It's weird, reading around all the references to other stories and characters that I have not read. I love the fact that a Mexican-American superhero exists. I could wish that the writer and illustrators got their Spanish-language bits looked at by a Spanish speaker. I love the fact that this superhero talks to his family and friends.

Access a version of the below that includes illustrations on my blog.

Many people were mad and/or sad when the Ted Kord Blue Beetle was killed off in "Countdown to Infinite Crisis." But if you ask me, it was all worth it because it gave us the new Blue Beetle, Jaime Reyes. Jaime is an ordinary Latino high schooler who discovers the Blue Beetle scarab sometime after the death of Ted Kord (as seen in Infinite Crisis itself). The first couple chapters of this volume alternate between Jaime's life leading up to his involvement in the fight against Brother Eye in Infinite Crisis, and his return to Earth a year later, apparently during the timeframe of 52. Giffen, Rogers, and Hamner do great work here. The opening fight between Jaime and Guy Gardner (Guy is drawn to fight the Blue Beetle, but doesn't know why) is dark and intense, while Jaime's interactions with his friends (Paco, who learned six languages just to insult people in on-line FPSs, and Brenda, whose Dad hits her and wants to go to law school) are fun. Jaime wants to make extra money working at his dad's garage, but his dad wants a better life for him.

Much like Ms. Marvel a decade later, this is the perfect archetypal teen superhero comic: humor, good characters, fun dialogue, a little bit of angst but not too much. Jaime feels like a real person with real friends; take this exchange between a villain and Jaime's friends while Jaime fights a tree monster:
BRENDA: Hey, I know you! You're that guy's always hanging around trying to get in my aunt's pants!
VILLAIN: Why fine, thanks, and you?
PACO: You know this guy?
VILLAIN: Don't be difficult. I'm certain your aunt wouldn't approve of your lollygagging with ruffians--
BRENDA: Did he just say "lollygagging"?
PACO: What's a ruffian?
BRENDA: You don't even know what a "ruffian" is?
PACO: Well I don't go to some froufrou private school!

I laughed a lot throughout this book, which is the mark of (one of) the kind of superhero comic I look for. Giffen & Rogers recreate the classic formulas while also providing new variations: I like that Jaime's armor speaks to him in an alien language, and that there are aspects of it he doesn't entirely understand. I like the sense of a superheroic universe this story builds up, instead of being an ordinary universe with superheroes grafted on: La Dama, the local crimelord, doesn't just kidnap people, but specifically magic users, and the gang Jaime's friend Paco falls into is entirely made up of people with powers-- but they need the powerless Paco because sometimes they need someone who won't attract attention. There's a real sense of a world that's a lot like our own (I like that the story takes place in El Paso and not a fake city, and that almost all the characters are Latino), but not like ours in some logical ways. There's also some good twists on the usual formula-- Paco's gang has some redeeming value, the Blue Beetle comes to an understanding with La Dama, and I especially like that Jaime's family and friends know what he is right from the off. There's no lying to your loved ones stuff here.

This is a winning mixture for a superhero comic, and I hope to see it continue from strength to strength.

Blue Beetle: « Previous in sequence | Next in sequence »

So, there's a new Blue Beetle in town. A scarab hooked itself onto Jamie Reyes before the Infinite Crisis and in the TPB it's one year later and now he's dealing with how to be a superhero, oh, and he has voices in his head from the scarab too.

He also has to deal with the two best friends who have changed in his absence and his family as well, which has really changed.

I liked that it didn't take place in the usual cities and places that these stories usually do (Metropolis, Coast City, Star City, Gotham City, etc.). I also really liked the characters. They were all really unique as well as quite complicated. The banter between the blue suit and Jamie was also hilarious and it's been awhile since I read a comic that had a real sounding reaction from a teen two gets super powers.

The art was cool too, pretty clean, very colorful, and not lost in shadows, something that generally drives me crazy. ( )

Very good illustrations fun stroy ( )

The alien technology of the blue beetle takes up residence in a chicano teen. Can he learn to use his powers before he is taken out by well meaning mutants and government agents who mistake him for evil? Great story, outstanding drawing, coloring and panel design. Bravo to this great addition to the reluctant superhero genre. ( )