52 #2

May 17, 2006

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: Looking Back at Tomorrow

A new question for Booster, a new path for Renee and a new mystery for Ralph!

Writers: Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid & Dan Jurgens
Breakdowns: Keith Giffen
Pencils: Joe Bennett & Dan Jurgens
Inks: Jack Jadson & Art Thibert
Colors: Alex Sinclair, Guy Major & Jeromy Cox
Letters: Travis Lanham & Nick J. Napolitano
Editors: Stephen Wacker, Eddie Berganza, Ivan Cohen & Jeanine Schaefer
Cover Art: J.G. Jones & Alex Sinclair
Publisher: DC Comics

After a first issue that was, by necessity, mostly set-up, this issue the story of 52 really begins in earnest. Booster Gold seeks help to help repair Skeets, his robot from the future whose records of the present seem to be faulty. Renee Montoya, even as she spirals further downward, is given a new purpose. And someone has left a mystery for Ralph Dibney, the former Elongated Man.

Although Booster gets the cover, Ralph gets the meatiest story this week. Starting at the grave of his wife (slain in the book that launched a thousand issues, Identity Crisis), Ralph finds a clue to a new mystery. Any fears that this book would just be a year-long epilogue to Infinite Crisis should be allayed – although it’s clearly built on that foundation, the stories that begin this issue really are independent. They aren’t just tying up loose ends, they’re unraveling threads and weaving something new.

It’s clear this issue that the six “stars” of this title won’t be equal in every issue – two of the six don’t even appear this week – but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Not every character appears in every episode of an ensemble television show either, and with only seven days between issues it’s not like fans are going to have to wait another month for their Steel fix. As long as each of them has their moments in the sun, their storylines, it’s not too big a burden if they fall by the wayside for one issue.

I’m intrigued by the story, but Joe Bennett and Jack Jadson could use some tightening up. Keith Giffen’s layouts are fine (and for longtime fans it’s clearly his work), but the characters look a bit stiff at times. It even took me a second look to realize I was seeing Ralph Dibney’s infamous nose-wiggle that shows he’s on the trail of a mystery.

This issue also begins the ten-part “History of the DC Universe” by Dan Jurgens and Art Thibert, and it’s a little on the light side. With only four pages in the first installment, you don’t expect it to go too far, but you also don’t expect the first two pages to be spent on Donna Troy trying to decide if she even wants to hear the history. We know she’s going to, after all. Like last issue, this is a necessary introduction and I expect the story to get better now that they can get to the meat.

All in all this is a solid issue, and the few problems I had are things that will be naturally addressed as this unique project continues its rotation. With two down and fifty to go, this definitely feels like a worthwhile project for me.

Rating: 8/10