Welcome to the summary of 52, Issue #2

We start off with Ralph Dibny, photographing his dead wife's desecrated tombstone. He meets the graveyard caretaker, who is a fan who comforts him and compliments both him and Sue. Ralph points out it's a mystery who would paint that on Sue's tombstone. He's found purpose again.

We switch to Booster Gold, who has brought Skeets to Dr. Will Magnus, creator of the Metal Men, after Skeets' apparent malfunction of last issue. Magnus isn't sure what he can do, as Skeets is a "self repairing valet module from the 25th century" and "tomorrowtech". Booster needs Skeets because Booster never bothered learning any of the history he had Skeets appropriate. Skeets is reactivated and seems fine. Booster points out that Magnus is still famous in the 25th century for inventing the Metal Men and Magnus replies "Umm... those don't really work anymore." and quickly changes the subject. He seems very uncomfortable with Booster's and Skeets' praise. Magnus excuses himself and he says he isn't the world's foremost authority on this type of thing, and he's only called that because no one wants to acknowledge the guy who actually is, and he says he's off to visit him.

That man is Dr. T. O. Morrow, the creator of Red Tornado, who is being held in prison for "attempting to start a war between two parallel worlds". Magnus informs him that Red Tornado was lost and apparently killed during the Infinite Crisis. Morrow: "Tssk. Why does he have to keep doing that?" Hahaha. He mentions he also created an android called "The Red Inferno". Morrow created the first artificial souls, he says, and Magnus is his only student that ever understood that breakthrough, and that he appreciates Magnus' monthly visits. Morrow goes on to say that it seems that all the mad scientists are being rounded up (such as Sivana's abduction last issue).

Switch to The Question, who has come into Renee Montoya's apartment where she's already found a new girl for at least a One Night Stand. He asks "Who are you?" as he stands over them in bed, and Montoya grabs her gun and shoots at him. Question disappears. He leaves a piece of paper behind with an address on it, and a big question mark. Renee tells her new friend to put her clothes on.

Switch back to Booster Gold. A flight is in trouble. Skeets says that the flight path is a matter of history, so he's positioned perfectly. Suddenly the jet barrels down from right BEHIND him. It just misses him. Booster says "Oh, God." and flies after it. Booster saves it, barely, but says Skeets is still "fragged" and they need to call Magnus again. Skeets says the flight's just fine, but a Sydney Morning News headline says that hundreds are dead on Flight 2428. (This may or may not be an error as both the pilot and Skeets referred to the plane as Flight 2824.)

Back to Renee for a pleasant moment as she's puking in the sink. She looks at the Question's note as well as the note from her ex-girlfriend from last issue and thinks that if he's asking who she is, he can join the club, and he'll get the same answer her ex got. She doesn't know. Renee goes to the meeting and finds an abandoned building. Question approaches her from behind and after a brief tussle, they talk. He's just fine even though she KNOWS she shot him. She says she isn't a detective and her new job is being drunk. He says he has a job for her, and will pay her $200 a day plus expenses, first three weeks paid in advance as he hands her a circular roll of bills. He disappears as Renee says "I still have questions!"

Cut to Titans Tower. Wonder Girl has apparently involved herself in some kind of weird online Kryptonian cult, as she recites a prayer to people over a webcam. Ralph shows up afterwards. He says he has reason to believe that the message on his wife's tombstone came from her. He says he sees she did her homework, with the altar and the crystals and such very authentic to Krypton, but that he did his research too. Not many people know that Superman's S symbol has a literal meaning. On Krypton, it translates as hope. Inverted though, it means something else. He says it means resurrection as he pulls out the picture of his wife's tombstone and what was painted there is in fact an upside down Superman S.

The backup feature starting this issue is the authoritative post-InC "History of the DCU". Troia is narrating it aboard New Cronus. She points out that her Earth-7 Alternate was named Dark Angel, and recorded the multiverse's history for the Anti-Monitor, just as Harbinger did for the Monitor. She has those records. Even though she doesn't want to watch all those worlds die, she goes ahead and views the record.

The Multiverse formed. In one universe, Krona of Oa sought the truth of life's beginnings and his efforts were what created the anti-matter universe. To make up for this, the Oans became Guardians of the Universe, and created the Manhunter androids, but they rebelled, so they instead formed the Green Lantern Corps. Though these events repeated in many universes, Earth-1 was the most important one.

Troia says she cares about the people and asks to be told about Superman.

Many universes had a Superman, with one common thread, they were all rocketed from a doomed world of Krypton to an Earth.The ones Troia knows best are of course the Earth-1 and Earth-2 Superman. They shone the brightest. Many think they pushed their Earths to heights they would not otherwise reach.

Two Earths, two Metropolises, two Supermen. Eventually, only one would survive...

To be continued next week!

Since no one in the forum is actually planning to buy this weekly comic from DC that will help define the post Infinite Crisis DC Universe, I thought I'd give summaries that will help people catch up.

Issue #1:

(contains MINOR Infinite Crisis spoilers. You have been warned.)

As the issue begins, we see various shards of glass depicting various people and places in the DC Universe swirling around. They reform into a picture of the Earth.

As we begin, Ralph Dibny (aka The Elongated Man) is standing amidst the wreckage of his house, which has apparently been torn down by the massive villain assault during InC #7. He picks up a gun labelled as a souvenir of "Anselmo Case - 1995". Bea (probably Beatriz DeCosta, aka Fire) is speaking to him. She's worried about him.

