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Ted Kord

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Ted Kord
Blue Beetle
Ted Kord as depicted in The L.A.W. vol. 1 (September 1999). Art by Dick Giordano.
Publication information
PublisherCharlton Comics
DC Comics
First appearanceCaptain Atom #83 (November 1966)
Created bySteve Ditko
In-story information
Full nameTheodore Stephen "Ted" Kord
SpeciesHuman
Team affiliationsJustice League International
L.A.W.
Kord Enterprises
Justice League
Extreme Justice
Black Lantern Corps
PartnershipsBooster Gold
Green Lantern
The Question
Jaime Reyes
Abilities
  • Genius-level intellect
  • Excellent athlete, acrobat, and hand-to-hand combatant
  • Possesses advanced weapons and equipment
  • Highly skilled spy

Theodore Stephen "Ted" Kord[a] is the second fictional character to use the identity of 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.

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.

Publication history and fictional character biography

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Charlton Comics

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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

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DC solo series

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Cover to Secret Origins #2, art by Gil Kane.

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.

Joining the Justice League

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Main article: Justice League International
JLI #8 (December 1987), art by Kevin Maguire (pencils) and Al Gordon (inks).

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]

Super Buddies

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Main article: Super Buddies

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]

Death and return

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Ted Kord shot by Maxwell Lord, art by Phil Jimenez.
Ted Kord as Black Lantern, art by Dan Jurgens.

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]

Hardcover collection

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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.

Powers and abilities

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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]

Equipment

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  • Kord created numerous gadgets, including suction pads, sight-enhancing lenses, and a protective costume. To prevent being forcibly unmasked, especially if rendered unconscious, Kord's cowl had a lock mechanism that only opened when he touched the mask under his jaw with a chip in his glove, which would at least force an enemy to perform the more troublesome task of cutting through the material to unmask him.
  • He also created a power armor suit for his friend Booster Gold. The suit contained a fully functioning artificial arm and also provided life-support for Booster as he recovered from potentially fatal injuries. He later converted a suit of alien power armor for Booster to use.
  • His BB gun was a handheld weapon that could blind villains with a flash of light, or knock them back with a compressed air blast capable of felling a charging rhino. The original BB gun was designed with a security feature so that it would function only when the Blue Beetle held it, becoming inactive without contact with special circuitry in the Beetle costume's gloves. The BB gun is solar powered.[26]
  • Blue Beetle's airship, the "Bug", contained high tech equipment, could electrify or magnetize its hull, fire electrical energy, and fly at 600 mph. All models had booster jets hidden under the shell of the Bug. The boosters on the first two models could speed the Bug up to the speed of sound for a short period of time; no time limit was ever given for how long the burst lasted. Later models of the boosters were used for intercontinental travel at supersonic speed. It was also 90% solar powered. Later models also had energy weapons of various types, from lasers to plasma. The last two models were capable of reaching orbit[27][28] and all models could operate underwater. No depth was ever given that they could go to, but one model Bug was seen operating on the sea floor after going through an underwater volcano.[29] All models were remotely controllable from controls built into Kord's gloves.[3]
  • He also built flight pads similar to Mister Miracle's flight discs used throughout the entire Extreme Justice run[30] and claimed to Barbara Gordon that he could keep the Birds of Prey jet flying 24-7 with technology based on the New Gods' Mother Boxes.[21]
  • As a Black Lantern, Blue Beetle is equipped with a "decayed", damaged version of the Bug, and black, power ring-derived constructs of his Blue Beetle suit and his BB gun. This iteration of the BB gun is an aggressive, rather than a defensive, weapon, able to pierce the powerful shields in the Supernova suit.[12]

Other versions

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  • Ted Kord appears in Kingdom Come as one of Batman's generals who wields the Blue Beetle scarab and knight-like armor.[31][32]
  • A Wild West-inspired variant of Ted Kord appears in Justice Riders as an inventor who teams up with Booster Gold.[33]
  • A future variant of Ted Kord appears in Justice League America Annual #5. Having allowed his health and business ventures to fall apart and sold the rights to his name, he suffers a psychotic breakdown and attacks his former team.[34]
  • An Earth-3 variant of Ted Kord appears in Countdown to Final Crisis.[35]
    • Several alternative variants of Ted Kord appear in Countdown: Arena, most prominently an anthropomorphic blue beetle named Ted who serves as the pet of Mr. and Mrs. Kord from Earth-33 who is forced to fight for a role in the Monarch's army, during which the latter kills him.[36][37]

