Blue Beetle #8 (Spoilers)

[DWEarhart]

Keith Giffen and John Rogers co-wrote. Keith will leave, his last issue being #10, with John Rogers taking over fully. What’s going to change? Not much, I’d say.

Cully Hamner and Casey Jones worked together on the art. One good thing this book has done is keep the art consistent, following Cully’s style by artists compromising and learning it as they do fill in issues.

The cast is starting to connect, and the page pairings of them are great to test the chemistry between all of them, seeing who works best with whom. They are exposed significantly; they’re not left back at the front.

It was a pleasure meeting Danielle Garrett. The suit even considers her a threat. I like her conflicted view on Ted Kord. Not all smiles when his name is mentioned.

Great re-telling of Dan Garrett’s transformation into Blue Beetle. The scarab never spoke to him until the day he died, and now it speaks all the time to Jaime. And, she claims that the scarab, embedded in Jaime’s spine is her property.

The new villain just isn’t clicking. There is no rhythm in the fight scene between B.Beetle and this religious zealot, hunchback of Notre Dame thing, it’s just one pose after another. Would look good for an internet trailer, but not for most of the page in a book.

This book harkens back to adventure in comics, when it’s not about the big event anymore, or the next crossover. This is about adventure, finding their place in the thick of everything when their own personal life won’t even slow down just enough to touch clarity. By look and feel, this reminds me of Sean McKeever and Mike Norton would work on, and I’ll point out Gravity for people who think otherwise.

Cully Hamner will be leaving as well. Replacing him is Rafael Albuquerque, and here are some samples of his work. Still keeping that lively tone set by Hamner.

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/Beetle/Albuquerque/blue_beetle_t.jpg

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/Beetle/Albuquerque/rafa_al_bb01_t.jpg

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/Beetle/Albuquerque/01_t.jpg



Blue Beetle is a comic book and is not trying to be anything else. I really contemplated dropping it, but all of these changes make me want to hold on a bit longer because I believe they’ll be beneficial for the character.

[SKETCHSANCHEZ]

I loved this issue, I hope things dont change with the new team too much, because I've been digging the title since about issue 3 or 4 (cant remember)

I loved the line Jaime says to Danielle, something like (i dont have the issue right infront of me) "It also says you're a threat and that I should kill you right now."

To me, it's really interesting that this scarab is apparently a no-nonsence killer but it's bound by this boy.

[Jack Zodiac]

So Dan has a grand daughter who's interested in getting back the scarab? Nifty. It's awesome to see how Charlton continuity is being worked into this new universe. And now I'm waiting to see how this new Peacemaker connects to the last Peacemaker somehow, considering that one had his chest blown out by Prometheus during the Crisis.

The book's doing much better. Notice, though, that the last few issues have been great, and curiously devoid of The Posse. :p

[the chosen one]

the scarab spoke to Dan in that issue of Blue Beetle Post -COIE? I have that issue back home in my parent's house. I have to check that out.

[Magneto_X]

So Dan has a grand daughter who's interested in getting back the scarab? Nifty. It's awesome to see how Charlton continuity is being worked into this new universe. And now I'm waiting to see how this new Peacemaker connects to the last Peacemaker somehow, considering that one had his chest blown out by Prometheus during the Crisis.


The current Peacemaker is actually Christopher Smith---who was the original Peacemaker.

The one in Infinite Crisis was the third Peacemaker.

chosen one:

Sounds like a retcon to me. Unless I'm mistaken. I don't have any issues with the original Blue Beetle. :(

[Jack Zodiac]

The current Peacemaker is actually Christopher Smith---who was the original Peacemaker.

Huh? When did we findout this Peacemaker is the original Peacemaker? Hell, he's even using the last guy's name.

[Jack Zodiac]

the scarab spoke to Dan in that issue of Blue Beetle Post -COIE? I have that issue back home in my parent's house. I have to check that out.

I thought it spoke to Ted and offered him some kind of robotic suit as well, since Ted was a tech guru and it would've fit him better than shooting lightning and flying.

[DWEarhart]

I recall Garrett being unable to pass the mystical portions over, but he had already deamed Ted with the mantle and responsibility.

I'm looking forward to finding out what really bugs Danielle about Ted Kord. She was respectful, but demonstrative with her sour view. Maybe it's from seeing her grandfather dying twice, and the last one involved a fight between Dan and Ted.

That's still a treasure in my collection.

[Will.S]

Cully Hamner will be leaving as well. Replacing him is Rafael Albuquerque, and here are some samples of his work. Still keeping that lively tone set by Hamner.

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/Beetle/Albuquerque/blue_beetle_t.jpg

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/Beetle/Albuquerque/rafa_al_bb01_t.jpg

http://www.newsarama.com/dcnew/Beetle/Albuquerque/01_t.jpg

Damn, it sucks that Cully's leaving but this guy seems to have the perfect style to keep the consistency of the art top notch.

I liked the issue but I actually enjoyed #7 a bit more because of the revisiting of Infinite Crisis and the reveal of where Blue Beetle was during OYL. This particular issue's good hook was recapping the Blue Beetle legacy using Danielle Garret. It was kind of funny seeing how much bias the character had towards Ted Kord Blue Beetle although it's not really that surprising either.

As for the recurring "religious" hunchback villain, I too tire of his use. He actually sort of reminded me of Etrigan the Demon in some of the design sense but otherwise I hope this will be his last appearance for a while.

