Friday, September 12, 2025
My Favorite Pages: L.E.G.I.O.N. '92 Annual 3
Ok, that was a nice break. Let's see if I can remember how to do this blogging thing....
Once upon a time, a malignant force was corrupting the heroes of the world and turning them against one another. And that malignant force's name was Darkseid Perpetua Telos Brainiac Wally West *ahem* Eclipso in the 1992 event "Eclipso: The Darkness Within" that ran through DC's once-a-year annuals.
By L.E.G.I.O.N. '92 Annual #3, the heroes of the DC had a pretty good idea of how much trouble they were in, as Eclipso had already taken direct control of some of the Earth's most powerful heroes, including Starman, Green Lantern, and Superman. It was time for some outside help, which is why Vril Dox, ancestor of Brainiac, hero of the Invasion!, and leader of an interplanetary corporation of problem solvers, has come to Earth with his motley crew.
Unfortunately for everyone, even the supremely intelligent Dox isn't quite prepared for just how devious Eclipso can be, and soon the incredibly powerful Lobo and Lady Quark are rampaging through New York City.
But don't worry, everybody! The Justice League International is on the scene...
(That's! A! Lot! Of! Exclamation! Points!)
...to fight the wrong guy. Oops. But given the JLI's history with Lobo, it's completely understandable. Even when he's unEclipsed, you should never trust Lobo.
Picking this one page to be my favorite of the issue was very difficult. I like Barry Kitson's script and Mike McKone's pencils throughout (even under a whole squadron of inkers), but I chose page 51 because it kicks off a great four-page sequence in which Ice demonstrates her powers (page 52), Booster rashly flying into action against Lady Quark (53), and full-frontal Fire trying her best to save Booster's life (54). If nothing else, "Eclipso: The Darkness Within" really showcases how well Booster, Fire, and Ice work together as the heart of the JLI. Go team!
Comments (0) | Add a Comment | Tags: favorite pages justice league international l.e.g.i.o.n. lobo
Tuesday, September 2, 2025
All Out
"What comic informs us that Booster Gold's birthday is December 29?"
That's a paraphrase of a question that I was asked in an email I received over the weekend. It's a good question. I've got a lot of good questions recently.
Last week, my Local Comic Shop Guy, who knows what I like to read and what I don't, saw I was buying Superman #29 and said, "Booster Gold must be in that." I nodded, and said I wasn't really looking forward to reading it. And he said, "Then why are you buying it?" That's another good question, and I didn't like my answer.
I'm reasonably proud of what I've built here since Boosterrific.com went live, but lots of things have changed since 2007. I've long since come to terms with the fact that I'll never make a dime off this hobby, so I should only keep maintaining it as long as I enjoy it. It's that enjoyment that has recently been called into question.
I do still enjoy reading and talking about comic books. I enjoy contributing to the world's aggregation of trivial knowledge. And I am still fond of Booster Gold. But for some time now, at least since the start of the "All In" era, I have not particularly enjoyed most of what DC Comics is publishing. The upcoming "DC K.O." looks to me like very much continuing in the wrong direction.
I've been here before. I hated almost everything about the New 52. I considered giving up this site then, but I held on, and things eventually (after about 5 years) got better. There's no reason not to believe that cycle won't repeat itself, and the current editors and creatives at DC who are making comics I don't want to read will eventually move on to other projects. So I think in the meantime, I'll try just ignoring them.
I'm not sure what that will mean for this site. I'll keep the Boosterrific! Database of releases up-to-date, but maybe fewer annotations as I spend less time with books I don't enjoy. (I've already disconnected the code on the home page that reports days since Booster's last DCU appearance.) There will likely be fewer Boosterrific! Blog posts, maybe just one a week, as I try to avoid the things that don't entertain me. If that's the price to maintain my own quality of life, I'm sorry to disappoint any potential site visitors, but so be it.
And for the record, the answer is Booster Gold Volume 2, #1, page 4, panel 1, written by Geoff Johns and Jeff Katz.
That sort of granular minutia? That's the fun part for me. No question.
Comments (18) | Add a Comment | Tags: birthday website update
Wednesday, August 27, 2025
New Release: Superman 29
Ok, I've just read Superman #29. For the purpose of updating this site, I read it twice. And my initial gut reaction is that I hate it. I hated reading twice so much that I want to stop reading comics set in the DCU forever, or at least until they can tell a story that doesn't assume I want to read multi-part crossover, years-long, seemingly-unending torture-porn stories about heroes failing. I'm just sick of it.
I've read and even enjoyed some dark stories before, but this one has really been the last straw. Is it event fatigue? Dissatisfaction with Joshua Williamson's fanboy-pandering, tell-but-don't-show writing style or Dan Mora's inability to deliver functional sequential art? World news? American politics? Summer heat? Too many years of Booster Gold being put through the meat grinder? I really don't know. I thought I was in a good mood before I started reading.
I'm going to take some time and consider why I feel this way and if anything can be done about it.
It may be a few days before I post again; my enthusiasm for following Booster Gold comics has been completely exhausted.
Comments (1) | Add a Comment | Tags: new releases superman website update
SPOILER WARNING: The content at Boosterrific.com may contain story spoilers for DC Comics publications.
Booster Gold, Skeets, and all related titles, characters, images, slogans, logos are trademark ™ and copyright © DC Comics unless otherwise noted and are used without expressed permission. This site is a reference to published information and is intended as a tribute to the artists and storytellers employed by DC Comics, both past and present. (We love you, DC.) Contents of this page and all text herein not reserved as intellectual property of DC Comics is copyright © 2007-2025 BOOSTERRIFIC.com. This page, analysis, commentary, and accompanying statistical data is designed for the private use of individuals and may not be duplicated or reproduced for profit without consent.