Maybe DC isn't giving us any new Booster Gold comics, but that doesn't mean that they aren't publishing anything worth reading. My pull list is short, including only three titles from DC: Dan Jurgens' Action Comics, Kurt Busiek's Astro City, and Mark Russell's The Flintstones.

As disparate as they are, all three titles all have something in common, and it's not subject matter. Action and Astro City are both classic super hero fare. The Flintstones is a beautifully subversive view of modern society in the same cynical vein as Russell's all-too-short Prez in 2015.

What these comics have in common is that all are predicated on an understanding of what has come before. Action builds heavily on the differences between the shared universe environments of the New 52 and the post-Crisis era. Astro City is an exploration of the impact of Silver/Marvel Age style comic-book situations from the point of view of real humans. Flintstones uses characters and situations explored in a famous cartoon to poke its finger in the eye of traditionalists.

In all of these titles, knowledge and familiarity with the referenced source material only makes them better. This is something that DC failed to do in its New 52 reboot. The goal there was to retread old tires without bringing anything new to the experience. If endless reruns worked as a business model, DC wouldn't be trying a Rebirth now.

So while I wait (impatiently) for DC to give me another Booster Gold comic (which is not happening this week), I've still got some comics to read. I hope you do, too.

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Today is a "skip week" for DC Comics, so instead of your regular titles, you'll be seeing a lot of annuals and trades at your Local Comic Shop. One of this week's trades is Superman and the Justice League of America Volume 2.

The book is reported to collect Justice League America #69 through #77, which is kind of a weird run to include in a collection with "Superman" in the title. The Man of Tomorrow makes only a cameo appearance, dies in another title after the first issue, and doesn't come back. Perhaps they should have titled it Justice League of America Minus Superman.

These issues were originally published in 1992. My, how different comics looked 20 years ago. Clean line work! No gradients! Boots and red briefs! (Sigh. I really hate you, New 52.)

Obviously, I'm not complaining to see these issues back in print. Everyone needs to know that Booster gives Doomsday his name. It's important to remember that DC's resident time cop has some history himself.

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Blue Beetle: Rebirth #1 is out today. It features the return of Ted Kord as the mentor to Jaime Reyes. You can find two previews online at comicbookresources.com and majorspoilers.com.

On a related note, DC Comics released solicitations for comics shipping in November earlier this week. As has become the norm, Booster Gold was nowhere in sight.

Could a future issue of Blue Beetle be where we'll next see our hero? Given that the series is written by Keith Giffen, it seems a possibility. Consider picking up this issue and getting in on the ground floor.

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In a delayed reaction to Bat-Mite's return to the New 52 DCnU (and as an odd counterpoint to the super-serious Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice now in theaters), today DC Comics is releasing World's Funnest, a trade paperback (TPB) collection of past stories featuring both Bat-Mite and Mr. Mxyzptlk.

The DCComics.com listing for this issue indicates that Booster Gold will play a "Starring" role in this trade. Honestly, it would be stretching the truth to say he even has a cameo appearance. DC's solicitations play coy with the issue's contents, but the Amazon.com listing for the 296-page trade identifies that it will contain portions of the following comics:

Superman and Batman: World's Funnest #1 (2000)
Batman: Mitefall #1 (1995)
Batman and Superman: World's Finest #6 (1999)
Superman/Batman #51-52 (2008)
The Brave and the Bold #200 (1983)
Detective Comics #267 (1959)
Detective Comics #482 (1979)
Superman, vol. 1, #30 (1944)
Superman, vol. 2, #11 (1987)
Superman, vol. 2, #31 (1989)
World's Finest, vol. 1, #113 (1960)
Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #38 (1992)

You'll note that Dan Jurgens' recent Bat-Mite series with its "Black Gold" guest star is not included. That means that Booster Gold's appearances in this trade are limited to a single panel!

Don't get me wrong, I'm not discouraging anyone from picking up this book. I've always been a fan of fun comics, and I particularly enjoy the ridiculous adventures of Silver Age Bat-Mite. I'm just advising that you go to your Local Comic Shop and pick-up this collection for the humor, not the Booster Gold.

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Great news! Both Booster Gold and Blue Beetle play a small role in Justice League 3001 TP Vol 1 Deja Vu All Over Again, available at your Local Comic Shop today.

Blue and Gold have a small role in Justice League 3000 #14. They also play a very small role in Justice League 3001 #3. Both of those stories are included in this trade.

Ok, so maybe Booster and Beetle appearances in these issues are very, very tiny — fine, let's call them cameo appearances — but surely you agree that some Blue and Gold is better than none.

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