52

It has been a year since Infinite Crisis strikes DC Continuity (CD Code: 89-90). After this second big crisis, all DC Comics jump ahead one year into the future. There's also a weekly series called 52 that will bridge the DC characters' story during the missing months. All stories happen in 52 is dealt in real time basis. When we celebrate New Year, the story will also tell us what happen in DC Universe during New Year.

The 52 comics features second grade characters, such as: Adam Strange, Animal Man, Starfire, Booster Gold, Black Adam, Question, Elongated Man, Will Magnus, Renee Montoya, and Steel. You won't be seeing DC lead characters such as Superman, Batman, or Wonder Woman in this series since they all are absent in the whole year.

However, even without DC power house characters, the stories are really good. You will see how Elongated Man overcome his sadness over the death of his wife (during the Idenity Crisis saga - CD Code: 30, 120). You will also see how three heroes (Adam Strange, Animal Man, Starfire) must overcome their problems when they were stranded on the far side of galaxy. You will also witness the new protector of Gotham during Batman absence. And you will also how Black Adam become the sovereign leader of a nation, wed a wife, and has a new Black Marvel family.

Sadly, after the death of his wife, Iris, Black Adam took vengeance to the whole world. That's when World War III strikes DC Universe. During the war, a lot of heroes died preventing Black Adam in destroying countries in his rage. This complete stories was told in a 4 book mini series called World War III (CD Code: 267).

The biggest puzzle of all in 52 is what's the really meaning of the word "52." We see Red Tornado's head screaming 52 after the big bang in Infinite Crisis. Booster Gold, who appears as cameo in the Legion of Super Heroes comic series, also mentioned that he has to save 52 worlds. A time traveller named Rip Hunter also mentioned this "52" during his several cameos along the series. More clues can also be read in the mini series Ion: Guardians of the Universe (CD Code: 243).

The answer can be read in the last issue of 52. Actually, Infinite Crisis give birth to a new multiverse. There are now 52 universes, with 52 earths. Current DC Universe (or is it multiverse again now?) will reflect more like the era before the Crisis on Infinite Earths (CD Code 58, 80). More stories about this multiverse is currently running in the new sequel weekly series called Countdown.

CD Code: 267