A few months ago, DC announced that all of their April New 52 covers would be “WTF Certified” – in English, that means gatefold covers that revealed shocking/surprising/secret characters and events on their hidden side. We decided to investigate each cover and share with you, the Multiversity reader, just how shocking or game changing each cover is. This is “What the Friday?: Week One.”
What was the surprise? Jimmy’s greatest enemy is Jimmy Olsen!
Is it truly surprising? Well, considering Superman believes he’s just hallucinating and it may not be Jimmy, I’d say that’s a no.
Does it make sense, in story? Sort of, maybe? It is revealed that his genetic code has been compromised, and he was hit pretty hard, so to hallucinate makes a little sense. To be fair, I doubt this was a writer-driven cover.
Does this make me want to read the next issue? The reveal was not an exciting one, on cover or in pages, but the book was pretty damn solid. Too bad it’s Andy Diggle’s only issue scripting.
What was the surprise? That Cliff died at the end of “Rotworld.”
Is it truly surprising? If you read “Rotworld,” no.
Does it make sense, in story? Yes.
Does this make me want to read the next issue? The strong writing and great art do, but a revelation from a comic from a month ago isn’t the best selling point for a future issue.
What was the surprise? There’s a new Batwing in town!
Is it truly surprising? The reveal is unexpected, to say the least.
Does it make sense, in story? Sort of – it is a little early to say just how much sense it makes, but at least in the broad strokes, it makes sense.
Does this make me want to read the next issue? Sure, why not.
What was the surprise? I guess the surprise is the origin of Man-Bat?
Is it truly surprising? It is, however that is because Man-Bats have already been featured in multiple Batman comics in the New 52. The story is surprising because of how disjointed it feels.
Does it make sense, in story? The origin of Man-Bat is handled fine, but the fact that the it comes almost a year after the first Man-Bats debuted in Gotham, the timing of this story (in addition to the lame tie in to the fact that this is the 900th issue of “Detective”) makes this a disjointed story.
Does this make me want to read the next issue? I can’t see this having any impact outside of this month.
What was the surprise? That Nelson got the Flash’s powers.
Is it truly surprising? I don’t believe that Nelson has received any other hero’s powers thus far, so from that vantage point, yes.
Does it make sense, in story? Yes.
Does this make me want to read the next issue? He lost them at issue’s end, so not particularly.
What was the surprise? Mr. Miracle makes his first New 52 appearance.
Is it truly surprising? Not really – it is exciting, as Miracle (and Big Barda, who also appears) is a great character, and Robinson will surely do good things with him, but we have already seen hints of the New Gods/Apokolips in the book.
Does it make sense, in story? Sure it does; after Darkseid, Steppenwolf, and Orion made appearances, Miracle and Barda seem to make sense as the next to introduce.
Does this make me want to read the next issue? The reveal doesn’t necessarily make the next issue more appealing than it would be otherwise. This is a good comic, and the gimmick, I doubt, will bring too many new readers in.
What was the surprise? Green Arrow’s father wasn’t entirely truthful with him!
Is it truly surprising? Nah.
Does it make sense, in story? Sure – Lemire has been building a story very much his own here, and so a certain amount of retconning must be expected.
Does this make me want to read the next issue? The issue itself is quite good, and so I do want to read on, although that has nothing to do with the revelation that his father was a different sort of jerk than the jerk he was portrayed to be.
What was the surprise? Sinestro is going back to his own Corps.
Is it truly surprising? Sort of, but not really.
Does it make sense, in story? Sure – for Geoff Johns’s “Green Lantern” run to wrap up, Sinestro can’t still be a Green Lantern.
Does this make me want to read the next issue? Not because of that reveal, but because of the great storytelling Johns has been doing with the characters for nearly a decade.
What was the surprise? The Question shows up.
Is it truly surprising? Not really – as the third member of the Trinity of Sin, you knew he’d be showing up eventually.
Does it make sense, in story? Yes.
Does this make me want to read the next issue? It makes me more interested than if he wasn’t, but this is a pretty astonishingly bad comic, so not really.
What was the surprise? That there is an entirely new Stormwatch.
Is it truly surprising? For an entire team to disappear in a few panels and re-emerge in a new way for, seemingly, no reason? Yeah, that has to be unexpected.
Does it make sense, in story? Not yet.
Does this make me want to read the next issue? Well, not really. “Stormwatch” hasn’t been my favorite book of the New 52, but to gut the entire thing because why not? Seems like a good reason to drop it.
What was the surprise? Superman shows up.
Is it truly surprising? He showed up in issue #1, and this is an interconnected universe, so not really.
Does it make sense, in story? Sure – he’s in Metropolis.
Does this make me want to read the next issue? The issue is a pretty strong debut from Soule/Kano, but the fact that Superman is there doesn’t influence me in the slightest.
What was the surprise? Desaad is posing as Michael Holt.
Is it truly surprising? Yes – while it was clear it wasn’t really Holt, Desaad isn’t a logical guess as to who would be impersonating him.
Does it make sense, in story? Yes.
Does this make me want to read the next issue? It does – this is a pretty intriguing plot point, and connects the book even more to “Earth 2.”
