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This week on Newsarama, Dan Didio asked:

The second features have to be characters that can’t support a mini-series or an ongoing, and talent that doesn’t have an opportunity to work on the main books, giving them a chance to be part of the DC Universe. What would you like to see in the second features, and who would you like to see working on them?

Glad you asked, Dan – because I have 20 answers for you!

Atom and Hawkman by Fabian Nicieza and Rags Morales

This should be a no-brainer in terms of characters; assuming that Hawkman comes out the other side of Blackest Night, pairing these two best friends again under Nicieza’s pen could be solid gold – and Morales could easily handle the 8-10 pages a month. Stick it in Brave and the Bold and I might just buy that book.

Formerly Known as The Justice League by Keith Giffen, JM DeMatteis and Kevin Maguire.
An ‘untold tales’ kind of thing. Put it as a back-up in the current Justice League of America book. Or, preferably, vice versa.

Suicide Squad by John Ostrander and Javier Pina

Another no-brainer; the Squad don’t seem able to support their own book right now but I’d love to see them in action under Ostrander’s guiding hand again, and he and Pina did wonders with the last mini. Stick it in the back of Action Comics when Captain Atom’s done.

Secret Origins by Roger Stern and rotating artists.

This would be a great revolving back-up in any book, and much more interesting than the current two-page origins we get. Use them to foreshadow future storylines, retweak origins, whatever – and don’t limit them to established characters.

Challengers of the Unknown by Karl Kesel and Tom Grummet.

I think Grummet may be Marvel exclusive at the moment, but getting the old Superboy team back together for these guys is worth it. I think the last time we saw the classic Challengers they were off tripping through Hypertime – so why not have them exploring the multiverse in the back of the Legion-led Adventure Comics?

Superboy – by Anyone
The Kid of Steel is too good a character to leave in limbo now that he’s back, and I don’t really mind who works on him as long as they’re good. Kid Flash/ Superboy split book, anyone?

The Rogues by Geoff Johns and just about anyone.

Well, duh. Add it to the Flash book already.

Aztek The Ultimate Man by Keith Champagne

Don’t laugh; Aztek was a great book for the ten issues it lasted, and even if he did die in Morrisson’s JLA, there’s no reason not to bring in a new Aztek in the city of Vanity.

Power of Shazam! by Jerry Ordway

Bring Ordway in to fix the mess that has been visited on the Shazam family and give the big red cheese a Superman back up, stat!

The Shade – by James Robinson and Peter Snejberg

Humor me here. Robinson’s never been better than on Starman and The Shade mini, and this is a character ripe for a revisit – although I’m not sure which book to stick him in the back of.

Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. by Geoff Johns and Lee Moder

Please Dan, please, in the back of one of the JSA books – and in the other…

Infinity Inc by Roy Thomas and Al Milgrom

…just do it, okay? I don’t care if they don’t exist anymore. Just do it.

Black Adam by Peter Tomasi and Doug Mahnke

I know Mahnke is busy on GL these days, but show Teth Adam some love in the back of Superman too, alternating with the Power of Shazam! back-up above.

Huntress by Gail Simone and anyone else

Helena deserves a shot at the back of Detective Comics more than the Question does. Just saying.

Hitman by Garth Ennis and John McCrea

You didn’t think I’d let this one go did you? Another untold tales series in the back of…er, are there any books from DC that this would fit in? No? Okay, I’ll settle for another mini then.

Firestorm by Stuart Moore and Chris Cross

I still think that Jason deserves a book, even though I always liked Ron Raymond too. I’d say put it in the back of JLA but clearly you’ll be running FKATJL in there so…Titans maybe?

Bloodhound by Dan Jolley and Leonard Kirk

Oh crap, yes. I loved this book, and it’s co-owned creator status means that only Jolley and Kirk can do it – but only they should. Move Clem to Gotham and it’s a Batman back-up waiting to happen.

Chase by Marc Andreyko and Georges Jeanty

I think that Chase is a lot more interesting than Manhunter (no offense, Kate), so I’d love to see her take over the back-up in Streets of Gotham. I’m okay with the creative team staying on though, if DC Johnson isn’t available to pen it.

Resurrection Man by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning and Butch Guice

I don’t care where it goes, I’ll buy the book. Just bring Mitch Shelley back please.

Inferno by Todd Nauck

I love this idea; Inferno’s name may have been co-opted, she may be from a future that no longer exists but last I recall this hotheaded former Legionnaire was still stuck in the 21st Century. She’s almost a blank slate, but I’d love to see Todd Nauck write and draw her in the back of Supergirl.

I am not sure if Rich read all this series, I do know that Chris did not. I can say that I did. From Week One right to the final issue of Week Fifty-Two I read each story and followed the great accomplishment that DC had. When it was announced everyone said it could not happen. We fans look at DC and Marvel and watch as books are delayed weeks, months, and even years. Our new reality are superstar artist and from outside of comics writers that have no drive to produce comics on time or schedule. So we all wondered when, rather than whether DC could accomplish the weekly book in this day and age. I had my doubts for about fifteen weeks, then something in me said DC was going to do it. I started to hold to the belief that 52 would be there every week without fail. DC haters became frustrated as each week the failure of DC to fail never materialized.

DC took what were low level characters that each had some kind of small loyal following. People were upset as some seemed targeted for death. We got a Ralph Dibney in a constant depression that lead us on a trip through magic and became the possible best story to be brought out in the pages of 52. Black Adam was promised to be a character we would cry for as we read his story. It was true. We were taken on a ride to care and then saw this wonderful new person be brought low by pure evil. Skeets, a robot sidekick who few probably knew about became our obsession as we had a “H.E.R.B.I.E” for the DCU. Booster was slingshot from jerk to hero in a matter of temporal tap dancing worthy of a Star Trek Deep Space Nine episode. Questions were raised and ended a we saw Renee Montoya travel down a path to become the new Question. Many disliked this part, but like all of 52 it did what it promised and helped to add Batwoman to the mix in the DCU. Lady Styx was introduce as our lost in space heroes wandered the stars. Lobo was returned, a coin flip as to whether it was good or bad.

Steel took on Luthor as we were reminded why he is Superman’s ultimate foe. The sky rained people when the new year came. That was one of the single most evil moments in 52. Evil scientists on a island beget the Metal Men as action figures. Chinese Superheroes and just so much more. 52 was a surprise in many ways to those that left the cynical nature at the door and just read like they did when they first fell in love with comicbooks. It is what 52 was, a return to telling a serialized tale that connects to other tales. Sure it leads to Countdown, but without the “HA HA! We tricked you.” feeling other recent events had. There is an ending. The multiverse is back and the possibility for stories expanded.

52 will stand as a testament to what a company can do when they commit to producing. Thank you to the many artist and writers that divided their talents to produce this book. Bravo to the editors that kept the train on time. You did well. They did it for $2.50 an issue as well. DC did it and at the very least we owe them some respect for doing what they said they would do.

Good Luck & Good Reading……

Palladin

Well that was a bit of a damp squib, wasn’t it?

Spoilers ahoy!

Gardner standing by and letting someone tell him what he can and can’t do when there’s butt he could be kicking? He doesn’t let the Guardians do it but he does let the Chinese government do it?