Blue Beetle #9 (2016)

"Jaime Reyes: Reluctant Wielder of the Power of the Blue Beetle Scarab. Ted Kord: Billionaire Industrialist and Sidelined Superhero. Together They Are The Blue Beetle...Whether They Like It Or Not." Last issue Arion crushed Dr. Fate, the people of El Paso began turning into monsters like the Horde, OMAC showed up, and Jaime donned Ted's old costume! Keith Giffen, Scott Kolins, and J.M. DeMatteis are back for issue #9 and a story called "Life, Death and Absolute Chaos"!

Blue Beetle #8 (2016)

"Jaime Reyes: Reluctant Wielder of the Power of the Blue Beetle Scarab. Ted Kord: Billionaire Industrialist and Sidelined Superhero. Together They Are The Blue Beetle...Whether They Like It Or Not." Last issue Ted was back in action to rescue a helpless Jaime, while Doctor Fate battled a power crazed Arion! Keith Giffen and Scott Kolins are back, and this time with J.M. DeMatteis and a story called "Transformations"!

Blue Beetle #7 (2016)

"Jaime Reyes: Reluctant Wielder of the Power of the Blue Beetle Scarab. Ted Kord: Billionaire Industrialist and Sidelined Superhero. Together They Are The Blue Beetle...Whether They Like It Or Not." Last issue Jaime's soul was torn from his body so the creature in the crypt could take control of the scarab...and then Dr. Fate showed up! Keith Giffen and Scott Kolins are back, and I hope it's with some answers, with issue #7 and a story called "Risen!

Blue Beetle #6 (2016)

"Jaime Reyes: Reluctant Wielder of the Power of the Blue Beetle Scarab. Ted Kord: Billionaire Industrialist and Sidelined Superhero. Together They Are The Blue Beetle...Whether They Like It Or Not." Last issue Mordecai showed up, went after Jaime's mother, and all hell broke loose! Keith Giffen and Scott Kolins are back for round 2 with issue #6 and a story called "Fury!"

Blue Beetle #5 (2016)

"Jaime Reyes: Reluctant Wielder of the Power of the Blue Beetle Scarab. Ted Kord: Billionaire Industrialist and Sidelined Superhero. Together They Are The Blue Beetle...Whether They Like It Or Not." Last issue we got some teasing glimpses at the origins of the Blue Beetles, and learned that Dan Garrett was once in possession of the scarab, and had a run in with Dr. Fate...though it's unclear if he was a hero himself. Keith Giffen and Scott Kolins are back with issue #5 and a story called "The Best Laid Plans..."

Blue Beetle #4 (2016)

"Jaime Reyes: Reluctant Wielder of the Power of the Blue Beetle Scarab. Ted Kord: Billionaire Industrialist and Sidelined Superhero. Together They Are The Blue Beetle...Whether They Like It Or Not." Previously, a sleep-flying Jaime encountered a group of creatures called the Horde, learned about Dr. Fate's warning regarding the nature of the scarab, and reluctantly agreed to submit to additional tests by Ted and Teri Magnus. Keith Giffen and Scott Kolins are back with issue #4 and a story called "My Not So Secret Origin"

Blue Beetle #3 (2016)

"Jaime Reyes: Reluctant Wielder of the Power of the Blue Beetle Scarab. Ted Kord: Billionaire Industrialist and Sidelined Superhero. Together They Are The Blue Beetle...Whether They Like It Or Not." Previously, Ted, Jaime and the Posse had been investigating the strange circumstances surrounding the disappearance of several local teens. The search led them to mysterious holes at the homes of each teen but not much else. Keith Giffen and Scott Kolins are back with issue #3 and a story called "Night Terrors!"

Jaime is asleep, but the scarab is not. It carries him through the streets, and powers up his armor before taking him into one of the mystery holes. 

When he wakes he finds himself face to face with an army of green insect-like beings. He barely has time to process what's happening and how he got here before the creatures attack! Not only that, they do something that has never happened before...they break the armor! One of them grabs our hero, and he hears it in his head. They are the Horde, they're doing their master's bidding, and they want Jaime to know despair.

