In the diverse landscape of comic book heroes, Jaime Reyes stands out as a beacon of representation and empowerment. As the third character to take on the mantle of the Blue Beetle in DC Comics, Jaime (pronounced hay-meh) is a brilliant and relatable Latino teenager from El Paso, Texas. In a genre that has often lacked diverse representation, his Blue Beetle is a celebrated icon, breaking barriers and proving that a hero can emerge from any background or culture.
Now that the young superhero is getting his own movie, where does he stand against renowned DC Comics heavyweights like The Flash, Batman, and Cyborg? Here’s a deep dive into the lore of Blue Beetle, his otherworldly and awe-inspiring capabilities, and what audiences can anticipate when they catch his action-packed story on the big screen.
Origin
Jaime Reyes, the third character to take on the mantle of Blue Beetle, made his debut in 2006’s Infinite Crisis #3, crafted by writers Keith Giffen and John Rogers, and artist Cully Hamner. The character’s journey continued in various reboots, including the 2011 New 52 Blue Beetle series by Tony Bedard and Ig Guara, and again in 2016’s DC Rebirth via Blue Beetle Volume 9 by Giffen and Scott Kolins.
Distinct from his namesake predecessors, Dan Garrett and Ted Kord, Jaime’s transformation into Blue Beetle arose from an alien encounter. Discovering the Scarab, an extraterrestrial artifact, in El Paso, Texas, Jaime becomes bonded with this sentient AI. This relationship isn’t without its challenges, as the Scarab, a relic from a race known as The Reach, initially dominates Jaime’s will, pushing him into confronting its violent history.
The Scarab’s origin is as intriguing as the Blue Beetle’s. Far from Earth-made technology, the Scarab, named Khaji Da, is an engineered bioweapon with its own consciousness, designed by The Reach to covertly conquer planets. This malevolent race encountered resistance from the Green Lantern Corps but dispatched Scarabs like Khaji Da as secret agents of subjugation.
Archeologist Dan Garrett first harnessed its power after its programming was severed and became the first Blue Beetle, though he believed the scarab as an ancient mystical scarab. Later, Ted Kord became the Blue Beetle, although the Scarab never truly paired with him. Instead, Ted relied on his athleticism and his unique inventive mind to become the second Blue Beetle.
The new Blue Beetle film centers around Jaime Reyes, who discovers the Scarab in El Paso, and finds a way to honour the legacy of the Blue Beetle left behind by Garrett and Kord. Having existed on Earth for an extended period, the Scarab has evolved, granting Jaime unparalleled abilities unlike any previous Blue Beetle.
Backstory
Jaime Reyes, a typical high schooler from El Paso, Texas, comes from a close-knit family. His father owns a garage, while his mother works as a paramedic, and he often teases his younger sister for her mischief.
Jaime’s world revolves around his two dear friends, Brenda and Paco. While Brenda is industrious, Paco is more easy-going, and Jaime skillfully bridged their contrasting personalities. To both Brenda and Paco, Jaime stood out as a genuine friend, one who embraced them as they were and brought positivity to any situation. Although he was eager to assist in his father Alberto’s garage, the latter hesitated, hoping to preserve Jaime’s youth for a bit longer.
Powers
Jaime Reyes derives his phenomenal powers from Khaji-Da, a sentient AI Scarab, which equips him with superhuman abilities and a versatile arsenal. The Blue Beetle armour grants heightened strength, speed, durability, and the power to project energy in the form of weapons and shields. Additionally, it allows him to fly, giving him remarkable mobility whether he’s guarding the city or venturing into space.
Coupled with these combat skills, the Scarab enables Jaime to comprehend virtually any language, bridging communication gaps with various cultures and extraterrestrials. However, these powers come with their complexities, as the Scarab’s past association with the oppressive Reach often creates internal conflicts for Jaime, necessitating a delicate balance between his judgement and the Scarab’s instincts.
The integration of the Scarab into its host results in a unique symbiotic relationship, providing the wearer with both unmatched resilience and agility. This living armour instinctively defends its user from threats, evidenced in scenes where it produces a shield robust enough to split a bus in half or withstand bullets and explosions. A key feature of this armor is its adaptability. The Scarab can generate a plethora of weapons, from energy canons to laser blasters, tailored to its host’s imagination or the situation. This adaptiveness extends to identifying and exploiting an adversary’s vulnerability.
