52

by Greg Cox

Book Overview

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...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0441015077
• ISBN13: 9780441015078
• Release Date: July 2007
• Publisher: Ace Books
• Length: 359 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.1" x 8.9"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Better than the comic

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.

Smarter Than Your Average Comic Book Universe Novelization

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.

Ah, superheros!

The world is in peril. Wonder Woman, Superman and Batman, the beloved super heroes, are missing. With the heroes missing, the planet is in need of new heroes to protect and serve the planet. And a new generation rises up to take the banner left to them. There are some familiar heroes and some new heroes. One of the new heroes is Booster Gold. He will replace Superman. But Superman's boots are too big to fill and Booster Gold has some problems. 52 chronicles a year in which the super heroes are missing. Super villains are attacking the planet. Can it be saved? Will our super heroes return? The answers lie within the pages of 52. Author Greg Cox is a consulting editor for TOR Books. He's written many of the Star Trek novels and movie novelizations of Daredevil and Underworld. He's also written for television series including Alias, Fantastic Four, X-Men, Xena, Roswell and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Cox has taken on the monumental task of reducing a fifty-two issue of a DC comic book series that appeared weekly from May 2006 to May 2007 and made it into a novel. This novel will grab your attention and take you on an exciting ride. This type of novel is not something that I would normally read, but it is drew me in and kept me turning the pages. Armchair Interviews says: 52 is a twist in the Sci Fi/Fantasy genre and one worth taking a look at.

fun comic book adaptation

The Crisis is over but there are casualties that leave the world vulnerable. Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman have disappeared. The latter two have suffered burnout and have to figure out who they really are while superman has lost his power temporally he hopes it will return but for now he cannot watch over the world in the way he loves. However there are still superheroes who have taken up the banner of keeping the world safe. From the twenty-fifth century comes Booster Gold, a superhero with futuristic technology and a robotic sidekick Skeets. He is in it for the money from the sponsors but he is caught in a dishonest act and is discredited. A new superhero Supernova emerges who doesn't fumble the ball like Booster did and is a hero in the Superman tradition. They play a role in dealing with the Intergang, a collective of criminals who have joined forces in the Mideast and want safe passage in Khandaq but the super family of Black Adam, Isis and Osiris refuses them. In retaliation plague and pesticide is released on the nation and the family has to fight the shapeshifting criminal monsters and battle until one person is left standing. Gotham has Catwoman to watch over it and the city will need her because Intergang plan to move its headquarters there. 52 is a novel based on the 52 issue DC mini series and it captures the spirit of those comic books even though plots and characters have been left out. This is a classic good versus evil series and the heroes are very heroic and the villains are the ultimate evil. Readers will thoroughly enjoy this change to the order as other heroes besides the original JLA members take the spotlight. Harriet Klausner