After a lackluster Batman issue and a flat-out frustrating turn as the douchey adult to a modern-day Legionnaire in the first issue of Red Robin, Dick Grayson’s second week as Batman is off to a somewhat shaky start.
Swinging in to the rescue (and being mistaken for Green Lantern and Superman in the act of doing it) is Booster Gold, the greatest hero the world will never know, as Dan Jurgens and Norm Rapmund return to Booster Gold and a new story arc—“Day of Death”—that kicks off with Rip and Booster deciding to hide the truth of Booster’s time-saving mission from whoever might find their way into the Batcave and ends with Booster saving Dick Grayson’s life in the present, only to inadvertently cause his death in the past.
With some of the strongest characterization we’ve seen in Booster Gold yet, this issue explored a number of dangling issues from the series’ first year—including Booster’s hesitation to be Rip’s “time monkey” (a subplot that had vanished out of necessity as developments in the main plot needed constant attention), a return to his more glory-seeking and commercial roots and a genuine, human need for someone who understands him. It seems that all of this story really flowed from the second consecutive hard-luck experience with having a “best friend” in the superhero community for Booster. Bruce Wayne, after all, had told him just a little while ago that while he “might not be Ted Kord,” he’d always be there when Booster needed him.
Oops.
On the flipside of the issue is the first installment of the Blue Beetle (Jaime Reyes) co-feature, and I’ll admit that I was a little lost on this one. Having given up on Blue Beetle after #25, I didn’t catch the last six or so issues before it was canceled. While I’ve heard some of the plot developments (particularly those that might or might not pertain to the Black Beetle), new readers may be a little lost trying to figure out why Paco and Brenda are bickering. Still, the story—which literally revolved around Blue Beetle fighting giant robots—was a fun diversion; Mike Norton’s art is not only capable, but fits better as a complement to Dan Jurgens’ Booster Gold work than the more popular Raphael Albuquerque’s Blue Beetle pencils would have done and, as I’ve said before, if I have to pay another buck, I’d just as soon get something out of it. Blog@Newsarama sat down with Booster Gold writer/penciler Dan Jurgens to talk about the issue.
Blog@Newsarama: OK – So I can see this being a bone of contention with our new friends in the back half of the book, and I’m just going to get it out there right away: The Black Beetle. At what point was his identity decided? Is it something you, Jeff and Geoff always knew or is it something that came in later?
Dan Jurgens: My general impression is that Geoff and Jeff did not have a definite plan in mind for the Black Beetle. Whatever it is, we started making some plans that work in with what we want to accomplish on the book.
BLOG@: Between the reference to Jaime and the return of the Black Beetle, it seems as though this was a tailor-made issue for Blue Beetle’s jumping-on point. Was that serendipity or editorial influence?
DJ: Serendipity. Just one of those things that ended up working out, I guess.
BLOG@: Your Superman is such an iconic look–did you deliberately try to make the one on the monitors look more Doug Mahnke-esque?
DJ: More of a deliberate effort to match up with a scene from Final Crisis, I’d say. I think it’s important that, when reflecting a previous scene, an artist should try to do so accurately.
BLOG@: Do you have a concrete sense of the power levels that Booster’s suit and all that can generate? You make a comment about it here, but it’s something that’s varied a lot over the years.
DJ: It may have varied between writers but I think I’ve been fairly consistent. Some guys have given him a power level that doesn’t seem to run beyond the capability generated by two “C” batteries and that’s not accurate. Booster can hold his own.
BLOG@: There has been a lot of mistaking Booster for Green Lantern, especially. I mean, here it kinda makes sense but the earlier references on Justice League Unlimited seemed a bit arbitrary. Is it just the ring and the general layout or what’s the deal here?
DJ: If you’re in Coast City and get rescued by someone you don’t get a good look at, but happens to be able to fly, wouldn’t you assume it’s GL? C’mon!
