The Comic Grab Bag Part 4: Blue Beetle Issue #8

Blue Beetle Issue #8 (2006)

Background:

The Blue Beetle has an interesting history. Not only has the Blue Beetle mantle been passed around many times over the characters inception, it's also been licensed by different publishers.

Charles Nicholas Wojtkoski was the original artist for the Blue Beetle in a comic series that was published by Fox Comics in 1939. After Fox Comics went out of business, Charlton Comics picked him up and release a few issues up until 1968 until they ceased to publish the series. Finally, The Blue Beetle found his home with DC Comics after their acquisition (or CC sold their characters to DC. I'm not sure) of Charlton Comics around 1983.

The original Blue Beetle was Dan Garret. Dan Garrets father was a police officer who was killed by a criminal. Though being a patrol officer, Dan moonlighted as a vigilante before getting his super powers. Blue Beetle's powers (just super strength and stamina) came from an ingestion of the chemical "Vitamin 2X." Sadly, that's the best these guys could come up with. At least Spiderman had a radioactive spider bite him to get his powers. 

With WWII ending, Blue Beetle turned into a government agent and his powers expanded to keep up with the times. Later the publishers started to down play his superpowers and changed his style to a more film noir style with more emphasis on women and dark stories. After the 1940s ended, The Blue Beetle went on hiatus. 

 At some point in history, the mantle changed hands from Dan to his student, Ted Kord and a mystical scarab was introduced. The scarab infused with its host and granted them a suit with an exoskeleton and other various powers. The scarab can also sense danger and contact The Reach, some advanced alien race that goes around the universe giving other civilization cool technology.

In 2006, DC decided to diversify the Blue Beetle and transferred the mantle a one Jaime Reyes, a hispanic/latino teenager from El Paso, Texas. The scarab infuses in his skin, and much like Nightwatch, Jaime is very interested in learning about his suit and his powers. 

Plot:

In this issue, Jaime, his friend and some federal agent are on the trailer of the granddaughter of Dan Garret. From what I can gather, Jaime wants to be able to control the suit more so he can be able to protect the ones he knows and loves. 

Along the way through the country roads, the main villain of the comic is stalking the Blue Beetle. Apparently, this monster thinks that Jaime is a demon angel that he needs to kill so he can be saved. First of all, I honestly don't think demon angel makes any sense. How can you be a demon and an angel? This monster is messed up in his appearance and vocabulary. 

Anyways, the gang meets up with the granddaughter of Dan whose name is also Dan (short for "Danielle"). She's impressed to see the suit again and surprised with the new armor/look. She also provides a bit of history of the Blue Beetle and discusses her memories of her grandfather.  

Meanwhile, a fight breaks out in a church. The Monster first tries to ask for redemption from a preacher and then kills him. A cop comes by and tries to kill the monster but can't despite three shots to the chest/head. Blue Beetle flies in to save the day. 

One of the suits abilities is to remember past foes' weaknesses so they can be used to destroy them. Apparently, Jaime has seen this enemy before and the suit tries to kill the Monster. Jaime, however, won't allow the suit to do it. Yet the Monster seems to be too difficult to be taken down by regular means. So the federal agent makes some calls and throws a gallon of fluid at the Monster which knocks him out.

After some pretty funny banter about collateral damage and Mr. Black making a few calls, the story concludes with the gang finally getting back on the road. Their mission: to find The Peacemaker (no, not the missile.)

There is a side story with who I can only assume is Jaime's brother. He talks to a family friend at a restaurant and then overhears a couple talking about hacking and such. It leaves us off there without much else to go on. I guess this is setting up something in the future where Jaime's brother either joins the fight or needs to be saved. 

                                                

Review:

This is a pretty solid issue. The range of characters, although cliche, are very diverse and work well together. I mean they meet Danielle who instantly becomes part of the gang because of her relationship with the suit. Even though she is only a waypoint in their journey, the comic really seems to be progressing forward. Even the fight with the monster was significant in showing how Jaime is learning and working with the suit and his new found abilities. It also puts the relationship with his friends at the forefront. The team works together rather than just Blue Beetle doing everything himself. 

The dialogue is written pretty well, too. Jaime's relationship with his friends has the same type of humor that I would expect from Spider-man. Seeing this in the DC universe is pretty awesome. 

My only complaint was that the villain was pretty weak, but then again, he was only meant to be a side boss. His motives were slightly unclear, but I assume it's because there was another issue in the series that dealt with him. 

The art is pretty solid though nothing to write home about. Characters are all well drawn with full ranges of expression, though Mr. Black doesn't have any. It was a nice read all around. I personally think that the Blue Beetle suit is a bit silly looking.

All in all, I liked this comic. It has a nice Spider-man vibe mixed with a little Teen Titans. 

The Unique Thing:

The Monster drives a Jeep. Don't know how the gang didn't see it.