’Infinite Crisis’ crossover event

‘Infinite Crisis’ was a large crossover and a seven-part limited series.  It saw the return of a number of characters who disappeared at the end of the original ‘Crisis…’, namely: Earth-Two Superman and Lois Lane, Earth-Prime Superboy, and Alexander Luthor from Earth-Three. It is soon revealed that these heroes are behind a number of recent disasters and had been capturing heroes from pre-Crisis worlds in an attempt to bring back the Multiverse. As was the case with the original ‘Crisis…’, many characters are killed and histories rewritten.

The OMAC Project (2005) #6
“Loss of Signal”, November 2005
Greg Rucka [w], Jesus Saiz [p]
The Brother Eye satellite, built by Batman but now controlled by Maxwell Lord, is determined to destroy metahumans so activates all OMACs (nanbot-controlled humans) on Earth. With Max having been killed by Wonder Woman, Sasha Bordeaux and Jessica Midnight try to undo the work of their former employer and they seek help from the rest of the Checkmate organisation. Batman instructs superheroes to draw the OMACs to a remote location in the Sahara. Sasha introduces a virus to Brother Eye to disrupt its broadcasts, just as an electromagnetic pulse bomb developed by Blue Beetle is detonated in the Sahara, disabling the OMACs and freeing the people inside. Brother Eye expels Sasha and her virus from its system and goes into hiding with the remaining 200,000 OMACs but not before broadcasting a video around the world of Wonder Woman killing Maxwell Lord. Later, Sasha tells Batman she wants to rebuild Checkmate, and she and Batman kiss.
Buddy appears with other heroes in the Sahara, helping people after the OMACs are defeated by an EMP.

JLA (1997) #119
“Crisis of Conscience: Conclusion”, November 2005
Geoff Johns, Alan Heinberg [w], Chris Batista [p]
Despero attacks the Justice League by controlling their minds and having them fight each other. Superman and Red Tornado resist, but eventually Zatanna resolves the situation using a spell, which angers Batman. Afterwards, the League discuss their future as a team, and soon its membership consists only of Green Lantern John Stewart, Martian Manhunter (J’onn J’onzz) and Superman. Zatanna travels to Belle Reve prison and makes the Secret Society forget the secrets they learned from the League. Later Batman confides that he is worried that his new friendship with Catwoman is a result of Zatanna altering her mind. J’onn J’onzz and John Stewart discuss potential new recruits and J’onzz voices his concerns that all of the threats to Earth are linked. J’onzz turns to talk to someone who he believes is Superman, but he is attacked and there is a massive explosion.
Buddy appears on a computer screen when Martian Manhunter is considering Justice League members.

Infinite Crisis (2005) #2
“The Survivors”, January 2006
Geoff Johns [w], Phil Jimenez [p]
Animal Man joins other superheroes on the moon known as New Cronus, which they are hoping will take them to the centre of the universe. The Secret Society of Supervillains try to capture Power Girl but she is saved by Earth-Two Superman. The Society and Lex Luthor decide to use Black Adam for their mind-wiping machine instead, while another Lex is seen acting confused at the Arctic. Earth-Two Superman takes Power Girl to meet other survivors of the original Crisis, Superboy-Prime and Alexander Luthor. They explain that they have become disheartened observing the events on Earth and the behaviour of its heroes. They managed to escape the paradise they have lived in since the Crisis and came to Earth to help, but this has made Earth-Two Lois Lane very sick. They believe that the wrong universe (Earth-One) was used as the basis for the post-Crisis world when it should have been Earth-Two. Through exposure to Lois, Power Girl remembers the Crisis and her life on Earth-Two as Superman’s cousin (the Earth-Two version of Supergirl). Booster Gold arrives from the future too late to prevent the destruction of the JLA watchtower, so instead goes in search of Blue Beetle’s scarab. The OMACs attack Wonder Woman and the other Amazons on Themyscira. 
By this point, Buddy and his family seem to be based in San Diego.

Firestorm (2004) #20
“Sacred Duties”, February 2006
Stuart Moore [w], Jamal Igle [p, c]
Travelling through space on New Cronus, the heroes come across a Rannian spacecraft leaking radiation. Firestorm and Animal Man investigate just as Thanagarian ships descend on the craft. Onboard they find two survivors who have stolen a royal Ca’arra hawk from the Thanagarians to protest the destruction of their planet. Buddy takes on the hawk’s lust for combat and fights the Thanagarians, though they argue that the Rannians have also committed atrocities. Eventually the hawk dies so the Thanagarians destroy the Rannians and their ship, while Firestorm manages to extract the dead bird and present it to the grateful Thanagarians. 

Outsiders (2003) #31-#32
#31: “Out-of-Town Work”, February 2006
Judd Winick [w], Matthew Clark, Dietrich Smith [p]
#32: “Detour”, March 2006
Jen Van Meter [w], Matthew Clark, Dietrich Smith [p]
In #31, Donna Troy appeals to other heroes for help to calm a cosmic storm that is throwing the universe off-balance and is situated near the war between Rann and Thanagar. She leaves, while some of the Outsiders (Arsenal, Katana, Grace, and Thunder) are let behind on Alcatraz and need to get a ferry back to the mainland. Roy (Arsenal) speaks with Grace Choi who believes he’s not cut out to be an Outsider because he’s not ruthless enough. In space, Captain Marvel Jr. finds that he can’t control his magic, so he flees fearing that he is a danger to his friends. The others see a bright light in space that Starfire believes to be the return of the goddess X’hal, and she leaves to investigate with Jade and Shift. They travel using a travel sphere until it destructs and they all float through space. Shift is then attacked by Blackfire (Komand’r), Starfire’s sister. In #32, Jade, Shift and Starfire are taken aboard Blackfire’s spaceship where Blackfire explains that she has been given great power temporarily. There is another fight, and Blackfire is defeated and imprisoned. Blackfire breaks free again and starts stealing all of Starfire’s powers until the others blow up the ship. The heroes are then picked up by Donna and the others on New Cronus and they resume their journey to the centre of the universe. Back in San Francisco, Katana learns from Sabbac (imprisoned in her Soultaker sword) that he was attempting to kidnap Captain Marvel Jr. to use in a device. Grace and Arsenal infiltrate the Secret Society, with Roy posing as Deathstroke and Grace posing as his captive.
Buddy is briefly seen aboard New Cronus in both issues.

