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Comics character From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Theodore Stephen "Ted" Kord[a] is the second Blue Beetle, a superhero who was originally published by Charlton Comics and later acquired by DC Comics.[1] He was created by Steve Ditko and first appeared as a back-up feature in Captain Atom #83 (November 1966), with Gary Friedrich scripting from Ditko's conception and plot.
| Ted Kord Blue Beetle | |
|---|---|
Ted Kord as depicted in The L.A.W. vol. 1 (September 1999). Art by Dick Giordano. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Charlton Comics DC Comics |
| First appearance | Captain Atom #83 (November 1966) |
| Created by | Steve Ditko |
| In-story information | |
| Full name | Theodore Stephen "Ted" Kord |
| Species | Human |
| Team affiliations | Justice League International L.A.W. Kord Enterprises Justice League Extreme Justice Black Lantern Corps |
| Partnerships | Booster Gold The Question Jaime Reyes |
| Abilities |
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Since his debut in the comics, Kord has made appearances in numerous media. He is voiced by Wil Wheaton in Batman: The Brave and the Bold and Matt Lanter in the Tomorrowverse.
Ted Kord was a genius-level inventor and a gifted athlete, sharing much more in common with Dan Garret, the Fox Feature Syndicate original, than did Charlton's reimagining of the Garrett (a second "t" was added) / Blue Beetle character. Kord's signature equipment was his bug-shaped personal aircraft, which he entered and exited typically with a cable suspended from the cockpit. He also generally eschewed personal weaponry, except for a pistol that made a blinding flash of light and, additionally, a strong airblast to gain the advantage when he closed in for hand-to-hand combat.
The character ran as a backup feature in Captain Atom #83–86 (November 1966 – June 1967) before getting his own Blue Beetle title,[2] which ran for 5 issues between June 1967 and November 1968. A sixth issue was produced, but published in the Charlton Portfolio by CPL Gang. The Question ran as a backup series, with the fifth issue featuring a quasi-team-up in which the Blue Beetle story continues in part in the Question tale.
An origin was given in Secret Origins vol. 2, #2, linking him to the original Blue Beetle. Ted was a former student of Dan Garrett, and they were investigating his uncle Jarvis Kord, learning Jarvis was working to create an army of androids to take over Earth; Garrett fought Jarvis, but both were killed in the battle.[3] Garrett died and passed on the responsibility of the alter-ego to Ted, but was not able to pass on the mystical Blue Beetle scarab (a convenient means for Ditko to explain his preference for a power-free character). There was a hint that one android was still left in stasis, but this would remain unresolved until the DC series of the late 1980s.
In the early 1980s, the first issue of Charlton's anthology comic Charlton Bullseye featured a team-up of the Blue Beetle and the Question. Later, AC Comics would publish a story intended for Charlton Bullseye in Americomics #3, and a one-shot of a team-up of all the Charlton "Action Heroes" called the Sentinels of Justice, as the company called its lineup. Upon losing Blue Beetle, AC Comics created a similar character called Scarlet Scorpion.
DC Comics acquired the Charlton heroes in the mid-1980s and used the Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover event to integrate them all into the DC Universe. During this period, Ted Kord had his own Blue Beetle series, written by Len Wein,[4] which ran for 24 issues from June 1986 to May 1988. Also published during this time was Secret Origins #2 (cover illustrated by Gil Kane), which explained the origins and careers of the Ted Kord and Dan Garrett Blue Beetles in the post-Crisis continuity. They would also follow up on the hinted android in stasis from the Charlton series, which would eventually become "Carapax, the Indestructible Man".
In his monthly, solo series, Kord was shown as an industrialist, the owner of KORD Industries, which he took over from his father Thomas Kord and transformed it from a small R&D company to a scientific industry rivaling S.T.A.R. Labs. Upon joining the newly formed Justice League (following the events in the Legends) Ted was more often portrayed as a second string joke. He was short on money, leading to his entering "get-rich-quick" schemes with Booster Gold. A brief appearance in JLA: Year One showed the young Ted working in Kord Industries R&D, where he designed the JLA HQ security system. Upon meeting the heroes, he thought, "Screw the family business. I want to be one of those guys", possibly explaining the company's fluctuating status since he took over. In recent comics, it has been implied that KORD Industries has become a subsidiary of Wayne Enterprises, headed by Bruce Wayne / Batman.
