Blue Beetle: Rebirth #1
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Keith Giffen
Artist: Scott Kolins
Colorist: Romulo Fajardo, Jr.
Cover: Scott Kolins
This issue sets up the new direction (again) for Blue Beetle and seems to walk the fine line of delivering what fans of both characters want. We still get Jamie Reyes wearing the suit but the legendary Ted Kord plays a type of mentor role in all of this. Whether that’s satisfactory enough for comic fans remains to be seen but keeping Jamie as the title character at least works for me. But after those Young Justice cartoons how could you not want that!
There’s much to like about this issue especially for those not doggedly clinging to decades of Blue Beetle history. Giffen and Kolins introduce Jamie as a reluctant but not whiney teenage hero. He may not be fond of his current situation but he’s willing to ride it out and do what’s right. We also get some nice chemistry between Jamie and his friends which provide several good moments along the way. As far as his partnership with Ted goes it’s a bit of a mixed bag for me. He comes off as some guy attempting to live vicariously through Jamie and is slightly annoying. However, I see his involvement as being necessary as far as legacy is concerned and that Jamie needs what Ted can provide or what hes hoping he can get from him. I’m just hoping Ted doesn’t fall into the comic billionaire cliche or at least a bad version of one. The creative team also introduces a pair of villains with an odd power set that were pretty enjoyable.
As far as the art is concerned I found the civilian sequences to move and look better than some of the action scenes. The characters look fine and that annoyed look on Jamie’s face when Ted called was perfect. Kolins hits the emotional beats just right during the quieter scenes which helps them stand out. It just takes several moments for the fight to visually pick up but when it does it’s a better looking action moment. Fajardo Jr.’s colors are great from start to finish and give the necessary weight to the visuals.
Overall, Blue Beetle: Rebirth #1 is a solid starting or restarting point depending on when you were introduced to the character. Only time will tell if this creative team can make this a title worth coming back to month after month but this is a good start!
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