Infinite Crisis (2005) #3
“Divine Intervention”, February 2006
Geoff Johns [w], Phil Jimenez [p]
Atlanteans struggle to defend themselves against the Society and Spectre, while Shadowpact help civilians at El Paso where Jaime Reyes finds Blue Beetle’s scarab. Near the centre of the universe, heroes on New Cronus assist ships endangered by the cosmic storm. The Amazons use a death ray in their defence against the OMACs, but the OMACs broadcast footage around the world to make Amazons seem dangerous to humans. Wonder Woman has no choice but to cease using the ray and order the Amazons to retreat. Paradise Island is then hidden from man’s world and not even Wonder Woman can find it. Batman is visited by Earth-Two Superman who asks him to help restore Earth-Two, where Bruce married Selina Kyle and had a daughter, Huntress (Helena Wayne). Batman tries to fight him with a Kryptonite ring but Superman just leaves, disappointed. Batman later reassembles security footage of the destroyed Watchtower and learns that Superboy Prime was responsible. The Secret Society betray and capture Black Adam to test Lex’s mind-wiping device. The Lex Luthor leading the Society is revealed as Alexander Luthor when confronted by the real Lex. Superboy-Prime tries to kill Lex but he escapes. Power Girl comes across a golden tower (a Cosmic Tuning Fork) used to bring Earths together during the Crisis, with Martian Manhunter, Black Adam, and others unconscious and connected to it.
Buddy is among the heroes on New Cronus.

Firestorm (2004) #21
“Building a Better Firestorm, Book 1: The Chalk Circle”, March 2006
Stuart Moore [w], Jamal Igle, Eddy Barrows [p]
Jason Rusch is addressed by a disembodied Professor Martin Stein who wants to know what happened to Ronnie Raymond, with whom he once inhabited the Firestorm matrix. Martin shows Jason recent events, where Firestorm was critically injured and Mick Wong was disintegrated. Martin says he can make Jason and Firestorm live again, but Jason is afraid. Jason asks Martin to help him be Firestorm and, after some reluctance, he accepts. Meanwhile, with help from Airwave, Donna communicates with Jason’s father telling him that Jason is dead.
Buddy appears in a few panels in space, continuing to fight after the heroes believe Firestorm to be dead.

Rann/Thanagar War (2005) Infinite Crisis Special
“Hands of Fate”, April 2006
Dave Gibbons [w], Ivan Reis, Joe Prado [p]
The heroes on New Cronus witness giant hands, made out of pure energy, emerging from the portal at the centre of the universe. Sardath realises that Rannians weren’t responsible for throwing Thanagar off orbit, which sparked the war. Blackfire, onboard a Tamaranean ship with Thanagar’s Grand Mor, decides to recommence fighting the Rannians, but the Grand Mor overrides her and orders the fleet to retreat. A large energy wave emanates from the portal and many ships are destroyed. Kilowog and a few other heroes travel to Thanagar where some warrior ships have landed hoping to rebuild Thanagar. Kyle Rayner and Jade (Jenny Hayden) attack the hands. Jade is killed and her father, Alan Scott, rushes to see her but she disintegrates in the next energy wave. Kyle reabsorbs Jade’s Green Lantern energy, which changes his appearance, and he now refers to himself as Ion. Adam Strange and the Hawkpeople come across a Thanagarian surveillance satellite amongst the debris in space. They find footage of Superboy-Prime moving planets and causing the war. After the satellite with the footage is destroyed, Strange and the Hawkpeople find further evidence on Thanagar in the form of handprint-shaped craters on the planet’s surface. Later, the heroes and emissaries from Rann and Thanagar meet on New Cronus to discuss the evidence. They coordinate an assault against the hands, which are emitting ever more powerful waves of energy.
Buddy is shown in several panels with other heroes.

Infinite Crisis (2005) #6
“Touchdown”, May 2006
Geoff Johns [w], Phil Jimenez, Jerry Ordway, George Perez, Ivan Reis [p]
Batman, Jaime Reyes (the new Blue Beetle) and other heroes destroy the Brother Eye satellite. A number of magical heroes gather at Stonehenge to summon the Spectre for help.  After Earth-Two Lois dies, the Supermen of both Earths reconcile. Alexander Luthor experiments with the new Multiverse, combining worlds in an attempt to create a perfect Earth. At the centre of the universe, some heroes attack the giant hands emerging from the portal and manage to injure Alexander Luthor. Superboy (Conner Kent) and Nightwing free a number of captured heroes, and they all fight Superboy-Prime and Luthor. During the battle, the tower is destroyed and the Multiverse is condensed back into one ‘New Earth’, while Conner Kent is killed.
Buddy appears in space flying behind Kyle Rayner (Ion) near the centre of the universe.

