As anyone who saw Kevin Smith's Chasing Amy knows, a comic book inker is really just a tracer. But if you look at Showcase Presents Booster Gold, you can see how different "tracers" can influence the final product.

Booster Gold inked by Mike DeCarlo, Arne Starr, Ty Templeton, Robert Campanella

In addition to creating Booster Gold, Dan Jurgens drew every issue of Booster Gold volume 1. But he worked with many different inkers. Mike DeCarlo inked the book for the first year with several others, including Ty Templeton, finishing the run. This resulted in a variety of different looks for the character.

I wondered how much credit these inkers deserve for honing the visual identity of the character, so I put the question to Jurgens himself.

Booster's overall appearance, starting with the design of his costume, his general look, body language, expressiveness, etc.-- all those thing go into creating a definitive look. Far more so than the particulars of inking. For me, once I had the design I wanted, I think 90% of it was locked in.

Not to take anything away from Mike, who did a fine job, but I was doing fairly detailed pencils. Ty brought a sense of smoothness to the overall look of the book while Mike really gave the metallic portions of the uniform the look it needed. I really think that, like many things in life, each of the guys brought something good and different to the series.

Again-- that isn't to take anything away from anyone who worked on the book-- just a way of saying that far more goes into it than a simple question of who inked which issues.

It takes a village to raise a child, especially a troublesome child like Booster Gold.

Thanks to Dan Jurgens for providing so many nice images for others to trace, and thinks to Mike DeCarlo, Ty Templeton, and others to for turning Jurgens' images into our favorite comics.

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When I asked this 5 years ago, Booster Gold Volume 2 received 48% of the vote. It's only getting more popular over time.

Last week's poll question: Which era of Booster Gold has been your favorite? (58 votes)

While a lot of people are talking about the Booster Gold/Blue Beetle movie, we still don't even know which Blue Beetle it will be. Who do you want to see?

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Today's issue of Justice League 3001 #4 takes place after the last issue of Justice League 3000 but before the start of the current series. Are we likely to finally find out how Booster Gold and Blue Beetle got out of the cliffhanger ending of Justice League 3000 #14?

If the issue preview at comicbookresources.com is any indication, probably not.

But I'll be buying it anyway. I invite you to join me.

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Over the weekend, Miri B wrote in and reminded me that Booster Gold made a different splash in mass media. Check out this panel from Sensation Comics Featuring Wonder Woman #11, released in June.

Sensation Comics Featuring Wonder Woman "Chapter 33" by Josh Elder, Juan Castro, Jamal Igle

As you can see, Booster appeared on Dancing with the Heroes! No news on who his competitors were. If that show is anything like Dancing with the Stars, "hero" is probably defined pretty loosely. Some other dancers might be Anima, Elasti-Girl, Heckler, Looker, Major Bummer, 'Mazing Man, and Snapper Carr.

Yeah, I'd still watch that.

Thanks to Miri for the info and the scan.

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Late last week, tracking-board.com unleashed the rumor that a Booster Gold/Blue Beetle movie in the works, and DC fans everywhere exploded with pent-up joy.

The weekend brought us no confirmation of this rumor. Warner Brothers, DC, and producer/director Greg Berlanti have all been publicly silent on the subject. That doesn't seem to have dampened fan enthusiasm.

Social media sites have been blanketed by a positive reaction to the news that DC might finally be making a superhero movie that isn't all grim 'n' gritty. So if the rumor wasn't true to begin with, maybe it is now.

Remember that studios make movies to sell them to audiences. If a lighthearted, super hero buddy comedy is what we say we want, they will give it to us.

So keep up the buzz, Booster boosters! Let's get Booster Gold the movie he deserves.

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