In other media

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Television

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Sebastian Spence as Ted Kord in Smallville.
  • Ted Kord appears in the Smallville episode "Booster", portrayed by Sebastian Spence.[38] This version did not take up the mantle of the Blue Beetle from Dan Garrett, who had died after failing to control the scarab. Kord attempts to use the device for good, but it bonds to Jaime Reyes. After Kord hires Booster Gold to help him find the scarab and locates Reyes, he agrees to help the latter control his new powers.
  • Ted Kord / Blue Beetle appears in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, voiced by Wil Wheaton.[39] This version was the owner of K.O.R.D. Industries who worked with Batman and Booster Gold before sacrificing himself to stop his villainous uncle Jarvis Kord from obtaining the scarab, which eventually came into Jaime Reyes' possession.
  • Ted Kord / Blue Beetle makes non-speaking appearances in Teen Titans Go! as Booster Gold's boyfriend. He made his speaking debut in the episode, "Elasti-Bot", voiced by Jess Harnell.[40][41]
  • Ted Kord / Blue Beetle makes non-speaking appearances in Young Justice.[39] This version was a member of the Justice League who recognized the Scarab's potential dangers and chose to rely on his inventions instead.[42] Sometime prior to the second season, Kord was attacked by Deathstroke and Sportsmaster and sacrificed himself to prevent them from obtaining the Scarab.
  • Ted Kord / Blue Beetle appears in DC Super Hero Girls, voiced by Max Mittelman.

Film

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Video games

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Ted Kord / Blue Beetle appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.[50]

Miscellaneous

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  • Ted Kord / Blue Beetle appears in Adventures in the DC Universe #8.[51]
  • Ted Kord / Blue Beetle appears in Justice League Unlimited.[52]
  • Ted Kord appears in Injustice 2.[53] This version is Jaime Reyes' mentor and a participant in Batman's efforts to rebuild the world following the fall of High Councilor Superman's Regime. After Booster Gold informs him of his impending death, Kord reassumes the Blue Beetle mantle, but is attacked and abducted by the League of Assassins, who task Killer Croc and Orca with murdering him and other industrialists whose businesses have negatively impacted the environment on live television. Via a holographic message, Kord bequeaths Kord Industries to Booster and entrusts him to continue training Reyes. Additionally, an alternate universe variant of Kord arrives to spend time with a dying Booster.

Reception

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This version of Blue Beetle has been ranked as the 61st-greatest comic book character of all time.[54] 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.[55]

Notes

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  1. ^ In many stories and character entries, it is noted that "Ted" is an abbreviated form of "Theodore", but in Chuck Dixon's Birds of Prey, Barbara Gordon states that "Ted" is actually short for "Edward". In Countdown to Infinite Crisis, the wizard Shazam repeatedly addresses Ted as "Theodore Kord"; and Checkmate's profile of Blue Beetle also lists him as such.

