Last Issue Special # 7: Blue Beetle

SERIES: Blue Beetle

DATE: 1988

THOSE RESPONSIBLE: Len Wein (writer), Denny O'Neil (editor)

CATEGORY: ACCEPTANCE

I realize I haven't blogged at all about Blue Beetle (version 2.0, Ted Kord), even though he's my favorite DC super hero (I even dressed up as him in a mom-made costume for Halloween when I was twelve or so). The adventures of BB and Booster Gold in the late 80s Justice League International was my entry point into the DC Universe; in that series, Blue and Gold were portrayed as heroes out of their league (pun intended), C-list members living down to their reputations as comic relief.

The solo Blue Beetle series of the same period had a very different take on the character: Ted Kord was a traditional serious super-hero, balancing attempts at a private life, running a business, and fighting crime. Subplots and super-villains were standard stuff, and although the book wasn't bad per se, it just wasn't nearly as much fun as Blue Beetle was over in JLI.

The last issue of the solo series manages to wrap up most of the on-going subplots: Ted's father returns to take over the family business, Ted's love interest is given the boot, and Ted himself leaves hometown Chicago to start a new life. In a column titled the "Rest-in-Peace Department," writer Len Wein thanks "the faithful readers who have stayed with us through thick and thin over these past months, your loyalty has been appreciated more than you can ever know. We've done this for you and we could never had done it without you."

I always imagine that Booster Gold makes fun of Beetle, since Gold's solo series lasted 25 issues and Beetle's only lasted 24.