As I type this, the #1 New Release on Amazon.com in the category of Comics & Graphic Novels Literary Criticism is

If you don't remember the original "Gold Exchange" columns, Russ explains their history in the introduction to the book:

It started at Comic Related, and moved to Blog@Newsarama when I did. Just as I was beginning my time at ComicBook.com, the site where I still work, Booster Gold vol. 2 ended, and with it, The Gold Exchange. There were occasional returns to the story of Booster Gold, and I usually took the opportunity to discuss them with Dan, but as a recurring feature, the column effectively ended with Flashpoint, like so many other things at DC.

With Comic Related now defunct and Blog@Newsarama several facelifts (and owners) on from my short time there, none of this material is online in its original form anymore. Back in 2008, I was assured by both outlets that I owned all the content I created there, so while the more recent content is owned by ViacomCBS (the parent company of ComicBook), the contents of this book represent an updated, formatted, and edited version of a PDF I put together in 2011, with the intent of offering it at the ComicBook booth when I tabled at New York Comic Con.

For that reason, while some introductions and notes reflect that this book is releasing in 2021, the "real-time" commentary element of the interviews is retained as much as possible. This is, to an extent, preserving a moment in Booster's history, and comics history, in amber. Appreciate it for what it is, and enjoy the many, many times I tried to get Dan to tell me a spoiler, only to have him say "Stay tuned."

I read those columns in their native locations, and I'm still tuned. (When will we get to find out who the Black Beetle is, Dan?!)

Russ was kind enough to share a preview copy of the book with me, and I can heartily recommend it to any Booster Gold (or comic book) fan who wants to know a little more about how the sausage is made, so to speak.

Support comics journalism and get your own Kindle copy (paperback coming soon, maybe even by the end of the week!) at amazon.com.

Comments (2) | Add a Comment | Tags: amazon.com dan jurgens gold exchange interviews russ burlingame

If it feels like a long time since we've had an issue of Blue and Gold, it's not your imagination. Blue and Gold #4 was released over two months ago!

Sadly, a pandemic-triggered paper shortage and international shipping restrictions have combined to make issues of Blue and Gold few and far between. I hope that difficulty in getting your hands on a comic book was the least of your problems in 2021.

The good news is that 2022 is starting on a better note. At long last, Blue and Gold #5 is due to arrive in your Local Comic Shop tomorrow.

A preview of the issue — with Rip Hunter and The Beatles! — is available at aiptcomics.com, but I know you don't really need the extra taste before buying.

Buy this issue and make Skeets happy.

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Booster booster Rob Snow sent me an electronic-mail to share the news that Ryan Sook has already released his original pen and ink page art for Blue and Gold #5 for sale at felixcomicart.com.

Naturally, I went and took a look, and what I found blew my—hold on.

Since there is no dialogue in the line art (these days, the letterer places the speech balloons digitally over colored artwork), and we already know that Rip Hunter is on the solicited cover for the issue (as reported on the Boosterrific Blog back on September 20), I don't think telling you that a red-headed, bearded Rip Hunter appears in the pages qualifies as much of a spoiler.

But if you don't want to see what follows before the issue is released, I'll give you to the count of three to look away.

One.

Two.

Two-and-a-half.

Three.

Still here? Good, so am I. Now, where were we? Ah, yes. Here:

Blue and Gold #5 page 18 ($250 at felixcomicart.com)

Rip Hunter and Trixie Collins hugging? Needle drop!

As Rob said in his email

I swear if Rip calls her Mom imma lose my $#!+

You and me both, Rob.

I guess we'll find out what sweet nothings they are whispering to one another when Blue and Gold #5 is released next week.

Comments (5) | Add a Comment | Tags: blue and gold felinxcomicart.com rip hunter rob snow ryan sook trixie collins

On January 9, 1969, during a ceremony in which he received the Miami Touchdown Club's F.A.M.E. (Football Awards Miami Edition) Award for the Most Outstanding Professional Football Player of 1968, quarterback Joe Namath of the New York Jets was confronted by an aggressive Baltimore Colts fan. In response to the taunting, Namath guaranteed a Jets victory in the upcoming Super Bowl III.

