Getting back into the swing of things with a JLI offering for you patient people. Recently a great lady at church allowed me to purchase some old comics from her at a really great price. I am giving her money from some that I sell, not because I have to, but because it just feels like the right thing to do. The books were varied, but really cool. This Annual from the quirky JLI series was one of them. It is funny and just a great read. Harkens (how many times do you get to use the word harkens in a sentence?) back to a simpler time of comics. A time when all was not grim and reality based. Sex sold in a subtle way and life was always wrapped up in nice packages in the end.
This issue has the Joker trying to assassinate the heroes of the Justice League International. It is one blunder and dumb luck scenario after another. The Joker is very dark, but in a dark humor way. He makes the story move as we get a peak at the lives of part of the JLI. Big Barda and Scott Free (Mister Miracle) are throwing a Bar B Que at their suburban home. All the action will funnel to that area by the end. Martian Manhunter and Rocket Red experience the Little Russia area of New York I assume. Booster Gold and Blue Beetle become Repo Men. This leads to them driving an experimental Tank to the gathering. Yes, the Joker gets in the drivers seat eventually. Ice Maiden shows up Fire on an audition for models. It all runs smoothly into a look at their off adventure lives while a homicidal clown tries to off them without success.
The end has a moment that is so far removed from how we see Batman today that it is funny, yet odd to read for me. Oh, forgot to mention Guy Gardner trying to help Scott with the grill, it is funny. Light-hearted read with a strangely serious plot. What comics lacks nowadays in many ways.
I hope to get some post lined up in the que, so keep an eye out. Also thanks for reading. It is nice to see that people check out these ramblings.
BDS
My biggest concern with this new "New" Blue Beetle is that I read the entire first series that starred Jamie Reyes. It was well written, humorous, action packed, and had a connected overall story arc that ran for 25 issues. For me this DCnU version of an already new and established character was going to be a hard sell. I signed up though because the liberal in me wanted to support a Latino character and I really liked Jamie and his supporting cast. Could they take such an already fresh run of a character and reboot it?
Issue 6 here is what I have been waiting for in Blue Beetle. I watched as it was begun as a darker book. I saw a Paco that was the underestimated best friend. I saw the Brenda whom was the possible love interest. The families of Jamie and Brenda were there and familiar. There was the new way the scarab talked to Jamie and a group of metas that were not around before. It was an almost like the original Jamie Reyes Blue Beetle. Until now.
Last issue the scarab had impaled Paco because he knew about it. Jamie discovered that the scarab would kill anyone that discovered it was bonded to him. Jamie forced the scarab to save Paco, but we readers saw Paco transform and leave the hospital as a version of a Beetle soldier. Here is where we separate from the original. We now have a Jamie without the loving family that supported him in the original. Brenda is in danger and Paco in a fight to the death with him. It does what it needed to do to take a new direction while keeping around the possibilities of what was great about the original.
I will say no more. You should be reading this title. Tony Bedard is writing. He is outstanding. This has been a great read and that is a fact. So what are you waiting for?
BDS
"It’s not easy being Jaime Reyes. He has to deal with high school, family and all the drama that comes with being a teenager. Also, he’s linked to a powerful scarab created by an alien race who seek to subjugate planets – or annihilate them. It’s up to one teen hero to turn this instrument of destruction into a force for good in BLUE BEETLE #1, written by Tony Bedard (GREEN LANTERN CORPS) and illustrated by Ig Guara (FLASHPOINT: GRODD OF WAR) and Ruy Jose."
Much of the new DCU has had me worrying that I would not be able to still stay buying their books. I have found a bright spot. Jaime Reyes is back in his own title. This character has a great potential and it was sad that he got jumbled between the Teen Titans and JLI. I do hope that his great supporting cast return. They were key to the core plots and humor that balanced the action and adventure. So I guess with this and the New Suicide Squad I am trying some of the reboot or relaunch of the DCU.
BDS
