Grab those rabbit ears, Booster boosters! It looks like Cartoon Network will finally be airing the final 6 Justice League Action episodes next week.

New episodes should air every day next week at 6:15AM Eastern/Pacific, but we've got our eyes out for two in particular. Per the episode synopses reported by SupermanHomepage.com:

"Watchtower Tours"
Monday, May 7 at 6:15 a.m. (ET/PT)
When Booster Gold starts to secretly give tours of the Watchtower to make some extra cash, he inadvertently brings in a super villain disguised as a tourist.

"She Wore Red Velvet"
Saturday, May 12 at 6:15 a.m. (ET/PT)
When Booster and the JLA come under attack by a mysterious and unrelenting new villainess known as Red Velvet, Booster comes to realize she's actually the fiance he left at the altar in the future.

Dedicated Boosterholics may already be aware that these "new" JLAction episodes have been released overseas and via the Cartoon Network app, but this is the first time they will be coming to American televisions.

I already have my alarm clock set!

Comments (1) | Add a Comment | Tags: cartoon network justice league action supermanhomepage.com television

Last month, Logan Peterson recommended that I include Guy Gardner's 1990s armor in the Boosterrific database. I've decided that Logan was right, but I haven't yet gotten around to validating and adding those issues yet. And now it looks like that will have to wait a little longer . . .

[CORRECTION 2018-04-27: Because I have to pause here and correct myself. It was José Fridman who suggested the armor. (In the same post, I noted that Logan found a Booster Gold appearance in Superman/Batman Secret Files 2003, and I somehow confused the two of them.) José has clarify his suggestion (you can read his comment below), which is even simpler than I first thought. You got it, José. I apologize for misattributing your suggestion, and I've already updated the costumes with your credit to make sure I don't forget again.]

. . . What Logan Peterson did do was find yet another Booster Gold appearance. Per his latest email:

I've been doing a fair bit of back issue hunting recently, and I've struck some Gold. Look what I found in JLA: Classified #35. I didn't see it in the database, so I wanted to bring it to your attention.

JLA Classified #35, Late April 2007

That's Gold all right, Logan. How did I miss that? (Maybe it was the miscolored boots/pants!) Database updated!

And I can do one better. While checking Logan's information, I found Booster also makes a cameo in the previous issue, JLA Classified #34, alongside best friend Blue Beetle!

JLA Classified #34, Early April 2007

Not coincidentally, both issues were co-scripted and co-pencilled by Booster's creator, Dan Jurgens. Also in both cases, the Booster we see is just one of billions in the alternate realities created by the villainous Red King, so neither is an in-continuity appearance. Still, it's always great to find our hero in action.

Thanks, Logan. Keep up the good work. (I promise to get to Gardner's armor eventually.)

Comments (2) | Add a Comment | Tags: blue beetle guy gardner jla classified jose fridman justice league logan peterson

After last week's cornucopia of Booster Gold appearances, this week finds our hero only in a reprint of a reprint, the softcover edition of the first Injustice 2 trade collection.

That's not the last we'll see of Booster in Injustice 2, either. According to DC Comics July solicitations (which you can find on Newsarama.com), Booster will be playing a significant part in the upcoming Injustice 2 #30 scheduled for a July 18 release. Since Injustice 2 issues are digital-first releases, that means we'll see Booster on Comixology.com somewhere near digital chapters 59 and 60 in about a month. (For reference, this week sees the release of chapter 56.)

In addition, we'll also be seeing Booster's entire recent run from Action Comics (issues #993 through #998) reprinted in the softcover trade Superman: Action Comics Vol. 5: Booster Shot on August 18. That trade is advertised to also contain "a story" from the upcoming Action Comics Special #1, so don't be too surprised if we see Booster in that issue due next week.

Comments (0) | Add a Comment | Tags: action comics comixology.com injustice new releases newsarama.com solicitations

While I was busy getting my pantaloons in a bunch last week over Batman #45, Booster Gold sneaked his way into 3 — count 'em, 3! — other comic books.

