Booster Gold: The retcon you've never heard of!

Descendant X

I'm really enjoying the new Booster Gold series. It's a fun, well-written, and well-drawn book. And Jonah Hex was in the third issue. But I've just finished the #4 and

Rip Hunter and Booster Gold are going back in time to stop the Joker from shooting Barbara Gordon in the back? She wasn't supposed to become Oracle? Didn't that happen almost 20 years ago? WTF?

Does anyone else think that Booster Gold might become a way for DC to further retcon the canon if someone thinks that it would be cool to bring someone back? Will Booster Gold be a vehicle for the resurrection of the month? And, most importantly, will Booster Gold ever get over the hangover he gave himself attempting to drink Jonah Hex under the table?

Fencingsax

Oracle is too embedded in continuity to not happen.

Sars_Boy

The Zero Issue is such a fantastic idea.

Redeemer

Booster just needs to get drunk with a different male character in every issue

Garlic Bread

They aren't retcons. He hasn't changed anything; the book has just shown that he's responsible for everything

Descendant X

Keith wrote: »

They aren't retcons. He hasn't changed anything; the book has just shown that he's responsible for everything

Jesus Keith. I start my own thread that's actually about a comic and not just asking for help, and you blow it out of the water.

Thanks a bunch. ;-)

Garlic Bread

Look I'm just saying. I mean, if he succeeds in saving Barbara, it's a retcon

but more likely than not he'll end up being responsible for her getting paralyzed

Descendant X

Yeah, that's what I was thinking as well. Mind you, Rip did say that she's not supposed to be paralyzed...

Hooraydiation

Keith wrote: »

Look I'm just saying. I mean, if he succeeds in saving Barbara, it's a retcon

but more likely than not he'll end up being responsible for her getting paralyzed

I think Booster Gold being responsible for the rape and paralysis of Batgirl is just too dark a turn for the series.

Calamity Jane

God, such great lines.

"That whiskey saved Superman."

Bloods End

Hooraydiation wrote: »

Keith wrote: »

Look I'm just saying. I mean, if he succeeds in saving Barbara, it's a retcon

but more likely than not he'll end up being responsible for her getting paralyzed

I think Booster Gold being responsible for the rape and paralysis of Batgirl is just too dark a turn for the series.

She wasn't raped

Hooraydiation

Bloods End wrote: »

Hooraydiation wrote: »

Keith wrote: »

Look I'm just saying. I mean, if he succeeds in saving Barbara, it's a retcon

but more likely than not he'll end up being responsible for her getting paralyzed

I think Booster Gold being responsible for the rape and paralysis of Batgirl is just too dark a turn for the series.

She wasn't raped

It was pretty strongly implied by the photos of her nude and screaming. I also think there was a hint in the scene between her and Batman, though I don't have the story on hand.

Bloods End

Hooraydiation wrote: »

Bloods End wrote: »

Hooraydiation wrote: »

Keith wrote: »

Look I'm just saying. I mean, if he succeeds in saving Barbara, it's a retcon

but more likely than not he'll end up being responsible for her getting paralyzed

I think Booster Gold being responsible for the rape and paralysis of Batgirl is just too dark a turn for the series.

She wasn't raped

It was pretty strongly implied by the photos of her nude and screaming. I also think there was a hint in the scene between her and Batman, though I don't have the story on hand.

She wasn't raped

Hooraydiation

Indirectly causing the paralysis and subsequent forced disrobing of Batgirl is still pretty bad.

Lux

It's just a good premise for a time traveling book.

I think it's going to end up like in those other time traveling stories, in any format, where they go back to World War II and have a chance to kill Hitler. But they don't, because they realize it's not their place to make that kind of decision and that they have to allow these horrible things to happen.

I don't think it's going to go down exactly like that in booster gold, but I think they'll allow the paralysis of Batgirl to go untouched for some kind of greater good.

Rabid_Llama

Yeah, I havent had a chance to read the last two issues but it looks like the take home lesson for Booster is going to go against changing the past because of the effects it would have on the present. I think in the end he will realize that bringing back Ted wouldn't necessarily be a good thing and as much as he misses him, he won't save him from death.

Garlic Bread

Lux wrote: »

It's just a good premise for a time traveling book.