Notably, Blue Beetle’s capability to emit kryptonite radiation and adapt weaponry according to an opponent’s weakness has allowed him to counter formidable foes, including the Green Lantern Corps. Depending on the situation, the Scarab grants Jaime varied flight modes, ranging from beetle-like wings for low altitudes to jet boosters for space travels.
In The Comics
Funnily enough, the Blue Beetle didn’t start out as a DC Comics character. The original Blue Beetle was initially conceptualised by Charles Nicholas Wojtkoski in Fox Publications’ Mystery Men Comics, and began as Dan Garret (it was subsequently respelled as Garrett), a cop who donned a bulletproof suit and gained enhanced abilities from Vitamin 2X. The character was popular enough to inspire a comic strip in The Boston Evening Transcript in 1940, even featuring artwork from the iconic Jack Kirby. He also garnered a radio serial. But post-World War II, as the Golden Age of comics waned, Fox Publications folded, leading Charlton Comics to acquire Blue Beetle among other heroes.
Charlton Comics created a new Blue Beetle in Ted Kord, an inventor and gifted athlete who used his technology to create a modern Blue Beetle, including a bug shaped aircraft. After Charlton Comics was acquired by DC Comics, a link between the two Blue Beetles was made – Garrett was renamed and rewritten as an archaeologist who discovered a mystical scarab and became the first Blue Beetle. Ted was a former student of Dan and when Dan died, he passed on the responsibility, but not the mystical scarab, of the Blue Beetle mantle to Ted. And the movie establishes links to both these legacy characters.
While the upcoming film focuses on Jaime Reyes, remember that this character has roots going back to 1939, marking him as one of the earliest superheroes. Want to familiarize yourself with Jaime Reyes before the movie? Dive into Blue Beetle Vol. 7 to Vol. 9, which capture his evolution across various DC timelines. Also, Blue Beetle: Graduation Day offers an insightful view into Jaime’s world and the intricacies of the Scarab technology.
The Actor
Xolo Maridueña, known for his role as Miguel Diaz in the Cobra Kai series, stars as the first Latino superhero, Jaime Reyes. Emphasising the film’s focus on family, Maridueña’s character cannot hide his superhero identity from his loved ones.
In a touching video shared by the film’s director, Angel Manuel Soto, he playfully asks Maridueña, “So, you wanna be Jaime or not?” to which the actor enthusiastically responds, “Yes. Yeah absolutely.” As they embrace, Soto tells him, “You ARE the Blue Beetle.”
In a poignant moment, Maridueña’s mother recalls reading Blue Beetle comics to her son as a child, making the casting seem all the more destined. With such a personal connection, it’s not a surprise Maridueña landed the titular role.
The Movie
The Blue Beetle film marks DC’s debut of a live-action Latino superhero. This milestone holds considerable significance, especially considering the past underrepresentation of Latino actors and heroes in the media.
As per IMDB, here is the synopsis of the movie:
“An alien scarab chooses college graduate Jaime Reyes to be its symbiotic host, bestowing the teenager with a suit of armour that’s capable of extraordinary and unpredictable powers, forever changing his destiny as he becomes the superhero known as Blue Beetle.”
Jaime’s portrayal as the Blue Beetle doesn’t just give us a new hero; it punctuates the pressing need for better representation, shining a spotlight on the Latino community and breaking barriers that have long existed in the media. This film could usher in a new era where diversity isn’t just an afterthought, but a celebrated cornerstone of storytelling.
In the vibrant tapestry of the DC Universe, Jaime Reyes stands as a testament to the power of representation and the enduring appeal of a hero who is as compassionate as he is formidable. As a Latino superhero hailing from El Paso, Texas, the character brings a unique and relatable perspective to a world populated by gods and legends.
With his mystical Scarab granting him incredible abilities, he is not only a guardian of his community but also a symbol of hope for readers and viewers around the world. Whether in the comics or on the silver screen, Jaime Reyes is poised to inspire a new generation of fans who see in him the potential for greatness that lies within us all.
Blue Beetle is out in cinemas now.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, games, and comics — you name it. When she’s not reading or geeking out about the latest shows on Netflix, she’s probably playing Honkai: Star Rail, cosplaying, or daydreaming of meeting her idols.
