52 #6
Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: China Syndrome
The Green Lanterns meet the protectors of China, and Booster Gold seeks out a fellow time-traveler.
Writers: Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid, Dan Jurgens
Breakdowns: Keith Giffen
Pencils: Joe Bennett, Dan Jurgens
Inks: Ruy Jose, Andy Lanning
Colors: Alex Sinclair, Guy Major & Jeromy Cox
Letters: Nick J. Napolitano
Editors: Stephen Wacker, Eddie Berganza & Jeanine Schaeffer
Cover Art: J.G. Jones & Alex Sinclair
Publisher: DC Comics
Review: When the Green Lanterns pursue their old enemy Evilstar into China, a group of eastern superheroes face off against them, standing side-by-side with Black Adam. Meanwhile, Booster Gold tracks down the lost Rip Hunter, master of time, and sets out to get some answers about his own twisted perceptions.
After last issue’s knockout punch, this issue is slightly subdued. The bulk of the issue is the Black Adam/Green Lantern story, which is notable for introducing the Great Ten, but more importantly, begins to establish the new political landscape of the DC Universe. We begin to see how different nations react to the superhero community and where the alliances lie. As for the new heroes themselves, you can feel Grant Morrison’s fingerprints all over them - with some really bizarre powers and unusual names that reflect their culture of origin. Names like “August General in Iron” and “Mother of Champions” are no doubt literal translations of names that sound better if you speak Chinese, which ads a touch of realism.
The Booster Gold story is more intriguing, at least to a hardcore DC fan. He uncovers something pretty disturbing this issue that, like last issue’s revelations, has the feel of laying groundwork for the series as a whole. The visit to Rip Hunter’s lair is a particular treat - the two-page spread in this issue is full of clues and Easter Eggs that no doubt have the longtime DC reader salivating in anticipation. Will all of these tidbits come to fruition? Probably not, but man, it’s going to be a lot of fun to speculate.
I’m sorry to say that the “History of the DC Universe” series, chapter five of which is included this issue, remains the weak point for 52. Unlike the original series (which followed up the original Crisis on Infinite Earths), this series so far has been little more than a learned by rote recitation of DC history as we already knew it, not really shedding any new light on how the “new” Earth’s history was pieced together. For longtime fans, it’s redundant. If the intent, on the other hand, is to help new readers find a gateway into the universe, the chapters are too short and don’t give enough information.
I hate to say it, but I’ll be glad when the “History” series will end and be replaced by the two-page origin stories we’ve been promised. 52 has been a fantastic read in the first six weeks, but the back-up has failed to live up to the immensely satisfying main content.
Rating: 8/10
Title: China Syndrome
The Green Lanterns meet the protectors of China, and Booster Gold seeks out a fellow time-traveler.
Writers: Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid, Dan Jurgens
Breakdowns: Keith Giffen
Pencils: Joe Bennett, Dan Jurgens
Inks: Ruy Jose, Andy Lanning
Colors: Alex Sinclair, Guy Major & Jeromy Cox
Letters: Nick J. Napolitano
Editors: Stephen Wacker, Eddie Berganza & Jeanine Schaeffer
Cover Art: J.G. Jones & Alex Sinclair
Publisher: DC Comics
Review: When the Green Lanterns pursue their old enemy Evilstar into China, a group of eastern superheroes face off against them, standing side-by-side with Black Adam. Meanwhile, Booster Gold tracks down the lost Rip Hunter, master of time, and sets out to get some answers about his own twisted perceptions.
After last issue’s knockout punch, this issue is slightly subdued. The bulk of the issue is the Black Adam/Green Lantern story, which is notable for introducing the Great Ten, but more importantly, begins to establish the new political landscape of the DC Universe. We begin to see how different nations react to the superhero community and where the alliances lie. As for the new heroes themselves, you can feel Grant Morrison’s fingerprints all over them - with some really bizarre powers and unusual names that reflect their culture of origin. Names like “August General in Iron” and “Mother of Champions” are no doubt literal translations of names that sound better if you speak Chinese, which ads a touch of realism.
The Booster Gold story is more intriguing, at least to a hardcore DC fan. He uncovers something pretty disturbing this issue that, like last issue’s revelations, has the feel of laying groundwork for the series as a whole. The visit to Rip Hunter’s lair is a particular treat - the two-page spread in this issue is full of clues and Easter Eggs that no doubt have the longtime DC reader salivating in anticipation. Will all of these tidbits come to fruition? Probably not, but man, it’s going to be a lot of fun to speculate.
I’m sorry to say that the “History of the DC Universe” series, chapter five of which is included this issue, remains the weak point for 52. Unlike the original series (which followed up the original Crisis on Infinite Earths), this series so far has been little more than a learned by rote recitation of DC history as we already knew it, not really shedding any new light on how the “new” Earth’s history was pieced together. For longtime fans, it’s redundant. If the intent, on the other hand, is to help new readers find a gateway into the universe, the chapters are too short and don’t give enough information.
I hate to say it, but I’ll be glad when the “History” series will end and be replaced by the two-page origin stories we’ve been promised. 52 has been a fantastic read in the first six weeks, but the back-up has failed to live up to the immensely satisfying main content.
Rating: 8/10