Main Feature Written by Dan Jurgens
Main Feature Art by Dan Jurgens; Norm Rapmund; Hi-Fi; & Steve Wands
Blue Beetle’s Back-Up Tale by Matthew Sturges
Blue Beetle’s Back-Up Art by Mike Norton; Guy Major; & Sal Cipriano
Cover Art by Dan Jurgens & Norm Rapmund
SUMMARY:
Released by DC Comics for April 2010, this issue is entitled “The Tomorrow Memory, Part Two.” Booster’s current assignment puts him amidst Coast City’s imminent destruction by Hank Henshaw’s Cyborg Superman and Mongul. Having just thwarted rival time traveler Sondra Crain’s efforts to save the city, Booster Gold is cajoled by Rip Hunter into a rematch. Despite Skeets’ admonitions, Booster now finds himself swayed by Crain’s argument that Coast City’s seven million innocent lives still matter – recorded history be damned.
Living in Coast City, Booster’s powerless twin sister, Michelle Carter, encounters Hank Henshaw, who is still publicly pitching he’s the resurrected Superman. Michelle’s persistent efforts to convince her boyfriend to help save (or at least escape) Coast City falls on skeptical ears.
Jaime Reyes’ solo run as Blue Beetle evidently concludes with the ten-page “End of the End.” In the caves of Bialya, a Reach-corrupted Jaime Reyes/Blue Beetle faces off vs. the Peacemaker to save Jaime’s three friends, including Paco.
REVIEW:
Per his creator, Dan Jurgens, Michael Carter/Booster Gold presents a no-nonsense super-hero/time-traveler concept. Booster’s adventures are further enhanced by a top-flight art squad. Hence, Jurgens’ clean storytelling makes this issue ideal for the elementary school crowd. As for DC fans preferring Booster’s hilariously self-involved Justice League persona, they best look elsewhere. For them, Issue # 29 will likely be an unremarkable read, as his incarnation here is bland by comparison.
Re: Jaime Reyes’ back-up tale, it’s a decent way to wrap up his solo adventures (at least, for the time being). The last page slyly hints some in-jokes, i.e. that Blue Beetle will still appear in other DC titles (presumably Teen Titans). Overall, even if these stories aren’t super-entertaining, Booster Gold # 29 is a good find for young DC fans building up a comics collection.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
A four-page, black-and-white preview hypes First Wave (Brian Azzarello’s six-part Batman/Doc Savage/The Spirit crossover mini-series). Seen as a DC Nation memo, Ian Sattler reveals black-and-white cover reveals for all six Return of Bruce Wayne issues.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 6 Stars
