In a delayed reaction to Bat-Mite's return to the New 52 DCnU (and as an odd counterpoint to the super-serious Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice now in theaters), today DC Comics is releasing World's Funnest, a trade paperback (TPB) collection of past stories featuring both Bat-Mite and Mr. Mxyzptlk.

The DCComics.com listing for this issue indicates that Booster Gold will play a "Starring" role in this trade. Honestly, it would be stretching the truth to say he even has a cameo appearance. DC's solicitations play coy with the issue's contents, but the Amazon.com listing for the 296-page trade identifies that it will contain portions of the following comics:

Superman and Batman: World's Funnest #1 (2000)
Batman: Mitefall #1 (1995)
Batman and Superman: World's Finest #6 (1999)
Superman/Batman #51-52 (2008)
The Brave and the Bold #200 (1983)
Detective Comics #267 (1959)
Detective Comics #482 (1979)
Superman, vol. 1, #30 (1944)
Superman, vol. 2, #11 (1987)
Superman, vol. 2, #31 (1989)
World's Finest, vol. 1, #113 (1960)
Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #38 (1992)

You'll note that Dan Jurgens' recent Bat-Mite series with its "Black Gold" guest star is not included. That means that Booster Gold's appearances in this trade are limited to a single panel!

Don't get me wrong, I'm not discouraging anyone from picking up this book. I've always been a fan of fun comics, and I particularly enjoy the ridiculous adventures of Silver Age Bat-Mite. I'm just advising that you go to your Local Comic Shop and pick-up this collection for the humor, not the Booster Gold.

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This past weekend at WonderCon, DC Comics unveiled many of their plans for Rebirth. Although Ted Kord will be returning to mentor Jaime Reyes, there was no hint that we'll be seeing a Booster Gold comic anytime soon.

At least no obvious hint.

That's Gary Frank's cover to DC Universe: Rebirth, the one-shot book written by Geoff Johns that will be launching the Rebirth event. If you're familiar with Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel frescoes, you'll recognize Superman's pose as he reaches out to touch the hand of god. A contributor to Comics Amino thinks he knows who that god will be.

Who could the character that ties directly to rebirth and is manipulating things behind the scenes be?
...
A being who is apart of the time stream itself and has the knowledge of the past, present and future and can monitor any activity within the time stream.
...
I think Waverider Booster will be the key to everything.

It may be wishful thinking on my part, but I'd like to believe this commentator (who posts under the pseudonym "Booster Gold"!). Part of his argument is based on an exchange between Johns and Booster Gold creator Dan Jurgens at the "DC All Access Live: DC Universe Rebirth" panel at WonderCon.

If you fast-forward to about 34:50 in the video above, Dan Jurgens will be introduced as the writer who will be returning the post-Crisis Superman to Action Comics in June. He will conclude the interview with this exchange with Geoff Johns:

Johns: There's also a character in there that will tie directly to Rebirth, and some of the stuff that you're playing with is long term for the story we're building. It's really exciting.

Jurgens: Right, exactly. You'll certainly see more of that right in the first issue as we see someone manipulating things behind the scenes putting everything in its place, and it's building to quite a big conclusion.

Last week Johns told Booster Gold fans that big things are coming and we're going to be happy, and now Jurgens is teasing some time-manipulating puppet-master responsible for restoring portions of the post-Crisis DC Universe. Is the reason we haven't seen Waverider since Convergence because he's been busy fixing the DCnU?

So, Booster Gold in Rebirth? Who knows. It could all just be a coincidence or wishful thinking. After all, DC teased that Booster would play a significant role in both Infinite Crisis and Futures End, and neither of those came to pass. However, I'd rather stay positive and hope for the best. Isn't that what a rebirth is all about?

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Anyone feeling thirsty?

Artist Andrew Runion has put his own spin on Booster Gold's costume (I love that giant star!) in this Soder Cola advertisement. You can find more of Runion's work on DeviantArt.com.

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Russ Burlingame caught Geoff Johns on the red carpet opening for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and asked him about Booster Gold. This is what Johns said:

"You'll see [Booster Gold] very soon, and there's talks about ... there's actually a lot of plans for Booster Gold, one of my favorite characters. But yeah, Booster Gold fans, you will definitely be happy with what we've got coming up in the years ahead."

Years? Hmm. That seems like a long timetable, but at least Johns hasn't forgotten who Booster Gold is. Visit ComicBook.com to read what Burlingame thinks this could mean for our hero.

On a very related note, the New York Daily News released an interview on Monday with Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice director Zack Snyder. Asked why he recast the Flash for his movie to exclude the television version, Snyder said the tone of the television show is "not our world." Interviewer Ethan Sacks clarified the comment for his readers:

Simply put, [television's Grant] Gustin's Barry Allen smiles way too much to be allowed in the same Hall of Justice as Ben Affleck's Batman.

Snyder is the man behind the helm of the two upcoming Justice League movies scheduled for release over the next few years (perhaps tying in to Johns' Booster Gold timetable?), but if the only kind of movie he is willing to make is so serious that humor is strictly verboten, I have to hope that Booster Gold and Blue Beetle will never make an appearance in them.

As a Blue and Gold fan, I'm not going to be happy if Booster finally shows up in the DC cinematic universe only to have to experience the events of Countdown to Infinite Crisis all over again.

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It's been a long time since I played a game of Magic the Gathering, but I might consider jumping back in if Wizards of the Coast was adding more Gold to their boosters.

This card was put together by TheUndead_King at the custom card website MTG Cardsmith. It's easily my favorite card since Black Cat! (For the record, my favorite card ever was Stasis. Yes, I enjoyed ruining your day.)

Although TheUndead_King left the artist on his card as "unknown," let me assure you that it is Dan Jurgens and Norm Rapmund artwork from Booster Gold Volume 2, #1. (And while I'm at it, the flavor text is from 52 Week 52. Damn, we got some good Booster Gold comics there for a while.)

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