When you’re using actual panels from the comic as your cover, that’s not a good look.
Blue Beetle #50
Charlton Comics (July, 1965; still using the numbering from Unusual Tales for some reason)
“The Scorpion”
WRITER: Joe Gill
PENCILER: Bill Fracchio
INKER: Tony Tallarico
LETTERER: Sha-ro-ine
I’m used to some comics not listing the editor, but ignoring the colorist?
So a man disappears when something topples an oil rig. Naturally, you ask an archaeologist for help. We’re not even trying to come up with excuses, are we, Charlton? Long story short (which I linked to so you can read it), a Mr. Crabb is behind the whole thing, only instead of making a seafood restaurant for…seafood, he’s trying to take over an oil rig for the Chinese. Blue Beetle is beaten by a giant scorpion robot but he isn’t as dead as everyone thinks. While the girl who went to Dan is reunited with her father, who Crabb attacked and started these events, Blue Beetle recovers and everyone goes after Crabb. His scorpion robot attacks but Blue Beetle manages to blow up the base. The question is whether or not Crabb survived.
What they got right: The threat is decent enough, the art good, the action exciting for the time.
What they got wrong: In addition to the aforementioned cover laziness, I don’t know how Dan manages to maintain a secret identity at this point. Now he shoots lightning bolts as well.
What I think overall: It’s a good enough story. Maybe they’re finally finding their footing six issues in, but the whole renumber thing is just a result of the silly postal code when it came to magazines and comics.
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