Blue Beetle

ARTISTS

Writer: John Rogers
Penciller: Rafael Albuquerque
Inker: Rafael Albuquerque
Colorist: Guy Major
Letterer: Steve Wands
Editor: Joan Hilty
Cover Artists: Rafael Albuquerque, Cris Peter

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CHARACTERS & SETTINGS

heroes: Blue Beetle III, Booster Gold, Fire, Green Lantern IV, Ice, Peacemaker, Traci Thirteen
supportinges: Brenda & Paco, Posse, Reyes family

Setting: 21st-century El Paso, TX, USA

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ISSUE SUMMARY

Cover Description: Former Justice League International members Booster Gold, Guy Gardner, Fire, and Ice fly to the support of Blue Beetle III.

Brief Synopsis: Blue Beetle III and his friends defend the Earth from an alien invasion.

Costume Worn: MARK I.v2 power-suit

Issue Notes: According to the cover, events in this issue take place during the same week as the events in Countdown #5. An editorial note within the issue places the events of this issue between Green Lantern Corps, Vol. 2, issues #19 and #20.

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ISSUE ANNOTATIONS

Page 19, panel 1
SPOILER WARNING!: Booster Gold arrives on the scene just in time to save Blue Beetle III, Jaime Reyes, from an energy explosion aboard the mothership of the Reach, alien invaders determined to either dominate or destroy the Earth. Reveal

Page 20, panel 3
SPOILER WARNING!: Moments later, Booster returns Blue Beetle to his family (father Alberto, mother Belinda, and sister Milagro Reyes) in El Paso, Texas and enjoys a reunion with former teammates Guy Gardner, Fire, and the recently resurrected goddess, Ice. This is the first on panel, face-to-face encounter between Booster and Ice since Ice's death years previously while both were Justice Leaguers. Ice is clearly pleased to see Booster (much to Guy Gardner's chagrin), however it is unclear whether Ice's exclamation "you're alive!" is meant for Booster or Blue Beetle, possibly both. Reveal

Page 21, panel 6
After the Reyes' home is repaired, Booster rejoins his comrades Fire, Ice, and Guy Gardner, out of costume for a cookout. Other attendees of the cookout include Jaime's family, his friends and schoolmates Brenda and Paco, the original Peacemaker, Jaime's girlfriend Traci Thirteen, and members of the local super-gang, the Posse (Bonita and baby Alina, Damper, Probe, Scour, and Thump). Like his fellow former Leaguers, Booster explains that his motivations for his unexpected but timely arrival was "total spur of the moment" and that the fact that he is joined by three other surviving (and resurrected) teammates of former Blue Beetle Ted Kord is a mere coincidence. Reyes remains unconvinced, suggesting that somehow the Blue Beetle's scarab, named Khaji Da, was responsible.

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ISSUE REVIEW

Boosterrific Review: As wonderful as it is to see members of the old Justice League International back in action again (especially as expressively drawn Rafael Albuquerque), the scenario just seems a little contrived, especially taking into account the fact that they are the only heroes who arrive to aid Blue Beetle in preventing an alien invasion of Earth and a very timely deus ex machina intervention by Booster Gold.

Boosterrific Rating:

• Currently 3.0/5 Stars.

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