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Booster Gold (2007)
Booster Gold, Vol. 6: Past Imperfect
When a mysterious figure from Booster’s past resurfaces, our hero’s life is turned upside down and inside out, and only a trip through the timestream can set things straight. The shocking events of JUSTICE GENERATION LOST leave Booster Gold bloody and beaten, and the only way for him to put right what went wrong and save the people he loves is to travel back into the past. But what happens when Booster comes face-to-face with himself and Justice League International?
168 pages, Paperback
First published April 19, 2011
About the author
Keith Giffen
1,971 books222 followersKeith Ian Giffen was an American comic book illustrator and writer. He is possibly best-known for his long runs illustrating, and later writing the Legion of Super-Heroes title in the 1980s and 1990s. He also created the alien mercenary character Lobo (with Roger Slifer), and the irreverent "want-to-be" hero, Ambush Bug. Giffen is known for having an unorthodox writing style, often using characters in ways not seen before. His dialogue is usually characterized by a biting wit that is seen as much less zany than dialogue provided by longtime collaborators DeMatteis and Robert Loren Fleming. That approach has brought him both criticism and admiration, as perhaps best illustrated by the mixed (although commercially successful) response to his work in DC Comics' Justice League International (1987-1992). He also plotted and was breakdown artist for an Aquaman limited series and one-shot special in 1989 with writer Robert Loren Fleming and artist Curt Swan for DC Comics.
Giffen's first published work was "The Sword and The Star", a black-and-white series featured in Marvel Preview, with writer Bill Mantlo. He has worked on titles (owned by several different companies) including Woodgod, All Star Comics, Doctor Fate, Drax the Destroyer, Heckler, Nick Fury's Howling Commandos, Reign of the Zodiac, Suicide Squad, Trencher (to be re-released in a collected edition by Boom! Studios)., T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, and Vext. He was also responsible for the English adaptation of the Battle Royale and Ikki Tousen manga, as well as creating "I Luv Halloween" for Tokyopop. He also worked for Dark Horse from 1994-95 on their Comics Greatest World/Dark Horse Heroes line, as the writer of two short lived series, Division 13 and co-author, with Lovern Kindzierski, of Agents of Law. For Valiant Comics, Giffen wrote XO-Manowar, Magnus, Robot Fighter, Punx and the final issue of Solar, Man of the Atom.
He took a break from the comic industry for several years, working on storyboards for television and film, including shows such as The Real Ghostbusters and Ed, Edd 'n' Eddy.
He is also the lead writer for Marvel Comics's Annihilation event, having written the one-shot prologue, the lead-in stories in Thanos and Drax, the Silver Surfer as well as the main six issues mini-series. He also wrote the Star-Lord mini-series for the follow-up story Annihilation: Conquest. He currently writes Doom Patrol for DC, and is also completing an abandoned Grant Morrison plot in The Authority: the Lost Year for Wildstorm.
Giffen's first published work was "The Sword and The Star", a black-and-white series featured in Marvel Preview, with writer Bill Mantlo. He has worked on titles (owned by several different companies) including Woodgod, All Star Comics, Doctor Fate, Drax the Destroyer, Heckler, Nick Fury's Howling Commandos, Reign of the Zodiac, Suicide Squad, Trencher (to be re-released in a collected edition by Boom! Studios)., T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents, and Vext. He was also responsible for the English adaptation of the Battle Royale and Ikki Tousen manga, as well as creating "I Luv Halloween" for Tokyopop. He also worked for Dark Horse from 1994-95 on their Comics Greatest World/Dark Horse Heroes line, as the writer of two short lived series, Division 13 and co-author, with Lovern Kindzierski, of Agents of Law. For Valiant Comics, Giffen wrote XO-Manowar, Magnus, Robot Fighter, Punx and the final issue of Solar, Man of the Atom.
He took a break from the comic industry for several years, working on storyboards for television and film, including shows such as The Real Ghostbusters and Ed, Edd 'n' Eddy.
