Blue Beetle’s Enemies & Allies in DC Comics

Soon, Jaime Reyes will make his cinematic debut in Blue Beetle. This Latino teen is one of the most powerful space-based DC super heroes. As Blue Beetle, he’s also inherited a hero’s mantle with a rich DC Comics history.

Before we meet Jaime on the big screen, let’s recap who his allies and enemies are in the comics. It never hurts to brush up on the basics — unless you’re operating an extraterrestrial suit of armor for the first time. Now that’s tricky.

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Jaime Reyes’ Family & Friends

Like so many other DC heroes, Jaime Reyes has undergone multiple reboots and rebirths. But the constants for Jaime Reyes are that he is a Mexican American teen whose family lives in El Paso, Texas. He’s a good son to his mom and dad, and he loves his little sister Milagro, even if she does annoy him with typical younger sibling antics.

In addition to his family, Jaime also has the support of close friends, like Brenda Del Vecchio and Paco Testas. At one point, Paco bonds with his own scarab and wears a red suit of armor. Brenda’s aunt is also secretly one of Jaime’s most powerful enemies, the immortal La Dama.

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Khaji Da The Scarab

As luck would have it, the scarab that bonds to Jaime is regarded as one of the most powerful weapons created by The Reach. It’s usually by accident that Jaime comes into contact with the scarab but their journey together is always one of immense growth.

Through the scarab, Jaime is able to cover his body in a blue and black exoskeleton of armor. This armor also grants him the ability to manifest any weapon imaginable from his body, as well as wings for flight. The scarab is semi-permanently fused with his spine, though a mind-controlled Peacemaker did once forcefully separate the two. She revealed her name to Jaime — Khaji Da — and he uses this name to summon the scarab when they’re separated. Eventually, the scarab and Jaime found common ground and from there, they truly bonded to create the powerful Blue Beetle.

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The Reach

The alien race responsible for the scarab technology are fearsome universal colonizers. All across the galaxy, The Reach have conquered other people to further their empire. With the scarabs they leave behind on planets, they can gather data and formulate plans to take over each world they encounter. Their dominance is bolstered by their ability to mind control most individuals, forcing them to believe their way is right. This tactic also helps them plant spies among influential groups, like the Justice League.

On a related note, Jaime’s fellow Young Justice/Teen Titan teammate Starfire also has an important connection to The Reach. Starfire’s home planet, Tamaran, has fought against The Reach for ages. These two powerful civilizations are sworn enemies.

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Dynastes

While The Reach are ruthless and power hungry, there is a more peaceful offshoot called The Horizon. Unlike The Reach, The Horizon are a sect of aliens who don’t seek to conquer. However, they did create two new Beetle heroes recently seen in Blue Beetle: Graduation Day.

One of these new Beetles is called Dynastes, AKA Xiomara Erazo, an Afro-Salvadoran teacher. Her power is inspired by the Hercules beetle, an insect of immense strength. She can even match up with Shazam when it comes to strength. The second new Beetle hero is even more mysterious, only revealing the alias of Nitida. Under her green armor, she says she’s just a “goth girl from Blüdhaven.”

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Victoria Kord

For any legacy hero, past versions are always an ever-present reminder — both good and bad. The first Blue Beetle was Dan Garrett and the second was Ted Kord. In some stories, Ted is a mentor for Jaime. Dan also has a special connection since he and Jaime formed close bonds with their scarab.

However, legacy is a fickle thing. In the comics, Jaime must deal with Victoria Kord, Ted’s sister whose moral values are less gray than Blue Beetle would hope. Victoria Kord will also be in the Blue Beetle film. As of now, her character remains on the precipice of friend and foe. Only time can tell which way she’ll fall.

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Jaime Reyes is a DC Comics character who opens up a whole galaxy of possibilities for the DCU. From the various teams he’s worked for to the alien technology he uses, there’s no telling what’s in store for Blue Beetle!

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