Another week, another set of zero issues from DC Comics. Blue Beetle, a somewhat underappreciated and lesser known DC title, tries its hand at what has been an underwhelming attempt to get more people on board with the New 52. Here is your Major Spoilers review!
BLUE BEETLE #0
Writers: Keith Giffen, Tony Bedard
Artists: Ig Guara, J.P. Mayer
Cover: Ig Guara, J.P. Mayer, Pete Pantazis
Colorist: Pete Pantazis
Letterer: Rob Leigh
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
Previously in Blue Beetle: Jaime Reyes was just a normal young Latino boy, until fate intervened. Getting caught in the middle of battle between two super human groups, Reyes becomes infused with an alien scarab. This alien technology enhanced him with super powered armor. Now Jaime Reyes is the superhero known as The Blue Beetle!
DISJOINTED, BUT GOOD
This zero issue felt split into three very distinct sections. The first being why/how the scarab was created and its first attempt to bond with another being. The second is the story of the scarab’s first bonding with a human, a Mayan warrior named The Sky Witness. The last is a recap of Jaime Reyes’ own Blue Beetle history, and a set up for the next chunk of the Blue Beetle ongoing. The best part of this issue was the second story involving the Mayans. For one thing it was the most complete, with both the opening and ending leaving cliffhangers to be picked up later on in the series. Seeing an ancient Mayan Blue Beetle was actually surprisingly different, something I did not expect. It drew my attention to the fact that there really have not been many comics set during the time of the Mayans/Aztecs. It’s an era full of bloodshed and violence, ripe for mystical comic adventures a la Demon Knights. DC get on this. Anyway, the rest of the book does a good job recapping the first set of issues in the Blue Beetle series and the set ups for the next arc seem really interesting, exploring the sins of the scarab’s past that will soon cause trouble for Jaime Reyes.
THESE AREN’T ANCIENT MARKINGS
The art overall is very good. Nothing remarkable stylistically, but everything is consistent and understandable. Despite having the color “blue” as part of the title, it has a remarkably diverse and vibrant palette throughout. That has probably been my favorite part of the New 52 as a whole, a return to the bright colorful days of super heroes, and Blue Beetle continues this trend amazingly well.
BOTTOM LINE: COLOR ME IMPRESSED
I went into Blue Beetle #0 with low hopes, with previous zero issues having left a bad taste in my mouth. I walked away pleasantly surprised. It did everything a zero issue was supposed to do and made me want to pick up the next issue. So pick it up!
DID YOU READ THIS ISSUE? RATE IT!
Reader Rating
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