DCU Comic Book Reviews

BOOSTER GOLD #22

Day Of Death, Part II of IV

August 2009

Written by Dan Jurgens

Layouts by Dan Jurgens

Inks by Norm Rapmund

Cover by Dan Jurgens and Norm Rapmund

Synopsis

Moments Ago…Black Beetle informs an unknown person that the attempt to kill Batman failed when Booster Gold interceded.  The person devises a new plan.  The Present…Booster Gold realizes that the past has changed:  Dick Grayson (aka Robin) has been killed.  Suddenly, Rip Hunter appears to tell Booster of the affect not only the death of Robin but all of the Teen Titans has had on the timestream.  So, Rip sends Booster to fix history.  When Booster arrives at Titans headquarters, he finds Ravager attacking Cyborg.  Booster is able to defeat Ravager.  Then Black Beetle and Deathstroke appear.  They grab Ravager and leave.  Booster and Cyborg follow them and are led to the Titans residence.  At the Vanishing Point, Rip Hunter tries to determine what Black Beetle was doing when he is caught in a blast.  Meanwhile, Ravager, along with Deathstroke and Black Beetle, once more attacks the Titans.  This time, Ravager kills the Titans…

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

I have said that this book works best when Booster Gold gets involved with DC continuity, changing the past so that it matches what DC has published over the years.  Sadly, I cannot tell if this particular issue is based on a specific story or event or if it just some random moment featuring the characters who appeared at that time (pre-Nightwing so in the early 80s).  I think this, oddly enough, is the reason I couldn’t really get into it.  What happens here with the Titans feels like any other story; there doesn’t seem to be anything here that is ingenious or different than what I’ve read before.  Granted, some of that may be because I am unfamiliar with the first Ravager or early Deathstroke appearances.  Perhaps someone more familiar with Titans history will get a kick out of it.  But, for me, it felt like any other story.  Having said that, it was a good story and I enjoyed it on that level, and I even enjoyed it on the level of Jurgen messing around with DC continuity.  I just wish I had more familiarity with the original to appreciate it even more.

With the shift in time due to the death of the Titans, there doesn’t seem to be too much change.  We see a Batgirl with Batman and it looks like Abin Sur or Sinestro (can’t quite tell with the art) not part of the Justice League.  Not sure how the death of the Titans affects that scenario, but there you go.  Also, if the Teen Titans died, then who is the red-headed Flash?  Wally was red-headed.  Barry, I thought, had the darker hair.  Or am I not remembering correctly?

Comic Connection

Grant Wilson (aka Ravager) first appeared in New Teen Titans (Voulme 1), issue #1 (November 1980).  Slade Wilson (aka Deathstroke) appears for the first time in the next issue. 

Armor-Plated, Part 2 of 3:  Silver Spoon

Written by Matthew Sturges

Art by Mike Norton and Norma Rapmund

Synopsis

San Antonio is attacked by numerous robots called Unimate.  Blue Beetle defends the city.  Meanwhile, the Unimates capture Dr. Von Nuemann and take him to his daughter, Maria Boole, who needs help to stop the attack.  Meanwhile, Blue Beetle figures out a way to defeat the Unimate.  That night, Brenda locates Maria Boole.  Paco thinks they should talk to her, but Jaime tells him they can’t go on a school night.  Paco decides to go without them and his greeted by Boole holding a gun.  Later, Jaime is awakened to learn Paco is missing.  When they reach Boole’s house, they are suddenly attacked.

Review

Despite the brief page count, I think I actually enjoy this better than the first feature.  It maybe because I like the main character better, but I think Sturges does a great job in melding the action, the humor, and the character moments into a very cohesive whole.  I really liked the scene in Jaime’s house with Brenda and Paco followed by her revelation on why they are fighting with each other.  It flows well, fitting into the story without being intrusive while at the same time pushing the development of their relationship a little bit more. 

I like the fact that Jaime’s sister is playing with a Blue Beetle and Guy Gardner doll (a not a generic Green Lantern doll, but very specifically Guy), which is a reminder of the very first issue of Blue Beetle, when Jaime fought Guy Gardner. 

Also, props to whoever gave Paco the Beetle-mobile.  It is even blue.  Love it.

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