It became the guarantee heard around the world.

Smart money at the time was that the Colts, representing the established National Football League (whose teams had won the previous two Super Bowls decisively), would handily beat the Jets of the upstart American Football League. No less than famous oddsmaker Jimmy the Greek had predicted the Colts would win by more than two touchdowns.

Therefore, Namath's guarantee, widely reported by the Miami Herald, was generally ignored or ridiculed.

As you may have heard, when the game was played on January 12, the Jets not only covered the 17-point spread, they won outright, proving that the AFL was legitimate football and paving the way for the Super Bowl to become America's biggest sports spectacle. As Namath left the field that day, "The Guarantee" became legend...

...the sort of legend that time-traveling, 20th-century hero-worshiping, former-football-players (with problematic gambling histories) probably find irresistible.

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panel from Action Comics #596

Over the weekend, I got curious just how many heroes Booster Gold has interacted with over the years. So I did what anyone with a huge database of Booster Gold comics data would do, I wrote a query to tell me.

Here's the Boosterrific list of distinctly recognized heroic alter egos who have worked alongside Booster Gold in his 524 canonical adventures in the DC Universe. (The number in parentheses is the number of adventures they have shared as heroes.)

1. Ace Morgan (1)
2. Adam Strange (7)
3. Agent Liberty (9)
4. Air Wave I (1)
5. Akrillo (1)
6. Alpha Centurion (5)
7. Amazing Man II (39)
8. Ambush Bug (1)
9. Anatole (1)
10. Anima (1)
11. Animal Man (21)
12. Anthro (1)
13. Aquagirl IV (2)
14. Aqualad (2)
15. Aqualad II (1)
16. Aquaman (37)
17. Aquaman II (3)
18. Argent (2)
19. Argus II (2)
20. Arisia (5)
21. Arsenal (7)
22. Artemis (2)
23. Aten (3)
24. Atom I (3)
25. Atom II (22)
26. Atom IV (3)
27. Atom Smasher (10)
28. Atomic Knight (1)
29. Atrocitus (1)
30. August General in Iron (14)
31. Aura (1)
32. Avenger (1)
33. Awkward Man (1)
34. Azrael (1)
35. Aztek (4)
36. Ballistic (2)
37. Bat-Mite (1)
38. Batgirl I (11)
39. Batgirl II (1)
40. Batman (112)
41. Batman II (2)
42. Batman III (6)
43. Batman IV (2)
44. Battalion (2)
45. Batwing (9)
46. Batwoman II (2)
47. Beast Boy (21)
48. Beautiful Dreamer (2)
49. Bedovan (1)
50. Beefeater II (3)
51. Betty Clawman (1)
52. Big Barda (28)
53. Big Bear (2)
54. Birdman (1)
55. Black Adam (1)
56. Black Canary II (65)
57. Black Condor II (4)
58. Black Condor III (1)
59. Black Lightning (20)
60. Bleez (1)
61. Blimp (2)
62. Blip (1)
63. Bloodwynd I (20)
64. Bloodwynd II (14)
65. Blue Beetle I (3)
66. Blue Beetle II (247)
67. Blue Beetle III (44)
68. Blue Devil (11)
69. Blue Falcon (1)
70. Bluejay (4)
71. Bogman (2)
72. Brainiac 5 (9)
73. Brainwave II (5)
74. Breach (1)
75. Brik (1)
76. Brother Hynn (1)
