Booster Gold

Cover Description: Booster Gold and Skeets II fly over a field of variations of Blue Beetles. In the background, a gloved hand holds the torn cowl of Blue Beetle II. The cover of this issue is intentionally evocative of the covers of the Zero Hour mini-series. The motif of a hand holding a torn mask and the heads along the bottom of the cover is similar to the arrangement of the cover of Zero Hour #4. The background is filled by a white void as appeared on the covers of all Zero Hour issues, and based on the size of the void on this cover, the events in this issue would appear to take place between Zero Hour #3 and Zero Hour #2. (The issues of Zero Hour counted backwards from 4 to 0.)

Brief Synopsis: Young Booster Carter is forced into a difficult position by his manipulative father.

Booster Gold's role in this story:
Featured (Booster Gold plays a prominent role)

Costume Worn: MARK I.v2 power-suit

This story has been reprinted in:
Booster Gold: The Complete 2007 Series Book One (2024)

Page 10, panel 2
The first chronological appearance of Booster Gold's father is seen the same day as the football game between Gotham University and Ohio State. (Since Ohio State is listed second, it is assumed to be the home team, and therefore the likely location of this meeting.) Rarely even mentioned in Booster's previous origins, this is the first time that Booster's father has been seen alongside a pre-Booster Gold Michael Carter. The elder Carter's comments indicate that he is now extorting his son, who had tracked him down. Other origin stories are clear to indicate that Booster's father had left the family, but Booster's role in relocating his father has never been revealed. By the time that this encounter takes place, Booster has already been gambling on (and throwing) his own football games for some time.

Page 11, panel 5
Appearance of Michelle Carter, Booster Gold's fraternal twin sister. Michelle was briefly costumed as Booster's sidekick, Goldstar II, and will be slain in a struggle against alien invaders in Booster Gold, Vol. 1, #22. Note that Michelle's hair color is miscolored in this issue: Michelle has always had blond hair like her brother. This error is likely due to confusion on behalf of the colorist as the original Goldstar, Trixie Collins, was a red-head.