52:TC

52 The Companion is a TPB that is meant as a supplement to the DC Comics hit weekly series 52. With an introductions by Mark Waid, this issue collects "background" material (from old comic issues) on 52's lead heroes (Adam Strange, Animal Man, Black Adam, Booster Gold, Dr. Will Magnus and the Metal Men, The Question, Ralph Dibny, Renee Montoya, Rip Hunter, Steel). There are stories as old as from 1962 (Rip Hunter) and then some that are as relatively recent as 2006 (Detective Montoya, who is a somewhat new character in the DC Universe). The stories have no direct continuity with 52, and although they provide insight on the heroes themselves (as well as to how they looked in the past) it seems to me that DC just rode out on the success of 52 and came up with this compilation to increase revenue. I rate this 2.5 stars.