View source for Blue Beetle (Dan Garrett)

{{short description|Comic book superhero}}
{{Infobox comics character<!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
|character_name = Dan Garrett<br />{{small|[[Blue Beetle]]}}
|image = Blue Beetle 04.jpg
|caption = Cover of ''[[Blue Beetle (comic book)|Blue Beetle]]'' #4 (October 1940).<br>Artist unknown, possibly Edd<!--sp OK--> Ashe<!--per GCD-->.
|publisher = [[Fox Comics]]<br>[[Holyoke Publishing]]<br>[[Charlton Comics]]<br>[[DC Comics]]
|debut = ''[[Mystery Men Comics]]'' #1 (August 1939)
|creators = [[Charles Wojtkoski]]
|cat = super
|subcat = Fox Feature Syndicate
|species = [[Metahuman]]
|hero = y
|villain =
|sortkey = Blue Beetle
|addcharcat1 = Charlton Comics superheroes
|addcharcat2 = DC Comics superheroes
|powers=None
*'''Scarab:'''
**Flight
**Energy projection
**Superhuman strength
**Superhuman durability|alter ego=Dan Garrett (in the Charlton and DC comics)
}}
'''Dan Garret''' or '''Dan Garrett''' is a fictional [[superhero]] appearing in [[American comic book]]s published by [[Fox Comics]], [[Holyoke Publishing]], [[Charlton Comics]], and [[DC Comics]]. Garret was created by [[Charles Wojtkoski]], and made his first appearance in Fox's ''[[Mystery Men Comics]]'' #1 during the [[Golden Age of Comic Books]]. Garret is the first character to use the identity of [[Blue Beetle]], predating [[Ted Kord]] and [[Blue Beetle (Jaime Reyes)|Jaime Reyes]].

==Publication history==
The character first appeared in ''[[Mystery Men Comics]]'' #1 (August 1939), published by Fox Comics with art by [[Charles Wojtkoski]].<ref>Wojtkoski's family supplied the online comics encyclopedia "The Lambiek Comiclopedia" supporting the Wojtkoski credit. Another artist, [[Charles Nicholas#Chuck Cuidera|Charles Nicholas Cuidera]], also created Blue Beetle stories later, and has claimed credit as the creator of Dan Gerret, but comics historians credit Wojtkoski.
* {{cite web|url=http://www.comics.org/issue/490/#11|title=''Mystery Men Comics'' #1|access-date=June 22, 2007|author=Mougin, Lou|work=[[Grand Comics Database]]}}
* {{cite web|url=http://lambiek.net/artists/n/nicholas_charles2.htm|title=Charles Nicholas|access-date=September 17, 2010|work=The Lambiek Comiclopedia}}</ref> Blue Beetle has starred in a comic book series, [[comic strip]] and [[radio]] serial, but like most [[Golden Age of Comic Books]] superheroes, fell into obscurity in the 1950s. The comic book series saw several anomalies in publication: 19 issues, #12 through #30, were published through [[Holyoke Publishing]]; no issue #43 was published; publication frequency varied throughout the run; and there were gaps where issues were not published, with large ones occurring in early 1947 and between mid-1948 and early 1950.

In the mid-1950s, Charlton Comics began publishing the character following Fox Comics's bankruptcy.<ref>The two initial Charlton runs were:
* {{cite web|url=http://www.comics.org/series/1081/|title=Blue Beetle (1955)|work=Grand Comics Database|author=Mougin, Lou |access-date=September 17, 2010}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.comics.org/series/1614/|title=Blue Beetle (1964)|work=Grand Comics Database|others=Klein, Bob, Ramon Schenk (indexers)|access-date=September 17, 2010}}</ref>

