Double-Sized Issue Reviews!

*This article includes spoilers from Blue Beetle: Graduation Day #2*

They say the man wears the suit—but what if that suit were an alien scarab named Khaji Da?

Last issue in Blue Beetle: Graduation Day #1, Blue Beetle was benched by the superhero community—specifically by Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. The basis was the fear of a group called “The Reach” returning to Earth—fans of the TV show Young Justice will be familiar with the basic agenda of the reach. Though not much else is mentioned, the heroes believe Jaime could either inadvertently become a spy for The Reach, or succumb to possession from the alien scarab, Khaji Da—either way, Jaime is a hazard. 

In this issue, Jaime Reyes slumps into a boring teenage life—meaning he has a minimum wage job as a waiter at his Aunt’s restaurant, as well as a positive online presence for his friends at home. 

As he arrives at Kord Industries, Khaji Da suddenly enters self preservation mode, just as Jaime is ambushed. With Jaime transformed into Blue Beetle, it is revealed the attacker to be Yellow Beetle! A brand new beetle in the Blue Beetle Lore. 

The two engage in battle, knocking out different walls of Kord Industries. It is only then that the scarab starts malfunctioning, turning Blue Beetle back into Jaime. With Jaime vulnerable in battle, he is at the mercy of Yellow Beetle. However, an old friend comes to the rescue! Ted Kord! The Second Blue Beetle! 

––Slightly off topic, I am still shook whenever I see Ted Kord. I cannot escape the graphic image of him at the end of the Infinite Crisis Prelude.––

Of course, Ted saves the day. And the Yellow Beetle is captured. She is revealed to be Xiomara, a seemingly normal human being if not for the murder attempt.

The addition of a new color beetle opens the door to a Blue Beetle Family! While this Yellow Beetle seems to have a blood lust for Jaime now, that does not rule out possibilities in the future. It would not be surprising if a multitude of different colored beetles showed up by the end of this series. For further context, on the show Young Justice, a Green Beetle and Black Beetle were major players in The Reach. Though the Black Beetle was evil, the Green Beetle became an ally. Regardless, it is exciting!

The issue ends on a high note with Ted offering Jaime an internship at Kord Industries—a way to keep Jaime close in case The Reach tries anything. 

Overall, this is a fun series with action and lore. It is enjoyable seeing author Josh Trujillo playing with Ted and Jaime’s dynamic, one which was missing pre-flashpoint because Ted Kord was dead. This series is building into something which hopefully will make an impact on the DC Universe. Highly recommend this series! Pick it up at your LCS!

Verdict: 10/10 Beetles

Overall Series: 8/10

Recommended reading: If you enjoy this Blue Beetle series, make sure to check out Vol 7 from the early 2006s. This 36-issue series will keep you on your feet and give you a lesson on what it means to be a Blue Beetle!