He is also the lead writer for Marvel Comics's Annihilation event, having written the one-shot prologue, the lead-in stories in Thanos and Drax, the Silver Surfer as well as the main six issues mini-series. He also wrote the Star-Lord mini-series for the follow-up story Annihilation: Conquest. He currently writes Doom Patrol for DC, and is also completing an abandoned Grant Morrison plot in The Authority: the Lost Year for Wildstorm.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
April 16, 2024
It's not bad but it's kind of hard to believe that they left that many dangling plot threads to this arc.
I mean whothefuckistheBlackBeetle for starters?!
What's up with the kid?
And all of the stuff Rip has been secretly investigating! And who was that time traveler woman?
Ok, but these were still a fun bunch of stories. Giffen plays up the time travel in fun ways that make comic book sense (at one point Booster simply goes forward in time to ask Ted how they got out of a particular situation) and keeps things light enough that you don't feel the need to unravel the "science" behind what he's saying. I enjoyed myself quite a bit.
Now.
Somebody, please tell me what I need to read next if I'm looking for answers to what's happening with Booster Gold.
collects issues #32-38
I mean whothefuckistheBlackBeetle for starters?!
What's up with the kid?
And all of the stuff Rip has been secretly investigating! And who was that time traveler woman?
Ok, but these were still a fun bunch of stories. Giffen plays up the time travel in fun ways that make comic book sense (at one point Booster simply goes forward in time to ask Ted how they got out of a particular situation) and keeps things light enough that you don't feel the need to unravel the "science" behind what he's saying. I enjoyed myself quite a bit.
Now.
Somebody, please tell me what I need to read next if I'm looking for answers to what's happening with Booster Gold.
collects issues #32-38
November 20, 2024
Fun for fans of the 80s Justice League International by those same great authors.
Basically, Booster Gold spends the entire graphic nove time traveling back to that era
Basically, Booster Gold spends the entire graphic nove time traveling back to that era
February 15, 2018
Started off kinda fun...and ended in an utter mess.
World: The art is fine, it's a good looking book for it's time. The world building is okay, it's a play on the DC universe and also the history of the JLI which I really liked. It promised a lot more of that but then yeah the wheels fell off in the end of the series.
Story: The book started good with Max Lord fallout and Booster going back in time to JLI era when it was fun and stupid and crazy. The first few issues were good, it made me smile and Rani coming on board gave me a real fresh feeling and I was hoping to see that part of Booster's character play out...but it was not to be. The moment Ted and Booster head to Mr. Miracle and Big Barda (great characters and I miss them) the book just falls off completely and becomes a tedious and sad book to finish. I love this series, it started so well, it gave us laughs and surprises and though it was repetitive at times it was always fun. The last couple of issues was like nothing but poor writing and it's sad to see how this series ended...booo.
Characters: Booster is great, what he's become and where he started off with is brilliant and it's a great great arc. The people he meets this arc are also interesting and the snippets we got of them from Barda to Scott to Guy to J'onn it was all fun and I wanted more. But man the last female villain, I've already forgotten her name was stupid and the book just ends. I see a lot of potential with Rip and Michelle and RANI!!!
A really sad end to an entertaining series. Booster deserved better.
Onward to the next book!
World: The art is fine, it's a good looking book for it's time. The world building is okay, it's a play on the DC universe and also the history of the JLI which I really liked. It promised a lot more of that but then yeah the wheels fell off in the end of the series.
Story: The book started good with Max Lord fallout and Booster going back in time to JLI era when it was fun and stupid and crazy. The first few issues were good, it made me smile and Rani coming on board gave me a real fresh feeling and I was hoping to see that part of Booster's character play out...but it was not to be. The moment Ted and Booster head to Mr. Miracle and Big Barda (great characters and I miss them) the book just falls off completely and becomes a tedious and sad book to finish. I love this series, it started so well, it gave us laughs and surprises and though it was repetitive at times it was always fun. The last couple of issues was like nothing but poor writing and it's sad to see how this series ended...booo.
