The never before reprinted Charlton Comics Silver Age adventures of the Blue Beetle are now available in the new DC Finest: Blue Beetle: Challenges the Red Knight collection.
Blue Beetle Challenges the Red Knight collects Blue Beetle #1-5, Blue Beetle #50-54 (taking over numbering from Unusual Tales), and Blue Beetle stories from Captain Atom #83-86, Blue Beetle (1967) #1-5, and 1975’s Charlton Bullseye Magazine #1.
All stories are written by Joe Gill, Roy Thomas, Steve Ditko, Gary Friedrich, and Benjamin Smith, with art by Ditko, Bill Fraccio, Tony Tallarico, Pat Masuli, Dan Reed, Albert Val, and Bill Black.
The rare comics start with the return of the original Golden Age Blue Beetle, archaeologist Dan Garrett, who trades in his Vitamin 2X powers for a mystical blue scarab that grants the adventurer supernatural strength and agility.
After only a few issues, Ditko introduced Dan Garrett’s successor, Ted Kord. Ditko ditched the scarab powers for science fiction weapons, gadgets, and vehicles, and the Beetle joined Charlton’s roster of Silver Age heroes (who would eventually be bought up by DC Comics 1983).
DC Finest: Blue Beetle: Challenges the Red Knight consists of 368 pages for a suggested retail price of $39.99.
Check out the cover by Bill Fraccio and Dick Giordano below and stay tuned to Conskipper for all of your vintage comic news.
