Hidden Treasures: Uncovering Blue Beetle's Easter Eggs and References

Spoilers for Blue Beetle lie ahead. James Gunn and Peter Safran's DC Universe presents the unofficial first chapter of Blue Beetle, a movie brimming with DC comic book Easter eggs and references to the wider cinematic universe. The film centers around Jaime Reyes (Xolo Mariduena) and his family, as Jaime accidentally forms a bond with an extraterrestrial artifact known as a Scarab, transforming him into a new superhero. This marks the silver screen debut of Blue Beetle, who will have a role in the future of the larger DCU, although it remains uncertain if the movie itself aligns with the main timeline.

In the realm of DC Comics, Jaime is not the inaugural bearer of the Blue Beetle mantle, and this fact is mirrored in the film. In truth, numerous Easter eggs within the movie pay homage to Jaime's position within the Blue Beetle legacy. Additionally, DC enthusiasts will delight in discovering allusions to beloved characters like Batman, Superman, Flash, and even a cleverly concealed Green Lantern Easter egg.

WB And DC Studio Logos

Blue Beetle History In The Opening Credits

- The studio logos for every DC movie release undergo a subtle transformation in appearance. For instance, in Batman movies, the WB logo frequently showcases bats soaring out from it. Similarly, in The Flash, the logo incorporates the lightning element that epitomizes his incredible speed. In this case, the studio logos are ingeniously crafted to reflect the Scarab's extraordinary abilities.

The movie's opening credits cleverly incorporate a series of images that subtly explore Blue Beetle's rich history, without overwhelming the central storyline. These visuals include newspaper headlines highlighting the exploits of both Dan Garrett and Ted Kord, along with intricate schematics of the devices utilized by these two iconic Blue Beetles. Just as the comic books introduced Dan Garrett as the original Blue Beetle, the movie follows suit, establishing him as the inaugural bearer of the Scarab and its cherished legacy. Eventually, the torch is passed down to Ted Kord, a transition subtly hinted at during the movie's enchanting opening credits.

The Scarab History

The movie opens with the Scarab being launched into space and crashing into Earth, hinting at its history. It is mentioned in Blue Beetle that the Scarab is of alien origin, although the Reach, the alien race responsible for creating the Scarab in the comics, do not make an appearance as a Blue Beetle Easter egg. The opening sequence of the movie suggests that there are other Scarabs besides the one worn by Blue Beetle.

While multiple Scarabs of various colors are seen being sent into space, the movie primarily focuses on the one that lands on Earth. Along its journey to Earth, the Scarab seemingly collides with something green in space, possibly hinting at a connection with a Green Lantern. In the comics, Green Lanterns are cosmic protectors assigned to different parts of the universe, and they are known to exist throughout the vast expanse of space.

Palmera City And Pago Island

Both Palmera City and Pago Island are fictional locations in DC Comics. In the comics, Palmera City has a Mexican influence and is often portrayed as being in Texas. However, the movie does not explicitly mention the city's location in Texas. The design of Palmera City, including its skyscrapers and beachside resorts, is inspired by Miami Beach and the surrounding Latin neighborhoods.

Pago Island has a significant history in the Blue Beetle franchise. It serves as the secret base for Ted Kord's uncle in the comics, where he plans to build his own robot army. Additionally, it is the site of Dan Garrett's death in battle and where Carapax becomes the Indestructible Man by merging with a robot that Kord's uncle had been experimenting with. The connection to this history is seen in Victoria Kord's storyline on Pago Island, as she works to create her army of OMACs.

OMAC

Victoria Kord’s OMAC project in the movie slightly deviates from the original comics' plan for the acronym. In the comics, it was initially coined as Observational Metahuman Activity Construct, serving as a means to record and monitor metahuman activity. However, for Blue Beetle, it takes on a different meaning as One Man Army Corps, representing a later iteration of the acronym in the comics, intertwining the concept with Kord’s robotic army.

Promethium

In the promotional video for the company, Victoria Kord highlights Kord's promethium mines. Promethium, a remarkably scarce substance in the DC world, plays a crucial role in crafting suits for numerous DC characters. This extraordinary element aids in transforming Victor Stone into Cyborg and is extensively utilized in the production of weaponry and armor for Deathstroke.