Infinite Crisis (2005) #7
“Finale”, June 2006
Geoff Johns [w], Phil Jimenez, George Perez, Ivan Reis, Joe Bennett [p]
Alexander Luthor inspires the Secret Society of Supervillains to wage war on Metropolis, with a plan to eventually takeover this New Earth. Both Supermen join the fight to defeat Doomsday and then confront Alex. Superboy-Prime flies into space in an attempt to destroy Oa and the universe. He is slowed down by Green Lanterns, and then the Supermen propell him straight through Krypton’s red sun, destroying his armour. They all land on the Green Lantern Mogo, the sentient planet, and continue fighting. Superboy-Prime is eventually imprisoned by the Green Lanterns, but Earth-Two Superman is killed. On Earth, Alexander Luthor is confronted by Batman and Wonder Woman before being buried under rubble. He later appears in the streets of Gotham but is killed by Joker and Lex Luthor. Other heroes mourn the dead and missing superheroes, and Jay Garrick becomes the fastest Flash again after Bart Allen loses the Speed Force and Wally West has disappeared with his family.
Buddy appears on a computer screen as one of the missing heroes.

52 Limited Series

52 was a weekly series that details what happened immediately after the events of Infinite Crisis.

52 (2006) #1
“Golden Lads & Lasses Must…”, July 2006
Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid [w], Keith Giffen, Joe Bennett [p]
The world begins to rebuild after the events of Infinite Crisis, but some superheroes are still missing, while Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman have taken a leave of absence. Ralph Dibny (Elongated Man) is contemplating suicide when he learns that Sue’s grave has been vandalised. Renee Montoya has left the police force after being unable to bring herself to shoot corrupt cop Jim Corrigan. She is visited by The Question who shines a modified Bat Signal through the window of her apartment. John Henry Irons (Steel) takes away his niece Natasha’s armour after she expresses more interest in joining the Titans than helping to rebuild the city. Black Adam stops a suicide bomber in Kahndaq. Dr. Sivana is apprehended by two shadowy figures. At a memorial service for fallen superheroes, Booster Gold, who has knowledge about future events, expects a speech by the leaders of the Justice League. When they fail to appear, his robot Skeets malfunctions and Booster becomes distressed.
Animal Man is depicted in the shards that appear at the beginning of the issue.

52 (2006) #5
“Stars In Their Courses”, August 2006
Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid [w], Keith Giffen, Chris Batista [p]
Ellen and Maxine Baker are visited by Alan Scott who tells them that, although other heroes have returned from space via a Zeta beam, Buddy is still missing. John Irons is summoned to Saint Camillus, a hospital for superheroes, and talks with Doctor Mid-Nite and Alan Scott about the heroes who have returned from space with injuries. Scott explains that heroes at the rift at the centre of the universe attempted to teleport to Rann to protect themselves, but the Zeta beam was refracted. As a result, some heroes disappeared, Hawkgirl increased in size, Alan Scott lost an eye, Cyborg and Firestorm became fused together, and Mal Duncan (Guardian) has a speaker from the destroyed Red Tornado fused to his chest and is in critical condition. Suddenly, Red Tornado’s final words (“52”) emanate from Mal’s speaker. On TV, Lex Luthor announces he has synthesised the metagene so that all citizens have the chance to have superpowers. Renee Montoya is visited by her police captain, Maggie, about an encounter with an alien in a warehouse that resulted in Montoya breaking her arm. After Maggie leaves, Montoya reveals she has kept a powerful alien weapon from that night. Meanwhile, Animal Man, Starfire and Adam Strange have crash landed on a distant planet. Strange, despite losing both his eyes, is attempting to fix a craft that will allow them to leave, while Buddy is concerned about threatening creatures on the planet.

52 (2006) #7
“Going Down”, August 2006
Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid [w], Keith Giffen, Ken Lashley, Draxhall Jump Studios [p]
On a distant planet, Adam Strange continues fixing the Thanagarian ship that will transport he, Starfire and Animal Man home. Starfire seems mentally affected by the fruit she has been eating and comes across a strange craft when attempting to locate a power source. Renee Montoya visits an ex-girlfriend Kate Kane whose family may own the warehouse she discovered. Booster is visited by Ralph Dibny (Elongated Man), and Skeets explains that Booster is stopping crimes before they occur using his knowledge of history. Ralph is angry that Booster didn’t prevent the death of his wife, Sue. Later, Booster prevents an explosion outside of Lexcorp where a number of citizens are awaiting metagene therapy. With media gathered, Booster is confronted by actor Bob Castell, who Booster hired to pose as the supervillain Manthrax. Castell is angry that Booster didn’t pay him for the job, and Ralph also joins in to denounce Booster.

52 (2006) #8
“Thief”, August 2006
Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid [w], Keith Giffen, Eddy Barrows [p]
Natasha Irons attempts to construct a new suit of armour, while John Irons goes to S.T.A.R. Labs after finding that his skin is turning to metal. He and Dr. Kala Avasti deduce that Lex Luthor has secretly infected Steel with the metagene, changing his skin into stainless steel as a malevolent prank. Natasha thinks that John has volunteered for the metagene therapy and, after becoming frustrated with the armour, goes to Lex herself to sign up for the program. In Star City, Ralph Dibny and Green Arrow investigate an abandoned base of the Cult of Conner, who defaced Sue Dibny’s grave and are obsessed with resurrecting Superboy. A new hero appears in Metropolis, taking attention away from Booster Gold. Booster is angry, and Clark Kent plans to investigate. Animal Man and Adam Strange investigate the disappearance of Starfire and are similarly captured by a giant.

52 (2006) #9
“Dream of America”, September 2006
Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid [w], Keith Giffen, Shawn Moll [p], J.G. Jones, Alex Sinclair [c]
Steel confronts Lex Luthor, only to be stopped by Natasha, now with superpowers that make her invulnerable. On the alien planet, Buddy, Starfire and Adam Strange escape Devilance the Pursuer after Buddy blinds him using the powers of a native insect. They escape with Devilance’s lance, which they hope to use as a power source, but are concerned that other bounty hunters are pursuing them because of what they witnessed at the centre of the universe. The Question (also known as Charlie Szasz at this point) reconnects with Renee at a lesbian bar, explaining that the warehouse was a base for Intergang who are planning an invasion of Gotham. Batwoman secretly observes their conversation.