Characters: Booster is great, what he's become and where he started off with is brilliant and it's a great great arc. The people he meets this arc are also interesting and the snippets we got of them from Barda to Scott to Guy to J'onn it was all fun and I wanted more. But man the last female villain, I've already forgotten her name was stupid and the book just ends. I see a lot of potential with Rip and Michelle and RANI!!!
A really sad end to an entertaining series. Booster deserved better.
Onward to the next book!
November 21, 2021
¡Y aquí vuelven! ¡Los más grandes! ¡Los auténticos! ¡Los creadores de la Liga de la Justicia Internacional, no aceptes imitaciones!
Sí, con Pasado Imperfecto, Giffen y DeMatteis volvieron a hacerse cargo en tándem de la colección de Booster Gold en los últimos números anteriores a Flashpoint, y hasta aquí van a traer el particular sentido del humor que ya mostraron en JLI. Sí, lo siento, son un fanboy de aquella etapa y no puedo decir nada malo de ella, y me encanta cada vez que se hace una mínima referencia y que esos personajes se reúnen. Y eso es lo que vamos a tener en este tomo, cuyos acontecimientos transcurren junto a los de El Día Más Brillante, y por lo tanto, a los de la propia colección que la JLI (con un tono mucho menos humorístico) tuvo mientras se enfrentaban al revivido Maxwell Lord. Booster era uno de los protagonistas de la colección, pero aún así, en este cómic vamos a ver otros aspectos de lo que hacía Booster mientras se reunía con Fuego, Hielo y el resto de la antigua pandilla.
Giffen y DeMatteis, con cierto toque autorreferencial, van a comenzar su etapa mandando a Booster a diez siglos al futuro, a Daxam, en el mismo momento en el que todos los habitantes del planeta cayeron bajo el control de Darkseid en una de las más clásicas historias de la Legión de Superhéroes, la saga de la Gran Oscuridad, y que fue una de las primeras participaciones de Keith Giffen en un cómic, en ese caso como dibujante. Además de vivir una situación dramática, Booster va a rescatar a una niña, Rami, a la que llevará al Punto de Fuga, con lo que los autores ponen a Booster en una situación nueva, la de ser una figura paterna, y nos dará la oportunidad de ver algunas escenas memorables protagonizadas por Rami y Rip Hunter.
Pero eso es solo el principio. Llevado por la nostalgia provocada por su búsqueda de Max Lord, Booster va a terminar viajando al pasado, al momento en el que aún formaba parte de la Liga de la Justicia Internacional y Ted Kord, Blue Beetle, aún seguía vivo. Sí, al mejor momento de la JLI, y Giffen y DeMatteis nos van a permitir revivir lo mejor de aquella época con una aventura inédita en la que además de Booster participarán el propio Blue Beetle, Míster Milagro y Big Barda, y en la que tendrán que hacer frente a la amenaza casi omnipotente de Jerónimus el Fracasado, que ha conseguido el Libro del Destino resumido, lo que le da poderes casi divinos... Y nos permite a nosotros recordar viejas historias de la JLI, ya que el tratamiento que se da a Jerónimus y su siervo, a mi me ha recordado muchísimo al que se dio en su día a Lord Manga Khan y su sirviente L-Rog... En fin, Giffen y DeMatteis en su más pura esencia... Y eso es muy divertido.
Sí, con Pasado Imperfecto, Giffen y DeMatteis volvieron a hacerse cargo en tándem de la colección de Booster Gold en los últimos números anteriores a Flashpoint, y hasta aquí van a traer el particular sentido del humor que ya mostraron en JLI. Sí, lo siento, son un fanboy de aquella etapa y no puedo decir nada malo de ella, y me encanta cada vez que se hace una mínima referencia y que esos personajes se reúnen. Y eso es lo que vamos a tener en este tomo, cuyos acontecimientos transcurren junto a los de El Día Más Brillante, y por lo tanto, a los de la propia colección que la JLI (con un tono mucho menos humorístico) tuvo mientras se enfrentaban al revivido Maxwell Lord. Booster era uno de los protagonistas de la colección, pero aún así, en este cómic vamos a ver otros aspectos de lo que hacía Booster mientras se reunía con Fuego, Hielo y el resto de la antigua pandilla.
