Book Review: Blue Beetle Vol. #2: Blue Diamond

Book: Blue Beetle Vol. #2: Blue Diamond

Rating: 5 stars (It was very good)

My Review:

I'm not sure what issues are in the trade volume but I read the single issues #7 - 16 (including #0). I have to say that I really loved reading this. It was a fun, action packed, fast paced and really interesting group of issues. The story lines were really good except for issue #0 it felt like a filler issue. #0 focused on the backstory for Jaime Reyes' scarab, there wasn't really anything spectacular about it.

Issues #7 - 12 had Jaime dealing with the new twists and turns his life has taken once he flew off to New York. He's had nothing but bad luck since he arrived. Not to mention he has one of those annoying TMZ type of websites out to get him and other metahumans. I'm quite tired of the public must fear the metahumans story line. That seems to be the main theme in the New 52, which is getting rather boring. I guess they don't think people should believe in superheroes anymore.

Rant over back to my review. While Jaime was in New York he went up against the Short-Timer, a misguided runaway who was unknowingly tricked into stealing for a mad scientist called Stop Watch. After stopping Short-Timer from stealing, he tracked him back to a shelter for runaways, where he came into contact with Stop Watch (who is the epitome of the quintessential mad scientist).

Jaime also deals with Green Lantern Kyle Rayner and a couple of other lanterns, an intergalactic bounty hunter, the government, Booster Gold and his re-transformed friend Paco (who had turned back into the Blood Beetle (from Vol. #1).

In issues #13 -16, Jaime was out in space all thanks to something that happened in Justice League International Annual #1. Well, since I haven't gotten around to reading that yet (update: I did read it, please click on the link to see the review). I just gleaned from various back scenes shown in issues #13 and #0 that he was transported into space by O.M.A.C. While Jamie was out in space he ended up having to deal with attacks from Reach controlled Blue Beetles and then meeting up with another Blue Beetle who had a plan to incapacitate the Reach, when all he wanted was to try to find a way back home. Jaime thought he had found a way back to Earth from some smuggler but instead found himself being attacked by the guy who previously worn Jaime's scarab and by two goons that work for Lady Stix (who is the equivalent of an alien version of the character Roulette).

The last issue ended on a cliffhanger which is supposed to be concluded in a new comic Threshold that will feature Blue Beetle. However, since I have no interest in reading it (update: I'm actually thinking of picking this up), issue #16 will just be the last for me regarding Blue Beetle.

I really don't understand why this series was canceled, especially with all the fans giving it pretty good reviews.

Anyway, thanks for reading my review. If you read Blue Beetle vol. #2, let me know what you thought about it.

Currently Reading: The Miracle at Speedy Motors and Blue Beetle Vol. #2 (New 52)

I really want to finish reading the rest of Blue Beetle but I'm going to read The Miracle at Speedy Motors first. I love the No. 1 ladies' detective agency series, it's such a good mystery series.

Book: The Miracle at Speedy Motors (No. 1 Ladies's Detective Agency #9) by Alexander McCall Smith

Book Description:

In the latest installment of the universally beloved, bestselling series, Mma Ramotswe discovers the biggest miracles in life are often the smallest.

Under the endless skies of Botswana, there is always something Mma Ramotswe can do to help someone and here she finds herself assisting a woman looking for her family. The problem is the woman doesn't know her real name or whether any of her family members are still alive. Meanwhile, Mma Makutsi is the recipient of a beautiful new bed that causes more than a few sleepless nights. And, at Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni has come under the influence of a doctor promising a miracle cure for his daughter's medical condition, which Mma Ramotswe finds hard to accept. Nonetheless, Precious Ramotswe handles these things in her usual compassionate and good-natured way, while always finding time for a cup of red bush tea.

Book: Blue Beetle Vol. #2: Blue Diamond

Book Description:

Blue Beetle Jaime Reyes has abandoned his friends, family and home, setting out on a path that brings him to New York City. As Beetle struggles with the curse of the scarab that is the source of his powers, a loathsome threat emerges - a predator who stalks runaway children!

