52: The Novel [Paperback]

Greg Cox (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 3, 2007

The epic follow-up to Infinite Crisis-starring the superheroes of the DC Comics universe.

Earth's greatest protectors-Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman-have vanished. The cities of Metropolis and Gotham are overrun with criminal activity both on the streets and behind the closed doors of powerful corporations as villains take advantage of the absence of superheroes.

In their place stand the veteran and rookie heroes they inspired. From popular media personality Booster Gold and the enigmatic Question to the mysterious vigilante Batwoman and the secretive Supernova, these heroes are the only ones who can turn the tide against a vast conspiracy of evil determined to take control of the planet.

This is the story of one year without the world's greatest superheroes. Twelve months. 365 days. 52 weeks.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

GREG COX is The New York Times bestselling author of numerous books and short stories. Besides the novelizations of 52 and INFINITE CRISIS, he has also written books and stories based on such popular series as ALIAS, BATMAN, BUFFY, DAREDEVIL, FARSCAPE, GHOST RIDER, IRON MAN, ROSWELL, SPIDER-MAN, STAR TREK, UNDERWORLD, XENA, X-MEN, and ZORRO.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Ace Trade (July 3, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0441015077
• ISBN-13: 978-0441015078
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #212,859 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Smarter Than Your Average Comic Book Universe Novelization, August 27, 2007

By 

Dennis Moore "Reader & Game Operations Director" (Tacoma, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 52: The Novel (Paperback)

If you're looking for high literature, this ain't it. If you're looking for a more literary rendition of events in a comic book universe, you've hit paydirt.
There are definite and concurrent story arcs that sustain a reader's interest. The big 3 characters from the DC Universe are backgrounded to the point of almost being voyeurs in their world. There are characters that are mostly background in the DC universe that really get to shine here, as well as fade away. The character development was well-measured, with tempering events that were, thankfully, not in keeping with a four-color universe, and that pleased me very much.

As a supers RPG role-player, I liked the plots and sub-plots presented here for me by which I may be inspired.
As a father I will happily set this book aside for my teen-age son to read when he gets a chance.
As a reader, I'll dig up the book that came before this one. I want more.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars More Adult Take on Comics, February 21, 2008

By 

JD "firestorm" (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 52: The Novel (Paperback)

In a temporarily post-Superman, Post-Batman and Post-Wonder Woman (DC comics) world, some of the lesser-known DC heroes have the opportunity to step up. The Question proves interesting, and check out his anti-smoking riff! He even underscores it by becoming an object lesson himself. (See more of him in the Helltown novel by Denny O'Neil).Black Adam emerges as a kind of amoral superman, but still guided by his own ancient Egyptian pharaoh-style code of honor and justice. Those of us old enough to remember Saturday morning kids' TV will enjoy seeing the introduction of Isis to the regular DCU. Perhaps best of all is Cox's treatment of former Gotham City detective Renee Montoya. He addresses her status as a gay women flawlessly. Her sexual identity isn't over-emphasized, yet it is a defining characteristic in part, and her attraction to other women is
portrayed in a mature fashion; sexy, without ever becoming salacious. She's also the character who grows the most throughout the novel. Overall, an entertaining read for the mature comics reader, esp. for those of us who'd like to keep up with the events in the comics but, for whatever reason, haven't read all of the 52 comic series.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than the comic, February 8, 2008

By 

Ms. P. M. E. Hodgetts (Scotland, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 52: The Novel (Paperback)

I read the comic series before this novel and I must say I enjoy the novel more. The novel went in depth more of the character it chose to write about.