I need a little help.

Last week, DC published this house advertisement in digital editions of several books, including Green Arrow 80th Anniversary and Teen Titans Academy 2021 Yearbook.

However, when I bought a physical copy of Teen Titans Academy 2021 Yearbook for my collection, I discovered that the ad is nowhere to be seen in its pages. (And that's despite the issue's dedication to duplicating a high school yearbook, complete with a section for "Boosters & Corporate Sponsors." You missed a great synergy opportunity there, DC!)

In years past, I used to have access to weekly floppies so I could execute this search myself. But there have been far too many casualties during The Pandemic, and my opportunity to flip through DC comics each week is one of them. Now I can only touch what I buy, and I can't buy everything.

Therefore, I need your help identifying whether the ad actually appears in *any* physical books published by DC last week. Or maybe books coming this week.

I can hear some of you saying, "What difference does it make what physical comics it appears in? Can't you just list the digital editions it's in?" Yes, I can and maybe should. However, I strongly doubt that any of us will have access to the same digital editions in, say, 30 years. Who knows what ads will be included in whatever format the future will use for digital "reprints." That's why I want to identify where this ad might be in physical media, so that Booster boosters in the future can have access if they want it.

I mean, we all expect Blue and Gold to still be around in 2050, right? Hopefully more famous and beloved than ever before!

Thanks for your help.

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I would like to thank all the Booster boosters who pointed me to Monday's Nerdist.com interview with the writer of the upcoming Blue and Gold mini-series by some guy named Dan Jurgens.

It is a pretty interesting read, and not just because it has an exclusive 5-page preview of the first issue. For example,

[I]n the wake of Dark Nights: Death Metal, the heroes of the DC Universe remember all previous continuities. So will remembering all this trauma play into Blue and Gold?

Turns out, not so much. According to Jurgens, "Booster is aware of it, of course, while Ted doesn't want to address it. He knows of it but also buries it."

Jurgens elaborated further, saying, "From a creative standpoint, I don't want to dwell on it. We did it in the 2007 Booster Gold series and I'm hesitant to dive into something that is now 15 plus years old. I think we're far better off simply driving right into current stories. That's what seems most fair to readers, as anything else ends up with multiple pages of explanation."

It's been 15 years since volume 2? Thanks for making me feel old, Dan.

All kidding aside, one of Jurgens' greatest strengths as a writer has always been an ability to blend the old and new so that new readers don't feel excluded while still winking at longtime fans. While that can occasionally be frustrating — no, seriously, *who* is the Black Beetle? — we have to recognize that's how comics worked throughout their heyday, and if a publisher isn't attracting new readers, they might as well go ahead and close up shop.

On a personal note, I should mention that Jurgens' "big tent" approach to comic book universe continuity has also made building this site so much fun. It's easy to imagine that all of Booster Gold's adventures have happened to a single character in a dynamic universe when the artist shepherding that character's growth has been so careful not to infringe upon the creations of the many other artists contributing to the ever-expanding multiversal tapestry. Jurgens knows that the first principle of good collaborative storytelling is learning to say "Yes, and...."

I strongly recommend that if you haven't already, you drop by Nerdist.com to read Eric Diaz's article. As I said above, it's got pictures. You *definitely* want to see the pictures of Ryan Sook's art.

And I suppose it probably goes without saying that you also *definitely* want to buy Blue and Gold when it comes out in three weeks.

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Because I'm a curmudgeonly old man, I don't have an Instagram account and cannot see the beautiful Blue and Gold art that series artist Ryan Sook is sharing via his account at instagram.com/rsookart/.

Luckily for all of us, @dailybluegold has been reposting some of those images on Twitter. And they. Are. Beautiful.

If those don't get you excited about Blue and Gold, due in your Local Comic Shop on July 20, then I don't know what will.

Maybe it's time I finally got an Instagram account. Thanks to Rob for making sure I saw those.

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As pointed out to me by Rob Snow, New York Comic Con and Metaverse Comics has released a 45-minute long video interview with Blue and Gold creators Dan Jurgens and Ryan Sook to promote the upcoming series.

The creators talk about what kind of story it will be, whether or not new fans will have any idea what's going on, and which of them feels more like Booster and which feels more like Beetle. (Spoiler Alert! It's exactly the ones you expect.) They even screenshare some artwork and script plans. I'd say it's worth a listen for die-hard Booster boosters.

If the above embed doesn't work for you, you can find the video at Facebook.com or FindTheMetaverse.com.

Thanks, Rob, Jurgens, and Ryan (and interviewer Mike Negin)! Blue and Gold is set for a late July release.

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"BREAKING NEWS" is not something that a Booster Gold blog has much opportunity to say, but I think this counts.

DCComics.com has just posted... well, here it is in its entirety:

DC Comics Proudly Presents 'Blue & Gold' by Dan Jurgens and Ryan Sook!
DC's two favorite underdogs (Blue Beetle and Booster Gold, not Dan and Ryan) launch their own eight-issue miniseries!

Michael Carter, aka Booster Gold. A scoundrel from the future armed with stolen technology, a time machine and a robot pal named Skeets, is intent on making a name for himself in the past!

Ted Kord, aka Blue Beetle. The inheritor of a proud legacy of crimefighting who had no powers to speak of, but who carried on the Blue Beetle legacy with just his wits and his fists...is armed with a whole lot of gadgets and a sharp sense of humor!

Together, they're going to make headlines in DC Comics' Blue & Gold, a limited eight-issue miniseries by Dan Jurgens and Ryan Sook launching this July!

Desperate to regain the spotlight, Booster Gold looks to attract the public's (and Justice League's) attention the same way any washed-up, second-rate hero would—social media. The not-so-tech-savvy hero from the 25th century enlists the help of his best friend, Blue Beetle, who possesses both the money and the brains to help his old pal navigate the scary world of internet influencers.

Watch out, evildoers, our heroes are live and online!

Don't miss Dan Jurgens's triumphant return to Booster Gold, teaming with all-star artist Ryan Sook (Legion of Super-Heroes), telling a tale filled with heart...and maybe even redemption for DC's two favorite underdogs!

Blue & Gold #1 (of 8) by Dan Jurgens and Ryan Sook arrives on July 20 with a cover by Sook ($3.99) and a card stock variant cover by Dave Johnson ($4.99).

For more information on Blue Beetle, Booster Gold, Skeets, Time Travel, the DC Multiverse and the World's Greatest Super Heroes, visit http://www.dccomics.com, and follow DC on social media at @DCComics and @thedcnation.

(I apologize for reposting the entire solicitation in full, but it feels like a special occasion, like the announcement of an armistice treaty. The original text is posted at https://www.dccomics.com/blog/2021/04/21/dc-comics-proudly-presents-blue-gold-by-dan-jurgens-and-ryan-sook)

If that doesn't make your 2021, Booster boosters, nothing will! (Thanks to all who made sure I saw the news.)

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