Booster Gold #18

Booster Gold #18
"Showdown"
Cover Date: July 1987
Creative Team: Dan Jurgens (Writer and Pencils)/Mike De Carlo (Inks)/John Constanza (Letterer)/Gene D'Angelo (Colors)/Barbara Randall (Editor)
 
Summary

Booster is working out, trying to get back in shape after his recent illness so that he can look good for his upcoming calendar photo shoot.  Dr. Soo, trying to help, has created a giant robot to help train Booster in the most unnecessarily extreme way possible. And, wouldn’t you know it, in the ensuing fight, Booster accidentally breaks the robot’s antenna, causing it to go out of control and rampage through the room. Booster is forced to blow up most of the torso of the robot, and docks Dr. Soo’s pay for the damage caused.

Outside stately Booster Manor, Broderick, that guy from the future who was trying to execute Booster, sits on a park bench and waits for the moment to strike. It turns out that he really hates the past, with all of its wasteful behavior and mutually assured destruction politics. He thinks back to how he got back to 1987. It turns out that after Booster and pals escaped, he decided to go full Javert, and followed them back on the time platform, because he hates Booster that much.

Broderick then thinks back to the first time he saw Booster, back when Booster Carter was leading the Gotham U. Batmans over Metropolis U. Broderick, a native of Metropolis, saw the game, and was hoping that Metropolis’ pro team would draft him.

But, of course, Booster gambled, and was blackballed from football, and that made Broderick angry. And then Booster stole that time machine, which, since it can destroy history, is about the biggest crime in the future. Broderick was assigned the case, and knew that Booster would eventually return to the scene of the crime. And he did! But then he escaped back to the past, and Broderick had to chase him.

Broderick, landing in 1987 Oakland, was immediately overcome with disgust for the era, especially when he was forced to steal some clothes to blend in, and then sneak on a train to get to Metropolis where, thanks to Booster’s many, many television advertisements, he knew the hero would be waiting. 

And that brings us to the present, where Broderick, who still has his futuristic laser gun, is stalking Booster as he heads to a party at the governor’s mansion. Since Booster is not wearing his super-suit this time, Broderick finally makes his move, but misses with his first shot. Booster spots him and realizes what’s happened, and starts running.

Broderick, channeling the spirit of the cop from The Fugitive, chases Booster into an alley where they have a bit of struggle until Broderick manages to get Booster at gunpoint. The lawman explains that for Booster's "incredibly treacherous" crime of illegal time travel, it’s time for Booster to die. Booster once more tries to explain that he’s supposed to be in the past as Booster Gold, but Broderick doesn’t care, especially since he’s seen Booster’s media appearances, and thinks that Booster is more interesting in making money than actually helping people.

But, as Broderick is about to shoot him, they both hear a nearby robbery of a liquor store, because the governor lives in a bad neighborhood, apparently. 

Broderick doesn’t quite have the hate necessary to kill Booster before he can go into the store and try and stop the robbery. Broderick decides that he ought to help out, after all, as he is a cop, and goes in, saving Booster and getting saved by Booster in return.

Later, after the police have shown up, Booster gives Broderick back his gun, and gives him the chance to kill Booster dead. But Broderick can’t bring himself to pull the trigger, and chooses to walk away. The end!

 

Continuity!

-House ad for Mike Grell's Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters, which led to probably the best half-decade or so that Green Arrow ever had.

Review


Man, I thought we were done with stories involving the people from the future.

You know, I've got to say, I don't give a shit about this story. I mean, I didn't really want or need to see Broderick, who was cartoonishly evil last time, come back for an encore appearance. I guess he's a bit more of a rounded character her, but probably too much so, since he goes from wanting to murder Booster at all costs in his last appearance and the first two-thirds of this issue, to deciding that he's okay with Booster on the basis of an act of mild heroism on the part of Booster.

Come to think of it, that's not the worst resolution ever, but it still rings a little hollow. If you're going to have a Javert, then you need your Valjean to only be guilty of stealing a loaf of bread, not threatening to erase entire timelines because of greed. Although, I grant you, time travel would make Les Miserables a way better musical.

I guess I can see the case for softening Booster's character a bit by having him put his life in danger to stop a liquor store robbery, given that he hasn't exactly shown much of a heart of gold in the last couple of issues.

I can understand the logic in this story. It puts a final bow on the future crimes storyline, having Broderick follow Booster around like he does gives the audience a new perspective on the character, and the ending allows Booster too look like a better person than he usually does. I don't know exactly why I don't like this story, but I really don't.