77. Brother Power (1)
78. Brother Warth (1)
79. Bruce Gordon (5)
80. Bulleteer (4)
81. Bumblebee (3)
82. Bushmaster (1)
83. Cameron Chase (1)
84. Captain Atom (121)
85. Captain Caveman (1)
86. Captain Marvel (25)
87. Captain Marvel II (2)
88. Captain Marvel, Jr. (3)
89. Carol Ferris (1)
90. Catwoman (2)
91. Chameleon Boy (3)
92. Changeling (4)
93. Chimera (1)
94. Cinder (1)
95. Citizen Steel (2)
96. Claw (2)
97. Colossal Boy (2)
98. Congorilla (2)
99. Cosmic Boy (6)
100. Crazy Jane (3)
101. Creeper (10)
102. Crimson Fox (20)
103. Cyborg (20)
104. Cyclone (3)
105. Damage (3)
106. Dane Dorrance (1)
107. Darkstar (3)
108. Darkstar Donna Troy (1)
109. Darkstar Phil (3)
110. Darla Dudley (1)
111. Dawnstar (3)
112. Deadman (3)
113. Deathstroke (7)
114. Demon (7)
115. Detective Chimp (1)
116. Divineq (2)
117. Doctor Fate I (10)
118. Doctor Fate II (17)
119. Doctor Fate IV (5)
120. Doctor Fate V (1)
121. Doctor Fate VII (3)
122. Doctor Light IV (31)
123. Doctor Mid-Nite I (3)
124. Doctor Mid-Nite II (8)
125. Doctor Midnight (5)
126. Doctor Mist (1)
127. Doll Man II (1)
128. Dominator QQ (2)
129. Donna Troy (13)
130. Dove I (1)
131. Dove II (7)
132. Driq (2)
133. Dumb Bunny (1)
134. Echo (3)
135. Edge (1)
136. Elasti-Girl (2)
137. Elongated Man (56)
138. Emerald Dragon (2)
139. Empress (1)
140. Enchantress (1)
141. Eradicator II (4)
142. Eugene Choi (1)
143. Evan Hughs (1)
144. Extrano (1)
145. Fatality (1)
146. Faust (1)
147. Ferro (2)
148. Fire (147)
149. Firebrand IV (1)
150. Firehawk I (10)
151. Firehawk II (3)
152. Firestorm I (5)
153. Firestorm II (6)
154. Firestorm IV (2)
155. Firestorm V (31)
156. Firestorm VI (11)
157. Flamebird (2)
158. Flash I (23)
159. Flash II (20)
160. Flash III (71)
161. Flash IV (8)
162. Flex Mentallo (1)
163. Floro (1)
164. Frankenstein (1)
165. Fred Flintstone (1)
166. Fringe (1)
167. G.I. Robot (3)
168. Gangbuster (4)
169. Ganthet (2)
170. Garv (3)
171. Gates (2)
172. Geist (1)
173. General Glory (9)
174. Geo-Force (14)
175. Glenn Gammeron (3)
176. Gloss (1)
177. Gnort (5)
178. Godiva (19)
179. Gold (7)
180. Goldstar II (5)
181. Grace II (4)
182. Graf Toran (1)
183. Green Arrow I (40)
184. Green Arrow II (7)
185. Green Lantern I (14)
186. Green Lantern II (52)
187. Green Lantern III (24)
188. Green Lantern IV (97)
189. Green Lantern V (19)
190. Guardian II (9)
191. Gunfire (3)
192. Guy Gardner (37)
193. Gypsy (22)
194. Hair Bear (1)
195. Halo (4)
196. Hannu (1)
197. Harley Quinn (10)
198. Hawk (8)
199. Hawkgirl II (18)
200. Hawkman I (20)
201. Hawkman III (6)
202. Hawkman IV (6)
203. Hawkslayer (2)
204. Hawkwoman I (8)
205. Hawkwoman II (2)
206. Hippolyta (3)
207. Hitman (1)
208. Hook (1)
209. Hourman I (3)
210. Hourman II (9)
211. Hourman III (3)
212. Human Bomb II (2)
213. Human Starfish (1)
214. Human Target (1)
215. Huntress II (11)
216. Hurricane (1)
217. Ice (111)
218. Ice Maiden I (6)
219. Impala (1)
220. Impulse (2)
221. Indigo-1 (1)
222. Inferno (3)
223. Infinity Man (1)
