DCComics.com released a "DC Tales From the Vault" episode promoting Batman on Tuesday, and it includes Batman Group Editor Jamie Rich reading his own fan letter published in Booster Gold #7 (1986).

Here's the original letter so that you can read along:

Rich wasn't named Batman Group Editor until April, and Tom King's referenced Booster Gold story, "The Gift," was already deep in production by then. So we won't judge Rich too harshly for that fiasco. (I refuse to believe that any OG Booster booster like Rich would have let King lobotomize our hero if he could have stopped him!)

You get a pass this time, Rich. But know that Booster Gold fans are watching you extra closely now!

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Happy Independence Day! If you can tear yourself away from fireworks and hot dogs, get yourself to your Local Comic Shop today and get your hands on Injustice 2 #29, featuring Booster Gold's new jacket!

Finally! A costume update that looks better than what he was already wearing!

While you're there, consider picking up a copy of the suddenly very controversial Batman #50. Your LCS probably ordered too many of them.

(A quick aside for those of you not glued to the comics press: on Sunday, with the consent of DC Comics, The New York Times newspaper spoiled the events of Batman #50. According to ComicBook.com, DC vice-president of sales John Cunningham defended the company's actions by essentially saying that DC wanted to mitigate what they knew would be terrible backlash if fans didn't find out about the issue contents until the day of release. That's practically an admission that they had promoted and sold the issue — retailers had to commit to orders for the 50+ covers two months ago — on false pretenses. I'm no lawyer, but I would think that qualifies as fraud.)

But I'm not advocating that you pick up Batman because I'm a nice guy who wants to see Local Comics Shops stay in business. No, like Booster Gold, I'm a little shallower than that. I'm suggesting you pick up an issue because Skeets is in it.

What is Skeets doing here? I have no idea. It being a Tom King written book, I bet there's no logical reason, probably just an excuse to get Booster Gold fans to buy a copy. At least in my case, it will work.

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Attention, Booster boosters! Remember to wish Booster Gold creator Dan Jurgens a happy birthday today. (He hides as @thedanjurgens on Twitter.)

In celebration, consider buying today's Batman Beyond #21 written by Dan Jurgens! Maybe also a copy of today's Man of Steel #5, which Jurgens had nothing to do with other than inspiring the cover with his own layouts from the now-classic 1993 Superman #75!

If we're all really, really nice to him, maybe he'll find a way to sneak Booster into Green Lanterns. (Hmm. Isn't it about time there was a gold lantern? Booster already has a ring.)

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You won't find a new Booster Gold comic in your Local Comic Shop this week.

In fact, we probably won't get a new Booster Gold comic until July 18, when Injustice 2 #30 comes out. We'd better start enjoying those Injustice comics while they last. DC's September solicitations came out Monday, they and they imply a "tragic conclusion" to Booster's current storyline. Gulp.

The September solicitations also tell us that "The Gift" will be reprinted in Batman Volume 7: The Wedding in October. The trade will include a reprint of Batman #50, the much-hyped wedding issue, so it's likely it will sell a lot of copies. Expect to see it in your LCS on October 24.

And of course, Heroes in Crisis #1, in which Booster Gold is a "prime suspect" in the killing of "many" PTSD patients, will be out on September 26.

You can read all of the September solicitations on Newsarama.com.

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I spent a lot of time in recent weeks worrying about how Booster Gold's unfortunate appearance in Batman might inspire future problems for our hero. According to Meg Downey's recent think piece for IGN.com, Booster's troubles are worse (and more persistent) than I thought.

Like pearls in Crime Alley follow Batman, trauma now follows Booster wherever he goes. Even in alternate universes outside of the main DC continuity like Injustice 2, Booster ends up forced to watch helplessly as Ted was killed yet again. In the splintered timeline of the "Batpoint," Booster winds up teetering on the edge of death, emaciated, mentally broken, even deeply disturbed -- a pretty far cry from his days stealing cookies from Martian Manhunter with his best friend.

Downey makes a good point. Grief has been a central theme in Booster's life since Infinite Crisis, first published nearly thirteen years ago. Even in this modern age of decompressed, made-for-trade storytelling, that's a long time.

You can read Downey's full article, "How Batman's 'Batpoint' Story Highlights the Tragedy of Booster Gold" at IGN.com.

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