Review: Blue Beetle Vol. 1- Metamorphosis

Quick Summary

Pros: The collection works well as an introduction to a new series. The action is fun and exciting. Jamie is a great main character, especially when paired with the Scarab.

Cons: The overall structure of the plot has some problems. Secondary characters are often written poorly. The artwork is lackluster in some places.

Overall: This is a book that passes as an introduction to new characters and concepts but does not work incredibly well on its own. Jamie Reyes ends up being a great main character; he goes on fun adventures that are enjoyable to see play out. However, the secondary pieces of the plot do not work quite as nicely and drag the overall experience down. Those interested in Blue Beetle as a character, and are willing to overlook flaws elsewhere, may enjoy this collection.

Story

Blue Beetle Vol. 1: Metamorphosis, by Tony Bedard, is a decent start to a new comic series that presents some unique and compelling plot points. Most of the volume is focused around introductions and helps readers get a grasp on the characters and plot points that will form the base for this entire series. This is done through some fun action sequences, creative thinking the main characters, and some unique interactions between Jamie Reyes and his Scarab. However, the volume has more than a few flaws when it comes to overall structure and crafting compelling secondary characters. These prevent the collection from being all that it could be and leave it as a successful introduction but not much more.

(spoilers start here)

Metamorphosis is primarily an origin story for Blue Beetle’s powers and a setup for future stories. It introduces or reintroduces readers to Jamie Reyes and gets them acclimated to his story. Throughout the book, this introduction is typically exciting and fun. It involves intense moments of action and some creative thinking, as Jamie tries to protect his secret identity while still being able to defeat the villains. In this way, the book never drags or starts to feel as boring as one would expect an introductory volume to become. In providing a base for the future of the Blue Beetle series, this volume is a success.

The most unique attribute of Metamorphosis is the relationship between Jamie and his Scarab. The Scarab’s desire to destroy everything within its path and Jamie’s attempt to curb the Scarab’s influence leads to an interesting dynamic. In some places, this dynamic is almost humorous, like when the Scarab attempts to destroy Jamie’s bully. In other places, this dynamic leads to some shocking scenarios, like when the Scarab stabs Paco through the heart. Either way, it is an interesting relationship that I am looking forward to watching develop.

Unfortunately, not everything about Metamorphosis is successful. One of the primary flaws with this collection is how oddly structured the story can be at times. One moment, it seems as if the Reach poses an immediate threat to Earth, the next moment this threat is revealed to be nothing more than a tease for later. This also happens with other villains in this book, as some are introduced and then dismissed with little to no fanfare. As this is the introductory volume to a brand new series, some of these flaws are forgivable, as long as they are handled better in future collections.

Another problem here is some downright strange character interactions. Until the later portions of the book, it is not quite clear what sort of romance is taking place between Jamie and Brenda, or if one is taking place at all. In fact, most of Brenda’s dialogue and interactions end up being rather poor. A similar dynamic evolves between Jamie and Paco, as they go from best friends to being secretly resentful of one another. Poor character work like this makes it hard to become fully invested in the story taking place here. Hopefully, with introductions out of the way, future volumes will simply focus on refining the character qualities that are already present.

(spoilers end here)

Art

The artwork in Metamorphosis is passable but not really anything that special. Ig Guara’s pencils look alright and suit the book’s focus on bombastic action. However, character expressions are often a bit over-the-top and body proportions are sometimes stretched in odd ways. These flaws aren’t necessarily the most prominent aspect of the artwork but they will be noticeable by anyone paying attention. In this way, the art here gets the job done but isn’t something most readers will go out of their way enjoying.

Continuity

Blue Beetle Vol. 1: Metamorphosis starts the Blue Beetle New 52 series. This means that this is the first volume in a brand new continuity, so there are not many references to previous books or specific character histories.

The story started here is continued in Blue Beetle Vol. 2: Blue Diamond (Review).

This volume also references another comic book, detailed below:

• A reference is made to a confrontation between the Reach and different Lantern Corps. This is detailed in Green Lantern: New Guardians Vol. 2: Beyond Hope.