He reacts, creating a huge wrecking ball of energy, taking out several of the Horde. One manages to grab him though, but the scarab creates an explosion that knocks them away. It's then that Jaime realizes two things; he's not in control, the scarab is, and there's a giant object that's been revealed...like a huge sarcophagus. And then...he goes unconscious. The scarab flies him out of the hole just as a blast of energy seems to seal it shut. Reluctantly, Jaime heads to see Ted for advice.

A half naked Jaime approaches Ted at a Kord construction site and fills in the "sidelined superhero" on the previous night's adventure. After giving Jaime a Kord sweatshirt, the duo discuss a warning from Dr. Fate. 

Ted explains that the scarab got Fate's attention, and even hints that Fate may be scared of it. He hesitates to say more but, at Jaime's insistence, gives all the details. Dr. Fate believes the scarab is using Jaime as a vessel. He said the scarab was "damaged", that it will act if they don't do something...and even suggests killing Jaime to prevent that from happening! Hearing this only makes Jaime more desperate to have the scarab removed! They need additional tests before they can attempt to remove it, and that's something Ted says they'll work on. He'll have Ms. Magnus to set up the tests. Ms.Teri Magnus though is currently occupied. She's meeting with a pair of private investigators...Sugar and Spike!

Jaime finally arrives at school, late, earning him a spot in detention. He catches up with Paco who reassures him it isn't all bad...while a mystery girl watches from a distance.

On the way home Jaime stops by his father's garage. Their conversation starts as a continuation of the "Mom shouldn't be providing health care to the Posse", but quickly turns into "I'm afraid I may be losing control of the scarab." He relates the recent events to his father, including the talk he had with Ted and the upcoming tests with Ms. Magnus. Mr. Reyes advises Jaime to talk to his mother, and suggests she could even sit in on the tests if Jaime would like. 

From there Jaime heads off to talk to Brenda. He fills her in on everything too, and gets invited by her aunt to stay for dinner.

Finally, at El Paso International Airport, an armored green figure, similar in appearance to the Horde, walks through the crowd. A young boy runs from his mother, bumping into the being who turns...now looking like a normal, slightly evil, man. 

The mother makes the boy apologize, which the man accepts before walking away and calling the boy an "impudent whelp" at which point the child collapses bleeding from his eyes and nose!

Once again, more questions than answers...but darn this new series is fun! Well, maybe not fun...not this issue anyway. More like dramatic, heart wrenching, mysterious! The Horde? Dr. Fate's cryptic warnings? The mystery man at the airport? All very intriguing! The emotional weight of Jaime's response to Ted's story about Dr. Fate? The desperation to have the scarab removed? Visiting his friends and family like he's walking to his own death sentence? Powerful stuff! And Sugar and Spike? Seriously? Sugar and Spike! When I met Keith Giffen at the Baltimore Comic Con this year he told me they would show up...but not as private investigators! Ok, that was fun...and mysterious...can't wait to see the next issue! Especially considering it promises to be "The Origin of the Blue Beetles!"

Blue Beetle #2 (2016)

U"Jaime Reyes: Reluctant Wielder of the Power of the Blue Beetle Scarab. Ted Kord: Billionaire Industrialist and Sidelined Superhero. Together They Are The Blue Beetle...Whether They Like It Or Not." Keith Giffen and Scott Kolins are back with issue #2 and a story called "Blurred"

Blue Beetle #1 (2016)

Following on the heels of "DC Universe: Rebirth", and "Blue Beetle: Rebirth" comes "Blue Beetle" #1! That's right Beetlemaniacs, Jaime and Ted are back! In fact, as the first page banner declares "Jaime Reyes: Reluctant Wielder of the Power of the Blue Beetle Scarab. Ted Kord: Billionaire Industrialist and Sidelined Superhero. Together They Are The Blue Beetle...Whether They Like It Or Not." Keith Giffen and Scott Kolins are back with a story called "Deja Vu Blue"