BLOG@: Is Booster on the trail of finding out Rip’s secret? He seems very suspicious…!
DJ: At the very least he’s beginning to wonder if there’s more to Rip than meets the eye. Which, quite obviously, there is!
BLOG@: Arizona? – What happened to Pittsburgh? Olliffe and I were just talking about Pittsburgh as the home base last month!
DJ: It was well-established in 52 that Rip’s lab is in Arizona. It’s possible he has more than one lab, however.
BLOG@: D’Oh! That’s right…it’s the house that’s in Pittsburgh. Well, inside the lab we have a solitary blackboard note this month. Superman 2965? Is that going to tie into the upcoming story with the Legion of Super-Heroes?
DJ: Possibly!
BLOG@: This is the second time we’ve had Booster break into the Batcave…and the first time we’ll actually get to see it (remember the end of the Dixon fill-in?)! Any insight as to how he got his costume back last time?
DJ: Booster is a time traveler! Getting a costume back is simple with capabilities like that! We also saw Booster break into the Batcave in Infinite Crisis.
BLOG@: Yeah, but that time he got caught. Has Booster just decided that having a Batman–any Batman–on his side is a good idea? Why did he give up his secrets so easy?
DJ: I’d say he’s comfortable with Dick Grayson as Batman. I don’t think he’d confide in any guy who happens to be wearing the suit.
BLOG@: So this is an interesting issue in that it ties very nicely into the Titans crossover, as well as what’s going on in the DCU right now. Will you be dabbling a little bit more in “current” continuity than before? I know there was originally a desire to stay away from the plot point du jour…!
DJ: There are certain things that are quite natural to reflect. Certainly Batman’s death, and the idea that Booster would want to go back in time to avert that, is a one of those.
June 11th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Booster has quickly become my favorite character since 52. I was a bit worried when Geoff was leaving this series about a year ago, but I’m very glad I gave it a try and stuck with it! This has been one of the consistently best superhero comics being put out today! Can’t wait to see where “Day of Death” leads.
Booster interacting with current continuity was mentioned. I’d love to see him involved with Blackest Night in some way (either now or time-traveling back to it sometime in the future).
June 11th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
“After a lackluster Batman issue”? What issue did you read?
That said, I loved the way the Jurgens worked in Dick/Batman in Booster Gold – even the way he drew him (besides the spot-on Quitely costume) emphasized that it was Dick under the cowl.
I only wish we saw more of Dick’s reaction to finding out Booster risked so much to try to save Barbara from the Joker, but that’s a minor quibble.
June 11th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
I loved this issue. I’m intrigued to see why Black Beetle is targeting Booster (as opposed to Blue Beetle).
The Blue Beetle secondary feature was a pure delight. I’m so happy to see these characters again!
June 11th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Regarding Booster breaking into the Batcave -
Didn’t he do that as Supernova during 52?
That said, as soon as my cash flow improves, I’ll be getting the Booster trades. While I loved Johns’ reinvigoration of Booster Gold, based on what I read before I dropped the book, Jurgens is actually doing well with him (then again, he DID create him, after all!)
June 11th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
This is the first issue with Jaime Reyes in it? Damn.
June 11th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
TC, why damn? It came out 24 hours ago–I’m sure you can still find it at your LCS.
June 11th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
Love the comic … I just hope that Ted isn’t Black Beetle …
June 11th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
I really enjoyed this well written issue and how everyone interacts . I can’t wait to see what happens next and the art work was really good keep it up guys .
June 11th, 2009 at 8:18 pm
I think that when Bruce Wayne is ready to come back into the DCU, Booster is the one that will “find” him in that cave at the end of Final Crisis. This issue is just setting that up (as well as his last meeting with Bruce).
June 11th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
I have absolutely NO inside information on the matter, but speaking as a friend and a fan, there’s no part of me that can imagine Dan Jurgens doing that to Ted.
June 12th, 2009 at 12:26 am
Highly recommend this book! Run, don’t walk, to your LCS and buy this issue. The perfect jumping on point to the series.
