Originally, Blue Beetle appeared in the pages of Charlton Comics before the character made its way to DC Comics. However, the character of Blue Beetle seen in the film is represented by Jaime Reyes, an original character for DC. With ‘Blue Beetle’, we not only get to experience not just this current version that had its first appearance in the pages of the ‘Infinite Crisis’ comics, but we also get exposed to the rich origin of this character in cinemas.
From the opening credits, we already get a background of the Scarab that plays a central part in Blue Beetle’s story. You have to pay closs attention to it, otherwise you will miss bits of information on the Scarab, and the previous Blue Beetles before Jaime Reyes. For one, there is more than one Scarab that exists akin to the many Green Lantern rings that also exist. In fact, there is also an encounter between the Scarab and a mysterious green beam that shoots at it, revealed to be from aGreen Lantern, before it lands on Ancient Earth. Also in the opening credits are bits, and pieces of passing histories of Dan Garrett, the first Blue Beetle, and Ted Kord, the second Blue Beetle. These little easter eggs optimizes the storytelling elements of the film, and gets you jumpstarted on ‘Blue Beetle’ movie lore even before the opening scene begins.
Xolo Maraduena portrays a charismatic Jaime Reyes who becomes an unwanted hero thrust with the responsibility of the powers of the Scarab which chose him. The Scarab is a technological symbiote that grants its user powers of alien origin with its AI named Khaji Da. In DC Comics lore, Khaji Da is a Reach infiltrator that chose to bond with Jaime similar to Dan Garrett but unlike Ted Kord. Unlike the previous two Blue Beetles, Jaime initially wanted no part in the union with Khaji Da, but he eventually accedes to its will allowing Jaime to use the vast arsenal, and technology provided by the alien Scarab. Xolo shows this shift from unwanted hero to willing champion flawlessly, and somewhat playfully as he as Jaime eases his way into a symbiotic partnership with Khaji Da.
At the core of Jaime Reyes’s strength as a hero is his ties to his family, and to Jenny Kord, daughter of the ‘dead’ Ted Kord. This connection to Jenny Kord also allows Jaime to learn the history of the Scarab: from the Ted Kord to the Dan Garrett versions of Blue Beetle. With this knowledge of the Scarab, Jaime initlially rejects its choice of him even though it is revealed that the only way to remove the Scarab from his body is his own death. It is his connection to his family through his recently deceased father that completes the union between him and Khaji Da. He realizes that he can use the power that he now has to protect people, and prevent further loss to others like what he felt when he lost his father. With his reluctance overcome, Jaime Reyes becomes the hero that Blue Beetle can truly be.
‘Blue Beetle’ gives us a glimpse of the beginning of James Gunn‘s reign as the creative head of DC Studios. Of course it helps that his Co-CEO Peter Safran produced this film. Also, there is a mid credit scene that reveals Ted Kord is still alive, information that might be taken up as a crux of future DC films. So far, this is consistent with Gunn’s plans to create material for DC Studios that is rich in DC Comics lore thus connecting to various aspects of the DC Universe in the background which effectively indicates that these characters are part of a larger fictional world.
It is refreshing to see Xolo as Jaime Reyes. His work on Cobra Kai matches what is needed to portray an on-screen Jaime Reyes. The character is at an age that makes him relatable to younger audiences. It also caters to DC comic fans with a LOT of history on the Scarab. If you’re not a comic book fan, but a fan of action romps, this will appeal to you. I was entertained. I hope you will be too.
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