Newsarama.com has DC Comics' December solicitations, and I'm sorry to report that Booster Gold continues to be the one character from Heroes in Crisis who hasn't gotten his own title. What's up with that, DC?

It's not all bad news, however. DC has confirmed a new reprint of the early Justice League International issues.

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL BOOK ONE: BORN AGAIN TP
written by KEITH GIFFEN, J.M. DeMATTEIS, and JOHN OSTRANDER
art by KEVIN MaGUIRE, KEITH GIFFEN, LUKE McDONNELL and others
cover by KEVIN MAGUIRE and TERRY AUSTIN
In these 1980s tales, find out what happens when Batman, Superman, and the Justice League face a galactic invasion fleet known as the Cluster, exchange harsh words with Lobo, track Mister Miracle back to Apokolips, and then battle yet another invasion fleet! Collects Justice League #1-6, Justice League International #7-17, Justice League Annual #1, Justice League International Annual #2, and Suicide Squad #13.
ON SALE January 15, $39.99 US, 552 PAGES

Those are a lot of great comics. If you haven't read these issues — and even if you have — you should consider picking up this collection using modern printing techniques. Despite what Dan DiDio says, those early Justice League International stories are great comics.

Speaking of Heroes in Crisis spin-offs, Booster booster Logan alerts us to an appearance in today's releases.

I was afforded a sneak-peak of Flash Forward #1 at my store, and I can report that Booster makes an appearance in the issue. It's a brief one, but it's Booster! :)

Always good to know Booster's coming. Thanks, Logan.

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Not so long ago, someone asked me if I could make a list of the best Booster Gold stories that weren't in Booster Gold or Justice League series. That was on my mind as I was compiling the Boosterrific list of "featured" stories I mentioned in Monday's post. The answer is: it's a short list.

3. Action Comics #933-998 (2018)
2. Countdown to Infinite Crisis #1 (2005)
1. 52 #1-52 (2006)

Almost every other great Booster Gold story takes place in his self-titled series or alongside his Justice League super friends. Which, let me emphasize, is not a bad thing.

My favorite Booster Gold comic is his first featured JLI appearance, Justice League #4. I always get a kick out of his misadventures on KooeyKooeyKooey with Blue Beetle in Justice League America #34 and as the field general of the Conglomerate in Justice League Quarterly #1. And what Booster booster doesn't love the work creator Dan Jurgens has done filling Michael Jon Carter's life with supporting characters like as Broderick, as seen in Booster Gold Volume 1, #18?

If you're looking for the best Booster Gold adventures outside the usual places, read the books I listed above. They're good, I promise. But please remember to enjoy Booster Gold wherever you find him. He rarely disappoints.

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Via Twitter.com, Dan Jurgens finally has confirmed the identity of the mysterious woman we saw on the originally solicited cover to the 2012 New 52 relaunch of the Justice League International #1.

To refresh your memory, here is the originally solicited cover, with the woman in Black, on the left and the published cover, with Godiva, on the right:

Art by Aaron Lopresti

Alexandra Gianopoulos was introduced in Booster Gold #45 when Booster quite literally fell into her bed in the "Flashpoint" timeline. Her power was the ability to "borrow" the power of anyone she touched, similar to Rogue of the X-Men. Despite also appearing on the published cover of Justice League International #5, Gianopoulos has never actually made the transition from the Flashpoint timeline to mainstream DCnU continuity.

Thanks to @Cyberjaeger for asking the question that finally resolved this longstanding mystery.

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"Blue and Gold." It's a simple phrase that means silly good times and brotherhood.

Blue Beetle and Booster Gold have been best friends since their earliest days together in the Justice League International, and fans soon took to the shorthand way to reference their unique brand of bromantic hijinks as "Blue and Gold" in letter columns and on issue covers. But when did the phrase first appear within the DC Universe itself?

That's the question that Brian Cronin, long the best part of the website now known as CBR.com, recently answered in his "When We First Met" series.

The answer: Justice League America #53, as spoken by Blue Beetle himself.

words by J. M. DeMatteis and Keith Giffen
art by Chris Wozniak, Bruce D. Patterson, Gene D'Angelo, and Willie Schubert

Actually, the article says it first appears in Justice League America #52, but I just looked into my own long boxes, and I'm certain it was #53. To be fair, the image accompanying the text is for #53, and #53 was indeed the first issue of the "Breakdowns" story as indicated. So we're going to chalk it up to an accidental typo.

Forgiveness is very "Blue and Gold."

UPDATE: Cronin has corrected his typo. Making up for your past mistakes is also very "Blue and Gold."

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Earlier this week, the original art for the splash page of Justice League International #9 (1987) went up for sale. It's free to look, but if you want to own this beauty by Kevin Maguire and Al Gordon, you'll need $4,500!

If you've got the cash, you'll find a "Buy It Now" button on ComicArtFans.com.

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