Today marks the 72nd week since DC debuted the New 52, and it has less redeemable value than ever.

I've tried to make myself like it, really I have. When that failed, I tried hard to tolerate its presence. But there's simply no denying that there's simply nothing in the New 52 for me, as proven again by this week's April solicitations.

There isn't any sign that Booster Gold will be seen anywhere before May at the earliest. That'll be 8 months and counting between Booster appearances, which will be a record for the longest drought between appearances in the nearly three decade history of the character.

DC claims to be "moving forward" with the New 52, but charging $8 for Detective Comics #19 because it would have been a milestone issue if it hadn't been renumbered in 2011 seems to seriously belie that point. I'm sorry, DC, but you can't price gouge for the sake of nostalgia and call it the future and expect anyone to celebrate.

Conventional wisdom says that it takes a month of changed behavior to break a habit. If there is any truth in that, I guess Booster Gold fans are done with buying comic books. Thanks for nothing, DC!

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Yesterday, DC promoted their Halloween event, er, I mean their "Multi-Faceted DC Comics Super-Villain Campaign" with a graphic clearly showing pre-Flashpoint costumes and characters. DC has had over a year to plan and promote the New 52, so why aren't they promoting their reimagined universe this holiday season? Is this a hint that DC isn't committed to the New 52, or just another example of a fractured company with no cohesive strategy?

Booster booster Russ Burlingame asks much the same question in his recent article for ComicBook.com, "Is DC Comics Running Away From Their Own New 52 Philosophy?"

With The Question appearing in both Justice League and Multiversity, though, one has to wonder whether Justice League writer Geoff Johns might have some designs on the Multiverse himself, especially given that Booster Gold saw an alternate-reality or future version of himself in the recent, Johns-penned Justice League International Annual #1. If that's the same Question, as opposed to two worlds' versions of a similar character like the Blue Beetle we see in Multiversity, it could raise some eyebrows—and some serious questions (no pun intended).

While none of DC's recent questionable behavior clearly indicates that we'll see Skeets, Michelle, and Rip Hunter anytime soon, we can at least keep hope alive.

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This week DC releases the hardcover collection of all 52 first issues of their so-called "New 52" series. This collection will include a reprint of Justice League International, Volume 3, #1, the first appearance of Booster Gold in the DCnU.

If you had bought every issue of the New 52 back in September (and many, many people did), it would have cost you $105. This collection will cost $150. Presumably the collection will include some bonus content as well as hard covers, which means that you won't have to store it in Mylar to keep it pristine on your coffee table. That's got to be worth something, right?

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