
Ultimately, the goal of World War III was to bridge the 52-One Year Later gap where the 52 series itself failed. Any of a number of series get the assist here, from the JSA to Checkmate and the Teen Titans, the Doom Patrol, Supergirl, Firestorm, the Spectre and more. For the most part I found these assists somewhat unnecessary--the Batgirl/Deathstroke meeting hardly explains more about Cassandra's change, nor is Donna Troy wearing Wonder Woman's armor explained; Jason Todd taking on Nightwing's persona was explained in that title, and hardly needed repetition here. Others, like the scene with the Kate Spencer Manhunter and with Checkmate/the Suicide Squad, were so tied to plotlines in those respective titles as to make them inscruitable.
As a 52 fan, I'd say that I did enjoy World War III. The sheer scope of the destruction shown, and the number of heroes that appear, makes a nice counterpoint to the splash page at the end of Infinite Crisis, showing all the heroes who will fill in for Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. But while World War III is a good Martian Manhunter story, if nothing else, I hardly felt like it was integral to the 52 story; if DC has decided simply not to publish World War III, I hardly think we would have missed it. For the 52 completists, go ahead; for others, consider borrowing this one from the library instead.
[Contains full covers, 52 summary.]
Our review of 52, Volume Four coming Thursday!
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