DC Weekly Review: December 27, 2024 (Week 52)

Help Support The Heroes We Love: This month, we’re highlighting our Distinguished Cup Award Winners. Our final award this year is for Series Of The Year. There are so many strong contenders, including last year’s Winner, Kelly Thompson’s Birds Of Prey. But this was a year with big dynamic changes that made me feel strong emotions and so our front-runners are Tom King’s Wonder Woman, Joshua Williamson’s Superman, and Si Spurrier’s The Flash. And despite two monumental births happening in the other Series, we’re giving Gold to Joshua Williamson’s Superman, which made me weep over villains and feel hope in even the darkest hours of DC. And you can read these glorious works at DC Universe Infinite, when you subscribe to the Ultra Annual Level (which runs the price of $170 CAD).

Weekly Omissions – Absolute Wonder Woman #3, Batman: The Long Halloween – The Last Halloween #4, Batman: Gargoyle Of Gotham #3, DC Horror Presents #3, Green Lantern: Dark #2

Hero Of The Week – One final week, one more Hero Of The Week for Bruce Wayne, the man DC built it’s entire publishing line off of. Bruce brought in 35 Points over 5 Appearances. Performance Of The Week thankfully went to another, an unsung superstar this year, Power-Girl. Paige brought in 16 Points in a single Appearance (she was also the 13th highest scoring hero of the year).

Antagonist Of The Week – Onomatopoeia showed up for the first time in 2024, on the very last week, to score Antagonist Of The Week with an 11 Point Appearance. Wow! Pow! Kachow!

Book Of The Week – Last week, Santa Claus lost to the Super-Family, but in the final issue of the most delightful miniseries this year, Batman/Santa Claus: Silent Knight Returns #5 managed to score Book Of The Week, bringing in 94 Points over 20 Characters. I hope Jeff Parker brings this crew back for a 3-Peat in 2025.

Power Of The Week – Power Girl’s use of Energy Defensive in her fight against Ejecta in Paige’s On-Going Series, which will continue into 2025 under the talented hands of Leah Williams. Such a simple yet badass moment, a nice solid way to end Power Usages of the Week in 2024.

Welcome To The League – No New Additions. Year End Total: 406 Heroes, 310 Antagonists (716 Characters Total).

YEAR END STATS – TOP 10

ANTAGONISTS

1.) Poison Ivy (Pamela Isley) – 167 Points over 29 Appearances (12th overall for 2024)
2.) Amanda Waller – 144 Points over 41 Appearances
3.) General Zod – 95 Points over 9 Appearances
4.) Lex Luthor – 86 Points over 20 Appearances
5.) The Joker – 82 Points over 14 Appearances
6.) Lobo – 66 Points over 10 Appearances
7.) Bizarro – 63 Points over 10 Appearances
8.) Sinestro – 62 Points over 10 Appearances
9.) Failsafe – 57 Points over 12 Appearances
10.) The Penguin (Oswald Cobblepot) – 56 Points over 9 Appearances

Analysis: Amanda Waller’s shame brought a lot of smiles to my face this year, glad she didn’t get gold. Ivy has been slowly creeping up to that #1 spot, having lost to Darkseid and Harley Quinn in 2023 and 2022. The Penguin being so low is surprising, since I remember Oswald’s comics this year a lot more than The Joker’s. I would also hazard a guess that Lobo is going to move up in 2025 given the Jason Momoa casting.

HEROES

1.) Batman (Bruce Wayne) – 907 Points over 133 Appearances
2.) Superman (Clark Kent) – 601 Points over 98 Appearances
3.) Nightwing (Dick Grayson) – 388 Points over 77 Appearances
4.) Robin (Damian Wayne) – 248 Points over 49 Appearances
5.) Wonder Woman (Diana Prince) – 220 Points over 49 Appearances
6.) Harley Quinn (Harleen Quinzel) – 216 Points over 35 Appearances
7.) Green Arrow (Oliver Queen) -213 Points over 34 Appearances
8.) Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) – 209 Points over 35 Appearances
9.) Green Lantern (John Stewart) – 200 Points over 26 Appearances
10.) Catwoman (Selina Kyle) – 186 Points over 25 Appearances

Analysis: This is an unremarkable Top 10 in pretty much every way imaginable. Superman and Dick both brought in around 25 less points when compared to 2023, while Batman brought in an extra 158 (he was also 2 Appearances away from Appearing more than the entire Top 10 Antagonists combined). We saw all the Titans fall out of favour (Raven was the highest scoring at 17th overall) and the usual Leaguers take their place; interestingly our top scoring Flash (Wally) came in at 14th overall, underneath Cassandra Cain, Supergirl, and Power-Girl (great for her).

C’est Las Vie, hopefully 2025 is more interesting with all these exciting new titles diversifying the lineup for DC All In.

WEEK 51 / YEAR’S END

Key: TU – Team-Up; LT – Lead Team; SC – Save Civilian; CD – Character Development; DA – Defeat Antagonist.

Action Comics #1081 (62)
Martian Manhunter (JJ) – Deception, Flight, Influence, Morph, TU (Superman), DA (Kryptonians) 
Mon-El (LG) – Teleport, CD: Became Warden Of The Phantom Zone
Power-Girl (PS) – Deception, Durability, Energy, Flight, Teleport, TU (Martian Manhunter), DA (Kryptonians) 
Superboy (CK) – Deception, Durability, Energy, Flight, Teleport, TU (Martian Manhunter), DA (Kryptonians) 
Supergirl (KK) – Business, Deception, Durability, Energy, Flight, Sense, Teleport, TU (Martian Manhunter), DA (Kryptonians) 
Superman (CK) – Deception, Durability, Energy, Flight, Teleport, TU (Martian Manhunter), DA (Kryptonians) 
Superman (JK) – Deception, Durability, Energy, Flight, Teleport, TU (Martian Manhunter), DA (Kryptonians) 
Superman (KK) – Deception, Durability, Energy, Flight, Teleport, TU (Martian Manhunter), DA (Kryptonians) 
Antagonist(s)
Cyborg Superman (HH) – CD: Escaped The Phantom Zone
Batman/Santa Claus: Silent Knight Returns #5 (94)
Batman (BW) – Influence, Intellect, Melee, Strength, Willpower, DA (The Knight)
Beast Boy (GL)
Deadman (BB)

Etrigan (JB) – Flames, Flames Defensive, Flames Offensive, Intellect, Melee, Strength, DA (The Knight)
Green Lantern (JS) – Flight, Melee, Strength, Willpower, DA (The Knight)
Jason Blood (Et) – Suit, Weapon, DA (The Knight)
Metamorpho (RM) – Energy Offensive, Flight, Morph, Shield, DA (The Knight)
Nightwing (DG)
Oracle (BG)
Queen Mera (Me) – Ensnare, Melee, Strength, Water, Water Offensive, DA (The Knight)
Queen Nubia (Nu) – Blade, Projectile, Melee, Strength, Weapon, DA (The Knight)
Robin (DW) – Melee, Projectile, Strength, DA (The Knight)
Robot Man (CS) – Blade, Melee, Strength, DA (The Knight)
Santa Claus (Ni) – Melee, Strength, Teleport, Willpower, CD: Joins The Justice League, DA (The Knight)
Shazam (MB) – Durability, Flight, Lightning, Melee, Speed, Strength, DA (The Knight)
Superman (CK) – Melee, Strength, Willpower, DA (The Knight)
The Flash (WW) – Speed
Thunderheart (IW) – Melee, Projectile, Speed, Strength, DA (The Knight)
Wonder Woman (DP) 
Zatanna (ZZ)– Melee, Strength, Willpower, DA (The Knight)
Batman: The Brave & The Bold #20 (87)
Alfred Pennyworth (PO) – Influence
Animal Girl (MB) – Energy, Flight, Melee, Rage, Strength, Willpower, TU (Martian Manhunter) 
Animal Man (BB) – Influence, Intellect, TU (Martian Manhunter)
Batman (BW) – Agility, Creature, Durability, Melee, Suit, Swing, Vehicle, TU (Zatanna), SC, DA (Shadows)
Batman (TM) – Flight
Bat-Mite (FD) – Flight, Fourth Wall, Influence, Intellect, Magic, Morph, Teleport, Temporal
Hell-Blazer (JC) – Flames, Influence, TU (Zatanna)
Martian Manhunter (JJ) – Telepathy, TU (Animal Girl), LT
Plastic Man (PO) – Appendage Offensive, Blunt, Morph, Rage, Speed, Stretch
Thunderbolt (Yz) 
Wonder Woman (DP) – Artifact, Deception, Ensnare, Flight, Melee, Strength, Suit 
Zatanna (ZZ) – Intellect, Magic, Magic Defensive, Melee, Morph, Tech, Teleport, Temporal, TU (Constantine) 
Zatara (GZ) – LT
Antagonist(s)
Onomatopoeia – Assassin, Blunt, Deception, Gun, Melee, Rage, Reality, Sense, Strength, Weapon
Talia Al Ghul – Influence, LT
The Joker (TC) 
Black Canary: Best Of The Best #2 (18)
Black Canary (DD) – Influence, Rage, LT, SC, DA (Criminals)
Black Canary (DL) – Durability, Flight, Melee, Strength, Willpower
Antagonist(s)
Lady Shiva (SW) – Agility, Deception, Durability, Melee, Precision
Detective Comics #1092 (19)
Batman (BW) – Computers, Deception, Intellect, Investigation, Melee, Swing, Tech, Vehicle, DA (Goons)
Oracle (BG) – Computers
Robin (DW) – Agility, Intellect, Melee, Swing, Tech, DA (Goons)
Green Arrow #19 (8)
Green Arrow (OQ) – Blunt, Intellect, Investigation, Precision, Projectile, LT, DA (Fresh Water Killer)
Harley Quinn #46 (15)
Harley Quinn (HQ) – Agility, Business, Creature, Deception, Explosive, Influence, Melee, Projectile, Sonics, Theft, Vehicle, Weapon, DA (Convoy)
Justice League: Unlimited #2 (80)
Airwave (HJ) 
Atom Smasher (AR) – Absorb, Grow, Tech, CD: Reclaimed His Powers
Batman (BW) – Durability, Explosive, LT, SC, DA (Parademons)
Black Lightning (JP) – Energy, Energy Offensive, Lightning, Teleport, SC, DA (Parademons)
Blue Beetle (JR) 
Doctor Occult (RO) – Artifact, Investigation, Light, Sense, Teleport, SC, DA (Parademons) 
Martian Manhunter (JJ) – Ensnare, Flight, Invisibility, Melee, Morph, Rage, Stretch, Strength, Teleport, SC, CD: Missing Several Of His Powers, DA (Parademons)
Mister Terrific (MH) 
Red Tornado (RT) – Computers
Shazam (MB) – Flight, Intellect, Lightning, Melee, Strength, Teleport, SC, DA (Parademons)
Stargirl (CW) 
Star Sapphire (CF) – Energy Offensive, Flight, Teleport, SC, DA (Parademons)
Superman (CK) – Energy Offensive, Flight, Teleport, SC, DA (Parademons)
The Atom (RP) – Grow, Tech
The Atom (RP) – Grow, Tech
Wonder Woman (DP) – Ensnare, Flight, Intellect, Melee, Strength, Teleport, SC, DA (Parademons)
Metamorpho: The Element Man #1 (11)
Metamorpho (RM) – Deception, Energy, Flight, Intellect, Morph, Speed, Stealth, Stretch, TU (Element Gal), LT
Power Girl #16 (22)
Omen (LC) – Flight, Heal, Willpower
Power-Girl (PS) – Absorb, Agility, Durability, Energy Defensive, Flight, Heal, Intellect, Melee, Rage, Speed, Strength, Teleport, Weapon, CD: Buys A Space For Her And Omen To Open Up A Business, DA (Ejecta)
Steel (NI) 
Traci Thirteen (WS)
Superman #21 (43)
Amethyst (AW) – Business, Weapon, TU (Superman), LT, CD: Brokered Peace With The Shadowlands
Jimmy Olsen 
Supergirl (KK) – Energy Offensive, Flight, Melee, Strength, TU (Superwoman), DA (Zombies)
Superman (CK) – Agility, Creature, Energy Offensive, Flight, Projectile, Strength, Tech, TU (Amethyst) 
Superwoman (II) – Business, Creature, Flight, Influence, Melee, Projectile, Strength, TU (Supergirl), CD: Brokered A Peace Between Two Warring Nations, DA (Zombies) 
Zatanna (ZZ) – Magic
Antagonist(s)
Doomsday (TT) 
Lex Luthor – Influence, Sense
Mercy Graves – Computers
Silver Banshee (SS) 
The Flash #16 (38)
Batman (BW)
Black Lighting (JP) 
Inspector Pilgrim (WW)
Linda West (LP) – Blunt, DA (Wizard Weather)
Martian Manhunter (JJ) 
Power-Girl (PS) 
The Flash (WW) – Durability, Speed Offensive
The Surge (JW) – Influence, Intellect, Sense, Teleport, Teleport Defensive 
Thunderheart (IW) – Absorb, Energy, Morph, Sense, Speed, Teleport
Warlord (TM) – Blade, Deception, DA (Wizard Weather)
Wonder Woman (DP) 
Antagonist(s)
Weather Wizard (MM) – Agility, Blunt, Deception, Lighting, Tech, Weapon, Wind, Wind Offensive


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