(Spoilers for DC Comics released 03/02/2021)
(Words in italics signal actions)
The GC52 Logo appears on televisions, computers, and all other types of viewing devices at its normally scheduled time. The Newsroom glows with a fresh polish and a beautiful hand-crafted set. This is the pinnacle of World news and every week millions get to tune in and see what’s happening with the capes and villains of their world and beyond. Lead Anchor Dan McMahon sits at the center of the newsroom behind his desk. His blue suit is outlined by the large window behind him looking out over Metropolis. Notable landmarks such as the spinning Daily Planet globe are visible behind him as the setting sun sparkles off the crown jewel of the City of Tomorrow. The GC52 theme music begins to dim as the actual program begins.
Dan: Good Morning, Good Afternoon, and Good Evening to all our wonderful viewers from the docks of Coast City to the furthest reaches of Oa, you are watching the multiverse’s best news show that brings you the news that you need to know! As always, I’m your host, Dan McMahon, doing my part to bring you up to the minute updates on the worlds you live in! You may be asking yourself about all this fancy new decor around the newsroom and I did want to touch upon that before we get to the news. As you can see behind me, we have a fancy new office in the Big Apricot!
In one swift motion, Dan rises from his chair to move out of the camera’s shot looking over the city. Metropolis always has a gleam of optimism to it when you view it, everything seems so much bigger as if there will always be a brighter tomorrow. Viewers can see 2 blue streaks zip by the window before both Supermen make a quick stop in front of the window to wave to the audience.
Dan: For our inaugural episode in the new studio, I had to make a call and get some friends to make a cameo! Thanks for stopping by heroes!
Dan waves to the Kryptonians before they fly off to stop some threat above the atmosphere. Dan makes his way back to his seat at the news desk.
Dan: How about that, friends? The Man of Steel and his super son stopping by to wish us luck on our first broadcast from the new digs. We recently had an anonymous benefactor donate quite a large amount of funds for us to continue our show and bump things up a notch. This means we can bring you more news from around the universe and beyond. We have been delivering the news to you for some time now but now our frontiers are infinite…for more on that though, I’ll let Ethan explain our new capabilities.
The camera cuts to Ethan, the sometimes Multiversal correspondent of GC52, other times crime reporter extraordinaire. His tweed jacket, light pink shirt, dark blue bowtie, and black, square-rimmed glasses make him look like a slightly crazed college professor. While there’s no view of Metropolis from behind his desk there is a giant video screen, ready to show whatever needs showing. This week there’s a map of the multiverse as it has been known on the screen.
Ethan: Thanks for the intro, Dan! Good evening peoples of the universe, and multiverse, I might add. Yes indeed, not only can we bring you news from all over the known and unknown universe, but from the Multiverse as a whole. How you may ask? Well, thanks to our funding as Dan has mentioned we have an in-house newsroom in the Justice League satellite, where we get a constant stream of information from all their allies throughout our plane of existence. Who knows, maybe with a few choice words to my old friend John Constantine I may even be able to bring you news from other forms of reality…
Dan: Wait, wait, wait, you know Constantine?
Ethan: Of course Dan, I thought it obvious all Brits know each other? But I digress, I was telling all you lovely folk at home about our multiversal capabilities. It’s quite simple, thanks to our connection with the JL satellite we can also bring you news from Justice Incarnate, the intrepid multiverse explorers that they are. Now that’s out of the way, let me draw your attention to this here map.
As Ethan points out the multiverse map and the various sections, it vanishes off-screen only to be replaced by an image of Wonder Woman.
Ethan: Ever since the business with The Batman Who Laughs ended and the multiverse changed who knows how, Wonder Woman has been missing. We’re not sure where but thanks to reports from Justice Incarnate it seems the mighty Amazon has been traversing the frontiers of space recently. For what reason we’re unsure but I’m not the only one hoping it won’t be long until we see her back home.
Ethan: In her absence, there has been some changeover regarding the people of Themyscira. Queen Hippolyta has passed rulership of the land to the great warrior Nubia, so that she may join the Justice League in place of her daughter. We wish the once-queen much luck in taking up the mantle and look forward to seeing her saving the world just as her daughter has done so countless times beforehand.
The screen flashes through images showing Hippolyta, Nubia, the multiverse map again, before settling on one of the two Flashes.
