Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Battlefield 6 Classes - Support trailer image

    Battlefield 6 Really Wants You To Play Support (But Knows You Won’t)

    07/31/2025
    Battlefield 6 Multiplayer Reveal promotional image

    Battlefield 6 Classes, Maps, And More: Everything You Need To Know

    07/31/2025
    A glimpse at all the upcoming Star Wars stories coming to the galaxy

    Star Wars Stories: What We Learned At SDCC 2025

    07/25/2025
    Blindspot episode still

    It’s been 5 years since ‘Blindspot’ ended. Why haven’t you watched it yet?

    07/24/2025
    Strange Scaffold

    Strange Scaffold Summer Showcase Delivers Bizarre And Brilliant Games

    07/22/2025
  • Fantasia Festival
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Switch 2 Games
But Why Tho?
Home » DC Comics » REVIEW: ‘The Infected: Scarab,’ Issue #1

REVIEW: ‘The Infected: Scarab,’ Issue #1

Charles HartfordBy Charles Hartford11/20/20193 Mins ReadUpdated:11/14/2021
The Infected Scarab #1
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

The Infected Scarab #1

The Infected: Scarab #1 is published by DC Comics, written by Dennis Hallam, art by Freddie E. Williams II, colors by Jeremy Colwell, and letters by Thomas Napolitano. In this issue, Jaime Reyes is paid a visit by The Batman Who Laughs. But, what begins as a seemingly harmless nightmare quickly devolves into something much worse for the Blue Beetle.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Prequel stories are always tough. Since the ending is already known it provides a unique challenge to the creative team. While The Infected: Scarab #1 needs to elicit an emotional response from its readers, it can be challenging to do especially since last month’s Batman/Superman already revealed Jaime’s eventual fate. Nevertheless, the creative team here does what it can to make the book tell a solid story. And for the most part, they succeed.

Having said that I feel that The Infected: Scarab #1 does struggle with a key issue. This issue is in how far it does, or doesn’t, go. As the Joker Toxin seeps into Jaime he becomes less and less his normal self. And while his changing mood is represented well in the dialogue, his actions lack the punch necessary for this transformation to really hit home. While he certainly behaves more and more like the villains as the story goes on, he never does anything significantly terrible by comic book standards. This makes The Infected: Scarab #1 feels like a momentary situation for the character like the staff knows Jaime will be back to his old self shortly and don’t want to make it too hard for him to get back to business as usual.

Beyond this unwillingness to commit to Blue Beetle’s transformation, the story does everything well. Jaime’s companions bounce between panic and concern as they struggle to help him overcome the madness that is consuming him. While Jamie himself is also developed well. His internal monologue feels fluid as he struggles with the unfolding situation.

The Infected: Scarab #1’s art is also very ably handled. The heavy use of shading works well to lean into the sense of darkness within the story. This is especially true as the eventual end for Jamie is already known. I also appreciated how much Williams is willing to put the art right in the thick of things. You can almost feel the breath of the characters. This closeness does what it can to add additional weight to the panels.

When all is said and done, The Infected: Scarab #1 is a well-handled story. The writing keeps the story going smoothly and the art supports its themes well. However, the previous feeling of holding Jamie back from a true hero’s fall keeps this book back from being anything more than good. I would say it is certainly worth reading if you have been following The Infected storyline and want to get all the details or are just a big fan of Blue Beetle. For everyone else, I can’t call it a must-read.

The Infected: Scarab #1 is available November 20th wherever Comics are sold.

The Infected: Scarab #1
3.5

TL;DR

When all is said and done, The Infected: Scarab #1 is a well-handled story. The writing keeps the story going smoothly and the art supports its themes well.

  • Buy via ComiXology Affiliate Link

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleREVIEW: ‘Batman: White Knight Presents Von Freeze,’ Issue #1
Next Article REVIEW: ‘He-Man and the Masters of the Multiverse,’ Issue #1
Charles Hartford
  • X (Twitter)

Lifelong geek who enjoys comics, video games, movies, reading and board games . Over the past year I’ve taken a more active interest in artistic pursuits including digital painting, and now writing. I look forward to growing as a writer and bettering my craft in my time here!

Related Posts

Cover art for advanced review of Batman Issue 2

ADVANCED REVIEW: ‘Batman’ Issue 2

08/02/2025
Cover art from Batman Issue 1

ADVANCED REVIEW: ‘Batman’ Issue 1

07/31/2025
Justice League: Dark Tomorrow Special Issue 1

REVIEW: ‘Justice League: Dark Tomorrow Special’ Issue 1

07/30/2025
Justice League Unlimited Issue 9

REVIEW: ‘Justice League Unlimited’ Issue 9

07/23/2025
Cover art of Absolute Wonder Woman Issue 10

REVIEW: ‘Absolute Wonder Woman’ Issue 10

07/23/2025
Absolute Martian Manhunter Issue 5

REVIEW: ‘Absolute Martian Manhunter’ Issue 5

07/23/2025

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
Wildgate promotional key art
9.0
PC

REVIEW: ‘Wildgate’ Is Co-Op Space Mayhem Done Right

By Adrian Ruiz07/25/2025Updated:07/30/2025

Built for friends and tuned for competition, Wildgate is messy in the best way: smart, surprising, and bursting with room to grow.

Glass Heart
7.0
TV

REVIEW: ‘Glass Heart’ Offers Messy, Musical Catharsis

By Allyson Johnson07/22/2025

The musical drama series ‘Glass Heart’ soars when it focuses on the epic performances of it’s fictional band, TENBLANK.

Simon in An Honest Life But Why Tho
3.5
Film

REVIEW: ‘An Honest Life’ Is Terribly Dishonest About Its Own Politics

By Jason Flatt08/02/2025

An Honest Life is an overly severe misfire about a law student who falls in with anarchist burglars that can’t decide who it resents more.

Better Late Than Single
7.0
TV

REVIEW: ‘Better Late Than Single’ Is More Than the Name Suggests

By Allyson Johnson08/03/2025

The Netflix reality dating series Better Late Than Single offers more than meets the eye as it allows the contestants to get to know one another.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here