DCComics.com released some alternate covers for upcoming issues of Heroes in Crisis via , including this J.G. Jones alternate featuring Booster Gold and Harley Quinn.

It looks like that will be a 1-in-50 "chase" variant, meaning that comic shops will get one for every fifty of the regular covers they order. (For obvious reasons, these are also called "incentive" variants, as they incentivize shops to order more comics than they otherwise would.) Comic shops price these rarer variants according to the purchase threshold, so expect to pay a pretty penny to acquire this cover, probably three or more times the $4 cover price.

There will also be 1-in-100 and 1-in-200 variants, the second of which is by Francesco Mattina and depicts a very bloody Harley wearing Booster's broken visor. Good luck finding that one for less than $50.

In addition to those rare variants, DC also released the Ryan Sook standard alternate covers for the first three Heroes in Crisis issues. Each depicts an "incident report" based on more traumatic moments in the lives of DC heroes. These are purportedly from the files of Sanctuary, "a facility designed to allow superheroes to process the trauma of those not-so-heroic moments." These traumatic moments include the death of Superman, Batman's broken back, Aquaman's lost arm, and Jason Todd's death. Oddly, they also include Wonder Woman's assassination of Maxwell Lord.

That seems to imply that Lord has died at Wonder Woman's hand. Where does this fit in continuity?

When last we saw him in the pages of Justice League vs Suicide Squad (2016), Lord was still alive and continuing his villainous ways. Since the original Justice League International never existed and Ted Kord is still alive in the DCnU, the events kicking off Infinite Crisis that led directly to Lord's death and eventual rebirth must have played out somewhat differently than originally seen in Wonder Woman #219 (2005) and Brightest Day (2010). Does this cover reference that old continuity destroyed by Flashpoint? Or are we being given a glimpse of a as yet unrevealed relationship between Lord and Wonder Woman in the DCnU? (Could Lord be behind the deaths at Sanctuary?)

Maybe we'll find out more when Heroes in Crisis finally sees print.

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My friend Michael pointed me to this video hosted by DCComics.com in which Collin Kelly and Mike Kalinowski debate whether Booster Gold or Blue Beetle, respectively, would win in a fight. Just a couple of comic book nerds talking about some of their favorite characters; it's like a podcast but with pictures!

(Frankly, I don't know why they're wasting so much time. We all know that Booster Gold would win.)

Once you've watched the video, be sure to drop by DCComics.com to vote for Booster Gold the character you think would win in a fight. Don't wait! Voting ends early Thursday morning.

Thanks for the link, Mike.

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DC Comics announced a new comic series on Wednesday via a press release. Mainstream media sites which usually ignore comic books, such as Entertainment Weekly, The Hollywood Reporter, and Newsweek, decided the announcement was newsworthy.

What could make this series such a big deal? Perhaps because Booster Gold is invlovled.

Per the original press release at DCComics.com:

(June 13, 2018 — Burbank, CA) There's a crisis headed toward DC's greatest heroes, but it isn't coming from outer space or another dimension—this time, the threat is homegrown. DC proudly presents a new seven-issue miniseries debuting in September by Tom King and his BATMAN collaborator/artist Clay Mann, titled HEROES IN CRISIS.

A former counterterrorism operations officer with the CIA, [Tom] King's bestselling, critically acclaimed comics—including THE SHERIFF OF BABYLON, THE OMEGA MEN, BATMAN, MISTER MIRACLE—have often grappled with war and conflict, and a hero's struggle to put their war and their trauma behind them. This new series will explore similar themes against the backdrop of a murder mystery involving Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Harley Quinn, Booster Gold, and the rest of the World's Greatest Super Heroes.

Boy, doesn't that sound exciting? Booster Gold working with DC's heaviest hitters solving a mystery? It's a Booster Gold fan's dream come true!