Giffen y DeMatteis, con cierto toque autorreferencial, van a comenzar su etapa mandando a Booster a diez siglos al futuro, a Daxam, en el mismo momento en el que todos los habitantes del planeta cayeron bajo el control de Darkseid en una de las más clásicas historias de la Legión de Superhéroes, la saga de la Gran Oscuridad, y que fue una de las primeras participaciones de Keith Giffen en un cómic, en ese caso como dibujante. Además de vivir una situación dramática, Booster va a rescatar a una niña, Rami, a la que llevará al Punto de Fuga, con lo que los autores ponen a Booster en una situación nueva, la de ser una figura paterna, y nos dará la oportunidad de ver algunas escenas memorables protagonizadas por Rami y Rip Hunter.
Pero eso es solo el principio. Llevado por la nostalgia provocada por su búsqueda de Max Lord, Booster va a terminar viajando al pasado, al momento en el que aún formaba parte de la Liga de la Justicia Internacional y Ted Kord, Blue Beetle, aún seguía vivo. Sí, al mejor momento de la JLI, y Giffen y DeMatteis nos van a permitir revivir lo mejor de aquella época con una aventura inédita en la que además de Booster participarán el propio Blue Beetle, Míster Milagro y Big Barda, y en la que tendrán que hacer frente a la amenaza casi omnipotente de Jerónimus el Fracasado, que ha conseguido el Libro del Destino resumido, lo que le da poderes casi divinos... Y nos permite a nosotros recordar viejas historias de la JLI, ya que el tratamiento que se da a Jerónimus y su siervo, a mi me ha recordado muchísimo al que se dio en su día a Lord Manga Khan y su sirviente L-Rog... En fin, Giffen y DeMatteis en su más pura esencia... Y eso es muy divertido.
September 26, 2025
Not the best ending for the series, things felt unresolved. I liked the introduction of Rani but she barely got to do anything, same as Michelle really. Most of this is Booster going back to the JLI days so hinges on how much anyone likes that, I haven't read JLI yet so it was just alright for me. It was very wacky, even in comparison to previous volumes which is fine but doesn't make for a satisfying finish.
May 22, 2011
I was very surprised, and pleased, by how much I enjoyed the writing team of Keith Giffen and J. M/ DeMatteis. While DeMatteis and Giffen made their name as a team on the excellent humor laden JLI title, when they have teamed in recent years, well frankly I feel their writing was flat, lacking humor, and not exactly hitting the storytelling marks. Following a succession of good writing teams (Geoff Johns, Jeff Katz and creator Dan Jurgens) the new team shifted the tone more towards humor, but retained the high level of action and time travel storytelling that had gone on before. As he travels into the past Booster meets up with his deceased best friend Ted Kord. The older more mature Booster surprises Ted, Scott and Barda by being a competent hero, but they have figured out Booster is from the future. Planets are saved, damsels in distress are rescued, wrenching takes place, etc. A very enjoyable read.
August 28, 2012
That flurry of anticipation for the next volume I felt after the wonder of the prior volume was thoroughly squashed when I started this volume, and regardless of how much I held out hope for change the story just never improved. It was as if the writer felt that he needed to take the character back to his roots, not just in the plot line, but in how he acted. The end result was a very disappointing volume that may well put me off of the series. Extremely disappointing!
August 1, 2011
Keith Giffen is tasked with bring his irreverent humor back to Booster Gold, only to succeed in driving away fans of the new-look Jurgens-penned hero. Tossing in immature jokes and old-school JLI humor is not the way to win readers...
May 29, 2011
Ugh.
Thankfully, there's only one more (forthcoming) trade of Giffen's writing to slog through before Dan Jurgens returns to the book.
Thankfully, there's only one more (forthcoming) trade of Giffen's writing to slog through before Dan Jurgens returns to the book.
