DC Comics has released January 2024 solicitations, and as has become the recent trend, Booster Gold is not mentioned anywhere. And for that matter, neither is Blue Beetle or Fire or Ice. It looks like they're taking the month off to make more room for Beast World tie-ins, much as Lazarus Planet pushed books off shelves last year.

The good news in the solicitations is the advanced announcement of Justice League International Omnibus Volume 3, which will wrap up the Giffen/DeMatteis era. It'll even include the Blue and Gold (mis)adventures seen in JLA 80-Page Giant #1, Formerly Known as the Justice League, and the 2011 DC Retroactive: JLA - The '90s. Not a bad haul for Booster boosters of a certain era.

Even better, the book will have all new cover art by Kevin Maguire. Maguire worked Booster Gold into the new art for both Omnibus 1 and Omnibus 2, so here's hoping the third (and final) time is also charming.

(It might be worth mentioning that as I type this, the first Omnibus is currently 34% off at Amazon.com. Just in case you're still looking for that perfect Christmas gift for someone who needs more "Bwah-Ha-Ha" in their life.)

You can read the exact details about this third Omnibus, currently scheduled for a February 20 release, in the official solicitations at AIPTComics.com

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I don't have to look at any previews to tell you that Booster Gold will definitely be in your Local Comic Shop this week... because he was there before.

This is page 8, panel 8 of 1991's War of the Gods:

A reprint of that comic, now called Wonder Woman War of the Gods Special Edition #4, will be available at fine comic shops everywhere this week. Given that panel is Booster Gold's only appearance in this otherwise mediocre event mini-series, Skeets will understand if you choose to buy it or not.

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I had little choice but to order a copy of the San Diego Comic Con exclusive "Silver Screen Edition" reprint of Booster Gold Volume 1 #1 from eBay, making it the most I've ever paid for a single comic book.

But somehow no one told me it was polybagged.

I had to order another just to open one of them up (just like Superman #75 all those years ago). So now I've paid the most I've ever paid for two single comic books! And they're both reprints! Living in the future is expensive.

As you can see from the first-page indicia above, these shouldn't be called "Silver Screen Edition Booster Gold #1" because they are officially Booster Gold 1 (SDCC 2023 Facsimile Edition). "Facsimile Edition" is how DC has been labeling all of their recent single-issue reprints of classic comics. Could there be a non-foil Booster Gold #1 Facsimile Edition coming to comic shop near you in the near future?

To its credit, other than the foil wraparound cover, this Facsimile Edition is a very faithful reproduction of the original material, including commercial ads (for the likes of M.A.S.K. and Voltron) and house ads (for 'Mazing Man and the 1986 DC Wall Calendar), with only some small deviations.

• The book is 3 millimeters taller and 2 millimeters wider than the original, identical to modern DC Comics proportions.
• The price and bar code box have been removed from the original cover (reproduced on traditional cover stock) underneath the outer foil.
• The interior paper is much better quality than the original newsprint.
• The story pages use the remastered and recolored art used to produce 2019's The Big Fall.
• Unlike The Big Fall, which removed all ads and condensed the page count, all pages here are laid out on the left and right as originally presented except for the "continued on 2nd/3rd page following" editorial boxes, which have been removed from the bottom of story pages 4, 8, 16, and 20.
• Many, if not all, the full-page ads have been blown up to cover the entire page, minimizing and sometimes removing their original borders. (In the original printing, story pages and ads had the same border spacing on each page.)

Speaking of the ads, I'm not sure I enjoyed being reminded that we're exactly half way in between Halley's Comet visits. (And some friendly time-traveler might want to go back and warn the Red Cross about making that endorsement deal.)

Expense aside, I'm otherwise very happy to have this issue in my hands. It's gorgeous. I just wish I could touch it without getting fingerprints on the foil.

Considering that my very first, newsstand-purchased floppy Booster Gold #1 has long been what might politely be called a "reader's copy," I'd love for DC to release yet another "facsimile edition," preferably without the foil and priced at a more reasonable $5 ("reasonable" being a very relative term). If they do, I promise to buy another one. Two, if they come polybagged.

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It wasn't until the weekend that I realized that I failed to make note of last week's release of the $100 Absolute Dark Nights Death Metal, the most recent collection of 2021's Dark Nights: Death Metal mini-series.

Although this is called the "Absolute" edition, it only covers the main seven issues (which were previously released in a $30 edition back in 2021) plus some art extras. To get the additional 10 one-shot tie-ins and the five Justice League tie-in issues, you'll have to wait until next year's Omnibus edition.

As for any Booster Gold appearances to be expected in this week's books... well, you've already got a lot to read, right?

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Last week, DC released its retailer solicitations for July 2023, and about the only thing I can say about it is that Booster boosters are going to be able to save a bunch of money on comic books this summer.

The only sign of our hero is the DC Vs. Vampires: All Out- War Part 2 collection, and I'd never recommend anyone should even read that, let alone buy it.

But rather than focus on our summer without Gold — there will be plenty of time for that later — let's stay positive and keep an eye on what we're getting this week: the re-release of Booster Gold: 52 Pick-Up.

DC is calling this the 2023 edition. So far as I'm aware, the only thing different from the 2008 printing is the price, but I can't begrudge that. Everything is more expensive now than it was 15 years ago.

In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, what cost you $14.99 in 2008 should cost you $20.89 today. Turns out that Booster Gold: 52 Pick-Up 2023 Edition is a bargain! Buy a copy for everyone in your family.

UPDATE: I got an email from Marty pointing out that Skeets is on the solicited Dan Mora cover for Batman/Superman: World's Finest #17 due on July 18. That's definitely something to look forward to!

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