52 (2006) #16
“Uhebbuki”, October 2006
Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid [w], Keith Giffen, Joe Bennett [p]
Ahead of the wedding between Black Adam and Isis (Adrianna Tomaz), Mary Marvel expresses concerns to Isis about Black Adam’s violent nature. Renee Montoya and the Question hide out in Kahndaq after being framed for murder and escaping prison. Renee realises that an attack is planned at the wedding and she stops a young suicide bomber by shooting her, while the ceremony continues uninterrupted with many of the Marvel family present. Elsewhere, Adam Strange, Animal Man and Starfire manage to escape the alien planet.

52 (2006) #17
“Last of the Czarnians”, October 2006
Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid [w], Keith Giffen, Chris Batista [p]
Lex Luthor plans to reveal his metagene-enhanced superteam to the world, though their speedster Eliza is frustrated that she needs to keep taking drugs to contain her super speed. In space, the heroes’ ship struggles through an asteroid field and they fear they won’t make it back to Earth, though Buddy has faith that his life is not meant to end yet. They are attacked by Devilance, but he is killed by a trap laid for Lobo. Lobo, having recently found religion and rejecting violence, agrees to help them navigate the asteroids and find supplies. Meanwhile, what’s left of Red Tornado regains consciousness in Australia.

52 (2006) #19
“History Repeats”; “The Origin of Animal Man”, November 2006
Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid [w], Keith Giffen, Patrick Olliffe, Brian Bolland [p]
History Repeats: Skeets learns that Booster’s ancestor Daniel Carter is a failed football star who wants to be a superhero. He seeks Daniel’s help to access Rip Hunter’s lab again. Daniel finds what Booster had previously discovered but hadn’t reveal to Skeets: writing claiming that “Time is broken” and photos of Booster and Skeets with the text “It’s all his fault”. After learning what was in the lab, Skeets locks Daniel inside and Daniel is sucked into a timeloop vortex. In space, Lobo brings Starfire, Animal Man and Adam Strange to an asteroid full of refugees where Lobo leads his Church of the Triple Fish-God as Archbishop along with his friend, the space dolphin Fishy. Lobo claims to be unable to help the refugees, even with a giant eyeball that he claims to be a holy artefact. The new hero of Metropolis, Supernova, briefly meets Wonder Girl, who she believes is her idol Kon-El (Conner Kent/Superboy).
The Origin of Animal Man: Buddy’s origin story is recounted. Aliens were responsible for reconstructing Buddy’s body after it is destroyed in an explosion and they added a series of morphogenetic grafts to give him powers.

52 (2006) #20
“God Is Fragged”, November 2006
Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid [w], Keith Giffen, Chris Batista [p], J.G. Jones, Alex Sinclair [c]
Supernova explores the Batcave. After Steel saves residents from a house fire, he is visited by Kala Avasti who has learned that Lex Luthor has the ability to deactivate the superpowers he has granted. In space, the refugees threaten to riot after Lobo tells them he can’t take them off of the asteroid. The asteroid is then attacked by a swarm of aliens bugs and Lobo is destroyed, but Starfire drives them away using Lobo’s Emerald Eye of Ekron. When Lobo reconstitutes himself, he explains that their actions have now alerted Ekron to their whereabouts and they must flee.

52 (2006) #28
“Beyond The Black Stump”, January 2007
Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid [w], Keith Giffen, Drew Johnson [p]
Renee Montoya and the Question return to Gotham to warn Kate Kane (Batwoman) that the Crime Bible prophecises her imminent death. They try to capture the Intergang boss Bruno Mannheim but he escapes. In Australia, a mining company begins to force an indigenous community off their land but Johnny tries to stop them with a robot he built using Red Tornado’s head. The robot is beaten and dismantled. In space, as the heroes evade Ekron, Lobo explains he stole the Emerald Eye because Ekron had offended his religion. Eventually, Ekron stops raging and they learn that he is a Green Lantern whose planetary system was destroyed once Lobo left him defenceless without his eye. The heroes decide to protect Earth from whatever caused the devastation.

52 (2006) #31
“Human Resources”, February 2007
Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid [w], Keith Giffen, Chris Batista [p]
Captain Comet’s world is attacked by Lady Styx and she transforms the population into soldiers in her mindless army. Green Lanterns Thormon Tox and Xax try to help but they are abandoned by the Guardians of Oa and left to die. Lobo and the space heroes, now joined by Ekron, watch the destruction from afar. Starlight (Natasha Irons) and Jade (Sierra) are concerned by the creepy behaviour of their shapeshifting team member Everyman. Ralph Dibny and the Helmet of Fate talk to Wonder Girl (Cassie), who has left the Cult of Connor. Later Ralph meets Supernova, whose true identity Ralph has figured out, and asks him to tell Wonder Girl that he isn’t Superboy. 

52 (2006) #32
“Seven Days in Nanda Parbat”, February 2007
Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid [w], Keith Giffen, Patrick Olliffe [p]
Ralph Dibny travels to the Himalayas in search of Rama Kushna. He is attacked by a yeti-like creature in the snow but rescued by Yao Fei and brought to Nanda Parbat. There he learns that Yao Fei is a member of the Chinese superhero team, the Great Ten, and is hunting another hero Hu Wei, who transforms into a beast when he is not wearing an electronic device. Ralph learns that he cannot meet Rama Kushna so helps Yao Fei on his mission, saving his life multiple times and using the device to transform Hu Wei into a man. Afterwards, Ralph is told he can meet Rama Kushna. Rama Kushna appears in a disembodied form and cryptically explains to Ralph that death is an illusion caused by time. Ralph and the Helmet of Fate leave. The Titans invite more members to join their team. Black Adam Junior/Osiris arrives with his talking crocodile Sobek and wants to join but everyone is afraid of him because of Black Adam’s previous behaviour. Captain Marvel Junior says he will help Osiris join the team if Black Adam proves that he has changed. The heroes in space decide to make a stand against Lady Styx before she comes any closer to Earth.