July 28, 2023
What begins is Booster Gold discovering that Max Lord is still alive, and trying to find a way to stop him alongside the events of Generation Lost. This and Rani coming aboard were interesting directions for the story, and I wish this was followed more than the trip back to Justice League International. It was an enjoyable tale with entertaining hijinks, but it felt like another opportunity to look back rather than move forward with Booster's story.
It also appears that the next volume was never released, meaning the following issues were never collected before Flashpoint happened. This is unfortunate, because I've been loving this Booster Gold run even through its retreads and less interesting story decisions. A shame, but this series was a fantastic way for me to get into a character that I now consider one of my favourites.
It also appears that the next volume was never released, meaning the following issues were never collected before Flashpoint happened. This is unfortunate, because I've been loving this Booster Gold run even through its retreads and less interesting story decisions. A shame, but this series was a fantastic way for me to get into a character that I now consider one of my favourites.
June 16, 2019
The back cover copy of this isnt really accurate at all. This story is set at the same time as the events of generation lost, not after, and he doesnt meet himself in the past.
But in all, it was a fun little side story. I dont think I would've enjoyed it if I hadn't read generation lost first. It might be best placed between the two collected volumes of generation lost, maybe? But either way, read that before this, or I feel like this comic will be painfully disappointing.
But in all, it was a fun little side story. I dont think I would've enjoyed it if I hadn't read generation lost first. It might be best placed between the two collected volumes of generation lost, maybe? But either way, read that before this, or I feel like this comic will be painfully disappointing.
December 16, 2020
Nostalgia doesn't make a book good. Here, Giffen and DeMatteis tell jokes from the 80s, reference nothing timely, and botch a perfectly good series. This was literally hard to finish. The premise involving the Generation Lost series is great. The follow-through, if you can call it that, was terrible. A severe disappointment.
February 19, 2017
This started out OK (a bit dark, but OK), but it quickly became clear that Giffen and DeMatteis just wanted to write more wacky JLI-style Booster adventures, rather than continuing in the style of the previous volumes. Which was fine, I suppose, but not what I wanted out of this title. (B)
May 12, 2017
Maybe 4.5
April 20, 2023
They really tried to ramp up the humor and it really fell flat for me.
August 12, 2025
Started off really fun but then they forgot the main plot to prioritize inane adventures.
January 23, 2026
Weakest volume in the series with it being fun but it doesn’t have that charm or amazing story from previous volumes.
June 4, 2011
Booster Gold is one of my favorite current comics, but I have to concede that this title has lost its way a bit. Booster's job policing the timestream provides for a lot of variety in setting, but the plots are generally pretty repetitive: Booster must travel back in time to X place on Y date, in order to prevent Z from altering history. The first few volumes of this series featured single-issue one-off stories, which kept the adventure fresh. But lately Booster's exploits have been running in 5-issue story arcs, meaning he spends a lot of time in the same past locale. Needless to say, the early one-off stories were more enjoyable.
Booster spends most of this issue back in the 80s, where he joins forces with his former Justice League International teammates, Blue Beetle, Mister Miracle, and Big Barda. It's definitely a nostalgia trip from a bygone BWA-HA-HA era, but it's a fun read. I'm just not sure what it says about a character that he's at his best in stories that take place 30 years ago. I miss Ted Kord and wish they would have brought him back from the dead with the recent DC Brightest Day resurrection. But since they didn't, I wish this series would find its own voice, utilizing Booster to his fullest extent, without having to rely on the Blue Beetle crutch every few issues.
Booster spends most of this issue back in the 80s, where he joins forces with his former Justice League International teammates, Blue Beetle, Mister Miracle, and Big Barda. It's definitely a nostalgia trip from a bygone BWA-HA-HA era, but it's a fun read. I'm just not sure what it says about a character that he's at his best in stories that take place 30 years ago. I miss Ted Kord and wish they would have brought him back from the dead with the recent DC Brightest Day resurrection. But since they didn't, I wish this series would find its own voice, utilizing Booster to his fullest extent, without having to rely on the Blue Beetle crutch every few issues.