I think it's going to end up like in those other time traveling stories, in any format, where they go back to World War II and have a chance to kill Hitler. But they don't, because they realize it's not their place to make that kind of decision and that they have to allow these horrible things to happen.

Except in Booster Gold it would be more like Booster saying to Rip, "Why would someone want to exterminate all the Jews?" while a young hitler sits by and smiles at the idea

Sentry

Hooraydiation wrote: »

Indirectly causing the paralysis and subsequent forced disrobing of Batgirl is still pretty bad.

Wasn't she coming out of the shower when the Joker knocked on the door? I seem to recall that, although it was a long time ago.


For some reason, the Joker seems to be beyond things like rape... I mean, come on, he's no Dr. Light...

Hooraydiation

Sentry wrote: »

Hooraydiation wrote: »

Indirectly causing the paralysis and subsequent forced disrobing of Batgirl is still pretty bad.

Wasn't she coming out of the shower when the Joker knocked on the door? I seem to recall that, although it was a long time ago.


For some reason, the Joker seems to be beyond things like rape... I mean, come on, he's no Dr. Light...

Sentry

Hooraydiation wrote: »

Sentry wrote: »

Hooraydiation wrote: »

Indirectly causing the paralysis and subsequent forced disrobing of Batgirl is still pretty bad.

Wasn't she coming out of the shower when the Joker knocked on the door? I seem to recall that, although it was a long time ago.


For some reason, the Joker seems to be beyond things like rape... I mean, come on, he's no Dr. Light...

Um... well, maybe she showers in a sundress?

Fuck it... I lose.

Spectre-x

Joker didn't rape her, but he did take her clothes off and put her in various poses after he shot her in order to take pictures with which to try and drive Gordon insane.

Which didn't work.

B:L

Spectre-x wrote: »

Joker didn't rape her, but he did take her clothes off and put her in various poses after he shot her in order to take pictures with which to try and drive Gordon insane.

Which didn't work.

Then Joker and Batman had a good laugh about it afterwards.

Algertman

You also saw Gordon's dick shaft in the comic

Garlic Bread

getting my copy out right now

Furu

He means Gotham City Police Department Lieutenant Richard Shaft, clearly.

Scooter

Even though she wasn't raped (given how Joker can completely ignore Harley, even when she's draped over him, I don't think the man has a working penis), I'd think that from a psychological standpoint getting shot, paralyzed, stripped, and posed for pictures by an evil clown has got to be just as bad.

KVW

As much as I love Booster Gold, how can he ever actually fail? They have a time machine. They know what needs to be done. They mess up, just hop back in and try again. I try to ignore time travel paradoxes and what not, but the fact still stands. No way they should "fail" at fixing anything unless the time machine breaks.

emnmnme

Keith wrote: »

They aren't retcons. He hasn't changed anything; the book has just shown that he's responsible for everything

So you're saying she was supposed to jump out of the way of the bullet but Booster Gold was hidden behind the scenes holding her still with a futuristic freeze-o beam of some kind?

Sentry

emnmnme wrote: »

Keith wrote: »

They aren't retcons. He hasn't changed anything; the book has just shown that he's responsible for everything

So you're saying she was supposed to jump out of the way of the bullet but Booster Gold was hidden behind the scenes holding her still with a futuristic freeze-o beam of some kind?

Oh, I hadn't realized you'd read the comic already. Care to tell the rest of us what happened?

The Lovely Bastard

Sentry wrote: »

emnmnme wrote: »

Keith wrote: »

They aren't retcons. He hasn't changed anything; the book has just shown that he's responsible for everything

So you're saying she was supposed to jump out of the way of the bullet but Booster Gold was hidden behind the scenes holding her still with a futuristic freeze-o beam of some kind?

Oh, I hadn't realized you'd read the comic already. Care to tell the rest of us what happened?

3 way high five.

Freeze Frame.

Don't You.

Forget About Me.

Don't Don't Don't Don't.

Inglorious Coyote

KVW wrote: »

As much as I love Booster Gold, how can he ever actually fail? They have a time machine. They know what needs to be done. They mess up, just hop back in and try again. I try to ignore time travel paradoxes and what not, but the fact still stands. No way they should "fail" at fixing anything unless the time machine breaks.

