52, Week 45
	Story Title: 'Every Hour Wounds, The Last Kills' Writer: Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid Art Breakdowns by: Keith Giffen Penciller: Chris Batista, Jamal Igle Inkers: Rodney Ramos Colorist: Alex Sinclair Letterer: Ken Lopez Editors: Michael Siglain Cover by: J.G. Jones & Alex Sinclair
	Reviewed by: Bruce Logan

This week in 52, we have, well, yet another ‘value addition’ brought onto yet another element of the JLI/E, the most ‘cared for’ League of DC’s current TPTB, the country of Bialya. After taking care of the characters by assassinating them, either figuratively or literally, DC’s head honcho(s) set their cross-sights on this fictional country and this week pulled the trigger lopping the obliterator that is Black Adam onto the unsuspecting Bialyians. All I can say is, thank gawd that Paris (and France) are real and not just fictional constructs, otherwise they too would soon be getting the special Dan Didio ‘extreme makeover’ treatment. Then again, it’s not like Marvel (the publisher) leaves them wanting for anymore abuse, verbal or otherwise. That ‘A’ on Ultimate Captain America’s head might not stand for France but it also sure as apple pie doesn’t stand for courteous or well-mannered.

Nevertheless, let’s get back to 52 and the destruction of Bialya.

Day 3: The Marvel family shows up to be the pallbearers for Isis and Osiris. Speaking of showing up, Renee Montoya also makes an appearance to, well, just because. Her part here is limited to further beating into the reader the demise of Vic Sage and to show Black Adam taking the final step into the darkness that surrounds him by leaving on a search and destroy mission for fourth Horseman, who has since leaving Kahndaq found asylum in the country of Bialya.

Day 4: Bialya gets what’s coming to them, or rather who, but not before getting dumped by Intergang and the rest of world starts wetting their pants, starting with the US. Even Checkmate’s gets its chequered panties in a bunch, from Sasha to Amanda Waller. Alan Scott plays his part by reminding the readers that he knows of Black Adam’s capabilities having experienced first hand what chances does a country have against him. As for Amanda Waller, preparing yet another Suicide Squad (with the emphasis being on Suicide) she hits the first roadblock when Atom Smasher refuses to join her this time around. Not only that, he also hints that he might not be the only one making this choice.

Day 5: The destruction of Bialya continues. That he sees Isis and Osiris calling him to avenge them is an indicator of Ol’ Adam is not quite in the right frame of mind, but then what else do you expect, the man did have his wife and family taken from him, again.

Day 6: Starting off with the Chinese pulling the same ‘panties in a bunch’ routine of the USA and Checkmate this day ends with Black Adam bringing death to not only the Bialyians but also to Death. Now how’s that for ironic or is it just rewards.

Day 7: The Oolong island losers, I mean, mad scientists too get in the ‘panicking’ line as Black Adam heads towards them (having gotten their location out of Death), all except Sivana. He just stands around talking his face off like a, uh, mad scientist.

Even though there are two pencillers for this week’s issue, Jamal Igle’s presence is limited to just a handful of pages which makes me wonder about the reasoning behind it. All I can come up with is that Chris Batista wasn’t going to be able to complete all the pages in time necessitating the need for a fill-in to complete it in time. Even though I found the colors over saturated in a few places (the Death panels) overall there wasn’t anything to dislike or complain about.

Conclusion: Maybe I am mistaken but I’d say that this issue had a major of contribution from Greg Rucka (the current writer of Checkmate), just like Week 43 had Geoff Johns, especially the gory ending of Osiris. It was too reminiscent of Superboy Prime’s actions (against the Titans) in Infinite Crisis but with a different twist, one just as bloody.

RATING: 7.5/10 (Almost 8)