But not so fast! Yesterday, Newsarama revealed what appears to be the issue's upcoming solicitation text. The solicitation casts the story in a slightly different light that might *not* be everything a Booster booster could hope for.

Per the "Heroes in Crisis" fact sheet:

There's a new kind of crisis facing the heroes of the DC Universe, ripped from the real-world headlines by C.I.A.-operative-turned-comics-writer Tom King: How does a superhero handle PTSD? Welcome to Sanctuary, an ultra-secret hospital for superheroes who've been traumatized by crime-fighting and cosmic combat. But something goes inexplicably wrong when many patients wind up dead, with two well known operators as the prime suspects: Harley Quinn and Booster Gold! It's up to the DC Trinity of Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman to investigate — but can they get the job done in the face of overwhelming opposition?

Apparently Booster Gold has a new archnemesis, and his name is Tom King.

Arrgh. Murder! Death! Kill! What kind of "community-building" story about overcoming PTSD could be built upon the death of all the patients who sought help?

Before I work myself further into a frenzy over this, let me remind me that advance solicitations for King's stories tend to vary widely from what actually sees print. The solicitations for Batman #45 is a prime example.

Per the original solicitation for that issue:

"THE TRAVELERS" part one! Booster Gold has come to Gotham City, and he's enlisting Batman and Catwoman to go on a time-traveling mission to rescue...Booster Gold! It seems a younger Booster Gold has gone back in time to kidnap an even younger version of himself, and to rescue his own past, Booster must pursue both of his previous incarnations through Batman's history to find out what is going on. The start of a new story that will sow the seeds for a whole new epic to come....

As we now know, when that story was eventually published as "The Gift," it looked almost nothing like what was promoted outside the inclusion of Booster Gold and Batman. Maybe Heroes in Crisis will be something like that. Maybe Booster Gold will be the detective that solves the crime and saves the day.

Or maybe Booster will be the same as the last time we saw King write him: a short-sighted idiot who enabled a mass homicide.

My hopes are not high.

Everyone can decide for themselves if King redeems his poor treatment of Booster Gold when the first issue of Heroes in Crisis is released on September 26.

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My shopping list for today's trip to my Local Comic Shop:

· Action Comics Special #1. Will we see any Booster Gold? Who cares. I'd buy it for either Dan Jurgens or Mark Russell alone. Maybe I should buy two copies.

· DC Nation #0. Who can pass up a DC comic for a quarter?

· Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles #5. No superheroes here, but Mark Russell again. 'Nuff said.

· Zero Hour: Crisis in Time reprint collection hardcover. Dan Jurgens introduction, updated timeline, new bonus material, and a guaranteed Booster Gold apperance? Yeah, I probably need to take a closer look at this.

Am I missing anything? Hmm. Anything? Oh, yeah. The follow-up to Batman #45.

As seen in the issue preview at DCComics.com, Batman #46 skips to "One Year Later" after the previous issue. What's Booster been doing in that time? Answer: growing a beard!

Looking good! But looks aren't everything, and, sadly, Booster is, if anything, dumber in this issue. The preview has him doubling down on his determination to duplicate "For the Man Who Has Everything" for Batman by telling him that in an alternate timeline, he loved Catwoman. So kill your parents and get the girl! *Sigh*

I sure am looking forward to that Action Comics Special.

UPDATE 2018-05-02: No Booster in the Action Comics Special. Yes Booster in Injustice #25. Not an ideal trade, but I'll take it. They're both way better than the mess that is Batman #46.

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I hope you have some money left over from your Christmas shopping, because Action Comics #994 is out today!

Like last issue, today's comic was drawn by Dan Jurgens, despite what both DCComics.com and PreviewsWorld.com say. This is likely the last issue of the "Booster Shot" story that will be penciled by Jurgens, so enjoy it while you can!

If you'd like to try before you buy, you'll find a preview of the issue at DCComics.com.

Buy both covers (by Jurgens and Francis Manapul), and make Skeets happy!

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