52 (2006) #33
“The Most Wonderful Time of The Year”, February 2007
Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid [w], Keith Giffen, Joe Prado, Tom Derenick [p]
Ralph Dibny visits the Flash Museum and takes an item out of storage. It’s Christmastime and Nightwing visits Batwoman and gives her the gift of a batarang. Lex Luthor learns that a boy named Luis Dominero is going to die as a result of the Everyman process. Later, Lex gifts cars to Infinity Inc. but again receives news from Mercy that his genetics make him unsuitable for the Everyman process. Shortly afterwards, he hears that Luis’ body has begun adapting to the process, so Lex decides to kill Luis and use his cadaver to research how Lex can go through the process. Vic Sage is delirious and close to death as he and Renee stay at Kate Kane’s house. When Renee and Kate are alone, they kiss. The Black Marvel family present their human forms to the world to make everyone more comfortable. At Belle Reve, Amanda Waller’s new Suicide Squad prepare for a mission to attack the Black Marvel family.
Ellen Baker appears in one panel, and Buddy’s voice can be heard but he is not seen.

52 (2006) #35
“Rain of the Supermen”, March 2007
Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid [w], Keith Giffen, Phil Jimenez, Dan Jurgens [p]
When Lex Luthor disables their powers at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve, a number of newly created heroes plummet to their deaths in Metropolis. Lex hopes to make Supernova look incompetent, though Supernova does manage to save many lives. Natasha Irons realises that Lex is to blame and confides in Jake (Skyman), while Steel gathers the Titans. In space, Lobo wants to continue his mission to deliver the Eye of Ekron to the Triple Fish God, but Adam Strange comes up with a plan that involves Lobo taking the heroes to Lady Styx to collect the bounty on them.

52 (2006) #36
“How To Win A War In Space”, March 2007
Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid [w], Keith Giffen, Jamal Igle [p]
Lady Styx refuses to pay the bounty to Lobo, and Fishy goads him into breaking his vow of non-violence to kill her army. Ekron flies into a Sun-Eater with Styx to kill her, but Buddy is also mortally wounded. On Earth, Buddy’s family sense his death. Renee decides to take Charlie (The Question) to Nanda Parbat in an attempt to cure him of cancer. Osiris is expelled from the Titans after being tricked into killing Persuader. Supernova brings various superhero artefacts to Rip Hunter, who is hiding in the Bottle City of Kandor attempting to build a machine to fight Skeets. However, Skeets already knows where they are.

52 (2006) #37
“Secret Identities”, March 2007
Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid [w], Keith Giffen, Patrick Olliffe [p]
Skeets attacks Kandor. While Rip Hunter works on enhancing Supernova’s costume, Supernova grows to full size to fight Skeets, revealing himself to be Booster Gold. Booster explains that he learned that Skeets was a villain back in Rip’s lab, but Rip appeared and together they hatched a plan. Booster faked his own death and travelled back in time to appear as the hero Supernova and gather equipment for Rip, setting up base in the abandoned Fortress of Solitude. In the present, Rip and Booster attempt to suck Skeets into the Phantom Zone but he absorbs it. Rip and Booster then attempt to teleport away but Skeets follows again. In Star City, Green Arrow and Dinah (Black Canary) are concerned for Ralph after his disappearance. In space, Lobo and Fishy separate from Starfire and Adam Strange. Buddy’s body is laid to rest on an asteroid. After Starfire and Strange leave, Buddy suddenly wakes up and is confronted by the two aliens from his origin story.

52 (2006) #43
“Family Matters”, April 2007
Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid [w], Keith Giffen, Dan Jurgens [p], J.G. Jones, Alex Sinclair [c]
SOsiris and Sobek travel to the Rock of Eternity where they find the Marvel family. After killing Persuader, Osiris believes he is cursed, and he asks the Marvels to take away his powers. Black Adam and Isis arrive and convince him to help Kahndaq but, later, Osiris says his magic word to become human (and crippled) again. In a weakened state, he is betrayed and eaten by Sobek. In space, Buddy is brought back to life by the aliens and finds a way towards Earth by absorbing the power of a Sun-Eater. Elsewhere, Lady Styx is also reborn when she bursts out of a woman’s womb on a spaceship.

52 (2006) #47
“Revelations”, May 2007
Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid [w], Keith Giffen, Giuseppe Camuncoli [p]
At Nanda Parbat, Tim Drake (Robin) waits for Bruce Wayne to emerge from a cave at the conclusion of a week-long trial. Diana is also at Nanda Parbat, seeking some peace after killing Maxwell Lord. She meets with Rama Kushna who reminds her that Diana, like mortal humans, isn’t perfect. In Gotham, Book of Crime occultists try to figure out who Batwoman is and realise that the clue is in the name “Cain”. Renee Montoya (now as The Question) later learns that Kate Kane is missing and finds that her home shows signs of a struggle. On his journey home, Animal Man meets the aliens, who show him a vision of the future where Ellen is with another man. Natasha Irons is offered a place in the Teen Titans but decides to start a team with her uncle Steel, and Dr. Kala Avasti also offers to join them.

