Blue Beetle #8 is published by DC Comics, written by Josh Trujillo, art by Adrián Gutiérrez, colors by Wil Quintana and letters by Lucas Gattoni. As Blue Beetle returns to Palmera City, one of his friends departs.
The issue shows that there are still many consequences to the battle with Blood Scarab. The strange structure of Blue Beetle #7 means those ramifications arrive in this chapter. These consequences are lasting and dramatic, with considerable changes to the cast of the comic. Doing so has made the series’ main antagonist even more powerful.
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Elsewhere, other community members are contemplating an exit, potentially shattering one of the significant aspects of the series. The pace moves in a curve, starting slow and ending with a rapid and intense battle. What is always surprising about Blue Beetle’s action scenes is the phenomenal speed and sudden endings.The book has extreme ferocity, with ruthless conclusions so sudden that it takes a moment to realize they’ve happened.
Blue Beetle #8 centres around its main character, as always, but Jaime is a receptacle for the other storylines. Through him, we learn much about what is happening elsewhere in the city. This issue has genuine darkness and sadness to it. After the Blood Scarab did so much damage, the trauma has left scars and anxiety. The most significant example of that is Roma, aka Nitida. She was the revelation at the end of the issue, and the reality hits hard when the event unfolds. The scene is perfectly written, with stunning pieces of dialogue from all of the trio. The emotions bubble over and the mood sinks right to the bottom. Jaime has some anxiety of his own still regarding his own Scarab. His level of control over the alien on his back has become frightening, and the advice he gets makes it even more disconcerting.
The art is magnificent, and the energy of this series is spectacular. Even without action scenes, a character’s entrance can be exciting. Blue Beetle’s face within the armor is brilliantly malleable. When we see the damage done to Nitida, it causes me to let out a hiss of imagined pain. Extreme gore and brutality can sometimes desensitize the actual pain caused by the injury. But Nitida’s looks raw and sore. The conversation between Blue Beetle, Nitida, and Dynastes has an achingly perfect panel layout and terrific body language.
Then comes the confrontation at the end of the book, with a very old and obscure Blue Beetle villain making a brief appearance against a brand-new figure. The gaudy costume gets an update to a more modern art style. The intensity is phenomenal, and it ends with a remarkable surprise.
The colors are gorgeous. The constant vibrancy of the pages is exhilarating. Every costume is glorious. The lights are on for 99% of the comic, and the issue enjoys that brightness. So when half of one page is in darkness, it draws attention and is one of the most striking images in the book. The lettering is fantastic. The changes in color and size make the text brilliantly dynamic.
Blue Beetle #8 is sensational. While much of the issue is exposition, the storytelling never feels tedious or cumbersome. When it is heavy, it is due to the beautiful art and the emotion that lingers in every word. The departure is heartbreaking, hitting like a freight train. The pacing can take time in the moment, savoring the wonderful characters. But then it can turn on a dime and become a high-velocity, action-driven story.
Blue Beetle #8 is available where comics are sold.
Blue Beetle #8
TL;DR
Blue Beetle #8 is sensational. While much of the issue is exposition, the storytelling never feels tedious or cumbersome. When it is heavy, it is due to the beautiful art and the emotion that lingers in every word. The departure is heartbreaking, hitting like a freight train.
