Blue Beetle #3: Meet Blood Scarab

Things are not going well in Palmera City. A new enemy is attacking Jaime’s friends. In Blue Beetle #3, the creative team reveals who this new enemy is. But can the plot heavy issue live up to high expectations set by the fun and character heavy issues that preceded it?

Jaime Reyes is searching for the unknown assailant who attacked Dynastes, Nitidia, and the Horizon. Blue Beetle #3 follows his investigation as Traci 13 puts him in touch with Madame Xanadu. While tensions rise in Palmera City as Starfire and Victoria examine the aftermath of the previous issue’s battle, Madame Xanadu identifies Jaime’s quarry as the Blood Scarab. It’s a near duplicate of Blue Beetle and something from far in Khaji Da’s past. Jaime and Traci set off to Egypt to confront their new enemy.

Blue Beetle #3 is more plot heavy than the first two issues. Jaime’s search for the Blood Scarab is odd, but fairly procedural. He has a clue, a friend/ally takes him to a seedy bar where someone gives him information, and he gets pointed toward an encounter with his enemy. The storyline’s mystical qualities allow for an offbeat progression. Jaime’s history with Traci 13 lets Trujillo bring in a new setting and varied characters. The Oblivion Bar is a nice bit of flavor. Madame Xanadu is an especially good vehicle for exposition. The lack of a concrete explanation for why Xanadu knows what she knows, as well as why it is couched in vague terms, is something the reader will buy. The story advancement is effective if not especially inspired.

The issue’s best parts aren’t strictly plot oriented, though. Trujillo keeps the issue fresh with compelling character moments. The Jaime/Traci pairing provides the opportunity for some fun subtext. For instance, when exploring Blood Scarab’s pyramid, Traci 13 explains that magic is built on passion and emotion and that some feelings never go away. Trujillo shines a quick light on that moment as Jaime thinks she’s talking about more than just the magic in the pyramid. The more defining moment comes later in the issue when Jaime faces Blood Scarab, and he faces the age-old question every superhero eventually faces: how far is he willing to go to defeat the enemy?

Trujillo also keeps the immigration metaphor alive in Blue Beetle #3. It’s just a quick moment–Victoria Koord offers special protection for the Horizon, but they prefer to be safeguarded by their own champions. This serious undercurrent remains a nice balance to a bright, often fun series.

Blue Beetle #3 is the first issue where Gutiérez’s art stumbles. It comes in the later fight sequence between Jaime and Blood Scarab. This series, as well as Graduation Day before it, is full of frenetic action. Despite that, character movements and their physical relationships to each other in those sequences are typically easy to track. That isn’t the case here where the setting’s geography is vague and some character movements are unclear.

Gutiérez’s character work is as strong as ever, though. In fact, the aforementioned moment between Traci and Jaime works largely because of the contrast in characters’ expressions and body language over the course of two panels. It’s classic cartoon comedic timing but in still images.

Quintana never fails to deliver vivid, expressive colors. They define a great deal in this series, especially when it comes to establishing characters’ abilities and depicting a fight sequence. Quintana gives three of the superpowered women powerful hero moments here. Traci 13 enters against a swirling pink and magenta vortex. Madame Xanadu sits surrounded by candles that shine like huge four pointed stars. Starfire descends amidst an almost heavenly, divine light.

Gattoni’s lettering in Blue Beetle always stands out for its various shows of emphasis, its color coded dialogue bubbles and text, and its creative use of fonts. All of that is present in this issue. But its most successful use here comes in the issue’s standout visual moment. Madame Xanadu is giving Jaime background on the Blood Scarab and their relationship. It’s depicted in a two page spread. Xanadu looms large in the background with tarot cards sliding down the far left side while Jaime stands small in the foreground. Gattoni’s caption boxes track the tarot cards down the left side like a ribbon before running along the bottom and back up toward Jaime’s dialogue bubbles. Gutiérez’s art is detailed. Quintana’s colors are expressive. But Gattoni’s choice of placement adds a linear throughline that isn’t evident from the art alone. It strings the reader’s eye along.