Ethan: In other multiversal news, the original Flash. No wait, that’s the JSA guy. Um, the blonde one, you know who I mean. Well, he’s passed the mantle of Central City protector onto the newer Flash once again, the redhead one. You may be asking yourself, why? He’s joined Justice Incarnate that’s why. Planning on exploring the changes to the multiverse, hopefully this signals a new outlook for The Flash, both of them.
The screen shifts a final time to an image of a funeral attended by multiple heroes before switching to one of the deceased hero Arsenal.
Ethan: Now to swap over to my other duties as a reporter of street-level heroics. Some of you may remember a couple of years ago the incident that resulted in the death of multiple heroes, former Green Arrow sidekick Arsenal among them. Well, it appears to be, based on reports received, that he’s back from the dead. How or why are currently unknown, though I hope this means that other heroes killed during that incident are also returning. If so I’ll be happy to finally move past the tragic events of those days that are best now to be forgotten.
He kicks his feet up on the desk, clearly done with his job for the day.
Ethan: Well, that’s everything from me today folks, back to you Dan.
The camera cuts back to Dan as footage of Gotham City plays over his left shoulder for the viewers to see.
Dan: In some grim news from Gotham City, the destruction of Arkham Asylum is still being felt. The event is now being referred to as A-Day by citizens. All reports lead to the Joker being behind the attack which isn’t normal considering the time between his usual attacks being much longer. Many people perished in the explosion and ensuing fires such as Bane and Dr. Jonathan Crane who both have terrorized Gotham City for quite some time. As a journalist, I do not wish death on anyone but is this the cost of the deeds they have committed? Only time will tell what the city will do about all of this.
The footage switches to a newsreel from when Bane took over Gotham to Joker’s recent attempts at city-wide control.
Dan: There is a constant here though and that is the Bat. Not just Batman himself but all of those who wear the symbol of Gotham’s Dark Knight. During the night that has been dubbed “The Joker War,” there was footage of Bats all around the city fighting the Clowns causing nothing but destruction. Multiple Batgirls were on scene taking down Clowns left and right. There were even reports of Nightwing, who has been absent for quite some time. All of these horrific things have that in common, that a Bat always ends them. Now the question of if this vigilantism is a root cause of recurring costumed lunatics taking aim at Gotham is not something I usually get into but…
Dan leans closer to the desk as he clasps his hands together as if to make a direct line of eye contact with the audience.
Dan: Mayor Nakano has put a “No Masks” rule into effect in Gotham City. That means every member of the Bat-Family is an enemy to the corrupt and often useless GCPD. This move comes after the pressures of public scrutiny on the city. Mayor Nakano is a former member of the police department, may I remind you… so he must know the last time the GCPD stopped a costumed criminal without Batman. This seems like a political move that may end in the next City of Bane or A-Day attack being the final nail in a coffin. Making Batman public enemy number one is a choice that I cannot stand by. I do hope Gotham City can come back from the recent chain of events but this does not seem like the path to healing.
The image above his shoulder changes to the company logo for Saint Industries.
Dan: In Business news, Silicon Valley darling Saint Industries Gotham office has been completed as business is ramping up. Word of a meeting between the company and the Mayor has been reported to discuss something called the Magistrate program. More on that once we have the details. This comes not long after former Billionaire Bruce Wayne has moved into a brownstone in Fort Graye. Maybe the business world of Gotham City is changing for the better while the world of crime starts to boil far too high.
Viewers can see as he leans back into his chair after a passionate bit of reporting. His smile reappears after getting very serious.
Dan: As someone who was born and raised in Gotham, I know the kinds of things that happen there. Do not disparage a full city for the issues it has, it is full of good people who are doing their very best to live their lives. Look for the good in every situation. It looks like we’re running out of time so I cannot get to an odd report of attacks by a Pale Wanderer in the Sonoran Desert but we will be sure to update you as more reports come in. Glad you chose to spend your time with us today. Be it the Bat Symbol in Gotham, a red streak through Central City, or a golden lasso on Themyscira… GC52 has you covered with the news you need to know. Till next week, I’m your host Dan McMahon. Stay golden.
Books covered this week:
- Infinite Frontier #0: Framing Story by Joshua Williamson, James Tynion IV, Scott Snyder, John Timms, Alex Sinclair, and ALW’s Troy Peteri. Interlude by Various.
- Batman #106 by James Tynion IV, Jorge Jimenez, Tomeu Morey, and Clayton Cowles.
- The Swamp Thing #1 by Ram V, Mike Perkins, Mike Spicer, and Aditya Bidikar.