Blue Beetle: Rebirth

Well Beetlemaniacs, my apologies if you were expecting the next chapter in the adventures of Jaime Reyes...I decided to postpone that post to cover "Blue Beetle: Rebirth" instead...which is, uh, and adventure of Jaime Reyes and his mentor Ted Kord! Yes, this is the moment we've been waiting for...I think. A version of Ted Kord was last seen at the close of "Forever Evil", and Jaime Reyes has been MIA since, well, if you don't count brief appearances during "Futures End" and "Convergence", the ending of "Threshold". So lets see what's up as Keith Giffen and Scott Kolins bring us "Will the Real Blue Beetle Please Die!"

Should've Taken That Last Turn at Albuquerque...

Last month, Jaime's friend Brenda was missing after playing with a mysterious box she found in her aunt La Dama's house. Was it a Lament Configuration? Has she been sent to meet Pinhead and the Cenobites? Keith Giffen, John Rogers and Cully Hamner are here to reveal her fate, in issue #10..."Should've Taken That Last Turn at Albuquerque..."

Inside Man

Last issue Jaime, Brenda and Peacemaker took a road trip to meet Dan Garrett's granddaughter, Danielle. We got a peek at the Blue Beetle legacy, saw the return of Bottom Feeder, and saw just how connected Peacemaker still is. Well, now Keith Giffen, John Rogers and Duncan Rouleau are back to peel back a few more layers of this story with issue #9, "Inside Man"!

Road Trip

Last issue Jaime and his family took a trip out into the desert to try to uncover what happened to him on his first night as Blue Beetle. It was...quite sad actually, even if it did explain a few things and confirm what Peacemaker had been saying about the scarab being alien tech. Well, now Keith Giffen, John Rogers and Cully Hamner are back with the next chapter in the story of Jaime Reyes. Here's issue #8, "Road Trip"!

"Secrets: Part Two"

Last issue Jaime helped save Alina, the daughter of Damper and Bonita of the meta-human gang the Posse. Keith Giffen, John Rogers continue weaving tales of the Blue Beetle, with Cynthia Martin and Kevin J. West on pencils, and Philip Moy and Jack Purcell on inks.

Part two picks up a little while after the events of part one. Peacemaker scouts an area outside a mysterious compound in the desert, noting that someone has already been there and disabled several pieces of security equipment. Who would have done this? Blue Beetle and the Posse! Jaime has used the scarab to track Bonita & Damper's baby here. Wait, what? I thought Peacemaker saved the baby from Bottom Feeder last issue? Hmmm...anyway, Paco stays behind with the jeep, as Jaime and the Posse (Damper, Thumper and Pinata) plan their attack on the compound. Using Damper's cloaking ability the team sneaks inside only to find...it's actually a peaceful metahuman community! Well, a highly secure, but peaceful community...under lock down. Things seem to be going well on their little recon mission, until an alarm sounds. 

Makes sense that a gated community of metas would be able to detect other metas. Once they get spotted it's time for a super-powered throwdown! Damper demands to know where his baby daughter is, but never gets an answer. One meta inside, a girl named Spinner, has the power to swap peoples power. She grabs Thumper and Pinata, and neither one can control the other ones power. Thumper blows up, Pinata bounces uncontrollably, and chaos ensues. 

Jaime activates the scarab and Blue Beetle steps in to even the odds. 

At that same time, Paco (who had waited behind with the jeep) is surprised by armed guards on motorcycles and a chase ensues! When he looses control and finds himself on foot, it's Peacemaker who shows up to save the day!

Back at the meta-community it's "Headmaster" begins leeching energy from nearby guards to grow tentacles and lash out at Blue Beetle. 

