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Boosterrific.com: The Complete, Annotated Adventures of Booster Gold
Boosterrific.com: The Complete, Annotated Adventures of Booster Gold

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Justice League: Generation Lost

“The Rocket's Red Glare”

Volume 1, Issue 4, Late August 2010
Released June 23, 2010

Cover Price: $2.99
Estimated Issue Sales: 41,702

Boosterrific.com Rating
  • Currently 4.0/5 Stars.
Fan Rating
  • Currently 4.0/5 Stars.


 

ARTISTS

Writers: Keith Giffen, Judd Winick
Penciller: Joe Bennett
Inker: Jack Jadson
Colorist: Hi-Fi Designs
Letterer: Steve Wands
Assistant Editor: Rex Ogle
Editor: Michael Siglain
Cover Artists: Hi-Fi Designs, Kevin Maguire

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CHARACTERS & SETTINGS

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ISSUE DETAILS

Cover Description: There are two covers to this issue: the standard cover by Tony Harris and JD Mettler mimics a Soviet propaganda poster for the Rocket Red Brigade. (No Booster Gold.) The 1:25 variant cover by Kevin Macguire depicts Captain Atom, Fire, Ice, Blue Beetle, and Booster Gold engaged an aerial battle with the Rocket Red Brigade over Moscow.

Brief Synopsis: The Justice League International battles the Rocket Red Brigade.

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

Costume Worn: MARK I.v2 power-suit

Story Notes: The title to this story is taken from the "Star Spangled Banner," the national anthem of the United States of America, paragon of capitalist economic systems. This title is ironic considering the issue's introduction of Rocket Red #07, a revolutionary devoted to the ideals of Marxist communism doctrine that opposed capitalism throughout the Cold War of the 20th century. This issue is also the last of this series to be published prior to July 4th, American Independence Day.

This story has been reprinted in:
Justice League: Generation Lost Volume 1 (2011)

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ANNOTATIONS

Page 3, panel 1
FIRST APPEARANCE: First appearance of Rocket Red #00, Vadim Benet. Benet was not seen among the Rocket Red Brigade members in the previous issue, but he now leads the charge. Benet's last name can be seen written in Cyrillic on his visor and chest plate, but his first name will not be revealed until the next issue.

Page 3, panel 2
Picking up where the last issue left off, Booster Gold, Blue Beetle, Ice, Captain Atom, and Skeets are fighting a small army of Rocket Reds outside of Moscow, Russia. (This seems vaguely familiar....) Booster has previously demonstrated a working knowledge of both English and Spanish languages (or at least an ability to communicate in them thanks to his Flight Ring's telepathic Universal Translator). This is the first indication that he has ever spoken Russian.

Page 4, panel 4
FIRST APPEARANCE: First appearance of rogue Red Rocket #7, Gavril Ivanovich. Unlike the current Red Rocket Brigade's armor, Ivanovich's armor is clearly based on the Apokolipsian armor acquired by his predecessor, Dimitri Pushkin (as Red Rocket #4), in Justice League International #22.

Page 6, panel 1
This panel is a bit of an inside joke for continuity buffs. In addition to multiple characters being the Rocket Red associated with the Justice League International, there have been multiple incarnations of each of these characters in various guises. Blue Beetle has obviously been preceded by two other heroes called the Blue Beetle. Ice was originally the second Ice Maiden. Three different members of Booster Gold's family have laid claim to the title of Supernova. And of course Captain Atom, who claims that fighting over a name is "idiocy," has actually battled an alternate universe version of himself over which of them had the right to be Earth's Nathanial Adam.

Page 6, panel 2
Booster has indeed fought the Ultra-Humanite, but at the time the Humanite was working with a team to take over the entire Universe. From a villain's point of view, that's a pretty good reason to fight.

Page 7, panel 1
Brave New World is the title of a 1932 book written by Aldous Huxley that details a dystopian future dominated by technology. Booster's sarcastic comment is pretty much on par with Huxley's tone and intent with the novel.

