GC52 News: DC Comics Released 11/09/2021

(Spoilers for DC Comics released 11/09/2021)

(Words in italics signal actions)

If you missed last week’s report, check it out here.

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GC52 News begins at the old faithful time even if the program has been a bit different for the last few weeks. The report opens with Dan sitting at the Batcave computer as he wraps a bandage around his arm.

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 keep you updated on what is happening up to the minute in Gotham City as the Fear State continues.

Taking some time off the street to catch up on the news. I saw a talk show with Dr Psycho on it to promote his new book. Listen, I’m all about people turning over a new leaf but I’m pretty sure he’s a meninist now. Like men’s rights activist. What an asshole… I hope Wonder Woman steps on his head.

The camera cuts from Dan over to another corner of the Batcave where Ethan is sat, trawling through data on a massive monitor screen. He begins speaking with a rapid urgency, not even breaking his sight to look at the audience.

Ethan: Got a few updates for you this week folks, and with us preparing for the final push against Scarecrow and the Magistrate, it’s gonna be a quick one from me. First up, there was a siege at Gotham Juvie when a group of anarchists attempted to break one of their own out of there. Luckily, the new Batman was on sight and brought a swift end to the attack. It looks as though these anarchists were part of Seer’s network of operatives, so here’s hoping this new Batman, or one of the beloved vigilantes in Gotham can take them down.

Next, reports of another Seer attack came in not 5 minutes ago. They’d corralled Batwoman and, from what the reports say, a returned Red Alice into a trap whereupon they were attacked by numerous Magistrate officers. Now luckily, it’s Batwoman and Red Alice, two of the most devastating fighters in the city, so they handled the situation. But this again proves what I was saying, this Seer is a danger and it won’t be long until they stop going after our city’s heroes and instead after the good folk of Gotham.

I’ve also been following up on reports of Azrael’s whereabouts before he began investigating the escaped Arkham patients. From what I’ve gathered there was a sighting at one of Gotham’s churches, not too surprising when you remember Azrael’s connection to faith. But I did send a drone over there earlier today in the hopes of finding some clue as to what went down there. It looked like this church had been converted into a laboratory. I’m waiting on samples back from my team at the DEO to tell me what exactly went down there.

And lastly from me tonight folks, there’s been a small but vital victory on the streets of Gotham as the Outsiders, along with the help of Robin and Clownhunter, have taken down Scarecrow’s testing laboratories. We can only hope they got all of them before any unchecked strains of Fear Toxin got out into the city. That’s all from me, back to you, Dan!

The camera cuts back over to Dan.

Dan: And now- *cough cough* sorry one second folks.

Dan stops to take a drink of water from a glass on the table and stops as he notices a tiny bottle in the glass with a piece of paper inside it.

Dan: Oh not again! Get an email! Well I guess let’s see what’s happening on the Seven Seas this week!

Dan unfurls the note and begins to read.

Dear Diary,

I miss Mike. My best friend, and fellow Manta Man. Gone. Apparently there’s this new guy called “Devil Ray” and he did something to the water and blew a bunch of stuff up, including our Manta base with Mike inside. Bossman seems to think it’s part of the “Orichalcum” stones he’s investigating, obviously, so he’s just diving deeper into that with the Gentleman Ghost fellow. Apparently he travelled in time for a minute? Then the Manta plane got attacked and Black Manta and Gallous had to fight off a lady from Themyscira riding a demon dragon…thing. Still waiting for a paycheck because last time I checked, fighting demons isn’t our job. Atlantis is blaming us for the whole thing of course, as if we’d blow up our own house. At least they learned their lesson pretty quickly, from what the boss is saying this “Devil Ray” fellow attacked Atlantis and all it’s fancy boss people.

Love,

Mark the Manta Man

P.S. I hope no one finds these after I throw them in the ocean, Black Manta wouldn’t like me sharing all this info

Dan: Don’t worry Mark, we’re only…broadcasting them live on air.

The camera pushes in on Dan as his angelic face takes on a somber appearance. He clears his throat and begins.

Dan: It is never easy to say goodbye to a member of the GC52 family. As I look around the newsroom tonight, I’m reminded of the words of a close friend that would say, “The most important thing in life will always be the people in this room…my family.” That’s how I feel about every single person here, from political talk show host Jack Ryder to gossip columnist Wally Tortolini. Jimmy has not been heard from since being swallowed by the Creature born from Killer Croc terrorizing Gotham City. So Tonight we go to his cameraman Bobby with a special retrospective report about Jimmy’s time here at GC52 News.

As the image of Dan wiping a tear from his cheek slowly fades, “Believe It or Not” by Joey Scarbury begins to play. A shaky image appears on the screen and the music abruptly stops. A man comes into view running down the hall of a bullet-riddled mansion. He lithely jumps over a body lying in a pool of its own blood and continues running. He turns to speak and looks directly into the camera. Wearing a brightly colored t-shirt and sweating profusely is Jimmy.

Jimmy: Hey Dan, how’s it going? Everything ok with you?

The camera cuts back to Dan. His somber appearance is gone, replaced with a look of annoyance bordering on intense rage.

Dan: I’m fine, Jimmy. We hadn’t heard from you since the Creature in Gotham swallowed you. This was supposed to be a video eulogy.

Jimmy cuts in, breathing heavily.

