52 #27 is an issue of the series 52 (Volume 1) with a cover date of January, 2007. It was published on November 8, 2006.
Synopsis for "The Past Best Hope"
Day 1
Ralph Dibny and the Helm of Fate travel in the Astral Plane and contact the Spectre and ask for help in bringing his wife back to him. The Spectre tells him he will do this if he eliminates one thing... Eclipso, who currently inhabits Jean Loring - his wife's murderer. Ralph accepts and is given some of the Spectre's power and he attacks Jean.
Day 2
Waverider is hiding in a clock shop and is confronted by the Time Commander who demands to know why he and Chronos are not the Masters of time. Time Commander disappears and Skeets appears and attacks Waverider, revealing that his metal was forged by Waverider's dead body in the future. Waverider is ripped to pieces.
Day 5
In Nanda Parbat, Renée Montoya continues her training with Richard Dragon and discovers that the Question is dying of cancer. She also discovers the prophecy in the Crime Bible which states that death will come upon "twice-named Cain", but Renee realizes that its not Cain but Kane, ie. Kate Kane and her picture is in the book having her heart ripped out.
Week -84 Day -2
Ralph takes Jean back before the moment she kills his wife to make her witness what she did over and over again, but at the last minute. Ralph is unable to do it...
Back in the present, Ralph's visions never happened as it was all the work of the Spectre. Ralph leaves with the Helm and they begin their journey to Nanda Parbat while the Spectre watches Jean.
Appearing in "The Past Best Hope"
Featured Characters:
- Ralph Dibny
- Eclipso (Jean Loring)
- The Spectre
- Waverider (Dies)
- Time Commander
- Question
- Renée Montoya
- Richard Dragon
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Clock Queen (Mentioned only)
- Felix Faust (As the Helm of Fate)
- Sue Dibny
Locations:
Items:
Synopsis for "The Origin of Black Canary"
Appearing in "The Origin of Black Canary"
Featured Characters:
Other Characters:
- Clock Queen (Mentioned only)
- Black Canary (Dinah Drake) (Cameo)
- Green Lantern (Cameo)
- Starman (Cameo)
- Flash (Cameo)
- Wildcat (Cameo)
- Oracle (Cameo)
- Deathstroke (Cameo)
Notes
- Jean Loring's murder of Sue Dibny was shown in Identity Crisis #1. She was transformed into Eclipso in Day of Vengeance #1. She was trapped near the sun in Day of Vengeance #6.
- This issue features the Secret Origins of Black Canary.
- "The Past Best Hope" is reprinted in 52 Vol. 3 of the 2007 4-volume edition, 52 Volume Two of the 2016 2-volume edition, and 52 Omnibus.