The OMAC Project

ARTISTS

Writer: Greg Rucka
Penciller: Jesus Saiz
Inker: Jesus Saiz
Colorist: Hi-Fi Designs
Letterer: Phil Balsman
Editor: Joan Hilty
Cover Artist: Jose Ladrönn

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CHARACTERS & SETTINGS

heroes: Batman, Booster Gold, Superman, Wonder Woman

Setting: 21st-century JLA Watchtower, DCU, Moon

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ISSUE SUMMARY

Cover Description: Maxwell Lord watches a computer monitor that shows a meeting among Batman, Booster Gold, Superman, and Wonder Woman in the Justice League lunar Watchtower. Booster appears to be threatening Batman with one of his "Booster Shots."

Brief Synopsis: Batman's investigation into the theft of his satellite merges with the investigation into the disappearance of Blue Beetle II.

Costume Worn: MARK XII armored power-suit

Issue Notes: This miniseries is one of four that lead into the Infinite Crisis mini-series. In this issue, Booster learns the ultimate fate of his best friend, Blue Beetle II.

Reprints: This issue has been collected in The OMAC Project.

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ISSUE ANNOTATIONS

Page 6, panel 1
Batman meets with Booster Gold, Superman, and Wonder Woman to inform them of the theft of his Brother Mark I "semi-autonomous AI surveillance system" satellite in the JLA Watchtower on the moon. Booster is openly hostile towards Batman, an attitude that is unusual for him, as he has always openly admired Batman, one of the few heroes who have ever praised his abilities and accepted him into the Justice League.

Page 7, panel 2
Batman provides Blue Beetle's shattered goggles as proof that the Blue Beetle is dead. Understandably, Booster reacts poorly to the news that his best friend has been murdered.

Page 8, panel 1
Furious that Batman did not aid Beetle when he first turned to him for help, Booster shoots Batman with a Booster Shot. This is the first time that Booster, under his own power, has shot at a fellow member of the Justice League other than Superman, who is immune to Booster's weaponry. Batman makes no attempt to dodge Booster's shot, and it is only through the intervention of Superman that he is not hit. Superman, of course, is well aware from their previous altercations that Booster's Booster Shot is incapable of harming him.

Page 9, panel 4
In a rare instance of a comic book cover being an exact barometer of the interior of a comic book, Maxwell Lord watches a computer monitor showing a hijacked feed from within the JLA Watchtower of the final moments of the meeting between the four Justice Leaguers. Booster, still clearly angry, listens as Batman lays the blame for Beetle's death on Checkmate.

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ISSUE REVIEW

Boosterrific Review: This issue owes a debt to the events of Identity Crisis, which is used as justification for the un-heroic behavior of Batman in the months since as well as the overall emotional mood of betrayal and paranoia. This is also the first issue in which characters are given the opportunity to respond to the death of Blue Beetle. The storytelling is so captivating, it's easy to forgive the pointless assassination of another minor DC character, Overthrow, for a very minor plot development.

Boosterrific Rating:

• Currently 5.0/5 Stars.

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