Double-Sized Issue Reviews!

*This article contains spoilers for Blue Beetle: Graduation Day #4*

This issue was a deviation from the normal style of storytelling readers have come to expect from Blue Beetle: Graduation Day (2022) because it almost completely avoids The Reach and Blue Beetle and focuses instead on a separate villain’s journey—if it can even be called that. Of course, deviations can be welcome in comics, in some instances readers beg for them, but this one felt out of place in a 6-issue limited series.  

The story begins with Jaime’s friends, Brenda and Paco, arriving in Palmera City, though they are not alone. They arrive while being held hostage by Fadeaway—a supervillain and short-term enemy of Blue Beetle! Coincidently, they all need a favor from Jaime. Fadeaway, being the son of the original Fadeaway Man—a villain armed with the Cloak of Cagliostro who stole rare cultural items and sold them on the black market, wants to right the wrongs of his father. He wants to steal back those cultural items and return them to their rightful owners. And it just so happens one of those items was bought by Victoria Kord—Ted Kord’s sister…

This naturally leads into a heist on Kord Industries. However, while the heist is taking place, we get character development! Jaime verbalizes his truth, the thing weighing him down; he’s not ready for college. He’s not ready for that part of his life—which is absolutely fine. Jaime is building himself in his own way. His friends are there to support him and love him, which is really the core of this blue beetle series. Jaime has Ted Kord, Kory, Brenda, Paco, all these heroes who want the best for him. That is the true meaning of Blue Beetle. 

Oh, also Xiomara (Yellow Beetle/Dynasties) gets loose. 

In the final pages of the issue, Batman calls together a team to take out the Beetles—we are lead to believe this includes Blue Beetle as well. The team? Black Condor, Cyborg, Jessica Cruz as Green Lantern, Shazam, and The Flash. 

Overall, this was a somewhat strange issue. As I mentioned, the deviation from the established storytelling felt odd for a 6-issue limited series. I am not saying Fadeaway is a boring character, but his story seemed to take more importance than the main character in their own book. If not for Jaime’s heart-to-heart with his friends, I would not be sure what title this was. However, it could be argued the Blue Beetle universe is being expanded. That is what makes this issue worth it. 

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Rating: 3/5 Stars. Again, such a heavy focus on Fadeaway instead of Blue Beetle and The Reach, it felt oddly timed in such a small series. While I believe the issue should have stayed focused on Blue Beetle, I do recognize the importance of deviation. 

Suggested reading: Detective Comics #479 Learn about the original Fadeaway Man!

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