224. Invisible Kid II (2)
225. Iron (9)
226. Jack O'Lantern (2)
227. Jade (18)
228. Jakeem Thunder (2)
229. Jamm (1)
230. Jarro (2)
231. Jemm (1)
232. Jesse Quick (3)
233. Jessica Cruz (6)
234. Jet (1)
235. Joe Public (1)
236. John Constantine (3)
237. Johnny Quick (1)
238. Johnny Thunder (1)
239. Jonah Hex (6)
240. Kamandi (5)
241. Karate Kid I (1)
242. Karin Grace (1)
243. Karu-Sil (1)
244. Katana (12)
245. Katma Tui (5)
246. Kayb (1)
247. Kid Devil (2)
248. Kid Flash (5)
249. Kid Flash II (5)
250. Kid Flash III (2)
251. Killowat (3)
252. Kilowog (18)
253. King Chimera (1)
254. Klarion the Witch Boy (2)
255. Krag (2)
256. Krypto (1)
257. Kyle Rayner (3)
258. Lady Blackhawk (2)
259. Lady Quark (4)
260. Lady Shazam (1)
261. Lagoon Boy (1)
262. Layla (1)
263. Lead (8)
264. Liberty Belle II (2)
265. Lieutenant Crater (2)
266. Lightning (1)
267. Lightning Lad (4)
268. Lightray (6)
269. Linear Woman (2)
270. Lionheart (4)
271. Little Mermaid (1)
272. Lobo (14)
273. Looker (1)
274. Loose Cannon (3)
275. Maash (1)
276. Magenta (3)
277. Magog (3)
278. Man-Bat (1)
279. Manhattan Guardian (1)
280. Mark Moonrider (2)
281. Martian Manhunter (117)
282. Mary Marvel (16)
283. Max Mercury (1)
284. Maxi-Man (6)
285. Maxima (68)
286. Maya (5)
287. Medusa (2)
288. Mento (1)
289. Mera (2)
290. Mercury (10)
291. Merry Man (1)
292. Metamorpho (50)
293. Miguel Montez (2)
294. Mirage II (1)
295. Miri Riam (1)
296. Miss Martian (7)
297. Mister Bones (4)
298. Mister Miracle (88)
299. Mister Miracle II (2)
300. Mister Terrific II (17)
301. Mogo (1)
302. Molotov (1)
303. Mon-El (1)
304. Mongrel (2)
305. Morro (1)
306. Munk (1)
307. Murr the Melting Man (1)
308. Myriad (1)
309. Mystek (1)
310. Naomi (4)
311. Negative Man (3)
312. Negative Woman (2)
313. Nemesis (3)
314. Nicky Walton (1)
315. Nightblade (1)
316. Nightmaster (1)
317. Nightrider (2)
318. Nightshade (6)
319. Nightwing II (34)
320. Northwind (2)
321. Nuklon (4)
322. O.M.A.C. (3)
323. Obsidian (19)
324. Odd Man (1)
325. Olympian (2)
326. OMAC IV (11)
327. Omen (2)
328. Oracle (3)
329. Orion (5)
330. Osiris (2)
331. Owlwoman (1)
332. Pantha (5)
333. Patchwork (3)
334. Pax (1)
335. Peacemaker (4)
336. Pedro Pena (1)
337. Peter Platinum (1)
338. Phantasm III (2)
339. Phantom Girl (1)
340. Phantom Girl II (2)
341. Phantom Lady II (2)
342. Phantom Lady III (1)
343. Phase (4)
344. Pied Piper (1)
345. Plastic Man (18)
346. Platinum (9)
347. Power Girl (67)
348. Praxis (3)
349. Prince Zerep (2)
350. Prism (4)
351. Proty II (1)
352. Prysm (1)
353. Question (1)
354. Race (1)
355. Ragman III (2)
356. Ram (1)
357. Rampage (1)
358. Ratchet (1)
359. Ravager V (2)
360. Raven VI (14)
361. Ray II (43)
362. Razorsharp (1)
363. Rebis (2)
364. Red Arrow (7)
365. Red Bee (1)
366. Red Devil (1)
367. Red Hood (1)
368. Red Robin (5)
369. Red Ryan (1)
370. Red Star (9)
371. Red Tornado (27)
372. Redwing (4)
373. Reverb (5)
374. Rex the Wonder Dog (1)
375. Rick Flag, Jr. (2)
