out...

[ZenBird]

Well thank goodness Supernova is who he is.

That's all I'm saying.

[Maurice M]

Animal Man, ugh. DC you suck.

[vbartilucci]

Are they mean enough to have drawn a completely fake page for this preview? I mean, the electron rings and the Klik Klik in the hands is just a BIT of a giveaway ain't it?

Og course, it would sure explain why we needed an All-NEW Atom (Another book y'oughta be reading, BTW).

[Cyphon]

It's the Atom's shrinking device, but that doesn't mean it's the Atom.

[Kolimar]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

MS: And, oh yeah, I lied. We learn the true identity of Supernova next week.

SURPRISE!!

Is he or is he not?

[cncoyle]

Originally Posted by SkipShot

Supernova = Ray Palmer!

See, I thought that, too, but after taking another look at Supernova holding that metallic football AND taking into account he's borrowing tech from other heroes & villains leans credence towards the Booster Gold theory. Who's to say he also doesn't have Ray Palmer's white dwarf star belt?

Edit: Bah, just read what antimonitor5 wrote.

[KyleCowstar]

I hope it's Ray...

[KyleCowstar]

I hope it's Ray...

[Sigma]

Originally Posted by vbartilucci

Are they mean enough to have drawn a completely fake page for this preview? I mean, the electron rings and the Klik Klik in the hands is just a BIT of a giveaway ain't it?

Og course, it would sure explain why we needed an All-NEW Atom (Another book y'oughta be reading, BTW).

I think this is the actual page, but consider this: Supernova has stolen a lot of hero tech (Starmen rods, the kryptonite gauntlet, etc.). It is equally possible that this unknown person "borrowed" Ray Palmer's shrinking belt when Ray disappeared.