DC Comics; 75¢

In the aftermath of Crisis on Infinite Earths, the Legends mini-series further established DC’s new single universe and reintroduced the Charlton superheroes that DC Comics had acquired as part of it. Ted Kord, the second Blue Beetle, was part of that.

In Blue Beetle #1, the keys to the character were handed to writer Len Wein, pencil artist Paris Cullins, and inker Bruce D. Patterson. The result was a rip-roaring 1980s great comic book.

The story drops Blue Beetle – and the reader – straight into the action, which proceeds at a breakneck pace. In the hands of a master like Len Wein, though, there are still plenty of character moments.

For many readers, the DC appearances might have been their first exposure to the historic character. The creative team did not overload the introduction with every detail about the character, but they gave readers more than enough to get them interested.

A really solid first issue, this is a great one to seek out if you haven’t already read it.

– J.C. Vaughn