I'm interested to see where they go with Peacemaker. It seems like Giffen and Rogers might either mix the Christopher Smith and Mitchel Black characters into one (like Superman MoS and Birthright origins) or Chris is just using the Mitchel Black identity but we'll see.

[Froggy]

good issue, but my fav issue still is the one wtih that meta-gang

[DWEarhart]

Damn, it sucks that Cully's leaving but this guy seems to have the perfect style to keep the consistency of the art top notch.

I liked the issue but I actually enjoyed #7 a bit more because of the revisiting of Infinite Crisis and the reveal of where Blue Beetle was during OYL. This particular issue's good hook was recapping the Blue Beetle legacy using Danielle Garret. It was kind of funny seeing how much bias the character had towards Ted Kord Blue Beetle although it's not really that surprising either.

As for the recurring "religious" hunchback villain, I too tire of his use. He actually sort of reminded me of Etrigan the Demon in some of the design sense but otherwise I hope this will be his last appearance for a while.

I'm interested to see where they go with Peacemaker. It seems like Giffen and Rogers might either mix the Christopher Smith and Mitchel Black characters into one (like Superman MoS and Birthright origins) or Chris is just using the Mitchel Black identity but we'll see.

I've dug Cully's work so far. He did real good work on Batman: Tenses and Red.

I was already going to drop this series after #7. I love the name and legacy of The Blue Beetle, but this book was doing nothing for me, but I really wanted it to work. #7 kept me interested, I'm probably going to keep it now.

Giffen leaving really doesn't seem like it will make a difference.

I REALLY want to see a throwdown with some Green Lanterns.

[Magneto_X]

Jack:

Giffen verified that it was Chris here:

http://comicbloc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32589

[Will.S]

I've dug Cully's work so far. He did real good work on Batman: Tenses and Red. Hell, Cully made even the current Flash book at least a bit better with his art.


I was already going to drop this series after #7. I love the name and legacy of The Blue Beetle, but this book was doing nothing for me, but I really wanted it to work. #7 kept me interested, I'm probably going to keep it now.

Giffen leaving really doesn't seem like it will make a difference.

I REALLY want to see a throwdown with some Green Lanterns.I don't know if I'm ready to drop the series yet since there's still alot of potential there.

The character is good with a great new design yet still paying homage to the Ted Kord costume. Jaime has a good degree of personality from the outset between both his friends and his family as well as his reaction to his new powers. Supporting cast is very good when it's Paco, Brenda, Jamie's family, and the Posse. Villains are so so with Brenda's Aunt and her accomplice being the most mysterious.

My only beef with the book is that issue #7 aside, it never really exceeds the above average 7/10 grade with each issue.

What I'm hoping for the book to do is to break out of that above average feel and have a really good breakout arc. I would also like to see them reveal more about Peacemaker, give us insight about what planet the scarab came from and it's hostile connections to the GL members (although it's hinted that the place where the scarab originates from is warring with the GL's so perhaps it's from a war'like race?), and have BB fight new more interesting villains alongside the regular mainstay DCU villains.

As for Keith leaving, I'm actually not too worried since Blue Beetle #7 already showed that John Rogers can write rather well without him. I'm assuming that Keith does most of the dialogue but I could be wrong. Plus we can see more of his style and influence a bit clearer as far as his stamp on the book goes, which is to say I have nothing against Kieth, the guy is awesome (and kicking ass both in 52 and Annihilation) but I'm looking more forward to seeing what Rogers can do.

[Jack Zodiac]

Jack:

Giffen verified that it was Chris here:

http://comicbloc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32589

I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something in the dialogue, because nothing's indicated that he's the first Peacemaker yet. Hell, not like it matters. The book seems to be an attempt to catch new readers with a fresh character, so I doubt most of the people reading it would know who Peacemaker was anyway.

Thanks for the link, by the way.

[Damo]

I could just gush over everything in this book (except the villains...). Great art, great characterizations and character interactions, I love how the family and friends are being handled, I love how the "mythology" is being used, and while it's heartbreaking that Giffen and Hammer are leaving, Albuquerque and Rogers look like they've got what it takes to keep the book going without missing a beat. If you're not buying this, please do!

[Apathy Boy]

I could just gush over everything in this book (except the villains...). Great art, great characterizations and character interactions, I love how the family and friends are being handled, I love how the "mythology" is being used, and while it's heartbreaking that Giffen and Hammer are leaving, Albuquerque and Rogers look like they've got what it takes to keep the book going without missing a beat. If you're not buying this, please do!Agreed on all of that. What I like most about this book is that it's such a... I don't know if this is the right word... gentle read. Sweet, even. Anyone who complains that the DCU is becoming too grim and blood 'n' guts might want to at least give this a try.

The latest issue was a lot of fun. Danielle Garrett was a hoot, and I like how the mysteries are progressing. Heh, and "Oh no! I settled!" was a really cute line.

[Will.S]

While I've never gotten a DC direct figure, I'm definitely plunking down money for this sweet Blue Beetle fig:

http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/wizarduniverse_1924_51485484

[DWEarhart]

While I've never gotten a DC direct figure, I'm definitely plunking down money for this sweet Blue Beetle fig:

http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/wizarduniverse_1924_51485484

Nice. Nice.