For the first time since Rebirth restored Ted Kord as Blue Beetle, he and Booster Gold are front and center in action again!

Art by Brett Booth, Norm Rapmund, Andrew Dalhouse

Okay, maybe they're not "in" action, but they're close enough. Ted isn't much of a hero these days, not since the heart attack that sidelined him into mentoring Jaime Reyes. But he can still don his old costume for special occasions, such as when the real Flash — Wally West! — races S.T.A.R. Labs founder* Speed Buggy for charity as seen in this week's Flash/Speed Buggy Special.

*No, really. Things developed pretty quickly in that comic. There's also a Reverse Speed Buggy now.

Thanks to Logan for pointing out our favorite heroes in the crowd. (Say, does anyone recognize the kid in the yellow shirt between Igoo and Chunk? Or the character below Grape Ape with the purple stripe down his front? Or the kid in the white jacket behind Robin? They're all probably either Flash or Hanna-Barbera characters. Any guesses?)

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Remember that time that Booster Gold went back in time and changed history? Obviously, I'm talking about "Blue & Gold," a story written by Jeff Katz and Geoff Johns running between Booster Gold Volume 2 #0 and #1,000,000.

(No, there weren't one million issues in the story. Issue #0 was released in February and issue #1,000,000 came out in July. Issues #6, #7, #8, #9 — released 10 years ago today — and #10 came out in between, so it's only a 7-part story. Comics numbering can be weird.)

The premise of "Blue & Gold" is that Booster Gold, who has altered time for entirely selfish reasons, finds that the new timeline he has accidentally created is far, far worse than anything he could have imagined. Heroes have died. Villains are victorious. And the worst of it is that Booster has no idea how to fix the problems he created...

Hmm. Why does this feels so familiar?

Only a comic book character could learn so little from his own history.

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Sometimes I worry that the delightful friendship between Booster Gold and Blue Beetle will be forgotten by the comic-reading public. After all, Ted Kord was killed 13 years ago. That's a long time in the world of comic books. For example, the DC Universe has been rebooted three times since then! (None of those reboots reinstated the Blue and Gold team.)

That's why I was so pleased to see the Pittsburgh City Paper's interview with comic artist Marcel Walker. Walker, voted the paper's 2017 "Best Local Cartoonist," was the cover artist for this week's issue, and was interviewed about it by Lisa Cunningham.

Cunningham: This week's cover features our take on Batman and Robin. Which Pittsburgh artist would you choose to be your sidekick?

Walker: Most people would say the local writer Wayne Wise and I are already an inseparable creative duo. Together, he and I have been working as lead writer and lead artist, respectively, on the CHUTZ-POW! comic book. We've known each other for years, and since we have so much creative stuff going on at any given time, we're like each other's sidekick and biggest fan. We have more of a Blue Beetle/Booster Gold dynamic, though. (The comics fans will understand that reference!)

Yes, we do understand. And it's great to see someone keeping the spirit of Blue and Gold alive in the public eye. (City Paper reports a circulation of 58,000. That's a lot of readers who are probably hearing about the adventures of Blue and Gold for the first time.)

You can see more of Walker's work (and his collaborations with Wise) on his website, www.marcelwalker.com.

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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.)

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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!

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