52/WW III (2007) #2
“The Valiant”, June 2007
Keith Champagne [w], Andy Smith [p]
Martian Manhunter is telepathically observing events on Earth from space when he collides with Supergirl, who crashes to Earth in Metropolis. Killer Croc is knocked unconscious in a fight against Harvey Dent. Deathstroke tries to manipulate Cassandra Cain (Batgirl) against Batman. A number of heroes fight Black Adam in Italy. Aquaman seeks help from undersea gods after San Diego has been submerged. The gods tell him that they can show him how to use the cursed bones of his former hand, but there will be a price. Aquaman restores the city but he begins to transform in something monstrous.
This issue takes place at the same time as 52 #50. Animal Man is briefly shown in one panel during a recounting of events from ‘Infinite Crisis’.

52 (2006) #51
“Homecoming”, June 2007
Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid [w], Keith Giffen, Joe Bennett [p]
Ellen Baker rebuffs Roger’s advances, fulfilling the vision that the aliens showed Buddy in issue #47. Soon after, Buddy arrives and is reunited with his family. Later, at a party, Starfire arrives from space to return Buddy’s jacket. She saves Ellen from some of Lady Styx’s bounty hunters before collapsing. A number of heroes gather at a memorial to Connor Kent on the one year anniversary of his death, and also reflect on the recent war against Black Adam. Diana appears in disguise, while Donna Troy appears as the new Wonder Woman. Adam Strange is brought to Rann and is given his eyesight back, while the Green Lanterns who saved him are concerned about Lobo possessing the Emerald Eye of Ekron. Lobo meets and assassinates the Triple Fish God with the Eye. Skeets locates T.O. Morrow and Red Tornado’s head at Morrow’s lab in the Rocky Mountains, but Rip and Booster are waiting for him. Skeets reveals himself as a vessel for the alien Mister Mind, and the heroes flee.
Buddy also appears on the cover of 52 #52 (July 2007) but not within the interior pages.

Countdown to Adventure miniseries

Countdown to Adventure follows on from 52 and continues Buddy’s adventures in space.

Countdown to Adventure (2007) #1
“The Home Front: New Kids On The Block”, October 2007
Adam Beechen [w], Eddy Barrows [p], Ivan Reis, Oclair Albert [c]
In San Diego, Starfire remains unconscious and recovers at the Bakers’ house. Buddy is working as a stuntman on a film set when the film’s star, Champ, suddenly disappears in front of the crew. After a break, Adam Strange is ready to resume his duties as Rann’s protector but finds that Sardath has appointed the arrogant Steve “Champ” Hazard of Earth in his place, and Strange is concerned when Champ destroys some Sandswarmers with unnecessary violence. Later, Adam Strange and Champ fight. Strange is forced into retirement and refuses financial assistance from his father-in-law, Sardath. Back on Earth, Starfire awakens without her powers and agrees to work for the Bakers as a nanny.

Countdown to Adventure (2007) #2
“The Home Front: Working Man’s Blues”, November 2007
Adam Beechen [w], Eddy Barrows [p]
Buddy’s powers are behaving erratically, and he goes to work to learn that Champ has quit the film to work exclusively on Rann. After picking up the children from school, the powerless Starfire is unable to stop an out-of-control car so Buddy must intervene. The car’s driver attacks Buddy, and Buddy remembers seeing the same mindless fury exhibited recently by Cliff and Champ. The driver repeats “Believe in her”, signalling the influence of Lady Styx’s death cult. On Rann, Strange and Alanna struggle to adjust to life as normal citizens, while Champ continues to confront all situations with excessive violence. Outside their home, Strange’s nanny is harassed by a mob. Champ and his crew appear and kill some of the mob, while also repeating “Believe in her”. On the planet Soad, Rannian visitors corrupt the native inhabitants with Styx’s psychological virus. Two aliens appear and “sterilise” and destroy Soad, and plan to continue to Rann and Earth to eradicate the virus.

Countdown to Adventure (2007) #3
“The Home Front: In The Time Of The Plague”, December 2007
Adam Beechen [w], Eddy Barrows [p]
In San Diego, one third of the population is behaving violently. An infected Cliff attacks Starfire and Maxine but they are saved by Buddy. The children are taken to a hospital for treatment where the doctors believe that the virus is alien in origin and suspect Starfire is a carrier. Buddy and Starfire leave to assist others in the city, and Ellen fears that the pair are in love. Buddy and Starfire later find that San Diego has been quarantined within a forcefield by the aliens referred to as ‘Healers’, who are on Earth to investigate the virus. On Rann, similar outbreaks of violence are occurring so Strange decides to take his family and flee to Boxos Shem, but they are attacked and only escape by stealing a jetpack. Later, Strange tries to sneak into the High Council building to seek assistance, but reveals himself when he overhears that Soad (and his friend Shasoth) may have been destroyed. Strange is captured by Champ and finds that Sardath has been infected.

Countdown to Adventure (2007) #4
“The Home Front: First, Do No Harm”, January 2008
Adam Beechen [w], Allan Goldman [p]
Strange evades Champ and his squad by jumping out of a window. After further skirmishes, he makes his way to a storage unit and recovers his armour and weapon. The Teen Titans arrive at San Diego but are unable to penetrate the forcefield that has surrounded the city, while Buddy finds that he can now obtain the power of any animal in the universe. Buddy tries to talk to the Healers but is not able to get through to them. He saves Starfire again by knocking out the infected with bright sunlight, but Starfire is upset because she doesn’t want to continually rely on his help.

Countdown to Adventure (2007) #5
“The Home Front: Patient Zero”, February 2008
Adam Beechen [w], Allan Goldman [p], Eddy Barrows [c]
Buddy finds that the San Deigans he exposed to bright sunlight are now cured of the disease, though they are still antagonistic towards Starfire because they believe she is the source of the infection. Buddy again draws on the abilities of extraterrestrial animals to escape. They return to the hospital where Buddy is able to cure Cliff before the virus develops to the next stage. Starfire realises she may be able to cure the rest of the city using her solar energy if she is able to recharge in the presence of Rann’s three suns. The Healers identify Buddy as Patient Zero and capture him so they may be able to find a cure. Alanna and Aleea are not safe at Boxos Shem so flee again. Adam Strange makes it into Sardath’s lab but is shot by Champ, who expresses devotion to Lady Styx.

