Week Eighteen

Admittedly, when it comes to Doctor Fate, I know next to nothing about the character; however, after a quick scouring of my old nemesis Wikipedia, I am now an expert. Not really, but I know enough about him to make sense of the shenanigans in the latest issue of “52.” Last time we saw the good doctor, as Detective Chimp reminds us, Captain Marvel was hurtling the helmet to earth, where fate would decide who would be the next to wear it. Timothy Trench was the first to find the helmet, but, as we find, he didn’t respect the knowledge one first must aquire before seeing through the eyes of fate. Thus, he’s turned to a puddle of goo at the start of week eighteen. Shawdowpact comes together in Egypt with Ralph Dibny, refreshed and no longer insane, where the helmet welcomes Ralph to the Tenth Age of Magic. It asks him to undergo the necessary trials in order to aquire the answers he seeks. He accepts, and his pilgrimage with the helmet begins. As he’s leaving, Enchantress points out that nobody else could hear the mask’s words but Ralph.

Meanwhile, in Kahndaq, Black Adam, thankful to the Question and Montoya for thrwarting a potential suicide bomber at his wedding, bestows upon them the Order of the Crescent, the highest honor Kahndaq can give to non-natives. Renee, however, is on the other side of town having the lesbian sex in a state of drunkenness. Black Adam shows up, threatens her, and she admits she feels guilty for killing a child and will continue to drink it away. The Question interrupts and points out the main problem. Intergang. Everyone agrees to join forces and end it all.

Back in Metropolis, the funeral for Booster Gold is taking place, three weeks later, since it took awhile for Skeets to sell advertising space on the coffin. The pallbearers are a collection of simps who didn’t even know Booster. A fitting death, indeed. Skeets then spots a familiar looking person, who is, in 98% likelihood, of Booster’s bloodline. Skeets says they’ll be in contact.

In my assessment, this is a decent little issue, but it lacks any solid stand alone moments. As a build for the coming weeks, it accomplishes its job fully. As an issue that satisfies the here and now, it fails. It’s perfectly understandishable, though, that a year-long weekly issue is going to have a lot of filler, so I can’t fault it too much. Seeing Ralph being given a purpose again is also very nice. Now, let’s see something happen.

Next week, it looks like we’re taking a trip back to Rip Hunter’s lab.

See ya in seven.