June 12th, 2009 at 12:41 am
Even if Ted was the Black Beetle (for whatever reason) I’d still read it. I can’t imagine that would stick but I think the story could still be good. I loved seeing Dick and Booster interact (though Barbara really deserves to know.) I remember a couple issue back where Booster admitted that Bruce really wasn’t the sort of guy you could hang out with which Dick fits to a tee.
I hope that Booster finds Bruce, I’ll be disappointed if he doesn’t.
And to the best of my memory Booster visited the cave in: Infinite Crisis, 52 (as Supernova), during the AU Omac world in Blue and Gold, BG #1 million, BG #11 in the past, and now.
June 12th, 2009 at 3:29 am
swimwolff couldn’t be more wrong.
June 12th, 2009 at 5:07 am
I was under the impression that, from the way the excellent Blue Beetle series ended, Hector, Jaime’s tech support assistant, would eventually end up as the Black Beetle. He did pick up a scarab after all. And in a previous Booster Gold issue where Jamie Reyes is roped in to help solve a crisis, only to discover the Black Beetle is an enemy rather than an ally, the Black Beetle leaves off by saying something along the lines of “If it weren’t for you, she wouldn’t have died.” She referring to Jaime’s other tech support who was killed in the KDRA incident.
On another note, Booster Gold with Blue Beetle as a back-up story? It’s the Blue and the Gold all over again. Nice.
June 12th, 2009 at 5:20 am
Russ, TC hates Jaime being Blue Beetle, and has said before something about not getting the issues with him.
While I’m not positive it’s him, the end of the Blue Beetle series hinted that one of Jaime’s former support crew took a scarab and either becomes, or creates the lineage that results in, the Black Beetle, due to hating & blaming Jaime for what happened to another member of the crew.
June 12th, 2009 at 7:47 am
Yeah, Russ, you’re way off the mark about Dick’s BATMAN debut being lackluster – one of the best thing’s Winick’s ever written (cue the chorus of impotent fanboys whining that this isn’t saying much), and a breath of fresh air after the waste of time that was BATTLE FOR THE COWL. Great interview, though.
June 12th, 2009 at 9:09 am
Why do I have a feeling that Booster Gold and the Blue Beetle will be instrumental in bringing back Bruce to current continuity? After of course, DC editorial had their fun with Dick Grayson.
June 13th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
I had really seriously considered dropping this book, but I’m glad I’ve stayed on. This was one of the best Booster issues in a while.
June 13th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
The thing about Hector is this (and this is what I tried to communicate in the interview because I knew it from off-the-record conversations in the past): Jurgens did not know, and was not consulted, when the intimation was made that Hector was the Black Beetle. The Booster team that created the character, though, had other ideas and THOSE are the ideas that we’re going to see coming to fruition here. I believe that the comments about being “From the 27th Century or the 15th or whatever I want you to believe…” is to put solidly in context that whatever the Black Beetle says about his backstory, he’s kind of an evil Rip Hunter that you can’t necessarily take it as Gospel. That said, I wouldn’t put it past DC editorial to have a Blue Beetle subplot that wraps up the Black Beetle/Hector idea.
June 21st, 2010 at 1:31 am
I’m not positive it’s him, the end of the Blue Beetle series hinted that one of Jaime’s former support crew took a scarab and either becomes, or creates the lineage that results in, the Black Beetle, due to hating & blaming Jaime for what happened to another member of the crew.
June 26th, 2010 at 9:08 am
would eventually end up as the Black Beetle. He did pick up a scarab after all. And in a previous Booster Gold issue where Jamie Reyes is roped in to help solve a crisis, only to discover the Black Beetle is an enemy rather than an ally, the Black Beetle leaves off by saying something along the lines of “If it weren’t for you, she wouldn’t have died.” She referring to Jaime’s other tech support who was killed in the KDRA incident