Blue Beetle’s Co-Creator, Keith Giffen, Dies at Age 70

Keith Giffen was a comic writer/artist who created many superhero comics. This year, his iteration of the Blue Beetle finally reached the big screen, as the DC Comics superhero got the Warner Bros. theatrical movie experience. Sadly, Keith Giffen also passed away this year.

Keith Giffen’s Death

Keith Giffen died of a stroke on Wednesday at the age of 70. He somewhat prepared for this event by writing a Facebook post published on his death day. The social media post read, “I told them I was sick…Anything not to go to New York Comic Con, Thanx.”

New York Comic Con was most likely looking forward to hearing what Keith had to say on witnessing his comic creation make it into the movies. Tragically, he passed away so soon after the film’s release in August 2023. But Keith Giffen left behind a lasting legacy on comic books.

Keith’s Blue Beetle

Giffen didn’t initially create the DC Comics superhero Blue Beetle. The blue bug-themed hero debuted in 1939 from creator Charles Wojtkoski and was originally known as Ted Kord. But, as with all comic book superheroes, that character changed over time, and Giffen’s became the most notable in pop culture.

Giffen changed Blue Beetle in 2006, alongside John Rogers and Cully Hamner, so that the superhero was now teenager Jaime Reyes. His origin story was also changed, with Reyes getting his powers from an alien scarab in his comics debut. The scarab, which talks to Jaime Reyes, also grants the teenager special powers of alien technology with flight, armor, and energy weapons.

Blue Bettle in Media

Since Blue Beetle’s retcon in the comics, Keith Giffen’s interpretation of Jaime Reyes / Blue Beetle has been adapted into other media. He was first seen in the live-action Superman prequel series Smallville. The character would then appear animated with the Batman: The Brave and the Bold debut episode. Blue Beetle would additionally appear in the cartoons Young Justice and Justice League Action.

The Blue Beetle movie would debut in the summer of 2023 from Warner Bros with Ángel Manuel Soto directing. Xolo Maridueña stepped into the role of Jaime Reyes. The film more or less follows the comic book origins established by Keith Giffen.

Keith’s Comic Book Legacy

Keith’s claim to fame goes beyond being behind Blue Beetle, even if that is the most notable DC Comics character he’s been behind. Before Blue Beetle, he created the character Lobo, an interstellar mercenary and bounty hunter. Lobo continued on in the comics and made the jump into animation with appearances in Superman: The Animated Series, Justice League, Young Justice, and Krypton.

Keith’s other contributions included co-creating the DC Comics meta-superhero Ambush Bug and the brash Rocket from the Marvel ensemble Guardians of the Galaxy (which shouldn’t require much explanation of that character’s notoriety). He’s also worked on many comic books, including Doom Patrol, Legion of Super-Heroes, and Justice League. His work earned him an Inkpot Award in 1991.

The Blue Beetle Movie

Keith Giffen’s Blue Beetle can be seen in the character’s first live-action movie from Warner Bros. Pictures. The film was produced by John Rickard and Zev Foreman with a cast that includes Xolo Maridueña, Adriana Barraza, Damián Alcázar, Raoul Max Trujillo, Susan Sarandon, and George Lopez. Blue Beetle can currently be purchased digitally and will have a DVD/Blu-ray release on October 31, 2023.

Quick Summary

• Keith Giffen died of a stroke at the age of 70 on Wednesday.
• Keith Giffen was the co-creator behind comic book characters Blue Beetle, Lobo, and Rocket.
• Keith Giffen’s Blue Beetle was recently adapted for the big screen as a live-action movie.