Today, I’m happy to have my son, Connor, return to the blog for yet another of his graphic novel reviews.  Thankfully, this is becoming something of a regular occasion, and I personally will be enjoying it for as long as it lasts.

Blue Beetle, The More Things Change by Keith Giffen 

Genre: Superhero Comics

Series: Blue Beetle Rebirth #1

Publisher: DC Comics (May 16, 2017)

Length: 160 pages

Connor’s Rating:   

Blue Beetle isn’t a character I’ve ever really followed. Sure, I’ve seen him in tv cartoons and read about him in a few comic guest appearances, but that is it. So I was excited to read The More Things Change, because I’ve been really struggling to find a Rebirth series I really like. Maybe, I thought, Blue Beetle could be the one!

It all starts off with a good introduction to teenager Jamie Reyes of El Paso, Texas. He has found this weird blue scarab, it has fused to his back, and now he has been fighting crime as the Blue Beetle. But he isn’t in this alone, as he finds his way to tech mogul and super rich Ted Lord, the old Blue Beetle, who becomes his mentor . . . sort of. The two don’t get along very well, and Ted seems to be up to something, but for now, they are working together.

Let me start by saying what I liked.

The idea of Jamie Reyes/Blue Beetle. He really could be DC’s Peter Parker. He has cool powers. He is young. He is growing up and trying to find his place in a world of superheroes. The Scarab is mysterious and might or might not be hurting him. And Jaime is an ordinary guy; he isn’t perfect, is confused, and makes a lot of mistakes. My dad would say he is relatable. And, at least to me, he is, which made me want to like this story about him.

Dr. Fate.  Nope, he wasn’t a big character here, but I liked him.  A lot.  I really want to read more about him.

The art.  Overall, I really liked Scott Kolins.  His pics were clean, easy to follow and told the story really well.  The art also fit the feel of Blue Beetle.  Not sure why or how, but Scott Kolins is “The” Blue Beetle artist for me now.

That brings up the bad. And that is pretty much the most important part of the book: the story itself.  I just didn’t like it very much. It had uninteresting bad guys. Jaime and Ted spent every page talking about or arguing about the same things. The action was fine when it happened, but it never seemed to matter much to the story. There were a lot of minor plots going on, but nothing really got resolved or came close to being resolved. Honestly, there was something missing from the story. It was just hard to get interested in most of the time.

I can’t tell you how hard I have been searching for a DC Rebirth title to go all fanboy over. Every time I go to the library, Barnes & Noble, or get on Netgalley I search for more DC graphic novels to give a try. I love DC and want to find the comics that I want to read. Very sorry though, DC, but this Blue Beetle is not it . . . not yet.  The book has a great main character with loads of potential, really good art, but this story jut wasn’t as much fun as I wanted it to be.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank them for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone.

Purchase the book at Amazon