Looking Back at 52

I was bored, and looking for something substantial to read rather than the usual six issue story arcs I'd been mulling through lately. You know, the made for trade work of Bendis and Brubaker and pretty much everyone out there these days. I'm not faulting these guys, just saying I was looking for a big story to read.
I'd read 52 last year almost entirely in one two day period when I was sick in bed. You see, for a few months after getting married I was just too darn broke to go get my pulls. When I finally did I managed to pick up about four months worth of 52 in one offing and combined with the fact that I'd been holding off on reading most of the previous months issues I had nearly 40 some odd issues to read. I remember enjoying it thoroughly but something about rushing through a series in the way I did just didn't let it stick at all.

Now here I am almost a year later, and I stumble back to it. Upon reading through the first 40 issues I am shocked at just how good this series really is. I shouldn't be, I know. It was written by four of the most creative minds in comics. Still, the plotting, the dialogue, even the art is of such a high quality (especially when compared to it's offspring; the utterly dreadful Countdown) it's hard to believe they pulled it off on a weekly basis.
Each separate story is fascinating to watch unfold. I believe there are really only six main characters with other stories drifting in and out but never creating a sense of disorder. Steel, Renee Montoya, Animal Man, Ralph Dibny, Black Adam and Booster Gold are the leads of each of their separate stories with multiple characters in each filling in supporting roles. The fact that the writers managed to juggle as many characters as they did speaks volumes about the professionalism and talent involved in putting this thing together.
As I said there are a lot of other characters drifting in and out of 52 like Nightwing, Oracle, Batwoman, The Suicide Squad, Bruce Wayne, Clark Kent, and a metric buttload of others. Also, one of the story lines that takes over the series around the midpoint is that of Will Magnus and his wacky adventure on Oolong Island with the Mad Scientists creating means to achieve world domination. Its a brilliant storyline, and one of my favorites. Also, its because of the abominations created by the scientists on the island that bring about the start of World War 3 in the latter issues of 52.

I love the more B, C, and D-list characters being made the star of the series. I've always loved Black Adam, and Booster Gold but before 52 I hadn't gotten to know the rest of these characters very well. By it's conclusion I had grown to love Animal Man and Steel, not to mention the Metal Men. It's this focus on these lesser known characters that I think drives this series. There's a lot of heart in it. Steel's sadness over Natalie's going over to Luther's camp in the early issues of the series, the Question's battle with cancer and the way in which Renee deals with it, not to mention the entirety of Animal Man's story are all deeply affecting. Like I said, after this series I'd grown to love Animal Man.
Black Adam also has a brilliant character arc as he goes from egotistical dictator, to love struck king, to maniacal murderer. His story is especially tragic in a Shakespearean way. I've always liked Black Adam more as an essentially decent guy who just goes too far in his quest for justice but after what happens to him here something tells me he may not be coming back to the light anytime soon.

Again on the creative side, I've already mentioned how strong the writing is, and I don't really think I can stress this enough. This is serialized storytelling taken to new levels. When read as a whole rather than spread out over the course of a year this is like a superhero version of War and Peace. I especially admire the character's separate journeys and the ways in which each has changed by the end of this story.

Also, the art is strong here. Obviously the issues drawn by Phil Jiminez and Dale Eaglesham were especially strong but Joe Bennett, Pat Olliffe, and Chris Batista turned in solid work too. The covers by J.G. Jones were exceptional as well.

I realize it's a little off to write about a comic series nearly a year after it finished but this is one series that deserves to be rediscovered. If you haven't had the pleasure of picking this one up I'd suggest you run out and buy the collected editions. Although, I have to say I've been going through my back issues of this one and something about reading this one in floppies just makes it connect that much more. I love this series. Simple as that. Read, and enjoy.