Image Copyright DC Comics

Page 7, panel 4
Both Booster Gold and Captain Atom are familiar with "international incidents" from their reckless JLI and Extreme Justice days. It's good to see that they've finally learned to...

Page 9, panel 3
...control themselves? Oops. (Does everyone really need a line of dialogue in this panel? It's like a quip-off all of a sudden.)

Page 14, panel 1
Booster is rescued by Fire over St. Basil's Cathedral near Red Square in Moscow. This is the second time in 4 issues that Booster has visited that landmark (last in Justice League: Generation Lost #1).

Page 16, panel 4
Gavril must be unhinged: 2 pages earlier he was responsible for a damaged steeple on St. Basil's Cathedral. St. Basil's has been at the heart of Moscow for nearly 500 years, and is viewed by many around the world as the very symbol of the Russian people. Or is this perhaps a case of the issue's artist and the issue's scripter not communicating?

Page 18, panel 2
"Chairman" Mao Tse Tung was the head of Communist China for much of the later 20th century. While his Marxist ideology was similar to that of his Soviet neighbors, there were significant differences that caused a rift between Soviet Communists and Chinese Communists as early as the late 1950s. As a result of this theological and political rivalry, China and the Soviet Union spent most of the Cold War at odds, China having officially branded the Soviets as traitors to Communist ideals. A hard-line Stalinist such as the self-described "true Communist" Gavril would likely take being called "Chairman Mao" as an insult.

Page 19, panel 1
Guy Gardner was the resident Green Lantern for the Justice League International. Guy was the first person to be mind-controlled by the resurrected Maxwell Lord in Blackest Night #8 and has already refused to rejoin Ice (as seen in Justice League: Generation Lost #2).

Page 19, panel 3
Up with People is an international nonprofit activist organization that supports encourages harmony. The group is frequently parodied in cynical American popular culture.

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REVIEWS

Boosterrific Review: Wow. This series really is getting better, issue by issue. The pacing between fights and conferences is evening out. Characterization is notably improving. The story is beginning to pick up some steam and shows signs that it may live up to its premise. In short, the production team, which struggled early, is beginning to work well together. Here they have produced an entertaining comic book.

Boosterrific Rating:

  • Currently 4.0/5 Stars.
Worth Its Weight In Gold.

Average Fan Rating:

  • Currently 4.0/5 Stars.
(6 votes)

  • Currently 4.0/5 Stars.
BoosterPowershot (Oct. 22, 2010, 00:42:51)
Another enjoyable issue. At first, I wasn't too excited about Rocket Red joining. I figured his "socialism good" tirades would annoy me, but as the series has progressed, he's proven a pretty likable fellow. They're doing a good job of including a lot of different heroes in this group, not just nationality-wise, but also on reasons for joining.

  • Currently 4.0/5 Stars.
Harry (Jul. 7, 2010, 16:42:38)
I really enjoyed this issue. I am not sure how to articulate how it differed significantly from last issue, but it 'feels' like the story is getting better. I loved how BG is being used and the JLI splash page. RR is paper thin as a character right now, but I still enjoyed him.

  • Currently 4.0/5 Stars.
KMD (Jul. 1, 2010, 16:58:28)
Very good issue--this is getting better. Loved the way Booster was managed here. Very curious to see what Max is up to.

  • Currently 4.0/5 Stars.
Superman (Jun. 30, 2010, 09:16:41)
Amen to that, Erin. Those parts about the malfunctions of Max's powers does make me pace around my room and thinking what it could mean for the team, though I'll have to admit I'm not so excited about the prospect of JL:GL tying too close to Brightest Day.

  • Currently 4.0/5 Stars.
Erin (Jun. 28, 2010, 00:10:11)
A good issue that moves the plot forward with the introduction of a new member, and a better look into what Max is doing. The reveal of unplanned complications and Boosters' deducting skills were highlights of the issue. Definitely something that leaves you wanting more by the last page.

  • Currently 4.0/5 Stars.
Superman (Jun. 26, 2010, 05:00:20)
You took the words right out of my mouth here, Boosterrific. An excellent read.

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