In theaters since Wednesday, “Blue Beetle” is the first superhero film carried by a Latino protagonist. Discover 5 things to know about this DC Comics feature film.
What is it about ? Jaime Reyes is a young man full of ambition. As he returns home from college, the Scarab, an ancient relic of alien biotechnology chooses to make him its host. The latter then sees himself dressed in an extraordinary armor which grants him extraordinary – and unpredictable – powers. Everything changes then for Jaime who becomes the superhero Blue Beetle…
Winks and differences with the comics
- The characters of Uncle Rudy and Jenny Kord were created especially for this film since they do not exist in the comics.
- Victoria Kord is a reinterpretation of Jarvis Kord in the comics.
- Rudy’s favorite song is Walk Like an Egyptian bangles.
- An Edge Keys street sign is a nod to El Paso, where Jaime Reyes was born in DC mythology.
- There are boxing gloves and books in the Lair of the Scarab, a real nod to Ted Kord and his past as a boxer.
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very first time
Blue Beetle is the very first adaptation for the big screen of the adventures of this superhero from the DC universe. This character appeared in the first issue of Mystery Men Comics in 1939, in the guise of archaeologist Dan Garrett: he discovered a magic scarab during excavations in Egypt. Subsequently, Blue Beetle was reimagined by Steve Ditko as brilliant inventor Ted Kord first seen in issue #83 of Captain Atom (1966).
Over time, Blue Beetle evolved further into Jaime Reyes. Appearing in issue 3 of Infinite Crisis in 2006, Jaime, created by Keith Giffen, John Rogers and Cully Hamner, was now a college student surrounded by a close-knit Mexican-American family living in El Paso, Texas.
The film takes the liberty of imagining a new home base for Jaime and his family: Palmera City, an agglomeration like Metropolis (city of Superman) and Central City (city of The Flash). Screenwriter Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer has transposed the story of the hero’s origins into an American film imbued with Latino culture. As for the action scenes, director Ángel Manuel Soto and his team were inspired by Blue Beetle’s acrobatics in the video game Injustice 2.
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The combination
The making of the suit raised many questions within the team as there are multiple versions of this suit in the comics. It was essential to design a realistic and tangible outfit, which Xolo Maridueña would be able to put on.
It took nine months of development and 500 sketches to perfect it with the collaboration of Ironhead Studios in Los Angeles. Every element of Blue Beetle’s suit has been custom designed to perfectly match Xolo Maridueña’s build. It was made from latex, including the hand-painted parts and the printed material made from 4-way stretch Spandex. Thus, the suit was not too heavy and did not impede movement.
As for the fabric, it has been imagined to evoke an alien-inspired pattern and each element has been carefully crafted to echo the offbeat nature of the Beetle’s alien technology.
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The animal
The authors use the term “Animo” to describe the courage of Jaime Reyes/Blue Beetle. Comedian George Lopez comments: “When you come from a family that does not necessarily encourage you a lot, the ánimo is what allows you to fight your own battles, to embark on your own projects and, sometimes, to express yourself loudly. and loud. We are so used to others speaking on your behalf. The ánimo is the ability to speak out loud and clear when no one is there for you.”
The voice of Khaji-Da
The Scarab, aka Khaji-Da, is a relic of ancient alien biotechnology: it is a hand-sized Scarab and one of the most powerful objects in the universe. The Beetle, once it has chosen a host, grants it a combination that is both organic and technological, and a symbiotic link transforms whoever dons the costume into a Blue Beetle. It is the American singer of Mexican origin Becky G who lends her voice to Khaji-Da in the original version.
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