Since the preceding idea was that Booster needed to go back and save Ted, I have a feeling this is Rip way of showing Booster that going back in time and screwing with things never works out.

Inquisitor

Scooter wrote: »

Even though she wasn't raped (given how Joker can completely ignore Harley, even when she's draped over him, I don't think the man has a working penis), I'd think that from a psychological standpoint getting shot, paralyzed, stripped, and posed for pictures by an evil clown has got to be just as bad.

No, I'm pretty sure if he did all the the above, and then raped her, it would be a lot, lot worse.

The Lovely Bastard

Being raped is worse than not being raped?

This is a shocking development!

Bucketman

Man they need SOME way to bring Ted back I mean they revived all these heroes I don't care about over the years. At least give me some Ted+Booster action!

Bad Karma

Bucketman wrote: »

Man they need SOME way to bring Ted back I mean they revived all these heroes I don't care about over the years. At least give me some Ted+Booster action!

That would be Booster Gold #0.

Dex Dynamo

I'm still calling Rip is Ted. I mean

Black Canary replacing Babs isn't an earth shaking development, and is, really, a sign that time corrects itself sometimes. Saving her wouldn't necessarily change much, except that babs is healthy, or so we would be led to believe. As it's been pointed out, it'd even be in the negatives. So why do it if not a personal gain, like the woman he loved?

bobgorila

Ted's smart, but is he time-master smart?

I don't know guys.

Hooraydiation

Dex Dynamo wrote: »

I'm still calling Rip is Ted. I mean

Black Canary replacing Babs isn't an earth shaking development, and is, really, a sign that time corrects itself sometimes. Saving her wouldn't necessarily change much, except that babs is healthy, or so we would be led to believe. As it's been pointed out, it'd even be in the negatives. So why do it if not a personal gain, like the woman he loved?

We don't really know how things would have been different if Babs hadn't been forced to retire as Batgirl. Maybe she could have saved Stephanie and, together with her and Tim, formed the best Justice League ever.

Dex Dynamo

Hooraydiation wrote: »

Dex Dynamo wrote: »

I'm still calling Rip is Ted. I mean

Black Canary replacing Babs isn't an earth shaking development, and is, really, a sign that time corrects itself sometimes. Saving her wouldn't necessarily change much, except that babs is healthy, or so we would be led to believe. As it's been pointed out, it'd even be in the negatives. So why do it if not a personal gain, like the woman he loved?

We don't really know how things would have been different if Babs hadn't been forced to retire as Batgirl. Maybe she could have saved Stephanie and, together with her and Tim, formed the best Justice League ever.

That's true. Maybe the extended Birds of Prey are supposed to be the Justice League?

Munch

bobgorila wrote: »

Ted's smart, but is he time-master smart?

I don't know guys.

Ted has, over the course of numerous series created:

-a handheld gun that can fell a charging rhino with the power of wind

-a silent-running ship shaped like a bug, powered off of solar energy, that can traverse land, air, water and (with a few modifications) space

-a hard light training room ala the Danger Room for the Birds of Prey

-replicas of Mr. Miracle's high tech flying footpad things

-a liquid nanobot suit for Booster Gold

He's also shown proficiency with advanced future tech from Booster's time, alien technology, and New Gods tech. In Superman: Birthright, Lex Luthor was convinced that Superman was not actually invincible, but using a forcefield engineered by Kord Omniversal. In JLA: Year One, the JLA approached Ted to design their security system. Despero, a proficient mind-reader, claimed that the strength of Ted's mind was second only to fellow Leaguer J'onn J'onnz. The dude had smarts.

Now, he's also been portrayed as a bumbling mechanic who could hardly keep his tech working, but I prefer to think of him as a mega genius who just had some horrible ADD, and never really found a way to focus long enough to realize his potential.

Gabriel_Pitt

KVW wrote: »

As much as I love Booster Gold, how can he ever actually fail? They have a time machine. They know what needs to be done. They mess up, just hop back in and try again. I try to ignore time travel paradoxes and what not, but the fact still stands. No way they should "fail" at fixing anything unless the time machine breaks.

That would be so awesome, because you know at some point he'd get into a fistfight with himself for, 'doing it wrong.'