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Blue Beetle: Jaime Reyes #2
Blue Beetle: Jaime Reyes, Book Two
Just when Jaime Reyes thought that he was getting used to mastering the Scarab armor's abilities and balancing his school life, in comes another complication. The armor's alien owners have arrived on Earth. But these aren't your friendly ETs; they have invasion in mind and no one will believe poor Jaime. Thrill to the adventures of DC's latest teen superstar as he takes on a bevy of villains, teams up with other superheroes, and occasionally remembers to do his homework in this next thrilling chapter. Collects Blue Beetle #13-25.
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 26, 2008
About the author
John Rogers
315 books45 followersJohn Rogers is a screenwriter, comedian, film producer, and comic book writer. Although born in Worcester, Massachusetts, he attended McGill University in Montreal and is better known publicly as a Canadian writer.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 25, 2023
A nice conclusion to the series.
This book ties up the loose ends from the first and concludes the story arc featuring The Reach, the aliens who seemingly created the scarab embedded in Jamie's back.
It's a lot of "with great power comes great responsibility" you'd expect from a book focusing on a teen hero, but that's okay because it's a fun ride of Jamie is a likable protagonist.
I liked the artwork in that it was mostly a very '90s comicbook cartoony aesthetic that you don't get so much anymore.
I hope there's more Blue Beetle stuff out there I can enjoy.
This book ties up the loose ends from the first and concludes the story arc featuring The Reach, the aliens who seemingly created the scarab embedded in Jamie's back.
It's a lot of "with great power comes great responsibility" you'd expect from a book focusing on a teen hero, but that's okay because it's a fun ride of Jamie is a likable protagonist.
I liked the artwork in that it was mostly a very '90s comicbook cartoony aesthetic that you don't get so much anymore.
I hope there's more Blue Beetle stuff out there I can enjoy.
January 18, 2025
So this wrapped up the story from the first book and I had a good time this. It was nice to see Jaime interact with a lot of different people in the DC universe over the course of this story and the conclusion to the story was ended well. Definitely would read more of Jaime as blue beetle.
May 15, 2025
This proved to be a fun and easy read, perfect for when you're looking for some lighthearted superhero action.
Jaime and Paco remain as likeable and engaging as ever, making it effortless to root for their adventures.
One of the highlights of this collection was definitely the fantastic cameos sprinkled throughout. Seeing Guy Gardner, Bruce Wayne (who delivers an absolutely ice-cold moment), and Superman pop up added a real layer of enjoyment for fans of these characters. This volume all but confirmed in my eyes that Guy Gardner is most definitely him.
The episodic nature of the book ultimately hindered its impact however. Whilst each individual issue offered its own self-contained fun and charm, the collection as a whole lacked a cohesive or driving plot. Akin to a “villain of the week” format, by the time I finished reading I was left wondering what the overarching purpose of this volume was. It felt like a series of entertaining snippets that didn't quite add up to a larger narrative.
The final arc, delving into the Reach, was admittedly necessary reading for me to fill in some gaps in my Blue Beetle knowledge. While I appreciated gaining this crucial backstory and understanding more about the scarab's origins, I didn't find this storyline especially captivating in itself. There were some nice moments littered within, but as is the running theme of this volume, they don’t quite come together.
Overall, an enjoyable collection of individual stories with a strong focus on character and some great DC guest appearances. However, the lack of a compelling overarching plot prevent it from reaching a higher rating. It's a fun ride, but not a particularly memorable journey.
Jaime and Paco remain as likeable and engaging as ever, making it effortless to root for their adventures.
One of the highlights of this collection was definitely the fantastic cameos sprinkled throughout. Seeing Guy Gardner, Bruce Wayne (who delivers an absolutely ice-cold moment), and Superman pop up added a real layer of enjoyment for fans of these characters. This volume all but confirmed in my eyes that Guy Gardner is most definitely him.
The episodic nature of the book ultimately hindered its impact however. Whilst each individual issue offered its own self-contained fun and charm, the collection as a whole lacked a cohesive or driving plot. Akin to a “villain of the week” format, by the time I finished reading I was left wondering what the overarching purpose of this volume was. It felt like a series of entertaining snippets that didn't quite add up to a larger narrative.
The final arc, delving into the Reach, was admittedly necessary reading for me to fill in some gaps in my Blue Beetle knowledge. While I appreciated gaining this crucial backstory and understanding more about the scarab's origins, I didn't find this storyline especially captivating in itself. There were some nice moments littered within, but as is the running theme of this volume, they don’t quite come together.
Overall, an enjoyable collection of individual stories with a strong focus on character and some great DC guest appearances. However, the lack of a compelling overarching plot prevent it from reaching a higher rating. It's a fun ride, but not a particularly memorable journey.