==Fictional character biography==
===Golden Age version (Dan Garret)===
[[Image:Blue Beetle Mystery Men.jpg|thumb|left|The first appearance of the Blue Beetle, ''Mystery Men Comics'' #1 (1939), art by Charles Nicholas.]]
Dan Garret<ref name="ref4">In the earliest Golden Age appearances and during the mid-1960s run by writer-artist [[Steve Ditko]], the original Blue Beetle was referred to as Dan Garret, spelled with one "t".</ref> was a son of a police officer killed by a criminal. This [[Fox Feature Syndicate]] version of the character debuted in ''Mystery Men Comics'' #1 (August 1939) and continued through issue #31.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Benton |first1=Mike |title=Superhero Comics of the Golden Age: The Illustrated History |date=1992 |publisher=Taylor Publishing Company |location=Dallas |isbn=0-87833-808-X |url=https://archive.org/details/superherocomicso0000bent/page/174 |access-date=1 April 2020 |page=174}}</ref> He began appearing in his own 60-issue series shortly thereafter.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Benton |first1=Mike |title=Superhero Comics of the Golden Age: The Illustrated History |date=1992 |publisher=Taylor Publishing Company |location=Dallas |isbn=0-87833-808-X |url=https://archive.org/details/superherocomicso0000bent/page/78 |access-date=8 April 2020 |pages=79–80}}</ref> Fox Feature Syndicate sponsored a "Blue Beetle Day" at the [[1939 New York World's Fair]] on August 7, 1940, beginning at 10:30&nbsp;a.m. and including 300 children in relay-race finals at the Field of Special Events, following preliminaries in New York City parks. The race was broadcast on the radio station [[WMCA (AM)|WMCA]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Program Today at the World's Fair|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=August 7, 1940|access-date=April 7, 2013|url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0A10FF385A11728DDDAE0894D0405B8088F1D3}} Abstract; full article requires fee or subscription</ref>

Rookie patrolman Dan Garret originally fought crime as the Blue Beetle without the benefit of superhuman abilities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.toonopedia.com/beetle1.htm|title=The Blue Beetle (1939)|publisher=Don Markstein's Toonopedia|access-date=September 13, 2010|archive-date=May 25, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240525220714/https://www.webcitation.org/66x9cJtnD?url=http://www.toonopedia.com/beetle1.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Garret later donned a bulletproof blue costume made of lightweight, yet durable [[cellulose]] and temporarily gained [[superhuman]] strength and stamina via "Vitamin 2X".<ref>{{cite comic|artist=Nicholas, Charles|title=Mystery Men Comics|issue=#13|date=August 1940|publisher=[[Fox Feature Syndicate]]}}</ref> Like the [[Green Hornet]], the Blue Beetle would use his signature scarab symbol to bedevil criminals.

The supporting cast remained fairly stable throughout this original run and included Joan Mason, a reporter for the ''Daily Blade'' who starred in solo backup stories, and Mike Mannigan, Dan's police partner who believed him to be a criminal. Dr. Franz, a pharmacist and the creator of Dan's bulletproof suit and 2X formula, played a large role in early issues but eventually faded from the cast. The Beetle also had a short-lived kid sidekick, [[Sparky (DC Comics)|Sparky]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wonderworldcomics.com/bluebeetle/Origin.html|title=The Origin and Legend of the Golden Age Blue Beetle|work=WonderworldComics.com|access-date=September 18, 2010}}</ref>

During [[World War II]], Garret became a government agent who was often sent overseas on secret missions, but after peace was declared he returned to his former role of neighborhood cop. Blue Beetle's powers slowly increased over time, eventually giving him the ability to fly and [[X-ray vision]] among other bizarre powers that changed between issues. However, when superheroes fell out of vogue in the late 1940s, Fox started to downplay his superhero powers and they were removed. His adventures became darker and more violent before the character was put on hiatus.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://digitalcomicmuseum.com/index.php?dlid=30547|title=Digital Comic Museum > Blue Beetle 045|website=Digital Comic Museum - Free Public Domain Books|access-date=2018-08-10}}</ref>