It looks like Jaime may be in trouble, until he figures out that if he keeps the Headmaster away from a power source he'll go down easy. That's when our hero snatches the man up and takes him high into the sky...and that's where the Phantom Stranger makes his return! Apparently there was some sort of magical shield around the place that blocked the Stranger...until Jaime flew above it. They return to the compound, in time to see two things...the Posse surrounded by guards, and duh-duh-dunn...Brenda's aunt Tia Amparo, finally revealed as the mysterious La Dama! 

Probe makes a return as well, to explain that she's here by her own choice. The compound is a safe place for metas, a place where they can learn from each other without fear or persecution. Blue Beetle and the Posse don't see it quite that way. The Phantom Stranger says Jaime led him to "her" (La Dama) and something about a new age of magic. The Stranger confronts her and they debate whether she's breaking some kind of truce by hiding the metas. She says she's not hiding them, she's protecting them...besides they're free to come and go as they please. Phantom Stranger seems satisfied, for now, and disappears. La Dama then pulls Jaime into a private meeting to tell him he'd better not mess up her plans, or hurt anyone she cares about, namely Brenda. She also admits she killed Brenda's abusive dad to protect her niece... implying she'd do the same to Jaime. He takes her threat, and ups his...if she messes with him, he'll come back at her. So they agree to a truce...and then Peacemaker busts in with Paco informing Jaime that the scarab isn't magical...it's alien!

Now, it took me a while to come around and enjoy Jaime's adventures, being a dyed in the wool Ted fan. That said I've been enjoying this "new" Blue Beetle...until now. This issue left me very confused. Things happened quickly, and seemingly out of sequence. The last time we saw Alina, the baby, Peacemaker "saved" her during the fight with Bottom Feeder...how'd she end up in La Dama's compound? The Posse arrives looking for Damper's baby, and then not only don't they find her, but they never mention her again the dust clears. Stories like this always make me wonder, "what happened?" Did an editor step in and force a shift in the story, derailing the writer's original intent? Here's hoping things get cleared up a bit next month.

"Secrets: Part One"

Last issue Jaime revealed his powers to his friend Brenda, then rescued her and his buddy Paco from Groot-like creatures before calling for a meeting with the Mexican meta-human gang known as the Posse. Now Keith Giffen, John Rogers, and Duncan Rouleau take us for that south of the border meeting, in "Blue Beetle" #5!

While waiting at a bus stop for Paco, Jaime is approached by "a stranger". The stranger seems to know Jaime, and even knows about the scarab! Removing his sunglasses to reveal his pupil-less eyes, he tells Jaime he's there to determine if the boy is part of the "new age of magic". He's not, but he is tied to another's fate. With that cryptic message delivered the man stands to leave, revealing himself to be the Phantom Stranger!

Paco arrives, with Posse member Damper in tow, and the trio cross the border into Mexico. Cloaked by Damper's powers they make their way to the Posse's headquarters. Damper makes it clear that after their last meeting, several members are not to happy about the meeting with Jaime. Bonita, Damper's girlfriend, was pregnant with their child...and Jaime, unable to control the armor at that time, broker her arm. They think he's crazy. It doesn't help that neither Paco or Damper saw the Phantom Stranger. They figured Jaime was talking to himself. To make matters worse they don't hear the scarab either. 

As they walk, a mysterious figure alerts Diviner that the "target is alone". Diviner was out for Jaime last issue...looks like he's after someone else now.

Back home Brenda enjoys a nice lunch out with her aunt (secretly La Dama). It's seems like friendly conversation, but she's trying to get info out of Brenda...info on Jaime. 

In a dark alley, Diviner makes a deal with Bottom Feeder, a hulking Quasimodo type who is constantly going on about good and evil, angels and demons. La Dama wants Damper and Bonita's baby, a rare child of two magic based meta-humans, and Diviner is outsourcing the job to Bottom Feeder. 

At Posse HQ, Jaime is upset to learn that Probe (the no eyed girl from issue #2) isn't around. She disappeared after their last encounter, another reason the Posse aren't huge fans of Blue Beetle. Part of the reason he asked for this meeting was in hopes she could help him. At that moment, Bonita bursts in! Someone took her baby, Alina! Jaime offers to find the child, using the scarab's ability to home in on its DNA. 