Countdown to Adventure (2007) #6
“The Home Front: Rescue Parties”, March 2008
Adam Beechen [w], Allan Goldman [p]
Adam Strange is rescued by Alanna and they escape via Zeta Beam to Earth, so Champ and his followers decide to attack the Thanagarians. In San Diego, Ellen and Starfire leave the children at the hospital while they try to find Buddy, who is about to be vivisected by the Healers. They witness the arrival of Adam Strange and his family in San Diego, and notice that the Zeta Beam has weakened the forcefield around the city. They all manage to travel into the aliens’ ship and rescue Buddy, then catch the Zeta Beam back to Rann. The Healers decide that the Earth must be sterilised.

Countdown to Adventure (2007) #7
“The Home Front: To Serve Rann”, April 2008
Adam Beechen [w], Allan Goldman [p]
The heroes appear in the High Council Chambers to find that the city of Ranagar is without power, and they fend off an attack by Sardath. Adam Strange travels to a spaceport and foils an impending attack on Thanagar. Buddy saves Strange from being killed by Champ, then Champ escapes to Earth and destroys the Zeta Beam technology so that the humans can’t follow. Starfire is recharged in the upper atmosphere of Rann and heals the Rannian population. Sardath believes he can beam the heroes to Earth using news satellites but they receive a broadcast showing that the sterilisers have begun destroying San Diego.

Countdown to Adventure (2007) #8
“The Home Front: Heroic Measures”, May 2008
Adam Beechen [w], Allan Goldman [p], Eddy Barrows [c]
Sardath manages to teleport Strange, Starfire, Buddy and Ellen to Earth. After taking Ellen to the hospital to see her kids, Strange he is swarmed by sterilisers and detonates his jetpack. Buddy uses his animal powers to communicate with the Healers and asks them to temporarily halt the sterilisation process. Before Starfire can unleash her solar powers, she is tackled by Champ, but the Healers use the sterilisers to protect her and annihilate Champ. Starfire heals the human population and the Healers leave the planet. On Rann, Strange is reinstated as its protector and awarded the title of Supreme Military Commander, and he uses his speech to call for greater tolerance between Rann and other planets. Starfire leaves the Bakers to rejoin the Teen Titans. In space, Lady Styx lives and vows to continue her march across the universe.

Rann/Thanagar Holy War miniseries

This series is a sequel to Rann-Thanagar War, one of the titles that lead up to the ‘Infinite Crisis’ event.

Rann/Thanagar Holy War (2008) #1
“The Dawning”, July 2008
Jim Starlin [w, c], Ron Lim [p], Rob Hunter, Jeromy Cox [c]
Hawkman (Carter Hall) infiltrates a congregation of Thanaragians lead by Deacon Dark and learns that they are devotees of a new religion. He reports his findings to Rann, where Sardath and other survivors of Lady Styx’s virus continue to worship her. Adam Strange plans to use a telepath, like Comet, to help the population realise that Styx is evil. He enlists the help of Starfire and Animal Man on Earth. Comet (actually Captain Comet pretending to be his own nephew) briefly visits the Justice League on Earth before returning to Hardcore Station where he screens phone calls from Strange. Deacon Dark meets with the criminals Seek and Find and gives them a device. When Comet goes to meet Max, the Chief Justice of the Station, Seek approaches Comet and detonates a bomb. On Throneworld, Prince Gavyn (Starman) finds that Bizarro has beaten up much of the Imperial Guard after being stranded on the planet, so Starman decides to help him. Elsewhere on Rann, Tigorr runs an illegal mining operation. 

Rann/Thanagar Holy War (2008) #2
“Seek and Ye Shall Find!”, August 2008
Jim Starlin [w, c], Ron Lim [p], Rob Hunter, Jeromy Cox [c]
Comet survives the bomb that has destroyed the Justice Station by teleporting away just in time, and deduces that the Eternal Light Corporation are behind the attack. Max orders Comet off-planet, so he agrees to work for Adam Strange and travels to Rann. In a conversation with the other heroes, Strange details the plan to create a telepathic broadcaster to convince the population to reject Lady Styx. The heroes are called to action when a Thanagarian ship enters the atmosphere to steal minerals. After foiling the invaders, both the heroes and Thanagarians are attacked by a prehistoric Monarchasaurus. They are saved by The Weird who has left Hardcore Station and is trying to find his way back to Earth, and has been getting mistaken for a ghost by the Rannians. Strange reports the dinosaur to Sardath, who reveals that another prehistoric creature – the Shaggy Man – has also recently appeared. Meanwhile, Starman keeps Bizarro placated by feeding him and showing him cartoons. Tigorr calls an end to his mining operation and passes out drunk.

Rann/Thanagar Holy War (2008) #3
“Restoration”, September 2008
Jim Starlin [w, c], Ron Lim [p], Rob Hunter, Jeromy Cox [c]
Comet finally meets Strange and is told about the recent temporal anomalies. The Weird shows them that the Thanagarian raiders were wearing Eternal Light Corporation (ELC) medallions, which Sardath later discovers are mind controllers. Tigorr is captured by Rannian soldiers and asked to help against the threat posed by Lady Styx. Comet wants to leave but is convinced by his dog Tyrone to stay and help. When a giant volcano suddenly appears next to Ranagar, Sardath is able to track the temporal interference back to Hardcore Station. Vril Dox tells Max about the nefarious activities on the Station, and Max learns that Synnar is leading Seek and Find in attacking the Rannians. When the heroes arrive on Hardcore Station, they find Max hanging upside down, while the rest of the population appears to be in a trance. They are confronted by Synnar and Deacon Dark. On Rann, the Lighters have provoked the Rannians by crucifying a solider. Sardath calls for a genocide against the Thanagarians, and Hawkman is beaten by the mob. Elsewhere, Starman is alerted to a large fleet of ships entering the Throneworld atmosphere and his ship is destroyed when he confronts them. He survives and realises that the fleet belongs to Lady Styx.

