Cinemusings - Rot Your Brain

BOOSTER GOLD #0
Zakarya Anwar

Booster Gold. The misunderstood superhero from the twenty-fifth century, who came back to save us from tomorrow’s problems, make a name for himself, and pick up a little cash along the way. One of DC’s cooler concepts, it must be said. The character has achieved popularity over recent years, beginning with his appearances in the Justice League Unlimited cartoon series, and followed up by his role in the awesome 52 storyline. Getting his own series was an obvious next step.

Written by some dude named Geoff Johns (52, and a solo run on almost all of DC’s big names), and penciled by Dan Jurgens (Death of Superman, Captain America) this comic series was lined up to be awesomeness incarnate. Dan Jurgens is also the dude that came up Booster Gold in the first place.

This issue is suitably funny, with four people sharing the name Blue Beetle floating through the time stream with Booster Gold in a massive see-through bubble being the situation for most of the issue. Booster and the Blue Beetle from regular DC continuity are a great pair of characters to write with, throwing quips at each other, everyone within earshot and their mothers at every opportunity.

So, all good?

No. Being a series set almost entirely within the limbo of the time stream, there are obvious issues in seriously loopy explanations to why we no longer have to worry about this, or what the hell is up with that? Apparently, the entire series is about messing around with the timeline, without causing too large a ripple.

That said, more dimensions are added to Booster’s character in this issue, when we discover why he decided to try out the tights in the twenty-first century. You really can understand why he chose the superhero life, considering what happened in his previous career. His reasons for screwing around with time itself are also very human, and it makes you empathize with him more as well. Who wouldn’t go back and change mistakes made if they had the choice.

So, if you’re already a reader, considering reading it, or just like the character and want to know more, then pick this up. It’s not perfect, true, but only Superman’s perfect - the rest of us just try to make a difference, no matter how small. Booster’s one of us. Only difference is, he floats around time in a giant bubble. Like the American Doctor Who, but without the brains.

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