Blue Beetle

Blue and Gold Finally

/ michael.tennant / Leave a comment

This is a book I have been waiting for for somewhere between 10 and 700 years. Anyone who knows me knows that Booster Gold and Ted Kord are two of my favorite heroes in all of comics. And I say Ted Kord So no one gets confused with the other versions of the Blue Beetle(Even though for me there are no other versions).

I have been reading about Booster Gold’s adventures since Dan Jurgens first introduced him to us in the 80s. The fact that he is going to be writing this limited series just makes it all the more special.

But for me Booster and Ted really became Blue and Gold under the watchful eye of Keith Giffen and JM Dematteis. They gave us the goofballs we all know and love. Yes Booster is a self-centered, wannabe celebrity hero but the end of that line is important part. He is a hero and his heart is always in the right place even if he does screw things up. And Ted, both headed his best friend who gets dragged along in his crazy capers mainly because he would do anything for his friend.

It would not have mattered what they said the plot behind this limited series was. I was down from the word go. How they could have just told us that Ted and Booster were going to open up a superhero bar… Oh wait didn’t DC do that before. The point is these are characters that are worthy of some time in the spotlight.

Everything doesn’t have to be Batman. Everything doesn’t have to be serious. Sometimes you just need hears that you want to have some fun. And after the last year of the real world we could use that.

Blue & Gold #1 (of 8) by Dan Jurgens and Ryan Sook arrives on July 20 with a cover by Sook ($3.99) and a card stock variant cover by Dave Johnson ($4.99).

The One True…Guy.

/ michael.tennant / 1 Comment

Everyone has a favorite. Whether it is a sports team or a band or even a favorite Green Lantern.

There are so many to choose from. Many would pick Hal Jordan, who has been the main Green Lantern in my lifetime. Others love John Stewart or Kyle Rayner. There are those among us that simple love the bad guy, Sinestro is their flag bearer. For me there is only one choice. I simply have to go with the one true Lantern, Guy Gardner.guyI know he can be insufferable and arrogant but that is why we love him. He is also loyal, brave and would rather die than fail. His arrogance often seems to cover insecurity. He knows he is a hero, but unfortunately he has often been passed over for others. When Abin Sur crashed to earth Guy was the first choice but Hal Jordan was simply closer and time was an issue. Later on Guy suffered an accident and John Stewart got the call. Others might use this as a reason to prove themselves. Not Guy, he is so convinced that he is the superior hero it often brings him into conflict with other heroes.

Like Batman.

Like Superman.

He goes after the big dogs.

But he has persevered. He has served proudly as a key member of the Green Lantern Corps. He has led the Red Lantern Corps. When he was stripped of his Green Lantern ring he crossed galaxies to claim Sinestro’s yellow power ring. He will go to any lengths to be a hero. Ted Kord (you know Blue Beetle) even built him a suit to continue his heroic career.

He was meant to be a hero, powers or not.

Today he is the leader of the Red Lanterns with a showdown with their former leader Atrocitus on the horizon. It has been suggested that only one will survive. That would be a shame. These characters are too wonderful to just cast away.

If I was writing it I would give the Red Lanterns back to Atrocitus. Yes I would have Guy fall short in this battle. If only because I believe he has a wonderful future beyond the shiny trinkets of the various Lantern groups.

As I have said before Guy is a true hero. One who does not need a power ring to define him. And I believe these rings of the emotional spectrum have defined him for far to long.

I have always loved the good old-fashioned space hero. Your Buck Rogers, your Flash Gordon. Here is where Guy’s destiny surely lies. Let him acquire a fast space ship. Give him a new costume (I’m thinking dark green and red with yellow lines to remind him of where he has been) and a jet pack. Let him be the one true space hero that the DC Universe needs. Enough of leaving the spaceways to the various lantern groups.

The One True Guy has arrived…