376. Rip Hunter (74)
377. Rising Sun (1)
378. Risk (1)
379. Robin I (3)
380. Robin III (15)
381. Robin V (8)
382. Robotman II (7)
383. Rocket Red (7)
384. Rocket Red 07 (19)
385. Rocket Red 4 (31)
386. Rocket Red 7 (5)
387. Rocket Red Brigade (1)
388. Rocky Davis (1)
389. Romat Ru (1)
390. Saint Walker (1)
391. Sandman I (1)
392. Sandy (3)
393. Sapphire (1)
394. Sasha Bordeaux (6)
395. Saturn Girl (6)
396. Sayd (1)
397. Scorn (1)
398. Seneca (2)
399. Sergeant Rock (1)
400. Serifan (1)
401. Shade the Changing Man (1)
402. Shadow Lass (2)
403. Shadowstrike (2)
404. Shazam (7)
405. Shazam Jr. (1)
406. Shining Knight II (1)
407. Shrinking Violet (1)
408. Sideways (1)
409. Signal (3)
410. Silencer (1)
411. Silver Sorceress (4)
412. Simon Baz (3)
413. Sinestro (4)
414. Sister Sercy (1)
415. Skallox (1)
416. Skrocket (1)
417. Skyman (5)
418. Slam Bradley (3)
419. Slingshot (2)
420. Slushh (1)
421. Snapper Carr (1)
422. Soranik Natu (1)
423. Spark (3)
424. Sparx II (4)
425. Spectre (4)
426. Speedy (1)
427. Speedy II (1)
428. Spoiler (1)
429. Star Boy (1)
430. Starfire II (3)
431. Starfire III (30)
432. Stargirl (11)
433. Starman I (1)
434. Starman V (11)
435. Starman VII (3)
436. Starman VIII (3)
437. Stealth (3)
438. Steel III (22)
439. Steel IV (7)
440. Strata (2)
441. STRIPE (3)
442. Sun Boy (3)
443. Superboy (5)
444. Superboy III (14)
445. Superboy IV (2)
446. Supergirl II (3)
447. Supergirl III (7)
448. Supergirl V (9)
449. Superman (110)
450. Supernova I (18)
451. Swamp Thing (9)
452. Takion (2)
453. Tasmanian Devil (11)
454. Tattooed Man III (1)
455. Technocrat (1)
456. Tekik (1)
457. Telepath (3)
458. Tempest II (5)
459. Terra II (2)
460. The Booster (1)
461. Thorn II (3)
462. Thunder III (3)
463. Thunderbolt (1)
464. Thunderer (1)
465. Thunderlord (1)
466. Timber Wolf (1)
467. Tin (7)
468. Tomar-Tu (1)
469. Traci Thirteen (1)
470. Tri-Eye (1)
471. Triumph (4)
472. Troia (1)
473. Tuatara (1)
474. Ultra Boy (8)
475. Ultra the Multi-Alien (1)
476. Uncle Sam (2)
477. Valor (7)
478. Vapor (3)
479. Velcoro (3)
480. Vigilante I (1)
481. Vixen (29)
482. Vox (1)
483. Vril Dox II (5)
484. Vykin the Black (2)
485. Warrior (16)
486. Waverider (8)
487. Waverider II (4)
488. Wild Dog (2)
489. Wild Huntsman (1)
490. Wildcat I (18)
491. Wildcat III (4)
492. Wildcat IV (1)
493. Wildebeest III (3)
494. Wildfire (1)
495. Windfall (2)
496. Wolfpack (3)
497. Wonder Girl I (6)
498. Wonder Girl II (8)
499. Wonder Twins (14)
500. Wonder Woman (88)
501. Wonder Woman II (1)
502. Wrath (1)
503. Zach (1)
504. Zachary Zatara (1)
505. Zatanna (17)
506. Zauriel (4)
507. Zena Moonstruck (1)
508. Zilius Zox (1)

That's a pretty long list. I'm sure I haven't haven't had 500 co-workers over the course of my entire career. Booster must have quite a rolodex!

If you would like to know more about Booster's interaction with a given character, use the dropdown selector here.

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