GC52 News: DC Comics Released 11/30/2021

(Spoilers for DC Comics released 11/30/2021)

(Words in italics signify actions)

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

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The GC52 Logo appears on televisions, computers, and all other types of viewing devices at its normally scheduled time. Lead Anchor Dan McMahon sits at the center of the newsroom behind his desk after weeks of being on the scene in Gotham City. Instead of the battle armor of the big event, he’s traded it in for a large knit green sweater that’s outlined by the large window behind him looking out over Metropolis. The Daily Planet globe is 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!

It’s a joy to be back in the studio and not fighting the Magistrate’s fascist regime on the streets of Gotham. It’s been some time since the bat symbol lit up the skies again and with it, we have some updates. Miracle Molly testified against Simon Saint and his careful attacks on the media and using his tools to enforce his Magistrate project. Scarecrow was hand-delivered to the new Arkham Tower by Batman himself while Simon Saint is locked away in Blackgate Prison. For the moment, Gotham is quiet. Let’s check in with Ethan for other updates from the city.

The camera cuts to what appears to be a slightly dilapidated DEO safehouse. The reason for this is revealed as the camera pans past a window looking out over the Gotham skyline. In the distance a new addition to said skyline can be seen, Arkham Tower. Ethan walks into frame, he’s wearing the black suit and tie common for DEO agents of his caliber.

Ethan: Hey folks, after the Fear State and just how close to the edge Gotham came, I’m going to be staying in the city to keep track and make sure she doesn’t fall to that level again. With that, I’ve been looking into the newly opened Arkham Tower, Mayor Nakano’s idea a fresh start for Gotham’s most vulnerable. I’m not sure I’m convinced, Arkham is a name with a dark past, one that doesn’t give itself to cutting-edge advancements in medical and psychological practices.

And I’m not the only one it seems. I’ve had reports of Batman and Nightwing in intense disagreement over this new tower while they were apprehending a young man named Faust who was attacking the people of Gotham while wearing the bones of fowl. It seems when Mr. Faust was brought to Gotham General. While there, Nightwing met Dr. Chase Meridian, one of the heads of research at Arkham Tower. Based on the fact that Arkham Tower has now opened and wasn’t brought crashing to the ground by Batman, it seems not only did Dr. Meridian put Nightwing at ease regarding this whole situation, but he managed to bring the Bat somewhat on-side as well.

While I’m still trepidatious of all this, knowing Nightwing is accepting of what’s going on does help put my mind at ease. But, I will still remain in Gotham and continue to investigate. Back to you Dan.

The camera cuts back to Dan in the studio.

Dan: While I’ve had plenty of disagreements with Mayor Nakano over these past months, I genuinely do hope the Fear State has put him on the right track. Now, it seems there has been an attack on the Museum of Art and History in Washington DC. Reports of a strange person following some patrons have spread across social media surrounding the attack. Others say they overheard the name Altuum and them saying they’re from something called the Enki which they said will “rise again”. Very mysterious but luckily Wonder Woman was on the scene to scrap with them and save folks after the explosion went off. We will keep following this story but let’s check in with Jake.

The camera cuts to the coast of Lazarus Island, Lady Shiva towers over a beaten and broken GC52 reporter and ferret owner, Jake. She helps him to his feet only to toss him to the floor of her houseboat.

Jake: Owwww… I appreciate the martial arts training, but is this really the right way to do it?

Shiva: Yes.

Jake: I don’t think I’ve been in this much pain since an investigation took me to the doors of Lord Death Man…

Shiva: What?

Jake: Yeah, I was looking into a string of murders of serial killers and trained killers. Then I traced it from Russia to his doorstep, and it turns out it was a young girl absorbing the memories of those that die around her. Lord Death Man took her under his wing and well we know how that goes cause she’s here on the island. But I got my ass kicked 

Shiva: Yes I know Flatline’s origins. What I actually want to know is how you can compare him and his goons to me. 

At that moment Jake knew he fucked up and is knocked unconscious and the feed from the GC52 drone cuts out before resolving back on Dan in the studio.

Dan: Another day, another unconscious GC52 reporter… 

Dan raises his right hand and touches the earpiece in his right ear as a quizzical look appears on his face. He arches his eyebrows as though he’s not sure if what he’s hearing is good or bad news.

Dan: I have just received word that we have a special report from Jimmy digging into the background of the relationship between Jim Gordon and The Joker. Now it’s been a few weeks since we received any news on Jimmy’s whereabouts after Lady Bane aka Vengeance smacked through a window with him in Majorca, but truthfully, I wasn’t that concerned. Jimmy’s like the proverbial bad penny or a really persistent cold sore. I’d ask him where he’s been, but…

Dan looks into the camera and shrugs. 

Dan: Jimmy.

The camera cuts to Jimmy standing in the middle of an intersection in what appears to be Gotham City. It is daylight after a recent rain. Gotham glistens in the light of a new day.

Jimmy: Good morning, Dan. I’m standing here in Gotham City at the intersection of 5th and River, the site, years ago, of one of The Joker’s deadly pranks. I’ve been delving more into the history of the relationship between Jim Gordon and The Joker and my investigation has led me here. 

Jimmy has stopped speaking and is looking all around him. He’s taking his time, not looking at anything in particular, but it’s as though he’s forgotten this is a live report. In the midst of this, the camera cuts back to Dan.

Dan: Jimmy? Is everything alright? Jimmy, we’re still live. Jimmy? JIMMY?