A popular character in his era, the Blue Beetle had his own short-lived [[comic strip]], drawn by a [[pseudonym]]ous [[Jack Kirby]] and others, and a [[The Blue Beetle|radio serial]] that ran for 48 thirteen-minute episodes.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://kirbymuseum.org/blogs/simonandkirby/archives/600|title=Early Jack Kirby, Chapter 2, Working for Fox|date=2006-12-18|work=Simon and Kirby|access-date=2018-08-10|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=Old Time Radio Researchers Group|title=The Blue Beetle - Single Episodes|date=22 July 2006|url=https://archive.org/details/OTRR_Blue_Beetle_Singles|access-date=2018-08-10}}</ref>

===Silver Age version (Dan Garrett)===
[[Image:Blue Beetle v3 1.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Blue Beetle (comic book)|Blue Beetle]]'' vol. 2, #1 (June 1964), cover art by [[Frank McLaughlin (artist)|Frank McLaughlin]].]]
[[Charlton Comics]] allegedly obtained the rights to the Blue Beetle (although there is no proof that a formal purchase ever took place) and reprinted some stories in its [[anthology]] titles and in a four-issue ''Blue Beetle'' reprint series numbered 18–21.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://digitalcomicmuseum.com/index.php?cid=420|title=Digital Comic Museum > Blue Beetle|website=Digital Comic Museum - Free Public Domain Books|access-date=2018-08-10}}</ref>

In 1964, during the [[Silver Age of Comic Books|Silver Age]] of comics, Charlton revised the character for a new Blue Beetle series. Charlton's new Blue Beetle retained the original's name (adding a second "t"), but no powers or back story, making him a different character. This Beetle was archaeologist Dan Garrett, who obtained a number of superhuman powers (including super strength, x-ray vision, flight, and the ability to generate energy blasts) from a mystical [[Scarab (artifact)|scarab]] he found during a dig in Egypt, where it had been used to imprison an evil mummified pharaoh.<ref name="dc-ency">{{cite book|last=Beatty|first=Scott|author-link=Scott Beatty|contribution=Blue Beetle|editor-last=Dougall|editor-first=Alastair|title=The DC Comics Encyclopedia|page=57|publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley]]|location=London|year=2008|isbn=978-0-7566-4119-1}}</ref> This version, by writer [[Joe Gill]] and artist [[Tony Tallarico]], was played at least initially for [[Camp (style)|camp]], with stories like "The Giant Mummy Who Was Not Dead".<ref>{{cite book |last=Wells |first=John |title=American Comic Book Chronicles: 1960-64 |date=2015 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=978-1605490458 |pages=185–186}}</ref> The Charlton Dan Garrett version of the Blue Beetle ran only until 1966 before his replacement Ted Kord debuted.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.toonopedia.com/beetle2.htm|title=The Blue Beetle (1964)|publisher=Don Markstein's Toonopedia|access-date=September 13, 2010|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240525151539/https://www.webcitation.org/63gvVx8h0?url=http://www.toonopedia.com/beetle2.htm|archive-date=May 25, 2024|url-status=dead}}</ref> In ''Blue Beetle'' (vol. 5) #2 (August 1967), Garrett is killed in battle with [[Jarvis Kord]], Ted's evil uncle.<ref>''Blue Beetle'' (vol. 5) #2 (August 1967)</ref>

===AC Comics===
Both Blue Beetles reappeared in the third issue of ''[[Americomics]]'', a title published by [[AC Comics]] in 1983/1984. In the first story in this issue, Ted Kord fought a bogus Dan Garrett, but the second story was more significant. It revealed that the original 1940s Dan was reincarnated as the Silver Age version by an unspecified group of "gods", presumably the ones responsible for his mystic scarab. The gods subsequently resurrect Dan again and sent him to save Ted Kord. After this adventure, Kord turned the Blue Beetle name back over to Dan. ''Americomics'' was canceled after issue #6, and so far this story has never been referenced by any other publisher.