Jimmy: Whose eulogy?

Dan: Yours! Didn’t Bobby explain any of this? How do you keep managing to escape?

The camera cuts back to Jimmy, still running, occasionally glancing over his shoulder.

Jimmy: You sound like a bit of a supervillain there, Dan. I thought you’d be happy to see m-

Dan: Yes, of course. Everyone here is happy to know you’re okay. I’m sure the viewers would like to know your secret.

Jimmy: I am Legion.

The camera cuts back to Dan staring intently into the camera.

Dan: What did you say, Jimmy? I didn’t quite get that.

The camera cuts back to Jimmy. He is still running.

Jimmy: Nothing, Dan. Let me get to my report.

Jimmy quickly turns left and opens a door to reveal a spacious bedroom. He waves Bobby in and closes the door behind them.

Jimmy: Here’s everything I have learned so far. Lady Bane and Gordon are still here in Majorca. I’m in the home of Dr. Friedrich Baum, a member of The Network and pseudo mad-scientist. He was essential in creating Lady Bane, as well as creating clones of Supervillains and anyone else that could pay. Not only that, but he ran a successful human meat farm of brain dead bodies that he would ship to several DOZEN fancy schmancy Michelin star restaurants.

The camera cuts back to Dan, clearly disgusted as he processes what Jimmy is telling him. His eyes narrow as the thought crosses his mind, would he eat a Reuben made, not by, but from a man named Reuben? He wonders…

Dan: Jimmy, why were you running? Are you safe?

The camera cuts back to Jimmy as crashing sounds are heard in the background.

Jimmy: As I was exploring the mansion, I found several tanks of deformed Joker clones. I also found Lady Bane in a bit of a rampage. There was no sign of Gordon or The Joker, just plenty of blood. As I was hiding, I believe I saw one of the Sampsons, the cannibal family from Texas, leaving the mansion. I’m not sure if they were picking up or dropping off. Oh, and Dr. Baum is dead.

A loud bang is heard and as Bobby swings the camera toward the sound the door to the bedroom smashes into the room. Lady Bane stands there, a massive mountain of menace and murder.

Lady Bane: WHERE IS THE JOKER?!?!?!

The camera swings back to Jimmy. He has grabbed a chair and thrown it at the large bedroom window. The chair bangs against the glass without the glass breaking. Lady Bane charges toward Jimmy. She grabs him and her momentum sends them both through the glass of the window, plummeting to the ground below, as Bobby holds the camera and watches helplessly. The screen distorts for a moment before the camera opens on Jerry the intern’s face. He’s wearing strange alien garments and chains on his wrists.

Jerry: Hey… so things are bad for intern Jerry. I know it’s been a few weeks since you’ve seen me. There is a reason for that. I haven’t been able to contact anyone from home since I got here but I finally got this thing to broadcast to the GC52 feed.

Jerry is sitting in what looks to be the stands of a coliseum surrounded by countless aliens in a similar situation to him. The skies above them are a crimson red with only stars unfamiliar to any viewer.

Jerry: So I was rummaging around through Dan’s desk as one does and I found this cool little red box. After poking it to see what it could do, it made this big portal that appeared with a boom and sucked me in. Well, it turns out it was a Mother box. It brought me to Warworld. Yeah. I’m in a real bad situation, viewers. I know how this goes. I’ve seen the Future State… Superman does get all Conan the barbarian which is cool but lots of people die up here. I don’t know how to swing a sword! I barely know how to swing a bat. See my dad wasn-

As Jerry is about to trauma dump on the audience, the booming voice of Superman himself takes over the arena as the viewers listen and watch as Superman and the Authority talk to the people of Warworld.

Superman: You’ve been taught that your chains mean Strength. Pride. Honor. This is a lie. Your chains mean slavery, and Mongul is your slaver.

Jerry turns the camera to himself.

Jerry: Wow, he’s a really good speaker! We are all saved…. Oh… nevermind. So a bunch of really scary Mongul people showed up with really sweet costumes but they made Superman old I think. He has grey hair now.

A very large thud can be heard from the arena.

Jerry: Oh. Mongul is here on like a big alien Godzilla looking thing. We are fu-

The feed cuts and the credits roll.

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Books Covered this Week:

• Wonder Woman #781 by Michael W. Conrad, Becky Cloonan, Marcio Takara, Tamra Bonvillain, and Pat Brosseau.
• Batwoman: Disinformation Campaign #2 by Alyssa Wong, Vasco Georgiev, Rain Beredo, and Becca Carey.
• Azrael: Dark Knight of the Soul #2 by Dan Watters, Nikola Čižmeṥija, Ivan Plascencia, and Ariana Maher.
• The Outsiders: The Fearful #2 by Brandon Thomas, Cian Tormey, Raul Fernandez, Alejandro Sánchez, and Steve Wands.
• I Am Batman #3 by John Ridley, Stephen Segovia, Christian Duce, Rex Lokus, and ALW’s Troy Peteri.
• Black Manta #3 by Chuck Brown, Matthew Dow Smith, Marissa Louise, and Clayton Cowles.
• The Joker #9 by James Tynion IV, Stefano Raffaele, Romulo Fajardo Jr, and Tom Napolitano.
• Action Comics #1036 by Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Daniel Sampere, Adriano Lucas, and Dave Sharpe.