Kord is probably best known as the wisecracking Blue Beetle of Keith Giffen and J. M. DeMatteis' lighthearted, five-year run on various Justice League of America titles (notably Justice League International), where he was memorably partnered with Booster Gold, and the two become best friends. Among fans, they are known collectively as the "Blue and Gold" team. After Giffen and DeMatteis left, the series continued to run until Justice League America #113. Dan Jurgens tied "The Death of Superman" storyline into JLA, in which Doomsday left Kord in a coma during his murderous rampage, as well as a six-inch scar on the back of his skull. Kord and Booster Gold both subsequently joined the short-lived Justice League offshoot known as Extreme Justice.[5]
Kord then entered a period of relative obscurity. The miniseries The LAW (Living Assault Weapons) reunited him and the other heroes acquired from Charlton, but the series met with critical disfavor.[citation needed]
In July 2003, Giffen, DeMatteis, and original JLI artist Kevin Maguire reunited for the six-issue miniseries Formerly Known as the Justice League, where many of the original JLI characters re-teamed with a storefront office. Ted (who had grown in maturity) was an important member of this new team known as the "Super Buddies". The sequel story arc I Can't Believe It's Not the Justice League was initially slated as a second miniseries, but instead ran delayed in JLA: Classified #4–9 (2005).
Ted made several appearances in Birds of Prey, at first as Oracle's internet friend and later in person. It was hinted in several issues that Ted had a crush on Oracle. Ted had gone back to his company, but still had many, many problems with it; problems Oracle tried to help resolve. During this time, it was revealed he had a heart condition (where he had actually experienced multiple heart attacks while in action without noticing),[6] but this did not stop him from assisting when it was needed. After his death, the Birds of Prey visited a statue in Valhalla Cemetery built in his honor; Black Canary revealed that being in the JLA was only fun when Ted was there, and Oracle revealed having had a cyber crush on him.[7]
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In Countdown to Infinite Crisis, Kord is killed by Maxwell Lord.[3][8] Afterward, Jaime Reyes obtains Kord's scarab and succeeds him as Blue Beetle.[9] Later, Booster Gold attempts to save Kord via time travel, but is forced to let him die to preserve the timeline.[10][11] In Blackest Night, Kord is temporarily resurrected as a Black Lantern.[12][13][14] He is later permanently resurrected in The New 52 continuity reboot.[15]
In Heroes in Crisis, Blue Beetle breaks out Booster Gold, who is one of the main suspects in the murders at the mental health institution Sanctuary, from a cell in the Hall of Justice.[16]
In Doomsday Clock, Blue Beetle helps the Justice League battle Doctor Manhattan.[17]
In Dark Nights: Death Metal, Blue Beetle is imprisoned on Apokolips after The Batman Who Laughs takes over Prime-Earth.[18] During the heroes' fight with Robin King, Blue Beetle is killed by a giant beetle before Batman resurrects him with a Black Lantern ring.[19][20]
Nearly all of Ted Kord's Charlton Comics appearances as the Blue Beetle have been collected as part of the DC Archive Editions series.
| Title | Material collected | Publication date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Action Heroes Archives, Vol. 2 | Captain Atom #83–89 Blue Beetle vol. 5, #1–5 Charlton Portfolio #9–10 (written for and presented as Blue Beetle #6) |
May 2007 | 978-1401213466 |
The Charlton Portfolio material is in black and white as originally presented, while the rest is in color. The collection includes nearly all of the Charlton appearances of the Question, as well as a brief appearance by Captain Atom. Volume 1 of the archive contained nearly all of Captain Atom's Charlton stories and a brief appearance by Nightshade.
Ted Kord had no superpowers; he possesses a genius-level intellect, with an IQ of 192.[21] He is proficient in numerous sciences such as physics, chemistry, computer science, genetics, mechanical engineering, and aerospace engineering. He additionally has a comprehensive understanding of extraterrestrial technology. Despero once claimed that Ted's mind was second only to that of J'onn J'onzz.[22] Former Justice League teammate Guy Gardner claims that Ted was smarter than Batman, "although nobody ever noticed".[23] Kord was an Olympic-level acrobat and skilled hand-to-hand combatant, having studied in the martial arts of karate[24] and aikido.[24] Dick Grayson stated that Ted was very adept physically, to the point where he was almost ambidextrous.[14] He is also highly skilled in espionage.[25]
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Ted Kord / Blue Beetle appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.[52]
This version of Blue Beetle has been ranked as the 61st-greatest comic book character of all time.[56] An IGN ranking stated that his intelligence, his "bwahahha" antics, his endearing partnership with Booster Gold, and his brave sacrifice during the build-up to Infinite Crisis all serve to cement his legacy.[57]
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