===DC Comics===
The Charlton version of Dan Garrett was spotlighted in the second issue of DC's 1980s ''[[Secret Origins]]'' series, in which his origin was retold along with that of Ted Kord. Subsequent appearances by Dan Garrett (in flashback stories) include guest spots or cameos in ''[[Infinity, Inc.]]'', ''[[Captain Atom]]'', ''[[Justice League|JLA: Year One]]'', and ''Legends of the DC Universe''.

The character briefly returned in [[DC Comics]]' first run of ''Blue Beetle'',<ref name="BBv6i18">{{cite comic|writer=[[Len Wein|Wein, Len]]|artist=[[Paris Cullins|Cullins, Paris]]|story=...And Death Shall Have No Dominion!|title=Blue Beetle|volume=6|issue=#18|date=November 1987|publisher=[[DC Comics]]}}</ref> resurrected by his mystical scarab to battle against his successor. He can also be seen in various flashback stories. His 1940s incarnation is briefly glimpsed in DC's 1993 limited series ''The Golden Age''.

===Dynamite Entertainment===
In issue #0 of the ''[[Project Superpowers]]'' miniseries, the Fox Feature Syndicate version of the Blue Beetle appeared in flashbacks (as by now the character/spelling "Dan Garret" was in the public domain).<ref>{{cite comic|writer=[[Alex Ross|Ross, Alex]]|cowriters=[[Jim Krueger]]|artist=Ross, Alex|story=Last Gleaming|title=[[Project Superpowers]]|issue=#0|date=January 2008|publisher=[[Dynamite Entertainment]]}}</ref> To avoid trademark conflicts with DC Comics, he is referred to in this series by the nickname "Big Blue".<ref>{{cite comic|writer=Ross, Alex|cowriters=Jim Krueger|artist=Paul, Carlos|story=...Undimmed by Human Tears|title=Project Superpowers|issue=#4|date=June 2008|publisher=Dynamite Entertainment}}</ref>

===Legacy===
It was eventually established that the Charlton Comics incarnation of the Dan Garrett Blue Beetle made his debut on August 14, 1939.<ref>{{cite comic|writer=[[Geoff Johns|Johns, Geoff]]|cowriters=[[Jeff Katz]]|penciller=[[Dan Jurgens|Jurgens, Dan]]|inker=[[Norm Rapmund|Rapmund, Norm]]|story=52 Pick-Up, Chapter 2: Leggo My Ego|title=[[Booster Gold]]|volume=2|issue=#2|date=November 2007|publisher=DC Comics}}</ref>

The Jaime Reyes Blue Beetle has met Daniel's granddaughter, Danielle,<ref>{{cite comic|writer=[[Keith Giffen|Giffen, Keith]]|cowriters=[[John Rogers (writer)|John Rogers]]|artist=[[Duncan Rouleau|Rouleau, Duncan]]|story=Inside Man|title=Blue Beetle|volume=7|issue=#9|date=January 2007|publisher=DC Comics}}</ref> and Dan himself.<ref name="BGv2i6">{{cite comic|writer=Johns, Geoff|cowriters=Jeff Katz|penciller=Jurgens, Dan|inker=Rapmund, Norm|story=52 Pick-Up, Chapter 6: Meet the Beetles|title=Booster Gold|volume=2|issue=#6|date=March 2008|publisher=DC Comics}}</ref>

===DC Universe===
In ''[[Dark Nights: Death Metal]]'', Dan Garrett is among the deceased superheroes who [[Batman]] resurrects with a [[Black Lantern]] ring.<ref>''Dark Nights: Death Metal'' #5. DC Comics.</ref>

==Other versions==
[[Image:Blue Beetle Elseworld.jpg|thumb|The [[Gotham by Gaslight#Countdown|Earth-19]] Blue Beetle]]
* An alternate universe variant of Daniel Garrett from Earth-39 appears in ''[[Countdown: Arena]]'' #2.<ref>''Countdown: Arena'' #1</ref><ref>''Countdown: Arena'' #2</ref>
* An alternate universe variant of Dan Garrett from Earth-19 appears in ''The Search for Ray Palmer: Gotham by Gaslight''. This version is the leading Egyptologist of the Gotham Museum of Natural History.
*

