Booster Gold

Cover Description: Booster Gold, Flash II, Kid Flash, and Skeets II attack Supernova III on the Cosmic Treadmill. It would appear that Supernova III is using the Flash's Cosmic Treadmill to travel through time. The Cosmic Treadmill worked only when the Flash used his super speed to change his vibrational rate to travel between dimensions. The cover would imply that Supernova has the ability to travel at super speeds, a power that he has never previously demonstrated.

Brief Synopsis: While trying to save Flash II, Booster Gold confronts and unmasks Supernova III.

Costume Worn: MARK I.v2 power-suit

Issue Notes: According to the cover, this issue was published the same week as Countdown #24.

Story Notes: The title to this story is a paraphrase of a line from the theme song of the 1980 Flash Gordon movie scored by Queen.

This story has been reprinted in the following issue:
Booster Gold: 52 Pick-Up (2008)

return to top

ISSUE ANNOTATIONS

Page 1, panel 1
Rip Hunter laments the collision between his Time Sphere and the Flash's Cosmic Treadmill, as seen at the conclusion of the previous issue (Booster Gold, Vol. 2, #3). Also aboard the Time Sphere are Booster Gold, Flash II, Wally West (as Kid Flash), and Skeets II. Booster appears to be drinking something (coffee?) from a mug. Does Hunter's cramped Time Sphere contain a Mr. Coffee?

Page 2, panel 1
The heroes travel to Central City, the Flashes' hometown, arriving near a store named "Carmine's," no doubt a reference to Carmine Infantino. Infantino was the artist most generally associated with the adventures of the second Flash.

Page 4, panel 1
FIRST APPEARANCE: First appearance of Rex Hunter, a former Time Master. Rex is dressed in the uniform of the Pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths Time Masters. Just as Rip Hunter has assumed a name to travel through time, so to is Rex Hunter an assumed name. Like all great villains, Rex is convinced that his attempts to change history are in the best interest of the world.

Page 8, panel 2
When Skeets attempts to save Booster from Supernova III, he is stopped by Maximillion, a Security Droid model 97.8 apparently evolved from Skeets' lineage. His array of weaponry is... impressive. Perhaps not so coincidentally, Maximillian (note the slight spelling difference) was the name of the killer robot in the 1979 film, The Black Hole.

Page 9, panel 5
FASHION ALERT: Meanwhile, back on Earth, Rose Levin spots Booster's "spare costumes" hanging in Daniel Carter's closet. This is the first indication that Booster owns more than one version of his current costume, a distinct improvement over previous powersuits, all of which have been one-of-a-kind.

Page 11, panel 2
Rip Hunter explains to Booster that the current moment is the night that the second Flash was doused with chemicals and struck by lightning to give him his powers of super speed. Calling this the "most important lightning storm in the history of heroism" may not be much of an overstatement. The events described by Hunter were originally told in 1956's Showcase #4. That comic, containing the first appearance of the second Flash, is often credited as starting the Silver Age of comics and reigniting the public's interest in costumed super heroes. Without that issue, it is very likely that Booster Gold would not exist today.

Page 14, panel 1
SPOILER WARNING!: Reveal

Page 15, panel 4
Rex Hunter admits that he crushed the "soft little skull" of Bonnie Baxter. Baxter was Rip Hunter's Time Masters teammate and former love interest. When last seen in Time Masters #8, Bonnie was stranded in an apocalyptic future that preceded the era of Booster Gold's 25th century.

return to top

ISSUE REVIEW

Boosterrific Review: While trying to save the career of the second Flash (another of Geoff Johns' favorite toys dragged into this series, his latest sandbox), Booster Gold finally confronts his mysterious new foe and finds himself stuck in a Greek tragedy. This issue is mostly one extended confrontation between the principal players, and unfortunately the art (specifically Rapmund's inking) suffers during the issue's non-stop action. However, that is a minor quibble compared to the breakneck roller-coaster series of dramatic revelations and surprise twists in the story that result in an exciting, if exhausting, good time.

Boosterrific Rating:

Currently 5.0/5 Stars.

Boosterrific!

Average Fan Rating:

Currently 3.7/5 Stars.

(3 votes)

Currently 5.0/5 Stars.

Grimmy (Apr. 26, 2012, 05:57:06)
This series just keeps building on greatness. Now we move on to the penultimate moment of the Silver Age of comics, the birth of the Flash. The breakneck speed of this issue is also appropriate considering who the guest-star is. Regarding the art criticisms, the style is reminiscent of Flash artist Carmine Infantino (intentional?) and that might be a bit off-putting to modern audiences. Geoff Johns kind of telegraphed Supernova III's identity, but it makes sense and doesn't detract from my enjoyment of the story. What can I say, can this book get any better?

Currently 3.0/5 Stars.

BoosterPowershot (Oct. 5, 2010, 01:34:38)
I thought it interesting that they brought Booster's dad into the mix, but other than that, nothing that really stood out to me.

Currently 3.0/5 Stars.

KMD (Dec. 22, 2009, 11:52:52)
There's one thing that Obiwan did not tell you....Luke, I am your overused plot device. While parts of this issue are fun (Booster being used as an example of the evils of booze), the inconsistent art and the secret identity of Supernova III undermine this issue.

return to top

RATE THIS ISSUE
Show Terms and Instructions
Name:		Email: (optional)

Rating:		Website: (optional)
Currently 0/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5		http://
Review: (optional)