Dorkgasm Gonzo Is God

I am a Marvel kid, born and raised. I cut my teeth on the Fantastic Four and X-Factor back in the 80s and 90s and I bought every variant cover without fail all the way up until "X-Tinction Agenda" turned me off to mutants. It was also about that time when I started to ask for more from comics. I wanted well-written stories to accompany the pretty pictures. I wanted, in essence, something more mature. In all that time, the only DC books I ever bought were the occasional Batman run and, of course, the "Death of Superman" issue (it was polybagged, I had to!).

Fast forward a decade and I've read plenty of DC titles, but I still do not have the same pedigree of knowledge I possess when it comes to mutants or spider-villains. That being the case, when DC began releasing its "Crisis" books about two years ago, I was a little intimidated. They killed off fiery-headed guy, and I didn't even flinch because I only had a vague idea of who he was. The story entertained me enough because I had read the encyclopedic Crisis on Infinite Earths trade, but when 52 came up, I balked. First off, it was a weekly book, who ever heard of that? Then there was the fact that none of DC's big names were in it at all. I stayed away, and now that the second trade for the series is out, I wish I hadn't.

I based my entire decision to pick up the trades on the writing roster. Geoff Jones, Mark Waid, Greg Rucka, and Grant Morrison are all writers who's work I've enjoyed on other titles. That isn't to say that the art wasn't up to snuff, it certainly is, but in my old age (crap, I'm thirty next year!) what I really want is a well-written story. 52 Vol. 2 does not disappoint! My ignorance of DC cannon, it turns out, actually never hindered my ability to follow the plot.

In this case, the trade follows several story arcs. The taming of Black Adam, the search for self for Detective Montoya, the disappearance of the worlds' mad scientists, the journey home by lost heroes, and the social ramifications of Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman going missing for a year. These major plot points are written with an air of attention that acknowledges that readers like myself might not be familiar with The Metal Men, Steel, or even the Marvel Family. In a sense, that is part of the point of 52, to familiarize not only the denizens of the DC Universe with heroes outside the legendary, but also readers who, through no fault of our own, were simply never exposed to these characters.

The writers also do an excellent job of digging up heroes and villains, familiar to the mainstream audience, who haven't been heard from in a while. Lobo, badass-alien-biker sensation of the 1990s, crops up his ugly head, and the writers manage to make Dr. Magnus into the classic science hero of the 1950s instead of the modern stereotype of the über-geek. Several stories running at once and they all make for engaging reading. Not once does the foreshadowing seem overbearing nor does the character development feel like handholding. Invariably, by the end, all I could ask for was more! 52 Vol. 3 cannot come too soon.

The best feature of this collection, however, is not in the colored pages or dynamic word bubbles. Between each chapter is a look behind the scenes. Chronicling the steps that go into creating such an ambitious work, the writers, artists and editors each take a look back at what they have committed to print and reflect on what they could have done better, and what the got right. Unpretentious and honest, these pages include page layouts, story breakdowns, script excerpts, and unused artwork. Remember, this story originally unfolded as a weekly series, one that never shipped late or missed a deadline. The sheer amount of work present represents what would normally take years to complete. Knowing how they worked together not only grants us a different kind of appreciation for their accomplishment, it also gives us a look at how comic books are born.

Whether you are new to the DC Universe, or you recognize Ambush Bug at a glance, this book is worth the money. The features alone are a boon to anyone looking to break into comics, whether as an artist or a writer. Perhaps the only element missing from this collection is a comment or two from writer Grant Morrison. Waid, Rucka, and Johns more than make up for it and commentary from Phil Jimenez, Keith Giffen, and Dan Didio add plenty of flavor. Finally, the added bonus of the original cover art for each issue make owning this book undeniable.