Blue Beetle Can’t Be DCU’s Green Lantern Replacement as DC Comics Already Turned Him into a Joke

Blue Beetle Can't Be DCU's Green Lantern Replacement as DC Comics Already Turned Him into a Joke
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The renowned DC Comics hero Blue Beetle will soon be seen in his feature movie. It seems like the long wait is nearly over for those anticipating the debut of this legendary figure. With so much upheaval in the DC Universe, maybe a new hero like Blue Beetle would provide the necessary jolt to the series.

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Blue Beetle (2023)
Blue Beetle (2023)

Blue Beetle has been used for many fictitious DC Comics superheroes. Since his debut in 1939, the character has been an integral part of the DC Comics canon. Blue Beetle has been played by three distinct people, each of whom brought their own quirks and abilities.

Can Blue Beetle Replace Green Lantern?

Green Lantern Corps
Green Lantern Corps

DC Comics has recently adopted a more comical approach to the Jamie Reyes character, which has upset some longtime fans. Making Jamie Reyes a comic relief has probably hurt his appeal as well. Although he was once hailed as one of DC’s brightest lights, the popularity of this hero has since waned.

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Blue Beetle is not meant to take Green Lantern’s position in this setting. There are certain parallels between the two characters, such as their cosmic ties, but they are otherwise quite unlike. While Green Lantern is taken seriously and revered, Blue Beetle has become a joke.

Blue Beetle
Blue Beetle

In the 1980s, when Dan Garrett left the superhero industry, Ted Kord became Blue Beetle. Kord was a technological prodigy who utilized his ingenuity to design and build tools and weapons to combat criminal activity. His tales often had a comical tone, and he was used as a comic relief.

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Kord was a Justice League member, although he was often seen as the comic relief to more serious characters like Batman and Superman. Fans began to see Blue Beetle more as a joke once he was portrayed humorously.

The next Blue Beetle film from DC Universe will feature contemporary Blue Beetle Jaime Reyes. Reyes, a teenage boy, finds a strange scarab that combines with his body and bestows extraordinary abilities upon him. Jaime is a more serious hero than his predecessor, and his stories are more dramatic.

Blue Beetle in DC Comics
Blue Beetle in DC Comics

Despite that, several factors have contributed to Blue Beetle’s prominence as one of the DC Universe’s most popular heroes. To begin with, his suit endows him with a wide variety of talents, making him a very potent fighter. He can call upon the suit at whim, giving him incredible power to wield against even the most dangerous foes.

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Also Read: “It took me some time to figure it out”: James Gunn Extends Olive Branch to Zack Snyder After Ousting Henry Cavill, Promises Superman: Legacy Will Honor Man of Steel’s Grounded Plot

Blue Beetle’s Relevance in the DC Universe

Xolo Maridueña stars as the lead in DCUs Blue Beetle
Xolo Maridueña stars as the lead in DCUs Blue Beetle

Blue Beetle’s reputation has been sullied by the comedy adaptation of Ted Kord’s character. Although Jaime Reyes has established himself as a credible hero, many readers still see the Blue Beetle identity as somewhat of a joke.

As a result, the character has been sidelined in several different media adaptations of DC Comics. Blue Beetle has had difficulty maintaining its popularity in recent years, unlike other long-running characters like Green Lantern and The Flash.

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Green Lantern
Green Lantern

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A positive alteration to Blue Beetle’s history may occur thanks to the impending DC Universe film. The movie can potentially change audiences’ perceptions of Blue Beetle by giving the character the gravitas he deserves via its depiction of Jaime Reyes.

The character of Blue Beetle may make future DC Comics movies more successful. If given the proper care, the character has the potential to become more than simply a running gag and become a fan favorite in his own right.

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Blue Beetle: The Movie

Xolo-Mariduena as Blue Beetle
Xolo-Mariduena as Blue Beetle

Fans anticipate the release of DC’s first Latinx-led superhero movie, which stars Xolo Mariduena as Jaime Reyes/Blue Beetle. The film was originally scheduled for a direct-to-HBO Max to release with the now-canceled Batgirl movie.

James-Gunn Xolo-Mariduena
Blue Beetle – CinemaCon 2023

However, it was moved to a theatrical release before James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DCU re-launch event. Filmmaker Angel Manuel Soto’s forthcoming movie will center on a young man named Jaime who discovers that his hometown has changed significantly after attending university and returning home with lofty goals.

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Mabel Andrady

Written by Mabel Andrady

Articles Published: 694

Mabel, aka MJ, is a FandomWire Sr. Writer, pop-culture fanatic, and an MA in Health Demography holder. When she's not indulging in her guilty pleasure of penning everything Hollywood, Marvel & DC, she writes academic essays on COVID-19 and HIV/AIDS. With 2500+ articles published online, she brings a unique twist to entertainment writing. A jack-of-all-trades, MJ enjoys movies, writes/acts in plays, writes music, and dreams of being a successful actress. She offers a fresh perspective, making her writing a must-read for those seeking knowledge and entertainment.