August 31, 2023
Yeah this was peak Jamie BB content right here. The episodic issues in the middle that led to the overarching goal of the Reach while having BB team up with other like the teen titans and supes was rad as hell. Need vol. 3 to coke out asap
June 21, 2026
Want to check out a epic and lighthearted standalone hero? I can promise you the first two, but you might be somewhat torn on standalone aspect. Let me explain. Also this review is for books 1 and 2.
Blue Beetle: Jaime Reyes is the continued story of the new Blue Beetle after he appeared in Infinite Crisis (read that and the 4 tie-in prequels, which include the death of the previous Blue Beetle (also spoilers for that story)). Unlike the prior Blue Beetles, who are simple pulp spacemen, Jaime is one of the few instances nanomachines are done great! Unlike many stories that have many tie-ins simply for fan service, the writer's connections to the broader DC universe actually add layers to the story. Each guest appearance acts to bring Jaime into the world and explore his character. The very opening scene of Jaime fighting Guy Gardner ("The Crazy one") shows the contrast between a hero sworn to protect the galaxy who abuses his power and Jaime, who has a weapon intended to destroy life but uses this power for protecting the weak. Book 2 takes it even more with the Titans and JLA and plenty of guest villains.
This is easily my biggest complaint of the series, yet is also one of the highlights. The writers know the heart and spirit of the DC universe and are able to make this new character feel both a part of the universe and important. Do you need to know who a lot of these characters are to enjoy the story? No. Does knowing help you follow? Heck yeah! And if you know the histories, it adds many layers of subtext to the story. The fact that Jaime's mentor is a former villain trying to redeem himself is awesome. Jaime's origin story and first adventure (as well as why he was missing for a year) are told in Infinite Crisis, so you should read that. BUT when you crack open Infinite Crisis, you realize it is the conclusion to FOUR different tie-ins (that are tragically not on Hoopla currently). Is the read necessary? No, but by golly does it help!
As far as the bulk of the story, it can easily be broken into two parts (book 1 and 2) that are in themselves episodic. The first largely builds up to the main antagonists while Jaime is establishing himself as a superhero and his supporting cast is fleshed out very well. While book 2 follows him investigating the antagonists and ultimately saving the world (again).
Throughout, the characters are amazing. Jaime's family is fleshed out. His friends both play pivotal roles in the story, not just hanging on the sidelines. In fact, one of his friends turns out to be involved with a metahuman gang (despite being a normal guy) and acts as a bridge between Jaime and the first wave of "baddies" who get the full-on anime treatment. If you know, you know. Ta Dama also proved to be an interesting character who acts as both an antagonist and ally to Jaime. I can't spoil how, but I love that their dynamic is actually explored throughout both characters' arcs.
Really the only villain I didn't like was that zealous mutant character who was unkillable. He just clashed with the tone of the story and just wasn't interesting.
As for when the real baddies show up, there is an amazing amount of build up establishing them as a true threat. In fact, the whole series does a great job building up the a very satisfying finale where all of the characters and plot threads come together for an explosive confrontation. We legit have the perfect template for a Blue Beetle/invasion story right here! Come on DC, DO IT!
Also, since this is the last praise I need to mention: The humor is on point, especially as the series progresses. The MCU wishes it was this funny.
In short, while there is a lot of prior knowledge (or a willingness to use Wikipedia a lot), Blue Beetle: Jaime Reyes Books 1 and 2 are well worth the read if you like fun coming of age stories with a flair for the adventurous and strong character development.
Blue Beetle: Jaime Reyes is the continued story of the new Blue Beetle after he appeared in Infinite Crisis (read that and the 4 tie-in prequels, which include the death of the previous Blue Beetle (also spoilers for that story)). Unlike the prior Blue Beetles, who are simple pulp spacemen, Jaime is one of the few instances nanomachines are done great! Unlike many stories that have many tie-ins simply for fan service, the writer's connections to the broader DC universe actually add layers to the story. Each guest appearance acts to bring Jaime into the world and explore his character. The very opening scene of Jaime fighting Guy Gardner ("The Crazy one") shows the contrast between a hero sworn to protect the galaxy who abuses his power and Jaime, who has a weapon intended to destroy life but uses this power for protecting the weak. Book 2 takes it even more with the Titans and JLA and plenty of guest villains.
This is easily my biggest complaint of the series, yet is also one of the highlights. The writers know the heart and spirit of the DC universe and are able to make this new character feel both a part of the universe and important. Do you need to know who a lot of these characters are to enjoy the story? No. Does knowing help you follow? Heck yeah! And if you know the histories, it adds many layers of subtext to the story. The fact that Jaime's mentor is a former villain trying to redeem himself is awesome. Jaime's origin story and first adventure (as well as why he was missing for a year) are told in Infinite Crisis, so you should read that. BUT when you crack open Infinite Crisis, you realize it is the conclusion to FOUR different tie-ins (that are tragically not on Hoopla currently). Is the read necessary? No, but by golly does it help!
