Week 6 - China Syndrome, with Brian Cronin

All-Star Comics Journalist Gita Jackson and World’s Finest Comics Expert Alex Jaffe are joined by Star-Spangled CBR Senior Writer Brian Cronin in discussing issue 6 of DC’s 52, covering the rich legacy of Manthrax, villainous improv groups, the secret sauce that made 52, and how God works in the DC universe.

Chapters:

1. Let’s Talk Talent (07:31)
2. Let’s Talk About the Cover (08:46)
3. Let’s Talk About 52 #6 (10:57)
4. Do you remember any theories about 52 as it was releasing? (01:12:23)
5. The Backup (01:16:12)
6. What’s your favorite part of this issue? (01:23:24)
7. The Blackboard (01:27:39)
8. Asking The Questions at 52mailbag@gmail.com (01:37:17)

A SMALL SELECTION OF THINGS REFERENCED:

• 52
• Geoff Johns
• Grant Morrison
• Greg Rucka
• Mark Waid
• Keith Giffen
• Brian Cronin
• Comic Book Legends Revealed
• X-Men
• DC Black Label
• Batman
• The Question
• Joe Bennett
• Ruy José
• Nick J. Napolitano
• Hal Jordan
• Green Lantern
• Axis of evil
• Black Adam
• Top Gun (1986)
• Green Lantern (2011)
• Manthrax
• Booster Gold
• China syndrome
• The China Syndrome (1979)
• Wilford Brimley
• Great Ten
• John Stewart
• Xorn
• Superman
• J. G. Jones
• Bill Mantlo
• Global Guardians
• Wonder Woman
• Flash
• Infinite Crisis
• Evil Star
• Checkmate
• August General in Iron
• Ultimate Iron Man
• Accomplished Perfect Physician
• Rot Lop Fan
• Alan Moore
• The Authority
• Doctor Mid-Nite
• Mother of Champions
• Ghost Fox Killer
• Wu-Tang Clan
• Kiriko
• Socialist Red Guardsman
• Rocket Red
• Human Bomb
• China Miéville
• Flex Mentallo
• Gene Luen Yang
• New Superman
• Star Trek: Enterprise
• Padma Lakshmi
• T. O. Morrow
• Immortal Man-in-Darkness
• Blackhawk
• Neon Genesis Evangelion
• Bokurano
• Strikeforce: Morituri
• Thundermind
• The Buddha
• Seven Deadly Brothers
• Johnny Cage
• Shaolin Robot
• Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
• Zenyatta
• The Great Ten (2009 series)
• Stanley Artgerm Lau
• White Rabbit
• Richard Dragon
• Super Young Team
• Will Magnus
• iPod
• Egg Fu
• Robert Kanigher
• Ambush Bug
• Lex Luthor
• Dwayne Johnson
• Doomsday Clock
• Watchmen
• Crash Bandicoot
• Rip Hunter’s Chalk Board
• Stephen Wacker
• Time Masters
• Chris Kent
• Renee Montoya
• Gail Simone
• Secret Six (2006 series)
• Vandal Savage
• Metal Men
• World War III
• Legion of Super-Heroes (2006 series)
• Ralph Dibny
• Sonic Disruptors
• Blue Beetle (Jaime Reyes)
• Blue Beetle (2023)
• George Lopez
• Ted Kord
• Red Tornado
• Aquaman
• Kurt Busiek
• Arthur Joseph Curry
• Outsiders
• Supernova
• Steel
• Batwoman
• Diana Prince
• Jodi Picoult
• Animal Man (1988 series)
• Monitors
• Final Crisis
• Ra’s al Ghul
• Hawkgirl (2006 series)
• Kymera
• Death of the New Gods
• Casey the Cop
• Silverblade
• Sun Devils
• Spanner’s Galaxy
• The cake is a lie
• The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
• Sherlock
• Identity Crisis
• Brad Meltzer
• Sweet Pickle Books
• Flashpoint Beyond
• Trinity (2008 series)
• Donna Troy
• Harbinger
• Crisis on Infinite Earths
• Doom Patrol
• Sandman
• Jenette Kahn
• Karen Berger
• Andy Lanning
• Norm Rapmund
• Dan Jurgens
• Justice League International
• Suicide Squad
• Jason Todd
• Barbara Gordon
• Tim Drake
• Secret Invasion
• Invasion!
• Team Titans
• Steve Orlando
• The New Titans
• Armageddon 2001
• The War of the Gods
• Duran Duran
• Black Condor
• Baldur’s Gate 3
• Lois Lane
• Josh Trujillo
• The Thin Man (1934)
• Thrilling Adventure Hour
• Halo
• Legends of Tomorrow
• Doctor Who
• Rip Hunter
• Sinestro
• Flash (Barry Allen)
• The Flash (2023)
• Aquaman (2018)
• Shazam! (2019)
• Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)
• Stan Lee
• Hawkman (2018 series)
• Kite Man
• Captain Cold
• Maxwell Lord
• Ari Gold
• Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)
• Loadsamoney
• Steve Castle
• Amalgam Comics
• Infinite Frontier
• The Multiversity
• Charlton Comics
• Superman: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?
• For the Man Who Has Everything
• Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt
• JLA
• DC One Million
• Starman
• Martian Manhunter

52 Pickup is an Aftermath production, created by Gita Jackson and Alex Jaffe, and edited by Esper Quinn, with original music by Jon Ehrens. If you’d like to follow along, you can check out 52 at your local comic book store or library, or the DC Universe Infinite subscription service. The views and opinions expressed on this show are solely those of the show’s personalities, and do not reflect those of DC Entertainment or Warner Bros. Please rate and review our show wherever you can, and send your questions and comments to 52mailbag@gmail.com. Never stop reading comics.