Required summer reading since 1987:

Who's Who Update '87 #1

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As the first character introduced to the DC Universe after the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths, Booster Gold was too new for his own entry in the original Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe character encyclopedia. (Volume III: Black Lightning to Byth was cover dated May 1985, nearly a year before Booster's first appearance.)

While Booster would have to wait for the 1987 Who's Who Update to receive his own listing, Booster's impact on the DC Universe was felt much sooner. Therefore, Booster first appeared not in his own entry but in support of one of the DCU's more established characters (insofar as a seldom used star of a back-up feature in Superman's Girlfriend Lois Lane in the early 1970s can be considered "established").

If you look closely, you'll see our hero in the background of the entry for Rose and Thorn in Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe Volume 19, released 31 years ago today.

Art by Dan Jurgens and Dick Giordano

(The less said about Thorn's costume the better. Obviously Thorn and Batman and the Outsider's Looker shopped from the same designer label in the 80s.)

Whereas Booster went on to become an integral member of the Justice League International, Rose has rarely been seen in the decades since. Maybe it's time for Booster to return the favor.

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Carmine Infantino was a key figure in the Silver Age of DC Comics, both as an artist and later serving as DC Comic's editorial director and publisher. Infantino died earlier this year, and I thought it would be appropriate to celebrate his birthday by showing the only time Infantino ever drew Booster Gold in a DC publication: 1986's Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe Volume XXI.

Starting in 1959, Infantino drew many of Garnder Fox's Space Museum stories in Strange Adventures a quarter century before Booster Gold would steal the museum's treasures (and Skeets!) to start a career as a time-traveling crime fighter.

If you think about it, even though Infantino drew Booster Gold only once in his professional career as an illustrator, there wouldn't have been a Booster Gold without the work of Carmine Infantino. Thank you and Happy 87th Birthday, Mr. Infantino.

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It may be hard to imagine in this day and age when Booster Gold has all but disappeared from DC continuity, but 26 years ago today, DC published three different books that contained Booster Gold!

Chief among these books was Booster Gold, volume 1, #15. This issue saw the conclusion to Booster Gold's first true time-travel adventure. Rip Hunter had been instrumental in returning Booster to the 25th century, but he plays little role in Booster's escape. Knowing in hindsight that Rip knew that Booster was his father, is Rip intentionally letting his dad get out of trouble because he knows that is the course that history naturally takes? Hmm?

Another storyline drawing to a conclusion this day was found in New Teen Titans #30. Although Booster appears in just a few panels in this book, this adventure is in many ways his introduction to the heroes of the larger DC Universe. This is Booster's first adventure with Green Lanterns, members of Infinity, Inc., and notably his idol Batman! Welcome to the DCU, Booster Gold!

The final book published this day was the the final issue of a series: Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe. Booster makes an appearance in the entry for the 1000. Booster was too new to the scene to earn his own entry in the first volume of this encyclopedia, but as usual he gets the last word, appearing inside the back cover in a promotion for Booster Gold #15. That's pretty much the Booster Gold motto: if you can't join 'em, buy some advertising space to make sure they at least know your name!

So take heart, Booster boosters. If it has happened before, it can happen again. The only thing separating us from three comics is time, something that a Time Master has plenty of!

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Alert visitors may have noticed that the database of comic books including Booster Gold appearances has now passed 500 issues. This is due to the addition of various Who's Who series of the late 80s to early 90s in which Booster Gold appeared in the background art. If you aren't thrilled to hear that you can now find Booster's appearances in biographical entries for obscure DC characters like Shockwave and Starbreaker, you can just go about your regular business. Otherwise, you'll find the list of non-continuity appearances here.

If you're still reading this far, please note that Boosterrific is still looking to confirm books containing DC house advertisements with Booster Gold. Booster is known to appear in ads in DC published issues with the following cover dates:

• February 1986 (for Booster Gold, V.1, #1),
• May 1991 (for Armageddon 2001),
• August 1992 (for Eclipso, the Darkness Within),
• February 1993 (in an AIDS awareness PSA),
• February 1994 (in another AIDS awareness PSA),
• December 1996 (for DC subscription orders),
• September 2007 (for Booster Gold, V.2, #1)

Rumor also has it that Booster appears in various Who's Who and Millennium house ads from 1988, though this has yet to be verified. Keep an eye out between the panels for Booster Gold and email your discovery to webmaster at Boosterrific.com. If you find an ad in an issue that no one else has reported, you'll certainly get credit for it here at Boosterrific. Thanks, readers.

P.S.: There have been a few problems with the database today that have affected both the blog and the polls. (And hopefully nothing else.) Everything should now be under control.

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