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"!

Captain Atom #084 (1966)

Under the creative eyes of Steve Ditko and Gary Friedrich, and editor Dick Giordano, the second Blue Beetle was born as a back up feature in Charlton Comics' "Captain Atom". Today, let's take a look at the second adventure of everyone's favorite Beetle!

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!

Extreme Justice #0

Ah the 90's...when everything was extreme! Sports were extreme, snack foods were extreme, even our heroes were extreme. Spinning out of the Justice League crossover event "Judgement Day", which saw Booster Gold critically injured and placed inside an exo-suit and Ice killed by the villain Overmaster, Captain Atom pulled together a team of heroes intent on being proactive rather than reactive! Written by Dan Vado, penciled by Marc Campos and inked by Ken Branch, things started in Extreme Justice #0 "With A Bang"

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: 1st Thursday with Art Baltazar

It's time for another thrilling Blue Beetle: 1st Thursday this month with Art Baltazar! I found this one over at ComicArtFans! It's a two for one...Jaime and Ted!

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: 1st Thursday with Kevin Maguire

It's time for another thrilling Blue Beetle: 1st Thursday this month with Kevin Maguire! This one came from ComicArtFans, and seemed fitting...after all it's February, the month we celebrate Bromance! And what better way to do that than with a pic of Blue & Gold by the one and only Kevin Maguire? 

Bwahahahaha!

Enjoy!

Captain Atom #083 (1966)

Beetlemaniacs...we're going back in time! Travel with me back to 1966! Star Trek and Batman were hits on TV. The USA and the USSR were racing to space...and Charlton Comics was about to launch a character that would go down as one of the greatest superheroes ever! Under the creative eyes of Steve Ditko and Gary Friedrich, and appearing as a back-up story in Captain Atom #083. Wait...I know what you're thinking..."Didn't you already post the first Blue Beetle story?" Yes I did, back in May of 2013, just a few months into this blog...but they were low resolution files I'd found online, and were offered with little context and no commentary...so...here's the first adventure of everyone's favorite Beetle...Ted Kord! 

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"

If At First You Don't Succeed...!

This is it Beetlemaniacs, the end of DC's 1986 "Blue Beetle" run! We've had joy, we've had fun, we've had seasons in the sun...but this is it! Len Wein, Don Heck and Danny Bulanadi are back for the final issue, #24, and as we saw last issue, Carapax is here to make sure Ted gets the send off he deserves in a story called "If At First You Don't Succeed...!"

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: 1st Thursday with Luke Daab

I know I said I was taking some time off this month...but this was way too good to hold back! The multi-talented Luke Daab (seriously....you should hear him sing!) recently mentioned drawing Blue Beetle on Facebook, and why he hadn't done it sooner. I replied, wondering why I hadn't asked for a commission from him sooner myself...after all, I do run a Blue Beetle blog! I messaged him and BOOM! The result is below! 

Pretty fantastic huh?  Want to see more of Luke's work, maybe commission something yourself? Check him out at Daab Creative, and on Patreon! You'll be glad you did!

Don't Get Mad, Get Even!

This is it Beetlemaniacs, the penultimate issue of the 1986 run! Only one issue to go after this! Len Wein, Don Heck and Danny Bulanadi are here for issue #23, and we even get two returning rogues as part of the big send off! Sit back and enjoy "Don't Get Mad, Get Even!"

Blue Beetle: 1st Thursday with the Fraim Brothers and the Question!

It's time for another thrilling Blue Beetle: 1st Thursday this month with Brendon and Brian Fraim! They brought along a friend too...the Question! This is another piece I stumbled on over at ComicArtFans.

Enjoy!

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!"

A Question of Time!

How do you follow the "excitement" that was the crossover event "Millenium"? Time travel! That's right, Chronos is back and the only one who can stop him is Blue Beetle! Len Wein, Ross Andru and Danny Bulanadi are back for issue #22, and with a story so big they brought in Jean-Marc and Randy Lofficier (credited as RJM Lofficier) and the great Gil Kane to help with a story called "A Question of Time!"