DC Showcase: Blue Beetle (2021)

Director Milo Neuman’s approach to “Blue Beetle” for this DC Showcase is pretty fin as it watches like an incarnation of the old Hanna Barbera cartoons. Think “Blue Falcon” meets “Johnny Quest” and you’re there. “Blue Beetle” takes the often under used costumed hero known as Ted Kord and runs with his concept, turning him in to something of a quipping avenger who works off of the overly serious The Question, and it’s a fun preview in to what DC isn’t but should be doing with these overlooked characters.

Millionaire turned superhero Ted Kord aka Blue Beetle, teams up with other DC characters like The Question, Nightshade, and Captain Atom to investigate a recent diamond theft, leading the cast face-to-face with the devilish Doctor Spectro. Like most of the animated series from the Hanna Barbera Saturday morning cartoons, everything is considerably low stakes, and unserious. Blue Beetle investigates a diamond heist, which leads to a popular soft drink, and then they’re led to Dr. Spectro. Spectro is a mad man who has the ability to control emotions with his ability to control colors. All the while we get silver age versions of some popular DC characters, including Captain Atom.

As someone who loved Captain Atom as a kid, it’s interesting to see him in his silver age attire here. “Blue Beetle” has a good sense of humor about itself, and while it is tongue in cheek, it thankfully never gets too silly. There’s some neat action, and solid animation, complimented by the great voice work, particularly by Matt Lanter as the titular hero, and David Kaye as the super serious sleuth The Question. I wish we would have seen Blue Beetle bouncing dialogue off, and working with Booster Gold, but you take what you can get. Nevertheless, I had a good time in spite of its short run time, and fans that get what Warner is going for here will enjoy this Showcase of the Ted Kord version of Blue Beetle.