52 #6: Rip Hunter's Chalkboard

52 #6: Rip Hunter's Chalkboard

In issue #6 we get the first glimpse of time traveller Rip Hunter's chalkboard.

This chalkboard became the talk of DC Reader's for years. What did it all mean? DC reader's examined all the clues with crazy speculation and eager excitement.

Here are the chalkboard notations and what they probably refer to:

• WORLD WAR III WHY? HOW?-This happens in 52 #50
  
• Dead by lead?-Best guess is that this is a reference to Mon-El's lead poisoning in Superman #688, which is 3 years of issues later.
  
• TIME IS BROKEN-One effect of Infinite Crisis. Is not really fixed until Booster Gold #1.
  
• Further time is different-May be a reference to the state of the 30th century and the Legion of Superheroes after Infinite Crisis.
  
• The Four Horsemen will end her rain?-This happens in 52 #44
  
• He won't smell it.-Must be a Ralph Dibney reference. He can "smell" out a mystery.
  
• Find the last El-Refers to Last Son storyline which begins in Action Comics #844
  
• Sonic disrupt-- Time Servant -- Time Servants -Look to 52 #14.
• The reach. The reach. The reach.
• The Red Tornado is in pieces. -Look to 52 #17
  
• I'm not kryptonite -Maybe refers to origin of "kryptonite man" in Action Comics #850
  
• it hurts to breathe. -Look to 52 #27
  
• 2000 years from now
• Blue Beetle Scarab is eternal?
• Where is the Curry Heir?
• Who is Super Nova? -Supernova's identity is revealed in 52 #37
  
• What happened to the son of Superman?
• Where is the Batman?-He is one of the three major heroes who is absent during 52. Could it also be a reference to his death/disappearance/whatever in Final Crisis #6?
  
• Who is the Batwoman?-First revealed in 52 #11. And she's awesome.
  
• Te versus (Au+Pb)-Gotta be a Metal Men reference
  
• Who is Diana Prince?
• Don't ask the Question. It lies.
• SECRET FIVE!-Refering to Secret Six miniseries where they are short a member.
  
• MORTAL SAVAGE
• Someone is monitoring. They see us. They see me.-Ah those Monitors!
  
• KHIMAERA LIVES AGAIN
• The Lazarus Pit RISES
• The old gods are DEAD, the new gods want what's left.-Foreshadowing Morrison's attempt to bring back the New Gods in Final Crisis?
  
• I'm supposed to be DEAD?
• WHEN AM I?
• 520 Kane-Montoya's stakeout in 52 #4.
  
• Infinity, Inc.-Comes into play in 52 #21
  
• Casey the Cop
• Silverblade
• Find the Sun Devils
• What is spanner's galaxy
• Also the number 52 is written in circles all over the board
• There are some scraps of paper with the numbers 51, 53, 54, 55, and 56 written on them...
• There are what appear to be television screens showing historical events, some of which occurred before the advent of photography
• All the clocks in the laboratory appear to be set at 11:52.
  

Part of DC's genius is how they fed into the spoiler mentality without coming even close to spilling the beans. Comic reader's love to pick things apart and this gave 52 an early boost of excitement as DC headed into summer con season in 2007. Head editor Dan Didio made sure to tease glimpses at every panel he was a part of that summer.