Also, Gotham PD's Renee Montoya is in a bar slowly getting drunk. In Paris, Steel is assisting with the cleanup. There is a memorial service scheduled in Metropolis that all the heroes are contemplating attending.

Shift to Metropolis, where Booster Gold and Skeets (who had been programmed with historical data before Booster's return in InC #2) are apprehending Mammoth of the Fearsome Five, foiling a jewel robbery. Mammoth is amazed that Booster caught him as he decided to steal the gems on a spur of the moment decision. Skeets is acting as commentator on the proceedings, helping to put Booster over as a hero. After the capture, a girl asks Booster if Wonder Woman is okay. He reassures her that "Wonder Woman is fine. They're all fine." Booster poses for pictures, but is advised by Skeets to lose the grin, as Superboy had just died and the city is still in shock. As they fly off, Booster and Skeets discuss the big speech coming up, as Superman is scheduled to deliver a speech "which will be taught in Civics classes for the next 500 years." Also, Jimmy Olsen is scheduled to win a Pulitzer for his picture of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman on this occassion. A new Justice League will also be named which Booster describes as "the greatest Justice League ever", and history records that he will be a member of it.

Switch back to Ralph. He is sitting in a hotel all alone, listening to voice messages, still holding the gun from earlier. Bea calls and Ralph just ignores it. But just as he begins to place the gun in his mouth, he receives a 2nd message saying that a message was found... on Sue Dibny's tombstone.

Switch to Steel. His niece Natasha, also in a suit of armor he designed is flying off, intending to join the Teen Titans. He tells her she can't blow off her responsibility to help clean up the city. When she ignores him, and tells them that she's earned the right to join the Titans, he presses a control on a remote and Natasha's armor falls apart. He tells her that if she wants armor, to build it herself, as she picks up the pieces.

Switch to Black Adam. He's back in his home country of Kahndaq, saying he turned his back on the rest of the world and that he intends to make up for that mistake. Panels show Kahndaqians taking over the old Themysciran embassy in Washington, given that Themyscira no longer exists on Earth. He then heads off a suicide bomber, and demands to know who sent him.

Switch to Dr. Sivana who remarks that Black Adam is more fun. Two large men, with with a green scaly arm (Killer Croc?) and one with a grey furry arm say they want him and drag him away.

In Metropolis, the various heroes gather for the memorial service. The Ray has survived, though the rest of the Freedom Fighters have died, and Uncle Sam is MIA. Bart Allen confirms that Wally West and Linda Park-West are "doing fine" and "just taking some time away", but that Jay Garrick is the Flash because Bart's speed is gone with the departure of the Speed Force (It turned out Jay Garrick had a metagene giving him superspeed independent of the Speed Force, but Jay now has a top speed of around the speed of sound). Bart wishes he was fast enough to save Superboy.

Booster is the only one all smiles as Fire hugs J'Onn, saying that Ralph should be there. Skeets says that Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are due to begin in a minute. Booster even reassures Beast Boy that they'll be there. At exactly 4:30, Booster announces "Ta-Da!" but nothing happens. Metamorpho and Firehawk derisively ask whether he's announcing himself.

Booster begins to panic. He demands to know from Skeets where they are. As Booster panics, J'Onn asks him for a little decorum, Skeets responds that the records insist that the three are supposed to be there, but begins shorting out and falls to the ground. Booster is really worried now, as he accosts Jimmy Olsen, demanding that Olsen "take the picture!" As J'Onn and Hal Jordan restrain him, Booster's elbow hits someone saying that they're not coming.

Booster turns and sees Clark Kent with a bloody nose. He asks how Clark knows they're not coming, and Clark says he just knows... and that he's sorry.

Cut to the top of the Gotham City Police Department. The Question pulls the Bat silouhette from the Bat-Signal and paints a question mark on it. Renee Montoya has returned home. There is a note from Renee's partner saying that she is leaving because she doesn't know Renee anymore and Renee is destroying herself. Renee thinks that she can't blame her and takes another swig from the bottle. Suddenly her room lights up. The Question has poined the new Question-Signal light at Renee's window. He asks up on the roof "Are you ready?"

Britney Spears: World's Worst Mom

According to this article on MSNBC.com, paparazzi caught Britney Spears driving with her son's car seat facing the wrong direction. She's gonna kill this kid by the time it's all said and done.

From CNN: Bears vs. Monkeys: Bears 1, Monkeys 0

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/05/16/bear.monkey.ap/index.html

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) -- Bears killed and devoured a monkey in front of horrified visitors at a Dutch zoo, officials and witnesses said. Visitors reported that the grisly scene began as several bears chased the monkey, a macaque, onto a wooden structure at Beekse Bergen Safari Park. They said a bear tried unsuccessfully to shake the monkey loose, ignoring attempts by keepers to distract it. The bear then climbed up and grabbed the monkey, mauling it to death and bringing it to its concrete den, where three bears ate it. The park confirmed the killing. "The habitats here in the safari park are arranged in such a way that one animal almost never kills another, but they are and remain wild animals," it said in a statement. The attack occurred in an area of the zoo that contains both monkeys and sloth bears, a type of black bear found in the Asian subcontinent. The park said it plans now to move the macaques to another part of the park.