Warning: contains spoilers for Blue Beetle #1
One underrated Justice League icon may have just been killed — and it’s not even his first death. The opening issue of Blue Beetle’s new series tragically ends with a villainous new Scarab seemingly murdering the brilliant Ted Kord, a former Justice League member who was infamously murdered in 2005’s Countdown to Infinite Crisis.
Since the magical alien artifact known as the Scarab grafted itself to teenager Jaime Reyes, the second Blue Beetle Ted Kord has acted as the young hero’s mentor, which he continues to do in Blue Beetle #1 by Josh Trujillo, Adrian Gutierrez, Wil Quintana, and Lucas Gattoni. The new Blue Beetle series stars Jaime and two new Scarab-based heroes — with Ted continuing to act as Jaime’s mentor. Blue Beetle #1 is a fresh start for Jaime, but it sees Ted meeting a potentially tragic death for the second time, as a mysterious new Scarab villain attacks Ted in his Blue Beetle lab, stabbing him through the chest and leaving him for dead.
Whether Ted is actually dead is yet to be seen, but the threat of the death looms over this shocking ending, and this will surely lead to the devastating new Scarab War.
Ted Kord’s First Death Was a Major DC Milestone
Ted Kord — the second Blue Beetle — has been a DC staple since the mid-80s when he was brought to the DC Universe from the world of Charlton Comics Crisis on Infinite Earths. Since then, Ted has been a major part of Justice League International and is perhaps best known for his close friendship with Booster Gold. Ted is also famous for being brutally murdered by Maxwell Lord in 2005’s massive Countdown to Infinite Crisis #1 by Geoff Johns, Judd Winick, Greg Rucka, Rags Morales, Ivan Reis, Jesus Saiz, Phil Jimenez, Ed Benes, and a number of inkers, colorists, and letterers. This death has remained one of DC’s most impactful, influencing stories for years afterward. Ted Kord stayed dead until the New 52 reboot completely revamped DC’s status quo, reviving a number of long-dead or injured heroes. Since DC’s Rebirth era, Ted has primarily acted as a mentor to the teenaged Jaime Reyes, who was inadvertently bonded to the alien scarab Khaji Da during Infinite Crisis.
Jaime Reyes Will Need To Save — or Avenge — Ted Kord
Fans of Ted Kord’s Blue Beetle were quite upset at his shocking death in Countdown to Infinite Crisis — and that he stayed meaningfully dead for more than five years. Hopefully he can be saved in Blue Beetle #2, as readers have loved Ted’s mentorship of Jaime, who continues to need support as he moves into a bigger leadership position leading the newly empowered Scarabs. Jaime will surely do anything in his power to save Ted’s life. Ted, who has no superpowers, will clearly be seriously injured by the new Scarab’s assault, and he was seemingly unable to put a single scratch on the Scarab with his technology — but that does not mean that his impressive intelligence won’t come in handy in the coming Scarab War.
Ted Kord’s Blue Beetle is a beloved DC hero, and it would be a real tragedy for both fans and the DC Universe if he was killed again. Hopefully this Justice League icon will survive and live to fight another day.
Blue Beetle #1 from DC Comics is available now.