Gotham Law

While Rudy's remark about Batman being a fascist in the Blue Beetle trailer received a lot of attention, the film goes beyond just that. It showcases the interconnectedness of the DC universe in various ways. For instance, a news broadcast highlights Bruce Wayne's new venture as the owner of a dating app. Moreover, Jaime, the protagonist, is seen wearing a Gotham Law sweatshirt, hinting at his aspiration to pursue law and being the first Reyes family member to attend college. Although the specific version of Batman referred to in the movie remains undisclosed, this ambiguity actually works to Blue Beetle's advantage, allowing it to seamlessly integrate into the wider DC universe.

Big Belly Burger

In Blue Beetle, not only Batman, but also the Flash is mentioned by Rudy in Central City. Additionally, Jaime receives the Scarab from Jenny, who presents it in a box associated with the Flash. To smuggle the Scarab to Jaime, she cleverly hides it inside a Big Belly Burger box. While Big Belly Burger is featured in various DC properties, it is primarily connected to the Flash in Central City due to its prominent appearances in the CW series and the Arrowverse.

Superman Nods

Superman is mentioned by Rudy, along with his city of choice, Metropolis. In the Blue Beetle series, there are numerous Easter eggs related to Superman, including signs and advertisements for LexCorp (the company owned by Superman's arch-nemesis Lex Luthor) and The Daily Planet (the newspaper where both Clark Kent and Lois Lane are employed).

Purple As The Kord Color

- Superman References in Blue Beetle

While Blue Beetle is commonly associated with the color blue and Carapax with the color red, Victoria Kord and Kord Industries as a whole embrace a purple color palette. Not only does Victoria frequently don purple attire, but the company's lighting also casts a purple hue, and many employees sport clothing in shades of purple. By incorporating blue and red to form purple, this serves as a symbolic representation of Victoria Kord's involvement in the creation of both Carapax and the new Blue Beetle.

Previous Blue Beetle Costumes

Blue Beetle’s Bug And A Power Glove

The audience finally gets confirmation of Jenny, Rudy, and Jaime's superhero identities when they visit her father's estate. Both Dan Garrett and Ted Kord, the previous Blue Beetles, are given nods in the opening credits. It has been approximately 15 years since Ted Kord vanished and Dan Garrett passed away even earlier. However, their costumes are showcased in a secret underground chamber within the Kord Estate, resembling the setup of the Batcave.

When the Reyes family joins forces to rescue Jaime from Victoria, they rely on innovative inventions developed by Ted Kord. The Bug, a remarkable car crafted by Kord in the comic series, maintains its striking design and functionality in the movie adaptation. On the other hand, the glove wielded by Millagro presents a fascinating meta allusion. This extraordinary glove has the power to generate a protective shield and unleash devastating punches, resembling the legendary Nintendo Power Glove, a long-discontinued accessory.

GBS News Report

GBS, the news network favored by the DC universe, presents a news report towards the climax of the film. GBS, an abbreviation for Galaxy Broadcasting System, operates within Galaxy Communications, a company owned by Morgan Edge in the comics. Notably, it has made appearances in Man Of Steel, Aquaman, The Suicide Squad, and the Shazam movies.

The Blue Beetle Mid-Credit Scene

In the mid-credit scene of Blue Beetle, we are taken back to Ted Kord's concealed base, specifically his computer desk. Resting on the desk is a Polaroid capturing a moment from one of the Kabloom gum tests, alongside a book delving into the realm of Egyptian archaeology. These elements serve as a subtle homage to Dan Garrett's profession and Kord's earlier occupation as a research scientist. Surprisingly, Ted Kord's voice emanates from the computer, as he seeks to inform whoever is present that he is still alive and urges them to relay the message to his daughter.

This suggests that

The Blue Beetle Post-Credit Scene

has probably been confined in a specific location for the past 15 years, potentially engaging in independent investigations on the Scarab. These endeavors might have ignited Victoria’s curiosity about it. The forthcoming Blue Beetle movies might shed light on the whereabouts of

The Blue Beetle Post-Credit Scene

.

The post-credit scene pays homage to Rudy's earlier programming decision to disrupt signals. Rudy invents a signal-jamming gadget called "Chapulín" which he utilizes to transmit an animated series onto the surveillance camera feed at Kord Industries. It is noteworthy that Chapulín Colorado is the moniker of a renowned Mexican superhero envisioned by Roberto Gómez Bolaños.

In addition to the live-action series in Mexico, there was also an animated series featuring the character. The original show had a successful run of eight seasons and continues to be one of the most beloved superhero series in Latin American countries.

Currently, Blue Beetle is being shown in theaters.