Since Comic-Con International started two weeks ago, I have received repeated requests for pictures of Booster Gold cosplayers. Specifically, fans have been asking for pictures of female versions of Booster Gold. These are typically referred to as Earth-11 Booster Gold or Rule 63 Booster Gold, depending on whether your frame of reference is comic books or the internet. In either event, I know when I'm beaten; your wish is my command.

Above left are Katy Mor and Jettie Monday, respectively, as Blue Beetle and Booster Gold. This pair of professional models have been making a name for themselves as Blue and Gold on the convention circuit, selling some stunning photographs by Bill Nash. Jettie Monday has even written about her experience as Booster Gold for Geek News Network.

Above right are RaeHimura and Demyrie, respectively, as Blue Beetle and Booster Gold. Together, this creative pair of dedicated fans have been dressing as the world's best comic duo at conventions for awhile, including in this year's Comic-Con (as photographed by William Tung). Together, they now run their own custom costume shop at Suit Up Productions.

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So we won't be seeing Skeets before Justice League International draws to a close with issue #12. Maybe that's because our favorite sidekick is just too busy with its own adventures.

Sadly, this is another comic that should but doesn't exist, as brought to us by Super-Team Family ...The Lost Issues. This beauty would be worth the expense at ten times the cover price! (Thanks to The Irredeemable Shag of FirestormFan.com for the link.)

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As mentioned here last month, Booster Gold has a new voice in the DC Universe Online video game. And now you can hear it.

Booster Gold 2011:

Booster Gold 2012:

Booster was originally given voice by Tracy W. Bush. I don't know who gives voice to Booster now, but he sounds like Martin Sheen. (For the record, I'm 99% sure that the actor giving the new voice isn't Martin Sheen; he just sounds like him.) I like Martin Sheen, but he's no Booster Gold.

Bush's voice was replaced in early June because game producers felt Bush was over-used in the game. This change caused quite a stir in the online community of players, triggering an in-depth response from DCUO Creative Director Jens Andersen:

Regardless of the reasons, sometimes recasting needs to happen, and we make those calls on a case by case basis. Given that the Booster Gold recasting has received a lot of attention, I wanted to address it specifically. First off, change is always hard to get used to. At this point everyone was very familiar with the old Booster Gold VO, so any change is going to get a reaction. Second, there was a casting conflict on the villain side. Often, Calculator and Booster would talk over each other. Since they were voiced by the same actor it became a bit uncanny when this happened. Third, DC wanted the character to be more heroic and less of a shill (albeit a very funny shill in the hands of Tracy).

It might take some getting used to, but the new version isn't that far away from the old one, and it works much better for a character that is becoming more involved in the content as a participant rather than a narrator.

I think I can safely say that more interaction with Booster Gold is always a good thing, even if it causes Booster Gold to loose his voice.

You can read Andersen's full post at forums.stations.sony.com, along with some of the fan response. And of course if you want the full effect of interacting with Booster Gold, DC Universe Online is free to download and play at DCUniverseOnline.com.

Note: if you cannot see the audio players above, you do not have Adobe Flash Player installed in your browser.

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File this in the "It Could Be Worse" category: nineteen years ago today, Booster Gold debuted his first costume change in the pages of 1993's Justice League America #80. Doomsday had destroyed his original 25th century powersuit, and Blue Beetle graciously provided a replacement. It was... not good.

Unlike his current costume, this suit was intentionally designed by the writer and artist to be a disaster. Bulky, weak, and just plain ugly, this nearly useless powersuit was a means to demonstrate Booster's determination to be a super hero against all odds, even if it meant opening himself up to public ridicule and putting himself in mortal danger. Just think: once upon a time, costume changes were story driven, not editorial whims!

Thankfully, it didn't last long. The suit was replaced by a series of improvements until the original costume was eventually restored. There are many Booster fans who hope that this bit of history repeats itself.

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Comic-Con International: the Super Bowl of comic books.

Last week's poll question: What is your opinion of Comic-Con International? (39 votes)

With no good news about the future of Booster Gold publications coming out of last week's convention, it's time to start preparing for a world without Booster Gold.

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