Let me start with this disclaimer: I don't speak Spanish. The following story by Xabier Migelez comes to me secondhand through MSN.com and Google Translate:

Javier Dãvila loses the boat of 'Pasapalabra' because of the Booster Gold robot

Javier Dãvila caressed the juicy pot of 'Pasapalabra' on Monday . The man from Salamanca played a great program, but could not win the 1,570,000 euros at stake. For the second time in this stage, Dãvila was just one word away from correctly completing the rosco .

The program was looking for the "name of the comic book character, who is a robot, who accompanies the superhero Booster Gold on his adventures" , but did not find the correct answer. The contestant went around the donut six times, leaving only the letter 'S' unanswered.

Despite having more than enough time on the scoreboard, Dãvila acknowledged not knowing the answer: "I'll keep thinking because Booster Gold doesn't sound like anything to me. As long as I have time, I'll have hope." But after Pablo [Diaz]'s second ruling, the man from Salamanca had to risk and choose an answer. He said 'Stan', the very name of the autonomous valet robot that already works at Lyon Airport , but it wasn't the answer the show was looking for.

You mean to tell me there is a Spanish television game show that asked its contestant about Booster Gold's sidekick? I'm not sure I'd believe that even without the questionable syntax of Google Translate if I hadn't found a video clip of the episode on the website of the show's channel, antena3.com.

One-and-a-half million euros is a lot of money to lose, but don't feel too bad, Dávila. I'm sure most Americans don't recognize Skeets, either.

Comments (2) | Add a Comment | Tags: antena3.com dan jurgens game show msn.com pasapalabra skeets spain twitter.com xabier migelez

Some days I'm like, "what should I post today?" And other days I see things like this:

That's not a physical Justice League Unlimited Skeets model, but it could be.

It's creator, 3DPrintedPropsStuff on etsy.com, is selling the 3D files necessary to print your own 16-inch (!) Skeets model on your own personal 3D printer. I don't happen to have one of those, but if I did, this is exactly the sort of thing I would use it for. (And then I'd put an Alexa speaker in it.)

If you'd rather print yourself a Skeets that looks more like everyone's favorite security droid appeared in Booster Gold Volume 2, 3DPrintedPropsStuff has got that model, too.

Being able to print my own sidekick robot at home is something I couldn't even have dreamed of when Booster Gold debuted in 1985. The future is Boosterrific, indeed!

Comments (0) | Add a Comment | Tags: 3dprintedpropsstuff etsy.com skeets

December brings us to end of our list of the twelve best Booster Gold comics. We've come full circle.

In the second entry on the list, 1986's Booster Gold #6, Skeets reveals Booster Gold's origin story to Superman for the first time. Thirty two years and several continuity reboots later, some things haven't changed. In our final entry, 2016's Action Comics #995, Skeets once again reveals Booster Gold's origin story to Superman.

Booster's creator Dan Jurgens took partial inspiration for Booster's origin from the Silver Age adventures of Superman. In this issue, he expands their connection by exploring the difference between the upbringing of the two characters. How much credit do their parents deserve for setting them on their respective heroic journeys? (Hint: a lot.)

The entire issue is rife with this sort of parallelism.

The story starts with Superman confronted by a Kryptonian policeman, the Eradicator, and it ends with Booster hunted by 25th-century federal agent Broderick (last seen in the excellent Booster Gold #18). Despite the comparable situations, Superman is seen as history's greatest hero while Booster Gold is considered nothing more than a criminal. Perception is reality, even in comic books.

By the way, since we're keeping track of such things, in their first meeting, Superman taught Booster Gold about the responsibility of using his super powers in Booster Gold #7. This time around, it's Booster's turn to explain the rules. I love that.

Perhaps the best thing about this issue is among its least consequential. The first time we visited this story, Booster's mother had died believing her son was a failure. It was long overdue that Ma Carter finally learn her only son would go on to become one of history's greatest heroes.

I think you can see why I include Action Comics #995 on my list of the twelve best Booster Gold comics.

And those twelve are just the tip of the iceberg. There are many, many more great Booster Gold comics to discover, and hopefully many more to come in the years ahead.

Here's to Booster Gold forever.

Comments (1) | Add a Comment | Tags: action comics best of broderick dan jurgens skeets superman

In the eternal search for Booster Gold cameo appearances, I made the mistake of flipping through Dark Nights: Death Metal The Multiverse Who Laughs #1. WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO READ A COMIC ABOUT BELOVED PET SIDEKICKS EATING PEOPLE? WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU, DC? Damn it, there should be a warning on the cover.

Fortunately, Batman Beyond #49 is a delightful antidote for most of the drek that DC is publishing these days.

Thank you, Dan Jurgens, et al.

A preview of the issue is online at CBR.com, but you don't need it. Go buy this issue and make Skeets happy. Sir.

Comments (1) | Add a Comment | Tags: batman batman beyond cbr.com new releases previews skeets

Cort's back with more Booster Gold sketchbook pages! He writes

These are a fun and varied mix of styles so it was nice to add them all to my collection. Which is now 59 pieces large! 2020 has had a lot of downs and twists and turns, but it has been fruitful for having artists open their lists for mail-in commissions, and I've been very lucky and very grateful for that.

Jon Bagdanove

Will Conrad

Elsa Charretier

Nick Prolix

Way to find the bright side of everyone being stuck at home without regular jobs in 2020, Cort! (And we're grateful that you shared your luck with us.)

You can see Cort's full Booster Gold sketchbook online at imgur.com.

Comments (0) | Add a Comment | Tags: commissions cort carpenter else charretier fan art jon bogdanove nick prolix skeets will conrad