52, Vol. 2

52, Volume Two picks up right where the first volume left off and covers weeks 14 through 26 in the DC Universe’s year without Batman, Superman, or Wonder Woman. For the most part, my review of 52, Volume One sums up my feelings on this book as well. However, there are some differences. For starters, I was disappointed to find absolutely no mention or appearance of Kate Kane/Batwoman in this volume (although she is front and center on the cover of 52, Volume Three, so I assume we will see more of her there!). Secondly, I did not find the art work quite up to par on the second volume. It is still exceptionally well done, but not quite as exquisite as the first volume. And, as the story lines progress and crisscross, I found certain plot lines less appealing (i.e., Ralph Dibny and his bizarre treks into other worlds) while others became more interesting than previously (i.e., Black Adam and his expanding family). Some plot lines, like Animal Man, Adam Strange, and Starfire lost out in space, still hold no interest for me, but again I’m hoping it will all come together to in the end. In that vein, the occasional references to what will come in the author notes continue to intrigue and I look forward to the remaining two volumes. ( )