52 #3: New World Order Recap

52 #3: New World Order
Written by Geoff Johns, Mark Waid, Greg Rucka, Grant Morrison
Art Breakdowns by Keith Giffen, Pencils by Joe Bennett, Inks by Ruy Jose, Colors by Alex Sinclair, Lettering by Nick Napolitano, Cover by J.G. Jones
Editors: Jann Jones, Stephen Wacker, Harvey Richards

Plot Synopsis: Capt. Maggie Sawyer and Gotham PD investigate a dead Lex Luthor look-a-like. Power Girl fights Terra-Man, but is stopped by Black Adam. Black Adam has now taken over as de-facto protector of Kahndaq. John Steel and his niece Natascha argue over her intent to become a superhero. Black Adam is wooed by Intergang with gold and a young female virgin. After Intergang associates get rough with the girl, Black Adam crushes his head with his bare hands. Skeets continues to be inconsistent with his data about the future. Booster decides it's time to find Rip Hunter. Steel is able to find clues that the Luthor look-a-like is a frame-up. However the real Lex Luthor arrives and is able to convince the press that this look-a-like is to blame for the events of Infinite Crisis. Black Adam offers amnesty to criminals who come to his side in Kahndaq. He then demonstrates his authority by ripping Terra-Man in half.

Some Annotations/Reactions:
pg. 1 Gotham PD. If you haven't read Gotham Central by Rucka and Brubaker then that's a crime. Nice reflection in the blood in lower right panel.

pg. 2-4 Some Infinite Crisis exposition and wrap up. Also Black Adam looks massive compared to Power Girl.

pg. 10 The emergence of Intergang as the major villians of the next few years. Their presence lasts through Final Crisis when they are co-opted by Darkseid.

pg. 12 This early extreme violence foreshadows later events in the issue and series.

pg. 15 Call back to Booster's gambling problem. This flaw ended up getting Booster kicked out of sports in the 25th century. This is later rewritten in Geoff Johns's excellent Booster Gold spinoff series after 52.

pg. 16 First mention of Rip Hunter, time master.

pg. 18 Of course Luthor has on a green jacket. Green is the color of envy.

pg. 20 Top Panel: Note the rapt attention that the Mr. Mind worm is paying to the television.

pg. 22 Just like in Infinite Crisis Geoff Johns does not spare the gore as Black Adam rips Terra-Man apart. RIP Terra-Man. Also note that the last sequential panel before the Next Week features the Mr. Mind worm. Is it me or is the worm larger than before? Is this a clue?

Next week: 52 #4! Montoya's back!