1. Booster was a small face in a crowd of well-wishers in Action Comics #1000, courtesy none other than Dan Jurgens. (SuperPat pointed this out in the comments last Wednesday.)

Three cheers for Superman!

2. Booster had a slightly larger part alongside Blue Beetle in Injustice 2 #24. This one we knew was coming. I originally mentioned it when it was published digitally at the start of last month. Booster has been showing up quite a bit in the Injustice 2 as of late, with more appearances coming soon.

Booster's mom should wash his mouth out with soap.

3. However, I had no idea bout Booster's appearance in Mister Miracle #8 until Shawn slipped notification into Friday's comments. Booster doesn't appear in person, but his face is on one of the many, many shuperhero t-shirts that Scott Free wears throughout the issue.

Who knew Mister Miracle a fan club member?

Whew! Four issues in one week ties a record! (Can we go for five, DC?)

So no matter how Booster boosters feel about Batman #45, we can't be disappointed that it was the only place for us to find our hero last week. Booster Gold is everywhere in April 2018!

Comments (0) | Add a Comment | Tags: action comics blue beetle dan jurgens injustice mister miracle new releases shawn baston superman superpat

On Monday, I expressed my sincere apprehensions about what I was seeing in previews for Batman #45, released on Wednesday. Now that I've had the issue and read it multiple times, I am relieved to say that my worst fears weren't realized. Writer Tom King's version of Booster Gold isn't a monster. He's just an idiot.

It's easy to see what King was trying to do with the issue. Clearly influenced by the best deconstructionist superhero tales of Alan Moore and Frank Miller, he seeks to show us A) how the world is worse off without a Batman, and more importantly, B) how Batman isn't the same sort of hero as Superman. This comparison is overt, as Moore's "For The Man Who Has Everything..." from the 1985 Superman Annual #11 is specifically mentioned as Booster's motivation. (Is it mere coincidence that the issue was released the same day as Action Comics #1000?) Unfortunately, the clumsy execution of King's plan leaves a lot to be desired.

The biggest problem here is that while King's inspiration for the story might have been high art, his template for Booster Gold was a Saturday morning cartoon, specifically Diedrich Bader's performance in Justice League Action where the character has been stripped down into a two-dimensional jester. Sadly, what works in an 11 minute cartoon for kids doesn't translate into the traditional DC Universe, especially not in the heavy story King is attempting here. Booster's irresponsible attitude about a world gone mad — a world he created! — isn't fun. It's downright villainous.

Poor characterization isn't limited to Booster Gold. Frankly, Booster and Skeets are the only characters in the story given anything resembling depth. One-note Dick Grayson murders heroes. Jason Todd sells weapons. Bruce Wayne is a selfish fop. These aren't characters; they're paper dolls. Why? How? It doesn't matter. Like the graphic violence, characterization exist herein only for shock value. King explains nothing.

In a story celebrating comic book continuity and superhero motivation, there's no need for Booster be so irritatingly incompetent. With a little more effort, King could use Booster to accomplish all of the goals necessary to drive the plot without ignoring years of character development. And if Booster wouldn't work for where the story needs to go, there are plenty of other established characters in the DC Universe who King could have used to achieve the same ends without libeling Booster Gold's character. Anyone who has read Superman Annual #11 should be able to come up with a few. (Chronos, Per Degaton, Professor Zoom, Time Trapper, Doctor Destiny, and Bat-Mite come to mind off the top of my head.) Back in the day, writers were even known to create new characters when they needed them for specific tasks.

I applaud King's intentions. I would always prefer for a writer to aim high and miss than not try at all. But in this case, in light of his clear misunderstanding about who Booster Gold is in the DCU and his disinterest in exploring the characters he is working with, the best I can say about Batman #45 is "it could have been worse." I'm not particularly eager for the follow up.

Comments (9) | Add a Comment | Tags: batman tom king