New York Comic Con 2012 was this past weekend, and there was plenty to see. Too bad most of it was so ugly.

TheBlotSays.com has details on DC Collectible's upcoming Booster Gold mini-bust planned for a February 2012 release. The sculpting looks fantastic; too bad that when we finally get a Booster mini-bust from DC, I can't buy it. Giving $69.95 to DC Collectibles for that 6" bust would imply that I approved of -- or at least tolerated -- that DCnU atrocity of a costume. I don't, and I won't. (By the way, what's with that star? Is it Booster's newest logo? Ugh-ly.)

Even on a 1/48 scale model, that costume looks terrible. Obviously, DCnU Booster Gold will be in an upcoming set of Heroclix as well. Fortunately, he won't be alone. Also on display at NYCC 2012 was an appropriately Heroclix-scaled version of the late, lamented Blue Beetle's Bug airship. (Now that's something that I can endorse dropping some heavy cash on!) Fly on over to Russ Burlingame's article at ComicBook.com for more info and pics.

UPDATE 10/15/2012: Heroclix.com has a page up detailing the dial, powers, and abilities of the Booster Gold figure to be released in the Batman set next month. The Heroclix website calls this week "Blue & Gold Week," so pay attention this week for more official news about that Blue Beetle Bug seen at NYCC.

UPDATE 10/16/2012: Action Figure Insider has complete details about the bust, including the name of the sculptor, James Shoop.

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Eleven years ago today, DC released JLA: Incarnations, an anthology mini-series focused on telling the "untold" stories set a various points in the prior history of the Justice League. Most of the fun and frustration of this series was in seeing how writer John Ostrander would mangle characterization and history in order to squeeze his new stories into pre-existing continuity. Issue #6, published 11 years ago today, was no exception.

This issue contains two stories set about 7 years apart, and both stories generously feature Booster Gold. Booster and Blue Beetle are the protagonists in the issue's lead story, "Buddies." The pair invent the villainous identities of Bloodspot and Deathmetal in order to sneak into the rogue nation of Bialya. As entertaining as the story is, at times almost everything seems to be an anachronism. Errors stretch from DC Universe chronological impossibilities (Mister Miracle's inclusion in events would have been impossible in the time period) to real-world industry conventions (the ultra-violent "grim and gritty" comics that would feature characters with ridiculous names "Bloodspot" and "Deathmetal" wouldn't be published for several years after the era in which this story was set). Even the relationship between the protagonists is blatantly misrepresented (Booster Gold should be playing straight to Blue Beetle's zany ideas, not the other way around).

The other story, "Authority," doesn't do much better. "Authority" details the untold and much-needed story of the dissolution of Extreme Justice, mostly from the point of view of team leader Captain Atom. Booster naturally plays a part in this story as well, although artist Eric Battle doesn't seem to realize that Booster wore more than one costume between the founding of the Justice League International and the conclusion of the Extreme Justice debacle. Again, Ostrander doesn't let history get in his way, as he, like Geoff Johns in the more recent retcon seen in Justice League International Annual, ignores that the United Nations washed its hands of the JLI long before the end of the team. As we all know, DC's writers never let facts get in the way of telling their stories.

That's not to say these stories aren't enjoyable, because they are. Objectively, they are entertaining reads that add to our knowledge of the period they represent. Subjectively, however, they don't quite live up (or in Extreme Justice's case, down) to the era that inspired them. Without hesitation, I recommend reading the issue, but like any story of historical fiction, I'll leave leave it up to the reader to decide how much truth they contain.

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DC released solicitations for the month of November earlier this week, and there was no sign of Booster Gold or the Justice League International. How long can this insanity go on?

Meanwhile, DC is still publishing Blue Beetle. Issue #12 hits the stands today. With Beetle promised to appear in the Justice League International Annual, it may be worthwhile to keep track of his adventures in the meantime. Buy it or not; either way Skeets doesn't care.

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Last month, Super-Team Family ...The Lost Issues gave us Skeet's new team. With the JLI on hiatus and Skeets going his own way, it was only a matter of time before Booster sought out new company, too.

If DC and Marvel can't get their acts together to give us comics this good, at least we have Super-Team Family ...The Lost Issues to make everything right in the world.

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Hmm. How to interpret this poll? Jaime has a small but strong following? Blue and Gold fans still mourn Ted Kord? Ah, I got it: give us back our Booster Gold, DC!

Last week's poll question: How would you respond to a new series pairing Booster Gold and the new Blue Beetle? (61 votes)

Yesterday's issue of Justice League International #12 confirms that the JLI will no longer have any support, financial or otherwise, from the United Nations. One international organization's mistake is another man's opportunity.

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