He quickly tracks Bottom Feeder to a bridge near the border, but zealot that he his the behemoth thinks Blue Beetle is a demon and panics. He throws the baby into traffic, as a sacrifice to save his own skin. 

Jaime manages to save the baby just as Bottom Feeder is hit by a truck, causing a multi-car pile-up! Bystanders ask for Blue Beetle's help, but Bottom Feeder is back on his feet and looking for a fight now. Beetle can't fight and carry a baby! Luckily, our tattooed motorcycle riding Peacemaker happens onto the scene and grabs the baby. 

Bottom Feeder is a truly odd character, who isn't fighting to win...no, he wants Blue Beetle to kill him so he can "die in combat in the name of my lord." Jaime holds back, as the scarab and Bottom Feeder urge him to fight to the death, before unleashing a huge energy blast that throws the villain into the river below...just as Paco, led by a news helicopter, arrives on the scene.

Well...that was...interesting. Another issue that was full of character and story development, but a little light on the heroics. That said...when the heroics did kick in, it was 8 pages of action! What happens next? Check back next month for part two of "Secrets"!

Justice League 3000 #12

"Blue Beetle and Booster Gold are back!" screams the cover of "Justice League 3000" #12, "But for how long?!" Let's take a peek at what the old JLI team of Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis, with Howard Porter on art, have in store for our heroes...

Issue #11, ended with the discovery of Blue Beetle and Booster Gold's cryogenic frozen bodies being found by a construction crew. This issue opens with Ted waking up from a dream where he and Booster were in suspended animation for 1,000 years. He stumbles from bed, only to discover...it wasn't a dream! A little while later the Blue & Gold duo meet with Sheriff Tariq, of the prison planet they've now found themselves on. They have no memory of how they got frozen and buried, let alone how they ended up on a prison planet. As Ted says, "They really screwed the pooch." The last thing either one recalls is a surprise birthday for Ralph (Dibny, the Elongated Man), and Max (Lord) yelling at them. The Sheriff hopes they can help fill in some blanks in history, the 31st centuries records are a bit spotty...all they know of Beetle and Booster is that they had connections to a vigilante group known as "Super Buddies". The Sheriff leaves them to get settled but asks that they stay close...and in classic Blue & Gold fashion they immediately decided to run off and explore. What could go wrong?

At Cadmusworld, Terry (who looks like Jack Frost from "Rise of the Guardians") and Convert (a pink skinned alien) debate the pros and cons of letting "Beagle and Buster" roam free. 

Convert argues that their knowledge of the 21st Century could be beneficial. Terry's not convinced though, not until Convert adds that they were once members of Justice League International!

Meanwhile, as Booster and Ted explore their surroundings, realizing this prison city is actually a future version of New York. Ted figures that if he can find the remains of Kord Industries' New York office, they may be able to escape. 

Convert (?) reappears, this time as a blue skinned alien woman, to stir up some trouble. Seems there's already a "Blue Beetle" running around this prison world! The son of one of the workers who built this prison found some "ruins"...so the son decided to don the costume and run around the prison world capturing criminals. Convert says it's amused them up to this point, but he needs to leave Beetle and Booster alone. Problem is, he doesn't like someone else running around in "his" costume.

Wonder Woman blows off some steam slaughtering demons. While Batman, Superman, Flash and Green Lantern discuss what to do with their new castle, a gift from King Arthur. Wait, what?! I definitely need to catch up on this book!

Back on prison world, Beetle and Booster find Kord Industries...and Ted's stash! While they joke about Ted getting all his money from his dad, and Booster getting his by marrying older women, the super duo miss the fact that they're being watched. Booster does suddenly realize that he's missing his Legion flight ring, though. He also notices a booby trap! Someone else has been here before them! Ted's a little less concerned...especially when he spots his beloved BUG! And someone has done some upgrades on it, and cleaned it...and claimed it as their own! "There's only room for one Blue Beetle in this city" he declares, descending on our heroes in some kind of Doc Ock looking harness. 

Beetle and Booster get in a few punches before Booster calls for a retreat. They're out gunned! This impostor has a technological advantage. Ted doesn't want to leave though..."But it's MY STUFF!" Before he can convince Booster that they should stay and fight, the fight comes to them! The impostor gives chase in the upgraded BUG.

Quick note/confession...I haven't been reading "Justice League 3000". I did pick up the trade (containing issues 1-7) but haven't finished reading it yet, and issues #11&12. I'm familiar enough with the concept (imperfect genetic duplicates of the JLA set in the 31st century) but maybe not the intricacies. So if you are...and I stumbled or misread/misinterpreted something, please help me out by leaving a comment to fill me in. With that said, having read this issue it's probably not that big of a deal, as this focuses mainly on Beetle and Booster. I do plan to read the trade and catch up though, because what I saw here was very cool!

"Person of Interest"

After rescuing his friend Paco, and reuniting with his friend Brenda last issue, things seem to skip ahead a bit this issue as Keith Giffen, John Rogers, and Cully Hamner return to weave another tale of our insect hero, in "Blue Beetle" #4!

When we rejoin Jaime he's unpacking boxes in his room and searching his computer for info on the Blue Beetles that came before him. Dan Garrett, powers but no armor. Ted Kord, no powers and no armor. Before he gets much further his search is interrupted by a very special instant message. "Welcome to the club, Jaime. I'm called Oracle." 

Their exchange is short though. Jaime is suspicious, and not impressed. And when when she mentions that they don't want him to go through this alone. "You already left me alone! Superman and Batman and all the rest took me into space, had me fight a giant satellite, and then abandoned me up there!"  he says as he blasts his computer. It's probably for the best...he's got to go to a doctor's appointment. His mom, still confused and concerned about everything, has scheduled a check-up for her son. The doctor says Jaime is in perfect health, and the x-rays are clear (not even a hint of the scarab). Mom's still not sold, but they head home...and catch the eye of the Peacemaker. 

Brenda's aunt, La Dama, wants the "magic" of Blue Beetle and sends one of her henchman "the Diviner" to find him. Unfortunately the Diviner finds his prey as Jaime, Paco and Benda are walking home from school. It complicates things...he can't attack the Blue Beetle outright now, so he plans to send one of his own surrogates to do the job. The three teens make their way to a park, away from anyone else, so Jaime can show Brenda what he's become. First though he asks them if they know what happened to his dad while he was away? Turns out, his dad was shot trying to protect Luis, one of the guys that worked at his garage. While they discuss this, Diviner summons a couple angry Groot looking creatures. 

Brenda gets to see what Jaime wanted to show her, as he armors up to take on the creatures, while Diviner attempts to look like a hero stepping in to "save" La Dama's niece. 

The scarab resists harming the trees, until Jaime insists on taking control. Using the scarab, Blue Beetle traces the source of this magic back to it's source and ends it with a blast from his armor! The Diviner slinks away, as the teens discuss what happened. Jaime is tired of feeling out of control. He wants answers, and he asks Paco to contact the Posse for assistance!

Another pretty solid issue. I admit, I was a little resistant to Jaime, being a loyal Ted fan, but the kid is growing on me...thanks largely to the way Giffen and Rogers have developed him and his supporting cast. I hope you're all enjoying this ride with me! 

Blue & Gold 3000

Just saw this over at CBR and again on Newsarama and had to share!

We've heard this was coming (here), but the new CBR article teases just a little more detail, and has this quote...

"The last time we saw Beetle and Booster, we ended with, 'and they lived Bwa-ha-happily ever after.' This is basically -- look, if you want to call it a certain universe, then think of it this way: If we did another Justice League series like 'I Can't Believe It's Not the Justice League' or 'Formerly Known as the Justice League,' this is the third one. No tricks here. This is J.M. DeMatteis' and my version of Blue Beetle and Booster Gold."

So this is JLI Blue & Gold...a follow-up of sorts to the more recent (more recent than the original run that is) JLI stories like "I Still Can't Believe..." and "Formerly Known as..."?! Color me blue with excitement! 

Blue Beetle 3000?

So, just saw this over on Bleeding Cool and figured I'd better share it here!

According to a Keith Giffen interview at Newsarama, "Justice League 3000"'s status quo is due for a shake up soon...and Rich Johnston at Bleeding Cool thinks this could mean the arrival of Blue Beetle and Booster Gold! 

Keep your fingers crossed Beetlemaniacs! 

"The Past Is Another Country"

Jaime Reyes had been missing for a year, but for him no time has passed. So why is his family so surprised to see him? Keith Giffen and John Rogers return to weave another tale of our insect hero, with Cynthia Martin on pencils, and Philip Moy on inks, for "Blue Beetle" #3!

This issue opens, not with Jaime and his family, but at an out of the way gas station mini mart. Inside a lone military man thwarts an attempted robbery. Not because he's a hero, but because he's "dreaming the blue dreams and following the trail." Apparently he has a friend in the area, a friend who "just doesn't know it yet."

Meanwhile, back at the Reyes house in El Paso, Jaime tries to account for the missing time. "No, I helped Superman. It was the crazy Green Lantern who tried to kill me, after. The the redneck trucker gave me free pants." Needless to say, they don't believe him. Not until he suits up that is. Then his sister, Milagro, screams and runs, quickly followed by his mother. Oddly, or maybe comfortingly, his dad takes it all in stride. He'll talk things over with Jaime's mother, for now though it's best if Jaime leaves...his dad hands him a cell phone, saying he'll call Jaime when everything is ok.

Jaime heads off into town, exploring his new powers. "I can fly. That's got to count for something." Landing on a rooftop, he asks the scarab to show him a few more features. It turns on something akin to Superman's super hearing and telescopic vision, before creating shields, swords, the jaws of life, and energy blasts! Not too shabby! It then reveals another trick...when transforming back into plain old Jaime, the scarab can create clothes! "Now you show me this...yes it would have been useful." Jaime leaves to look for his friends, Paco and Brenda...but accidentally leaves the phone behind.

Unable to find them at school, and seeing Brenda's old house for sale, Jaime's not sure where to look. Until the scarab reveals another trick...it can track anybody Jaime's met since the scarab bonded with him. It seems Paco is at the border to Mexico with Damper, of the Posse, and they're being trailed by some guys who look like they belong with Will Smith in "Men In Black". They're working for someone called "La Dama"

Apparently La Dama wants them to bring in a member of the Posse, and Damper fits the bill. Luckily for Paco, and Damper, the scarab has led Jaime to them in the nick of time as the MIBs prepare to fire some energy weapons. Blue Beetle makes the save, creating a shield to block the blasts. 

A brief fight ensues, but gets interupted by the appearance of Homeland Security. Jaime grabs Paco and takes to the air, presumably leaving Damper to fend for himself and fade from sight. They head to Juarez, Mexico as Jaime explains that the night Booster Gold grabbed him and took him to space, "That big fight is the last thing I remember."* Paco fills Jaime in on somethings. Brenda's dad died in a DUI, but no great loss...he was beating her! Luckily, her aunt took her in and she's now living in a big mansion in Juarez. Brenda gives Jaime a punch "for making me worry!", but follows it up with a hug...curiously, La Dama, is watching nearby!

I have to say, the tattoo on the guy at the mini mart, "Peacemaker" got me curious and I did a little search. That gentleman dreaming "blue dreams" is none other than Christopher Smith, the Peacemaker, as in Charlton Action Hero the Peacemaker! Looking forward to seeing where that goes! Lastly, I need to acknowledge Cynthia Martin and Philip Moy's art...it is gorgeous and flows almost seamlessly with with Cully Hamner's work on the previous two issues!

*Infinite Crisis