Book Review: Blue Beetle Vol. #1: Metamorphosis

Book: Blue Beetle Vol. #1: Metamorphosis (issues: #1 - 6)

Description:

It's not easy being Jaime Reyes. He has to deal with high school, family and all the drama that comes with being a teenager. Also, he's linked to a powerful scarab created by an alien race known as the Reach who seek to subjugate planets - or annihilate them. But can this teen hero turn an alien weapon of mass destruction into a force for good? And can he protect the scarab from super villains that would use it for their own nefarious purposes?



Rating: 4 stars

My Review:

I read the individual single issues instead of the trade edition. It boggles the mind how this series got canceled. The writing was good and strong as well as the artwork quite nice.

The first six issues dealt with high school student Jaime Reyes and his new role as the Blue Beetle. Whether it was good or bad luck, Jaime and his friend Paco found themselves in the middle of villains fighting over the blue scarab (which was ensconced in a backpack) as they were driving to their friend Brenda's quinceanera party.

Trying to save his friend Paco from being killed by one of the villains, Jaime grabbed the backpack that fell in Paco's car and ran off to lead the villains away from his friend. Unbeknownst to Jaime, the scarab activated after one of the villains tried to kill him and transformed him into the Blue Beetle.

This was a very interesting story because we got to see what Jamie was going through as he dealt with all the crazy things that was happening in his life. The story was fast paced and didn't leave the reading wondering what was going on or if they missed anything. 

DC Comics keep mentioning their goal for more diversity yet I don't understand why this Blue Beetle series was canceled. Jamie Reyes was smart and funny and pretty awesome. It makes me wonder why mediocre books such as Green Arrow, Birds of Prey, Suicide Squad and more haven't been canceled but this one was.

Anyway, I will be reading volume #2 next, I just have to read the rest of Jaime story.

Currently Reading: Blue Beetle Vol 1, The Secret Garden and Case Closed Vol 2

I'm going to be reading these three books: Blue Beetle, Case Closed and The Secret Garden. I like how different each one is and it should make for some really interesting reading. I will put the reviews up as soon as I'm finished.

I'm reading the single issues.

Book: Blue Beetle Vol 1: Metamorphosis (issues #1-6)

Description:

It's not easy being Jaime Reyes. He has to deal with high school, family and all the drama that comes with being a teenager. Also, he's linked to a powerful scarab created by an alien race known as the Reach who seek to subjugate planets - or annihilate them. But can this teen hero turn an alien weapon of mass destruction into a force for good? And can he protect the scarab from super villains that would use it for their own nefarious purposes?

Book: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Description:

What secrets lie behind the doors at Misselthwaite Manor? Recently arrived at her uncle's estate, orphaned Mary Lennox is spoiled, sickly, and certain she won't enjoy living there. Then she discovers the arched doorway into an overgrown garden, shut up since the death of her aunt ten years earlier.

Mary soon begins transforming it into a thing of beauty--unaware that she is changing too. But Misselthwaite hides another secret, as Mary discovers one night. High in a dark room, away from the rest of the house, lies her young cousin, Colin, who believes he is an incurable invalid, destined to die young. His tantrums are so frightful, no one can reason with him. If only, Mary hopes, she can get Colin to love the secret garden as much as she does, its magic will work wonders on him.

Book: Case Closed Vol 2 by Gosho Aoyama

Description:

(General Description)

High-school mystery fan Shin'ichi Kudo is actually one of his high school's best minds, but he gets his reality checks from his childhood friend and almost-girlfriend Ran Mori. Nothing can keep Shin'ichi from a case, until he follows a suspicious man into a park, is accosted from behind and fed a strange chemical which renders him unconscious. When he awakens, he has been transformed into a puny grade schooler!

The hapless boy finds a home with eccentric inventor Professor Agasa, who searches for a cure for his condition. While he's waiting to be restored to his adolescence, Shin'inchi takes on the name Conan Edogawa (borrowed from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the last name of the famous Japanese mystery writer Edogawa Ranpo). As Conan, he plays the part of the little brother that Ran never had, and helps her incompetent private-detective father solve all of the gruesome murder mysteries that come their way.