November 16, 2012
So I liked the Abbott and Costello references. That's about it. Seriously this was a great series until Giffen got his hands on it. This is a guy who's brain is so far in the gutter he can't get it out to write a decent story.
He takes Booster, who's been admirably redeemed by Geoff Johns and Keith Gurgens and totally turns him around 360 to make him a dirtball, but as if that's not enough, he makes Ted Kord (Blue Beetle), Max Lord, and Guy Gardner dirtballs as well. He turns Skeets into a child hating insulting robot. I missed the clever humor from the little robot friend, now its just insults.
And then there's the story. Booster is yanked away from what made this series great and thrown on some loopy journey where all of a sudden everything is bordering on parody. Seriously it felt like I was reading Ambush Bug or Deadpool. Giffen can't even follow any of the sketchy logic of time travel. All of a sudden Booster can just teleport (but it depends on the situation). Some of the dialog is funny, but the story is such trash. Apparently Giffen thinks the DC Universe is all just a bunch of sex crazed lunatics and losers. Shame on him.
He takes Booster, who's been admirably redeemed by Geoff Johns and Keith Gurgens and totally turns him around 360 to make him a dirtball, but as if that's not enough, he makes Ted Kord (Blue Beetle), Max Lord, and Guy Gardner dirtballs as well. He turns Skeets into a child hating insulting robot. I missed the clever humor from the little robot friend, now its just insults.
And then there's the story. Booster is yanked away from what made this series great and thrown on some loopy journey where all of a sudden everything is bordering on parody. Seriously it felt like I was reading Ambush Bug or Deadpool. Giffen can't even follow any of the sketchy logic of time travel. All of a sudden Booster can just teleport (but it depends on the situation). Some of the dialog is funny, but the story is such trash. Apparently Giffen thinks the DC Universe is all just a bunch of sex crazed lunatics and losers. Shame on him.
January 12, 2017
Una grata lectura que recuerda las razones del éxito de esta dupla de guionistas durante su trabajo en Justice League: Humor, buenos diálogos, usando todas las armas narrativas, situaciones y personajes posibles para contar una historia que te haga pasar un buen rato. Y no se pide más.
Este trabajo de Keith Giffen y J. M DeMatteis corresponde al complemento de la miniserie Justice League: Generation Lost cuyo tono era más serio respecto al estilo que los caracteriza en este arco correspondiente a los números #32 a #38 de la serie mensual.
Este trabajo de Keith Giffen y J. M DeMatteis corresponde al complemento de la miniserie Justice League: Generation Lost cuyo tono era más serio respecto al estilo que los caracteriza en este arco correspondiente a los números #32 a #38 de la serie mensual.
April 27, 2014
A million emotional ups and downs. Giffen and DeMatties handle the dorky wonder with a familiarity that almost pains my heart. Future Booster, Past Ted... I just wanted to cry. Barda and Scott were a delight, Rani was the cutest thing to ever cross a printed page, Estrogina was hilarious.
If you love the old Blue and Gold, if you love JLI, read this... but bring your tissues and avoid public places.
If you love the old Blue and Gold, if you love JLI, read this... but bring your tissues and avoid public places.
September 23, 2015
I put off acquiring and reading this one for a long, long time. I adore Booster Gold. Blue and Gold were the best thing to happen, ever. That being said, the last few books were heartbreaking and I knew this one would be, too. My heart just can't handle this. I think its made worse when I know the writers feel the same.
January 4, 2019
This run is so much fun. I don't think I've ever laughed so much reading a comic book series (except maybe Peter David's run of Young Justice) and this volume made me laugh harder than any of the previous. Booster Gold and Blue Beetle have got to be one of the best duos in comics. And Skeets is hilarious, I need to get myself a Skeets.
October 25, 2011
I loved Booster back in the day, joined with the JL International and cumming around with Blue Beetle. These are fun in that Booster travels back to this time period on his mission, but the overall current day story is a little muddy and unclear.
July 2, 2012
As fantastic as this book series was, it's really starting to run out of gas.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews