Booster Gold # 1 - 52 Pick-Up, Part 1 - Secret Origins

Exploding from the pages of 52 and exploring the timeline of the DC Universe comes a new monthly book featuring the greatest super-hero history will never know: Booster Gold! Following the universe altering conclusion of 52, Booster Gold wants what’s due to him — a spot on the Justice League of America! But the time stream’s in trouble, and Booster Gold is in the center of it! Now he must make a choice: reclaim his former glory or do the right thing, forgoing the credit. ALL-NEW Booster Gold will take you through time and space, to the greatest moments of the DCU that have happened and will happen. “52 Pick-Up” begins in this extra-sized issue #1! Someone is exploiting the ravaged time stream, hoping to eliminate the world’s greatest heroes — and only Booster Gold can stop them. But, really — Booster Gold? Why him? What does Rip Hunter truly want? And what shocking figure is behind it all? And coming up in the months ahead in DC’s time spanning monthly: the world’s greatest Green Lantern — Sinestro, Jonah Hex, Barbara “Batgirl” Gordon, Flash and Kid Flash, and plenty more of DC’s super stars from throughout its past and future!

SPOILERS

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Two months following the conclusion of 52, it's Day 1 of Week 60. Booster and Skeets have been in hiding, waiting for the right time to show their faces once more. They re-debut themselves by taking on the Royal Flush Gang in Atlantic City. Apparently, before the battle started, Michael set off his JLA Emergency signal. After the Gang has been dispatched, the League. Disappointed that Booster would use his Emergency Signal when there is in fact no emergency, they inquire as to his motives. He asks to join the League once again, much to their disdain. It appears that rumors have surfaced saying that Booster faked his death for sympathy, after Steel saw him during WWIII 'running the other way'. Batman and Superman however have faith in Booster, and tell him that he has one week to prove himself.

It becomes apparent that Booster and Skeets have been taking refuge in the home of Daniel Carter, who refuses to take off the Supernova suit. It evidently "freezes time" for the wearer, effectively allowing them to go as long as they want without getting tired, hungry or thirsty. Booster had assumed the Daniel would do some good with the suit, but all he does is play video games all the time. Skeets' historical records are apparently still malfunctioning, making it difficult to use them to their advantage when trying to stop disasters. Michael refuses to use them anyhow, as he considers it "cheating".

Suddenly, in the middle of Daniel's living room, Rip Hunter arrives in his Time Sphere. Booster considers the man to have betrayed him after 52, "leaving Skeets and my reputation in pieces". Rip scolds Booster for showing his face to the League, saying that he needed to stay in hiding to protect his knowledge of the Multiverse. Hunter takes Booster with him, leaving Daniel in a broken living room. As they traverse the time-stream, Rip reveals that one or more malevolent time-travelers are taking advantage of various "worm-holes" left in the aftermath of Mr. Mind's feast. Before he can finish what he's saying though, Rip drops Booster into one of the worm-holes. He finds himself in the midst of World War III once more, near a plummeting 747. He's told my Rip that he must save the plane. After dropping the aircraft off at a Tokyo airport, an investigative reporter by the name of Rose Levin thanks Booster for his bravery. He is quickly pulled back into the time-stream though, and Rip tells him that woman is another of his ancestors. She is to start Michael's direct lineage with Daniel Carter. Rip needs Booster's help to repair the damage to the time-stream, and stop whoever is destroying it. Booster refuses, not willing to sacrifice any more of his reputation just to stay incognito. Rip drops him off at home, disappointed.

One week later, Booster arrives at the Hall of Justice to hear the League's decision. With smiles across their faces, they hand Booster an invitation to the Justice League of America. However, before his eyes, the certificate transforms into the Death Certificate of Hal Jordan. Terrified, and convinced of Rip's warnings, Booster leaves the Hall, and tells the League that he simply wanted to be able to turn them down. He arrives at Rip's old bunker, and tells him that if he wants his help, they were going to save his best friend first, Ted Kord.

Elsewhen, somebody has stolen the Supernova suit, and encounters Sinestro on Korugar. "They call me Supernova. We need to talk about your future."