DCU Comic Book Reviews

BLUE BEETLE #36

Only Change Endures, Part 2 of 2

April 2009

Written by Matthew Sturges

Pencils by Carlos Barberi

Inks by Jacob Eguren

Cover by Rafael Albuquerque

Synopsis

At Jaime’s high school, Blue Beetle is fighting the forces of the Khaji-Da, who swore allegiance to Blue Beetle to help free worlds from the oppressive control of rulers.  When Jaime refused because the Khaji-Da don’t truly understand what freedom means, the Khaji-Da attacked him.  Meanwhile, a holographic image of Jaime has provided him with reassurance his secret identity hasn’t been blown.  Nadia tells Jaime that the Khaji-Da will listen to the Blue Beetle.  The fight moves into outer space.  Nadia tries to explain what she means, but the hologram not longer works while Jaime is in space.  Suddenly, one of the Khaji-Da kills Nadia.  In space, Jaime figures out Nadia was telling him.  He orders the scarab to tell the other scarabs to power off.  Jaime and the others fall to Earth.  Later, Jaime heals, with his powers eventually returning. 

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

A number of different books have come to a close recently, but I think this is one of the better finales.  I really enjoyed it.  I think it is because Sturges recognizes that while the book has ended, the character continues onward.  So this story, like much of this series, continues the theme of Jaime learning how to be a better hero.  And his feelings at the end are that it is a continuing process and he will continue to do his best.  It is a satisfactory end to the book while at the same time, as I said before, recognizes the character will live on in other books. 

What was the point of killing Nadia?  It feels like an editorial decision, like Sturges and company decided they needed to kill someone for this final issue, picked Nadia, and then plotted the story from that decision.  It doesn’t feel important to the story, doesn’t add much to Jaime’s character, and given the fact that this is the last issue, is unlikely to be followed in any fashion.  The cynic in me feels like Nadia’s death was part of the big tease:  “someone will die” and you think it might be Paco or Brenda or Jaime’s parents.  Instead it is Nadia. 

The cover states, underneath the signature, “after Cully” and is modeled upon the cover to this issue, drawn by Cully Hamner who was the first artist on this book.  Nice touch from Rafael Albuquerque.  I wish he had been able to draw these last few issues; he is the artist who has drawn the most issues of this series so it would’ve been fitting if he had finished it.

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