5.2 OR SO ABOUT 52 #50 WITH MICHAEL SIGLAIN
So – what happened this week in DC’s 52?
World War III – that is, Black Adam taking out countries and people who annoyed him. Which, at this time included the JSA.
But the big thing – the JSA staring down the Great Ten at the Chinese border while Black Adam tore other members of the Great Ten new ones in Beijing. The scene where the Great Ten finally concede, and request help…nice one.
What happens next – not so nice. Ugly, brutal battle. And in the end – Black Adam is just Adam.
Time for some questions for Editor Michael Siglain.
Newsarama: We join up with the action on Day 2 of Week 50. Given that the last time we saw Adam was Day 1 of Week 49, what's he been up to? Who's he been attacking, and why?
Michael Siglain: After having been released from Dr. Sivana’s torture chamber on Oolong Island, Black Adam has set out to avenge the death of his wife and brother-in-law. He’s going after everyone who was involved in their murders, and as we’ve seen, he won’t stop until everyone has paid the ultimate price for their deaths.
NRAMA: And Days 3-5...what's caused the battles at those locations?
MS: Black Adam is the most wanted man in the world right now, and he’s got almost everyone on the planet looking for him. The JSA, the Doom Patrol, the Teen Titans, Checkmate, everyone. Some of those teams had luck finding him along the way, and tried to stop him, which is why battles broke out in Sydney and Pisa.
NRAMA: If he knew China was responsible, as Thundermind points out, why didn't he just come right over to the mainland from Oolong?
MS: Black Adam’s plan was always to go straight to China. Unfortunately for him—and the rest of the world—he was stopped along the way, and battles ensued.
NRAMA: Fundamentally, what we're seeing in this issue - Black Adam is taking his place as the strongest badass in the DCU, correct? Was that one of the overall goals of 52?
MS: The writers always wanted to build up Black Adam, though I don’t think they envisioned just how much of threat and total badass he would become. He’s now one of the most powerful and dangerous men in the entire DC Universe.
And if you think that the fact that he lost the magic word and his powers makes him weak, then you are sorely mistaken. Writer Peter Tomasi and artist Doug Mahnke are hard at work on a Black Adam mini-series that picks up immediately following the events of 52 week 52, and Teth-Adam is more lethal and terrifying than ever.
NRAMA: Albert in all of this - not wanting to believe, or simply not knowing enough to believe the worst about Black Adam?
MS: Albert doesn’t want to believe that his friend could cause all of this death and destruction, which is why Albert saves him in week 49, and why he saves him again in week 50. Albert will eventually come to terms with everything that has happened, it might just take him a little longer.
NRAMA: And just so this one is out there, and clear - the Egyptian gods are okay with Adam killing millions+ people?
MS: Well, despite petitions from Captain Marvel, the Egyptian Gods wouldn’t take away Black Adam’s powers...
NRAMA: Obviously, it's easy to armchair quarterback this fight, but...Adam was killing people on the ground, and the casualty and damage rate was staggering. Why not haul his butt into space from the start?
MS: That would’ve been ideal, if the heroes worked together enough to formulate a plan that would’ve launched him into space. Instead, chaos reigned supreme and the fight was more a free-for-all...at least until Captain Marvel and the mystics got involved.
NRAMA: On that line - your version - what did Captain Marvel do?
MS: To put it simply: Captain Marvel de-powered Black Adam. With the help of the mystics, Captain Marvel was able to call down the lightning and catch it! Insulated by the spell (also from the mystics), Captain Marvel was able to hold the lightning until Black Adam was in place. Then, like Zeus, Captain Marvel threw the bolt at Black Adam and changed the magic word, thereby de-powering Black Adam once and for all. The writers came up with that little bit during one of our weekly conference calls, and it was pure genius. Hats off to Geoff, Grant, Greg, and Mark. Nice work, gentlemen!
NRAMA: But yeah - Gail Simone introduced a character who had forgotten his magic word in Welcome to Tranquility - was she involved with this one as well, or just a coincidence?
MS: Sheer luck!
NRAMA: Hey, hey! A Booster sighting! How long for him has it been since we saw him last, and seeing him here? Where's he showing up next?
MS: Booster Gold and Rip Hunter were last seen way back in week 37, when they were fighting with Skeets in the Fortress of Solitude. Booster and Rip blinked out of time, and week 50 is the first time we’ve seen him since then. Booster popped up during the battle with Black Adam, and both Booster and Rip appeared to Professor Morrow at the end of the issue. I’d say it’s even money that they show up next week, too.
NRAMA: In terms of major spoilers, Captain Marvel's "cure" for Black Adam - he killed millions, yet he's left free to walk around and one day figure out his magic word again. Is Cap's Wisdom of Solomon on the fritz?
MS: Captain Marvel’s wisdom is still right on the mark. He didn’t leave Black Adam free to roam the earth, instead he figured out how to stop Black Adam and turn him mortal. However, during the explosion that took away his powers, Black Adam disappeared, and that was beyond even Captain Marvel’s control. And so the hunt for Black Adam continues...
NRAMA: Seriously, though - even though Albert got him free and into the Middle East in less than a day...what does that "solution" say about justice in the DCU?
MS: Albert’s friend was captured and being tortured, so he came to the rescue and saved him. For Albert, the situation is that black and white. It’s not about justice in the entire DC Universe, it’s about one man saving his friend. Now, as we all know, that “friend” turned out to be a homicidal mass murderer, but Albert is not acting on behalf of the DC Universe when he sets Black Adam free—he’s saving his friend.
NRAMA: Is Adam's story over for 52, or is there more to come?
MS: I’m sure we’ll see him again. After all, the series ain’t over yet!
NRAMA: Fair enough. Moving on to the latter scenes…what did Morrow see?
MS: His eyes have seen the glory of the...well, you’ll have to wait until next week to see what he’s seen.
NRAMA: And then, we’re outta stuff to talk about - over to you fro the tease
MS: Fifty issues down and just two more to go! The countdown (heh) is on, and even shows up on next week’s cover by J.G. and Alex. Take a look:
World War III is over and next week we get guest appearances by the big three! We’ve spent a year without Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, and now Clark Kent, Bruce Wayne, and Diana Prince are stopping by to check out the state of the DC Universe. Plus, we’ll get appearances by Robin, Jimmy Olsen, Wonder Girl, the JSA, and most of our 52 regulars. Why all the guest-stars and the usual 52 crew? Well, the issue is entitled “Homecoming,” so that should give you some idea. But don’t take my word for it, check out the first three pages:
And as if that wasn’t enough, let me leave you with this little ditty: “Here he comes. This is exactly how they said it would happen...and it all comes down to me...” I wouldn’t want to be in that guy’s shoes. Though it could be worse -- he could be the one who gets to utter this soon-to-be-famous phrase: “Pray for the sake of the 52, we don’t screw up this time!”
All right, gang. That’s it for me. Thanks for all of the well-wishes last week, and to those of you wondering, yes, the wedding was on Friday the 13th. Ch-ch-ch-ah-ah-ah!
