52, Vol. 2 [Paperback]

Geoff Johns (Author), Grant Morrison (Author), Greg Rucka (Author), Mark Waid (Author), Keith Giffen (Illustrator), J.G. Jones (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 4, 2007

After the INFINITE CRISIS, the DC Universe spent a year without Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. A year in which those heroes were needed more than ever as the fate of the world hung in the balance.

The story of 52 continues in this incredible second volume as Booster Gold's dubious heroism comes under fire, Lex Luthor's scheme for giving ordinary citizens super-powers explodes, and The Question heads into hostile territory to confront Black Adam
The series combines the brightest and best talents from the comic book writing field: Geoff Johns (INFINITE CRISIS), Grant Morrison (ALL STAR SUPERMAN), Greg Rucka (WONDER WOMAN) and Mark Waid (KINGDOM COME).

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: DC Comics (July 4, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401213642
• ISBN-13: 978-1401213640
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 0.5 x 10.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #232,129 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The aftermath, August 1, 2007

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N. Durham "Big Evil" (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: 52, Vol. 2 (Paperback)

DC's innovative, weekly mini-series 52 reaches it's halfway point with this second TPB, which finds the cadre of characters the series focuses on in some dire situations indeed. Black Adam is happy for the first time in, well, maybe ever; and is looking to marry his newly beloved Isis and expand his Black Marvel family while the Question and Renee Montoya stop in Khandaq to make unlikely allies for him. Meanwhile, Booster Gold sulks as his hero days are apparently over; Starfire, Adam Strange, and Animal Man continue their interstellar adventures with Lobo playing a vital role; Steel mourns the departure of his neice, and the identity of the mysterious Supernova is hinted and teased with as the seeds of future, devestating events are planted even more so. While 52 is supposed to bridge the gap for the rest of the DC universe being fast forwarded one year after the cataclysmic events of Infinite Crisis, there feels like there is so much going on that it is easy to get lost in the action. Despite that though, 52 stil manages to be plenty compelling, and there are plenty of great surprises throughout to boot. Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, and Mark Waid are a formidable team indeed; and there's another solid list of art talent including Keith Giffen, Phil Jimenez, Ken Lashley, and more. All in all, 52 remains one of the most compelling and innovative mainstream comics you'll read right now.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not as Good as Volume One, August 19, 2007

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E. David Swan (South Euclid, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: 52, Vol. 2 (Paperback)

In my review of volume one I wrote that I was hooked. And now? Not quite as much. Some of the storylines have increased my interest particularly the Doc Magnus/T.O. Morrow/Oolong Island thread but most (I'm looking at you Question/Montoya) have grown rather stale. My favorite from the first volume was the Booster Gold story and that one takes a MAJOR swerve but it gets kind of short shrift here. My least favorite storyline was anything to do with Kahndaq and that one is the centerpiece of volume two even getting prominence on the cover. This was my experience throughout the book. Wishing the story would get off of ponderous ones like the Steel/Luthor story and onto the more interesting ones like Ralph Dibney (who is now collection powerful magic items including Fate's helmet).

One of my favorite features of the 52 collection is the author/artists notes at the end of each issue. They give the reader a glimpse into the mind of the creators including revealing information like the chronological error in the Kahndaq storyline where Intergang began plotting to disrupt Black Adam/Isis's wedding even before he proposed to her. Speaking of Intergang, that is one of the storylines that is really picking up steam and seems to be the thread that may bind together the entire series. Intergang has already touched on at least three storylines and in volume two we get to peer into the inner workings of their top echelon include the introduction of a truly creepy Chang Tzu (Egg Fu).

Hopefully volume two was just an aberration. It wasn't bad it just was a letdown after the first volume. I had hoped that as the storylines progressed the intrigue would increase but instead... Oh well, I'll still be ordering volume three the week it comes out.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Still good, but momentum slows from Volume 1, September 11, 2007

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K. W. Schreiter (Conshohocken, PA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: 52, Vol. 2 (Paperback)

The '52' series slows in this second volume that collects issues #14-#26 of the weekly DC serial. The better subplots from Volume 1 are less prominent here while lesser characters like Luthor's new team Infinity Inc. are overexposed. I especially disliked the segment with Lobo. Despite these qualms I still enjoyed reading most of this, hence the four stars.
I lack the perspective of hardcore DC fans as I'm familiar with most of these characters only through '52'. To echo previous reviewers, I'm less excited about the series but still planning to order Volume 3 as soon as it is released. Is the '52' novelty wearing thin or will the series regain its original energy? Were my expectations too high after the first 13 issues?