==In other media==
===Television===
* Dan Garrett / Blue Beetle makes non-speaking cameo appearances in ''[[Batman: The Brave and the Bold]]''.
* Dan Garrett / Blue Beetle makes non-speaking cameo appearances in ''[[Young Justice (TV series)|Young Justice]]''. This version was primarily active in the 1940s, having found and bonded with the Blue Beetle scarab after [[Bialya|Bialyan]] mystics severed its connection to the [[Reach (comics)|Reach]] centuries prior, and fought alongside the [[Justice Society of America]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Search Ask Greg : Gargoyles : Station Eight |url=https://www.s8.org/gargoyles/askgreg/search.php?qid=21188 |access-date=2023-04-01 |website=www.s8.org}}</ref>

===Film===
Dan Garret appears on the cover of a comic book in the ''[[Watchmen (2009 film)|Watchmen]]'' film tie-in ''[[Watchmen (2009 film)|Under the Hood]]''.

===Miscellaneous===
[[Image:Blue Beetle radio.jpg|right|thumb|Ad for ''The Blue Beetle'' radio series.]]
* Dan Garret / Blue Beetle appears in a self-titled [[CBS Radio]] serial, which ran from May 15, 1940, to September 13, 1940, and initially starred [[Frank Lovejoy]] in the title role.<ref name=Chronicles>{{cite book |last1=Mitchell |first1=Kurt |last2=Thomas |first2=Roy |title=American Comic Book Chronicles: 1940-1944 |date=2019 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=978-1605490892 |page=31}}</ref> According to Christopher Irving, "Lovejoy brought a maniacal, almost sadistic, cackle to the character. His Blue Beetle seemed as if he took some sick pride in hurting criminals". When Lovejoy left the show after four episodes, he was replaced with an uncredited actor.<ref name=Companion>{{cite book |last1=Irving |first1=Christopher |title=The Blue Beetle Companion: His Many Lives from 1939 to Today |date=2007 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=978-1893905702 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iHtfwrbpK5cC&dq=%22blue+beetle%22+radio+1940&pg=PA51 |access-date=14 April 2020 |pages=49–52}}</ref>
* Dan Garrett / Blue Beetle appears in a short-lived [[comic strip]], drawn by [[Jack Kirby]], among others, under pseudonyms.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://kirbymuseum.org/blogs/simonandkirby/archives/600|title=Early Jack Kirby, Chapter 2, Working for Fox|date=2006-12-18|work=Simon and Kirby|access-date=2018-08-10|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=Old Time Radio Researchers Group|title=The Blue Beetle - Single Episodes|date=22 July 2006|url=https://archive.org/details/OTRR_Blue_Beetle_Singles|access-date=2018-08-10}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.toonopedia.com/beetle2.htm Blue Beetle (Dan Garrett)] ([https://archive.today/20240525151539/https://www.webcitation.org/63gvVx8h0?url=http://www.toonopedia.com/beetle2.htm archived] from the original December 4, 2011) at [[Don Markstein's Toonopedia]].
* [http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/b/blubeech.htm Blue Beetle (Dan Garrett)] at the International Catalogue of Superheroes
* [http://comicbookdb.com/character.php?ID=2921 Blue Beetle (Dan Garrett)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023062403/http://comicbookdb.com/character.php?ID=2921 |date=2013-10-23 }}

{{Blue Beetle}}
{{All-Star Squadron}}
{{Golden Age of Comic Books}}
[[Category:1939 comics debuts]]
[[Category:Blue Beetle|Garrett, Dan]]
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1939]]
[[Category:DC Comics characters with superhuman durability or invulnerability]]
[[Category:DC Comics characters with superhuman strength]]
[[Category:DC Comics metahumans]]
[[Category:Fictional archaeologists]]
[[Category:Fictional characters from Chicago]]
[[Category:Fictional characters with energy-manipulation abilities]]
[[Category:Fictional police officers in comics]]