DCU Comic Book Reviews

BOOSTER GOLD #4

52 Pick-Up, Part 4:  He's Gonna Save Everyone Of Us

January 2008

Written by Geoff Johns and Jeff Katz

Layouts by Dan Jurgens

Inks by Norm Rapmund

Cover by Dan Jurgens and Norm Rapmund

Synopsis

In the Time Stream, Rip Hunter and Booster Gold encounter the Flash and Kid Flash.  When they return to Central City, they encounter Supernova and Rex Hunter, the one trying to wipe out the origins of the Justice League, including the Flashes, who suddenly disappear.  In Pittsburgh, Rose questions Daniel Carter about Supernova and Booster Gold.  He denies he knows anything, until she finds Booster’s costume.  Years ago in Hub City, Daniel Garret (aka Blue Beetle) is told the future of the Blue Beetles is important.  Meanwhile, Booster Gold and Rip Hunter attempt to prevent Supernova and Rex Hunter from stopping the lightning storm that gave Barry Allen his powers.  While fighting Supernova, Booster learns that the man behind the mask is his own father.  However, Booster is able to stop his father and the lightning gives Barry Allen his powers.  Afterwards, Booster tells Rip he wants to save Blue Beetle, but Rip tells him that first they must save Batgirl. 

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

As a whole, I thought this issue worked well enough to get to where it needed to be in terms of the overall plot for this story, but it was really the individual moments that stand out the most.  From the brief scenes with the two Flashes (I love the silver-age way they were talking and the way Barry warns Wally away from Booster) to Skeets (“aw, crap”) being attacked by Maximillion, to Rip’s effective beating of Rex, and to, of course, the ending.  Sadly, I think it is the ending (Barbara Gordon was never meant to be shot) that will probably have most people talking.  Yes, this issue technically revealed the ones behind the attempts to wipe out the origins of the Justice League, but we really didn’t learn anything.  It is not Rex or papa Carter, but someone behind the curtain.  Hell, we learned nothing in terms of why, just a possible who.  Despite the fact that we learn who is operating the evil time sphere (and we know it is evil because it is dark in color), we still don’t know who really is in charge.  It is a cagey move by Johns and Katz, giving the reader what they were promised, but still holding back the ultimate big bad for later, if they decide to do so at all.  But at the same time, the issue lacks oomph beyond the ending, which is more of a tease for next issue anyway. 

Is it just me or was there a definite Star Wars vibe when Booster learned that his father was the man behind the mask.  It is Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker all over again.  I mean, we get the moment when papa Carter announces that he is Michael’s father followed by the moment where he tries to seduce his son to the dark side.  Hell, we’ve even got a mention of a sister.  I would be curious if this was intentional or if it is just a subconscious thing from writers. 

 

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