The camera cuts back to Jimmy as Dan yells his name. Jimmy blinks a few times as though just waking up.

Jimmy: Sorry, Dan. It’s just that…I don’t know that I’ve ever seen Gotham bathed in this much daylight. It’s like…I don’t know….It’s always nighttime. Almost everything I learned for this report is an event that takes place at night. Well, there was a robbery at First Gotham Federal Bank, oh, but that was during the day. Jim Gordon had gone in alone and stopped the robber holding hostages who was Falcone’s Capo, Tony Rigatoni. 

It was night though, I think, when Gordon got Rigatoni to tell him the names of some crooked cops and Gordon fired them, but then they all went to work for The Joker who, at that time, was just pulling off silly pranks, like using Catman to rob a Mexican Candy Factory, oh, but then The Joker recruited Penguin, Killer Croc, and Black Mask to take over Gotham after Gordon got rid of all the organized crime guys, like Falcone, and it was here at this location that The Joker used giant pinatas that were stolen from the Mexican Candy Factory to taunt Jim Gordon by putting bodies in them and one was the body of Rigatoni. 

The camera cuts back to Dan. He narrows his eyes at the camera. He’s waiting for more.

Dan: That’s quite the report, Jimmy. Did you learn anything else about what The Joker had planned next?

The camera is back at the intersection but Jimmy is gone. The camera cuts back to Dan. As he is about to speak a giant piñata is lowered down from the ceiling into view. Dan looks around and sees a replica of Harley Quinn’s mallet that he would have sworn was not there previously. Dan picks up the mallet, takes a deep breath, and swings. CRACK! The piñata splits open and Jimmy falls out with a loud thud as his limp body hits the floor having been knocked unconscious by the strength of Dan’s mighty blow. Dan looks down at Jimmy and sets the mallet down. He looks around to see if anyone is available to help him.

Dan: I knew it was a mistake hiring Scrapper’s son. Now it looks like we have another “report” from the ferret…

The camera cuts to an interior camera of Mr. Tubes’ mech suit as hr flies through the skies of Gotham on his way to Blüdhaven. Zeb, the ghost boy, can be seen floating alongside as they are having a conversation.

Zeb: You know I saw Nightwing and Robin on their first team-up? 

Tubes begins typing on his keyboard.

Mr. Tubes: Which Robin?

Zeb: The angry one! So this was the coolest thing ever. I watched Nightwing drop kick a dude and then he said something funny or something but like Robin was standing over a guy going grrrrrr.

Mr. Tubes: That is truly fascinating! Wait what is that down there? 

Below the pair is Gotham Airport, a plane is on fire with the Batmobile a few feet away and Red Hood beating up a guy with Nightwing standing off to the side. 

Zeb: Just superheroes. Wait, are you broadcasting!?! Uh… Cut back to the studio.

The camera cuts back to Dan.

Dan: It looks like our Comms team has made contact with Jerry on Warworld! Let’s play his video to see how Superman and the Authority are wiping the floor with Mongul and his champions!

A video of Jerry begins as he sits in the Warworld coliseum watching in complete awe.

Jerry: No one believed me. No one believed the future state I lived but I’m here. The Authority are on the ropes. One of those warriors just stabbed Apollo! Holy %#^*! This is bad! This is so bad. We are losing. Our team is losing… wait hold on. I think I see Manchester Black.

The camera lingers on Jerry’s face as it begins to horror for a brief moment before shifting to that of triumph as he jumps out of his seat. 

Jerry: BASH HIS %#*^ing HEAD IN BRIT! AUTHORITY! AUTHORITY! AUTHORITY! 

Jerry looks to the camera with a face of embarrassment. 

Jerry: Oh… sorry. Something about Warworld makes you a little bloodthirsty, ya know? Mongul and Superman are squaring off. I think I heard… oh no. The planet is run by something called Star forges. I’m not a scientist but I heard red sun. Oh no. Oh no. This can’t be…

Jerry turns the camera just as Mongul stabs Superman through the chest with a kryptonite spear before lifting him into the air to proudly proclaim his victory. 

Jerry: He was ready for them… he knew it was coming… Mongul stands victorious. Spectre protect us.

The video ends as we return to Dan with his hand over his mouth in the studio, his flesh as white as a ghost. His friend Clark killed in front of his eyes. 

Dan: Cut to commercial. Cut to a commercial NOW!

The camera cuts to black as GC52 ends for another week.

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Books Covered this Week:

• Batman: Fear State Omega #1 by James Tynion IV, Riccardo Federici, Christian Duce, Ryan Benjamin, Guillem March, Trevor Hairsine, Chris Sotomayor, and Clayton Cowles.
• Action Comics #1037 by Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Miguel Mendonḉa, Adriano Lucas, and Dave Sharpe.
• Wonder Woman Annual #1 by Michael W. Conrad, Becky Cloonan, Andy MacDonald, Nick Filardi, and Pat Brosseau.
• Detective Comics Annual #1 by Mariko Tamaki, Matthew Rosenberg, David Lapham, Trish Mulvihill, Lee Loughridge, and Ariana Maher.
• Robin Annual #1 by Joshua Williamson, Roger Cruz, Victor Olazaba, Luis Guerrero, and ALW’s Troy Peteri.
• Nightwing Annual #1 by Tom Taylor, Cian Tormey, Daniel HDR, Raul Fernandez, Rain Beredo, John Kalisz, and Wes Abbott.
• The Joker Annual #1 by Matthew Rosenberg, James Tynion IV, Francesco Francavilla, and Tom Napolitano.