Rann/Thanagar Holy War (2008) #4
“Return of the Prodigal”, October 2008
Jim Starlin [w], Ron Lim [p]
The heroes (partly telepathically controlled by Comet) attack Synnar and then flee, while The Weird probes Synnar’s weaknesses. Comet fends off Deacon Dark’s attack and saves Animal Man. Afterwards, Deacon Dark reveals that he used the time disrupting machine to rescue Synnar from a past battle with the Justice League in which he would have died. After further skirmishes, Adam Strange teams up with The Weird, who suggests retrieving Bizarro from Throneworld to help them reach the time disrupting machine. At the same time, Starman requires Bizarro’s assistance to fight Lady Styx’s fleet. Strange beams himself to Throneworld and returns with both Bizarro and Starman, who help destroy the machine. This causes the volcano on Rann to disappear, and Sardath to commute Hawkman’s death sentence. Back on Hardcore Station, the heroes regroup before Comet, Starman, Strange, Bizarro and The Weird return to Throneworld and find the planet and its population has been ravaged by Styx’s forces. Starman blames Strange for what has happened.

Rann/Thanagar Holy War (2008) #5
“Cursed be the Peacemakers!”, November 2008
Jim Starlin [w], Ron Lim [p]
Deacon Dark speaks with Synnar, explaining that the Nameless One they worship will soon appear on Rann. Dark visits Thanagar and convinces the Grand Mor to go to war with Rann, then returns to Hardcore Station to prepare to bring about the Second Coming. The heroes reconvene on Rann, and Hawkman and Alanna are freed from prison. Thanagarian ships attack a Rannian armada in orbit, with Sardath and the Grand Mor refusing to back down despite casualties on both sides. The heroes use a telepathic broadcaster that allows Comet to enter the minds of the Rannians and Thanagarians.  Comet pretends to be their respective gods and calls a halt to the battle. When the heroes return to Rann, Sardath directs them to investigate unusual emissions of radiation in the desert. In space, Lady Styx is also alerted to the emissions and plans to prevent the arrival of the ELC’s deity. In the desert, the heroes come across a ziggurat. While the Weird eavesdrops on the villains atop the structure, Thanagar’s fleet enters Rann’s atmosphere. Dark gives Synnar the duty of naming the Nameless One. After choosing the name “Synnar”, Synnar is destroyed by lightning and reborn in a more powerful form.
Buddy only appears in two panels, nursing an injury.

Rann/Thanagar Holy War (2008) #6
“The Demiurge”, December 2008
Jim Starlin [w, p], Ron Lim [p]
The villains have built a base around the ziggurat and surrounded it with a forcefield, which prevents the heroes from calling for help or leaving the planet. Sardath believes he has found the origin of the energies empowering Synnar and has also learned that Lady Styx is on the way. Synnar recounts his story to Deacon Dark. Synnar was created at the beginning of time by the Supreme One and tasked with designing, and then maintaining, the Universe. However, Synnar later rebelled against his creator and began reabsorbing the universe to become more powerful. Eventually, Synnar was found out and destroyed, and all were forbidden to speak his name. However, a subatomic part of Synnar survived and remained concealed throughout time, slowly evolving and influencing a civilisation and later amassing an unstoppable army. The heroes have been eavesdropping on the story and haven’t noticed that Bizarro has escaped. Bizarro heads towards the ziggurat only to be severely injured by a blast from Synnar.

Rann/Thanagar Holy War (2008) #7
“On the Eve Of…”, January 2009
Jim Starlin [w], Ron Lim [p]
On Rann, Dark and Synnar plan to convert the population of Earth to their religion using a transmission. The heroes find that their options are limited by the forcefield, but Strange asks Sardath to prepare to execute “Plan X”. Starfire and The Weird teleport into space and make contact with Lady Styx. Starfire provides Styx with intelligence information but Styx refuses to unite against their common enemy Synnar. Styx attacks them but The Weird threatens her and they manage to escape. Meanwhile, Strange and Comet locate one of the many satellites that are empowering Synnar and discover that it is being powered by trillions of imprisoned, living beings. The heroes reconvene on Rann where Strange and Hawkman discuss the visions they have experienced of the destruction of the planet. The heroes prepare to execute the plan as Styx arrives and tries to break through the forcefield. The heroes destroy the forcefield broadcaster and the battle begins.

Rann/Thanagar Holy War (2008) #8
“Sacrifice and Loss”, January 2009
Jim Starlin [w], Ron Lim [p]
Starman returns to join the battle as the heroes fight to reach the ziggurat. Styx’s main ship crashes into Rann and she attacks Tigorr, and Sardath finally realises that he has been worshipping a monster. Starman fights Styx until she escapes. The Weird begins absorbing energy from the ziggurat until he reaches critical mass. Synnar orders Dark and the Thanagarians to leave, in accordance with his vision of the future, while the heroes continue to protect The Weird. At the last moment, The Weird is teleported inside Synnar and explodes, while the population of Rann is teleported to Throneworld before Rann is rendered uninhabitable. Synnar’s body is destroyed but the demiurgic force survives. Bizarro returns home, and the heroes on Throneworld agree they must keep the survival of Adam Strange and the Rannians a secret while the population is vulnerable. Starman addresses the new citizens of his planet and rechristens it New Rann. Meanwhile, on Old Rann, The Weird arises with the evil force within him.