A show about the most important comic of the 21st century, and the greatest series you’ve never heard of. Each week Journalist Gita Jackson and DC Historian Alex Jaffe read and explore an issue of 52, a 2006 exploration of the DC universe by a legendary team of talent that shaped everything that came after it.

A show about the most important comic of the 21st century, and the greatest series you’ve never heard of. Each week Journalist Gita Jackson and DC Historian Alex Jaffe read and explore an issue of 52, a 2006 exploration of the DC universe by a legendary team of talent that shaped everything that came after it.

All-Star Gita Jackson and World’s Finest Alex Jaffe finish our show after two years of exploring the greatest comic book series you’ve ever heard of. Along the way they clean up The Blackboard, play one more round of Brat or Swiftie, and assemble a new team of 52 heroes. Thank you for listening! Show Notes: 52 Geoff Johns Grant Morrison Greg Rucka Mark Waid Keith Giffen aftermath.site/signup 1: Favorite and Least Favorite Storyline? (02:50) Super-Chief Grant Morrison AMA Batman/Deadpool E.S.Pete Pulsar, the Master of Sound Vic Sage Renee Montoya Batwoman Batgirl Batman: Wayne Family Adventures Absolute Universe Ultimate Universe Jonathan Hickman Krakoan Age DC Next Level Deathstroke (2016 series) Firestorm Zatanna Lobo Etrigan Fire & Ice: When Hell Freezes Over New Gods Green Lantern Corps Jo Mullein Green Lantern: Far Sector Dan Abnett Justice League Odyssey Jessica Cruz Cyborg Azrael Starfire Darkseid Orion Blackfire Dex-Starr Space Ranger Lady Styx Star Trek Warhammer 40,000 Jack Reacher Hawkman (2018 series) Hawkman Blackest Night Animal Man 2: Let’s give quick takes on each of the other 52 storylines (15:45) Ralph Dibny Isis Identity Crisis Infinite Crisis Black Adam Booster Gold Superboy Prime Marvel Cinematic Universe Watchmen Superman Ted Kord James Gunn Steel The Death of Superman Lex Luthor Natasha Irons Ducktales Crash Christopher Priest The Metal Men Dan DiDio Megalopolis (2024) Francis Ford Coppola John Byrne Alpha Centurion Cyborg Superman Batman 3: Who was your favorite character in 52? (34:13) Justice League Unlimited Dan Jurgens Mystery Men (1999) Kel Mitchell 4: What was your favorite scene in 52? (36:33) Rama Kushna John Constantine Hellblazer 5: The Blackboard (39:29) Douglas Wolk All of the Marvels Al Ewing 6: Where Are They Now? (43:01) The New History of the DC Universe Action Comics Ghost Machine Taylor Swift Charlie XCX DC K.O. Lana Lang Justice League Red Gail Simone Jaime Reyes The Question: All Along the Watchtower Teen Titans Cassie Sandsmark Adam Strange Jadzia Axelrod John Stewart Doctor Sivana T. O. Morrow Mori Calliope Suicide Squad Isekai Brad Meltzer 7: Brat or Swiftie? (47:55) Hades 2 Travis Kelce Rip Hunter SZA Charles Mingus Jay Z Cowboy Carter Infinity Inc. Gigi Hadid Blair Witch Will Magnus Wendy Carlos Yes Rush Genesis Jimmy Buffet Kanye West Egg Fu Doctor Tyme Veronica Cale Osiris Sobek Nightwing Red (album) 8: Crackship Crisis (01:03:20) Joker Inferior Five The Spectre Dove Hawk Kite Man The Flash T-Man Gilgamesh II Aquagirl Aquaman The Top Sgt. Rock 9: Let’s Draft a 52-Person Superhero Team (01:09:40) Ragman Deadman Batman: Gotham Nocturne Shift Metamorpho Outsiders Honest Abe Lightray Connor Hawke Mera G.I. Robot Monkey Prince Bronze Tiger Captain Atom Cassandra Cain Wild Dog Sarah Lance Legends of Tomorrow Clayface Enchantress The Hulk Helena Bertinelli Killer Frost Pandora The New 52 The Revolutionaries Suicide Squad Hardware Milestone Cynthia Reynolds Xanthe Zhou Absolute Wonder Woman Vic Sage Anima Gunfire Shade the Changing Man Shade the Changing Girl Young Animal Phantom Stranger Zatanna Dial H for Hero Freakazoid The Creeper Static Warren Ellis Global Frequency Traci 13 Danny the Street Resurrection Man Jonah Hex Freedom Beast Tawky Tawny Detective Chimp Angel and the Ape Stitch Doctor Fate Dreamer Galaxy Power Boy Tanya Spears Power Girl Secret Shining Knight Klarion the Witch Boy Bulleteer Black Orchid Vertigo Ms. Martian Brian Michael Bendis Batman: Universe 10: Asking The Questions at 52mailbag@gmail.com (01:22:51) Dave Gibbons Superman, an Unauthorized Biography The Caped Crusade The Secret History of Wonder Woman DC Action News Aftermath After Hours J. G. Jones DC Universe Viz Ways of Seeing Understanding Comics Alan Moore Chainsaw Man M Mycroft Holmes Young Justice alexjaffe.bsky.social DC Comics Official Discord @xoxogossipgita 52 Pickup is an Aftermath production, created by Gita Jackson and Alex Jaffe, and edited by Esper Quinn, with original music by Jon Ehrens. Hosting for 52 Pickup is provided by Insert Credit. 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.

Alex Jaffe reports bravely and boldly from the center of the multiverse on events for the week of September 10, 2025. Top stories include a demon-possessed Superman on the Justice League Watchtower, S...

All-Star Gita Jackson and World’s Finest Alex Jaffe plummet into 52 #35, featuring bad puns for gruesome events, Kirkland Signature Superman, and shocking new developments for everyone’s favorite storyline, Lobo and the space heroes.