References

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  1. ^ Booster Gold vol. 2, #26, shows his tombstone engraved with the "Theodore Stephen Kord" name.
  2. ^ McAvennie, Michael; Dolan, Hannah (2010). "1960s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. p. 123. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. After Ted Kord assumed the scarab as Blue Beetle in a back-up feature of Captain Atom #83, writer/artist Steve Ditko and co-writer "D.C. Glanzman" (who was actually Ditko) launched the Blue Beetle into his own series.
  3. ^ a b c Beatty, Scott (2008). "Blue Beetle". In Dougall, Alastair (ed.). The DC Comics Encyclopedia. London: Dorling Kindersley. p. 57. ISBN 978-0-7566-4119-1. OCLC 213309017.
  4. ^ Manning, Matthew K. "1980s" in Dolan, p. 219: "The Blue Beetle swung into his own DC series with the help of writer Len Wein and artist Paris Cullins".
  5. ^ Beatty, Scott (2008). "Extreme Justice". In Dougall, Alastair (ed.). The DC Comics Encyclopedia. New York: Dorling Kindersley. p. 117. ISBN 978-0-7566-4119-1. OCLC 213309017.
  6. ^ Birds of Prey #39 (March 2002)
  7. ^ Birds of Prey #96 (September 2006)
  8. ^ "WWC: Day 2 - DC Crisis Counseling Panel". Newsarama. August 7, 2005. Retrieved 2007-06-22.[permanent dead link‍]
  9. ^ Teen Titans vol. 3, #61 (September 2008)
  10. ^ Booster Gold (vol. 2) #1 - 6 (October 2007 - March 2008)
  11. ^ Booster Gold vol. 2, #1,000,000 (September 2008)
  12. ^ a b Booster Gold vol. 2, #26 (November 2009)
  13. ^
  14. ^ a b Power Girl vol. 2, #21 (April 2011)
  15. ^
    • Forever Evil #1 (November 2013)
    • Forever Evil #7 (July 2014)
    • DC Universe: Rebirth #1 (2016)
    • Blue Beetle (vol. 7) #1 (September 2016)
  16. ^ Heroes in Crisis #4
  17. ^ Doomsday Clock #9 (September 2016). DC Comics.
  18. ^ Dark Nights: Death Metal #3. DC Comics.
  19. ^ Dark Nights: Death Metal #6. DC Comics.
  20. ^ Dark Nights: Death Metal: Robin King #1. DC Comics.
  21. ^ a b Countdown to Infinite Crisis (March 2005)
  22. ^ Justice League America #39 (June 1990)
  23. ^ Blue Beetle vol. 7, #14 (June 2007)
  24. ^ a b Extreme Justice #18 (July 1996)
  25. ^ DCU source, Ted Kord[clarification needed]
  26. ^ Justice League America Annual #6 (1992)
  27. ^ The L.A.W. #6 (February 2000)
  28. ^ Infinite Crisis #5 (April 2006)
  29. ^ Blue Beetle vol. 7, #16 (August 2007)
  30. ^ Extreme Justice #0–18
  31. ^ Kingdom Come #1
  32. ^ Kingdom Come #4
  33. ^ Justice Riders #1
  34. ^ Justice League America Annual #5 (1991)
  35. ^ Countdown Presents: The Search for Ray Palmer: Crime Society #1
  36. ^ Countdown: Arena #1
  37. ^ Countdown: Arena #2
  38. ^ Abrams, Natalie (January 22, 2011). "Smallville Exclusive: Sebastian Spence Cast as Ted Kord". Archived from the original on 2011-01-22. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  39. ^ a b c d e "Blue Beetle / Ted Kord Voices (DC Universe)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved April 9, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  40. ^ Joshua Weisbrod on Twitter: "They are for the time being" (Archived)
  41. ^ Teen Titans Go!: "Manor and Mannerisms"
  42. ^ Weisman, Greg (June 15, 2022). "Search Ask Greg: Gargoyles: Station Eight". www.s8.org. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  43. ^ Morrison, Matt (July 29, 2018). "Teen Titans Go! To the Movies: 100+ Hidden Easter Eggs". ScreenRant. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  44. ^ "Syndicated Comics". 19 May 2021.
  45. ^ Erdmann, Kevin (August 18, 2023). "Blue Beetle's Shocking Twist Sets Up A Perfect DCU Casting". ScreenRant. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  46. ^ Gonzalez, Umberto (April 14, 2022). "Susan Sarandon to Play Villain Victoria Kord in DC's 'Blue Beetle' (Exclusive)". TheWrap. Archived from the original on April 14, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  47. ^ Romano, Nick (July 27, 2023). "Susan Sarandon sees her Blue Beetle villain as the embodiment of imperialism". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on July 27, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  48. ^ Harvey, James (November 22, 2023). ""Justice League: Crisis On Infinite Earths" Trilogy Teaser Trailer Released". The World's Finest. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  49. ^ Harvey, James (December 5, 2023). ""Justice League: Crisis On Infinite Earths, Part One" Release Date". The World's Finest. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  50. ^ Eisen, Andrew (October 4, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  51. ^ "Adventures in the DC Universe #8 - Two B's or Not 2 B's...that is the Question (Issue)". Comic Vine. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  52. ^ "Justice League Unlimited #5 - Monitor Duty (Issue)". Comic Vine. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  53. ^ "Injustice 2 #5 - Hostile Takeover (Issue)". Comic Vine. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  54. ^ "Wizard's top 200 characters. External link consists of a forum site summing up the top 200 characters of Wizard Magazine since the real site that contains the list is broken". Wizard magazine. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
  55. ^ "Blue Beetle is number 61". IGN. Archived from the original on 2011-05-07. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
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