As far as the bulk of the story, it can easily be broken into two parts (book 1 and 2) that are in themselves episodic. The first largely builds up to the main antagonists while Jaime is establishing himself as a superhero and his supporting cast is fleshed out very well. While book 2 follows him investigating the antagonists and ultimately saving the world (again).
Throughout, the characters are amazing. Jaime's family is fleshed out. His friends both play pivotal roles in the story, not just hanging on the sidelines. In fact, one of his friends turns out to be involved with a metahuman gang (despite being a normal guy) and acts as a bridge between Jaime and the first wave of "baddies" who get the full-on anime treatment. If you know, you know. Ta Dama also proved to be an interesting character who acts as both an antagonist and ally to Jaime. I can't spoil how, but I love that their dynamic is actually explored throughout both characters' arcs.
Really the only villain I didn't like was that zealous mutant character who was unkillable. He just clashed with the tone of the story and just wasn't interesting.
As for when the real baddies show up, there is an amazing amount of build up establishing them as a true threat. In fact, the whole series does a great job building up the a very satisfying finale where all of the characters and plot threads come together for an explosive confrontation. We legit have the perfect template for a Blue Beetle/invasion story right here! Come on DC, DO IT!
Also, since this is the last praise I need to mention: The humor is on point, especially as the series progresses. The MCU wishes it was this funny.
In short, while there is a lot of prior knowledge (or a willingness to use Wikipedia a lot), Blue Beetle: Jaime Reyes Books 1 and 2 are well worth the read if you like fun coming of age stories with a flair for the adventurous and strong character development.
April 3, 2023
I'm thinking someone lied to me. I was told the original Jamie Reyes blue bettle run was a solid and sometimes good super hero book, but after two books worth of stories I'm left severely lacking. Book two is small improvement over the pedestrian first vol, as we get some more stuff on the Scarab and the Reach, but there's no momentum in these stories. Half of them are just weird misadventure of the week, sometimes with a guest stsr, but they don't feel like they matter. A few issues stood out, but for reasons other than Beetle, and at worst the stories are just....dull. Also taking a point off for Guy Gardner's guest appearance where the writer had him be sexist and slap a women's ass unprovoked to start a off panel bar fight just for the hell of it. I really doubt I bother to read the final vol unless it deals exclusively with the Reach.
July 15, 2024
Much as I enjoyed Book One, I think Jaime really comes into his own here. John Rogers does a magnificent job of spinning a BIG story, with every element introduced during the previous year paying off in interesting ways. Plus Guy Gardner's best story since the one punch!
April 11, 2023
the final four issues were so so good, had me on the edge of my seat !!! I couldn’t put it down (even when I was supposed to be working lol)
July 16, 2023
That last arc though? Really effing good. Holy cannoli.
August 11, 2023
A modern superhero masterpiece. Brilliant writing and outstanding art.
August 20, 2023
Good art and it introduces the reach and expands on Blue Beetles lore but a lot of it feels like Adventure of the week type stories and depending on what you wanted from this that will be either a good thing or a bad thing
If you want to get introduced to the character of Jaime Reyes Blue Beetle this a pretty good starting point as well
If you want to get introduced to the character of Jaime Reyes Blue Beetle this a pretty good starting point as well
August 30, 2023
Amazing second book. Was heavily entertained the whole read through.
December 16, 2024
"You're a good guy. You save people. That's your job."
ITS BEEN 12 YEARS AND I STILL CRY OVER THIS. I LOVE THE REYES FAMILY.
ITS BEEN 12 YEARS AND I STILL CRY OVER THIS. I LOVE THE REYES FAMILY.
May 5, 2025
Art: 2/5
Story: 4/5
Story: 4/5
January 23, 2026
Blue Beetle: Jaime Reyes Book Two - 4.5 / 5 Stars
This book was great! I think the stakes got a whole lot higher and I loved the family and friendship dynamics that were being built up. The last few episodes especially that pit Jaime up against the Reach was great! Exactly what I want to see from blue beetle books.
Loved it! I want to read more blue beetle soon. Love him!
Onto the next book!
This book was great! I think the stakes got a whole lot higher and I loved the family and friendship dynamics that were being built up. The last few episodes especially that pit Jaime up against the Reach was great! Exactly what I want to see from blue beetle books.
Loved it! I want to read more blue beetle soon. Love him!
Onto the next book!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews