BOOSTER GOLD #21 REVIEW

[Walt Kneeland]

Review by: Walt Kneeland (walt.kneeland@gmail.com )
Quick Rating: Good/Solid
Story Title: Day of Death Part I of IV

Booster seeks the photos Batman had of his attempts to save Batgirl from the Joker; The new Blue Beetle 2nd feature sees Beetle face off with a giant robot.

Writer/Artist: Dan Jurgens
Finished Inks: Norm Rapmund
Coloring: Hi-Fi
Lettering: Sal Cipriano
Asst. Editor: Harvey Richards
Editor: Michael Siglain
Cover: Dan Jurgens and Norm Rapmund
Publisher: DC Comics

Booster finds himself rescuing civilians, and having to do so without proclaiming his identity (i.e. he is not Superman or Green Lantern saving people trapped in a falling elevator)--after all, he's supposed to be the greatest hero you've never heard of. When he realizes he doesn't really have anyone to talk to about the gig (something about his mentor, Rip, seems just a bit "off") he recalls Batman. But Batman's dead, so Booster figures he should retrieve the photos Batman had of him trying to save Barbara Gordon from the Joker. The trip to the Batcave results in Booster encountering the NEW Batman--and a new time emergency.

This issue is good just by comparison to the previous. Jurgens and Rapmund (and the rest of the creative team) make a great team for this book, both on story and visuals. Having created the character, Jurgens seems the best creator to do right by him and the status quo introduced with 52 and Geoff Johns' run on this book. Jurgens has provided the art for most of the book's run, and so his visual style is the standard I hold guest/other artists to. Given that, his work in this issue more than holds up to expectation.

I hadn't really thought about it until it was pointed out, but I really enjoy the fact that we continue to see the impact Batman has on Booster--theirs makes for an interesting sort of character relationship--but that despite the time-hopping, the fact that there is a new person under the cowl is already reflected in a book such as this makes it feel all the more a "shared universe" book--that this matters, because it's happening in the same continuity as the Bat-books.

This issue is as good as any to jump on-board with--it kicks off a new four-part story (rather than the typical 6 in many other comic series), has the primary creative team back in gear with an interesting premise and great art.

The main drawback? $3.99 for only 20 pages of Booster Gold instead of 22 pages. 'Course, after the last story-page for Booster, we move into the Second Feature of the book:


Blue Beetle

Story Title: Golden Child Part 1 of 3: Armor-Plated
Writer: Matthew Sturges
Penciller: Mike Norton
Inker: Norm Rapmund
Letters: Sal Cipriano
Colors: Guy Major
Assistant Editor: Harvey Richards
Editor: Michael Siglain

I have to admit up-front: offhand, the only issue of Blue Beetle featuring this iteration of the character that I've read was that issue with the Sinestro Corps War tie-in a couple years back, because I was interested in anything/everything related to that story at the time. However, I've seen some of this character in other books, so he's at least recognizeable.

This story sees the main charcter--Jaime Reyes--reflecting on how he came to be who/where he is as the Blue Beetle. Hanging out with friends, Jaime's downtime is interrupted by a giant robot attacking the city. While he battles the robot as Blue Beetle, his friends Paco and Brenda (who know of his dual identity) help out in their own capacity. The chapter ends on a typical sorta cliffhanger that is unshocking, but has its place.

Ten pages is a little short to really determine something's quality, especially as something clearly not even a full story, and being less than half a standard issue's size, really has quite a bit of ground to gain to really hold its own. However, I liked what I found here.

Sure, it's a bummer to be shorted a couple pages of Booster Gold...but while I was never moved to actually pick up the Blue Beetle solo title, I'm actually kinda interested in seeing what I discover about the character and supporting cast when the stuff's right in front of me within a comic I'm already reading.

Art's good, though the story's a bit generic...I expect it'll grow on me as I add more than these few pages to recent memory involving the characters.

Not being a longtime fan/follower of this version of the character, I can't speak to the exact "worth," but I doubt that $3.99 is worth it for one looking JUST for the Blue Beetle segment. However, as a companion story to Booster Gold AND being included with something I (for one) have already been reading...it makes that cover price worth it on the whole (as much as anything would).


Ratings (Booster Gold):

Story:
Art:

Ratings (Blue Beetle):

Story:
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Whole:


Buy BOOSTER GOLD comics online from X-World and save!

[B. Schatz]

Seriously? I wish that Booster Gold was a back-up in Blue Beetle. Because that comic is fun - where as Booster Gold was fun.

[Richard Davidson, Jr.]

As someone who is a fan of both characters, I love the fact that they are both in the same book. I read the Blue Beetle's previous book and was really sad to see it end. At least this book (along with his appearances in the current run of Teen Titans) gives the character publishing space to hopefully gain more of an appreciative audience.