DCU Comic Book Reviews

BLUE BEETLE #21

Ghost Of A Chance

January 2008

Written by John Rogers

Pencils by Rafael Albuquerque

Inks by Rafael Albuquerque

Cover by Rafael Albuquerque

Synopsis

When Jaime Reyes (aka Blue Beetle) subdues a riot at the local prison, he learns the cause of the ruckus is the appearance of the Spectre seeking vengeance on death-row inmates.  Jaime tries to stop the Spectre but fails.  When the Spectre leaves, Jaime catches a glimpse of Luis, his dad’s former partner and the one who wounded his father.  Afterward, his father tells Jaime that he needs to forgive Luis for what happened.  When the Spectre returns for more vengeance, Jaime calls Traci Thirteen for some magical advice.  She suggests that Jaime appeal to the human host of the Spectre.  The next day, Jaime goes to the prison to talk to Luis and learns that much of Luis does is due to his drug addiction.  While visiting the prison, the Spectre makes an appearance.  Jaime resists the urge to turn into Blue Beetle, instead talking to the Spectre as himself.  He is able to save the prisoners.  Later, Jaime wonders if he’ll become addicted to being the Beetle just as Luis became addicte to drug.  His father tells it won’t happen, because he has faith in his son. 

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

As a fill-in issue, this issue was not all that bad.  I think the basic concept of the Spectre is a little silly and not very believable, especially the way they seem to be portraying him now, so I wasn’t really buying that whole part of the comic.  The rest, like the Luis and Traci scenes, however, were good enough that I actually think the comic might’ve been improve by removing the Spectre completely and just focusing on Jaime, his father, and Luis. 

It is odd for a guest writer to write a story with such a strong connection to the continuity of a series.  I was shocked when we learned more about what happened to Jaime’s father.  Yet (as the little editor’s box tells us), we learned that Jaime’s father was crippled back in issue #4, which is nearly a year and a half ago, so I suppose anybody would have the chance to follow-up on that unresolved plot, even given the usual lead time for most comics.  Even so, the rest of the issue continues Jaime’s relationship with Traci and even includes a brief mention of the Peacemaker (even though that might’ve been added by the editor since it seems out of place in the context of the conversation).  However, it will be nice to get back to the Reach story. 

For his first victim, the Spectre claims the prisoner will have three executions for three murders.  So, he is strapped to an electric chair (#1), has a noose around his neck (#2), has needles stuck in his arms (#3), and pills all over the floor (#4).  Does the Spectre know how to count or are the pills meant to represent something else.  Also, in the death-in-a-wall scene, the number of limbs sticking out of the bricks indicates that either more than two people died or their arms and legs were torn apart before they were stuff inside.

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