Xolo Maridueña stars as the scarab-tactic superhero Blue Beetle, which buzzed onto the big screen this past weekend. Blue Beetle, directed by Ángel Manuel Soto and written by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, is the first live-action comic book film with a Hispanic lead. The long-anticipated picture is the third DC Studios release this year after Shazam! Fury of the Gods and The Flash.
It’s all about family in The Fast and the… er… Blue Beetle, and on this episode of The Cosmic Circle, we are joined by some fantastic family members. Writers Anthony Flagg and Wiktor Reinfuss swarmed in for our chat about the celestial scarab-powered superhero Jaime Reyes.
We talked about the movie’s meaning on a cultural level, our favorite parts, including the charming and talented Xolo Maridueña, and our thoughts on the nefarious Victoria Kord, portrayed by screen legend Susan Sarandon. We even talked about that mid-credits scene and whether or not Jason Sudeikis really is Ted Kord.
And dear listeners, you won’t want to miss our discussion of just how many times Wiktor has seen The Flash. So whether you’re a lifelong DC Comics fan or someone who’s just getting into the world of DC after James Gunn took over the studio, this podcast is for you.
You can listen to the podcast below directly or on most sites where you listen to podcasts. For email updates to The Cosmic Circle and Cosmic Cafe podcasts, subscribe here and follow us for updates at @cosmicpodcasts on X, Instagram, and Threads.
[Warning: Spoilers from Blue Beetle are within the podcast! Avert your eyes and return to Gotham, Central City or Metropolis lest you be spoiled. ]
What are your thoughts on our Blue Beetle chat? Do you agree or disagree? Did we miss something that you want to share? Let us know on social media! And if you enjoy this podcast, please consider sharing it with friends and following us on other social media!
Ep. 38 Timestamps: Blue Beetle movie discussion (Spoilers)
- 00:18 – Intros
- 01:35 – Initial impressions on Blue Beetle
- 16:40 – Ranking the DC films in 2023
- 21:05 – Favorite parts of Blue Beetle
- 28:00 – What could they have done better?
- 35:15 – Cultural references in the Blue Beetle movie
- 44:00 – DC Universe references
- 45:00 – Harvey Guillén and a What We Do in the Shadows reference. Misnaming people and other forms of disrespect depicted in the film.
- 47:30 – More on Latino references and the importance of family in the film.
- 51:05 – Blue Beetle box office thoughts
- 58:40 – Was that really Jason Sudeikis?!
- 01:01:10 – Should there be a Blue Beetle 2?
- 01:03:50 – Outros
Recommended articles about subjects from this episode
Review: Blue Beetle Is A Heart-Filled Shot In the Arm For DC Films
DC Showcase: Blue Beetle: Graduation Day Comic Review
Stunning Blue Beetle Suit Revealed in NEW Set Images!
New Cast Listing for Blue Beetle Indicates Jason Sudeikis Will Play Ted Kord
Report: Puertorrican Icons Carlos Ponce, Jon Z and more cast in Blue Beetle
Cosmic Circus Reviews: Blue Beetle Movie (via YouTube)
Blue BeetleReview: Familia es el Corazón y Alma
Podcast credits and show notes
- Ayla Ruby
- Anthony Flagg
- Wiktor Reinfuss
- Lizzie Hill
Recorded on 08/21/2023
Superhero theme by HumanoideVFX on Pixabay.
Review: Blue Beetle is a Heart-Filled Shot in the Arm for DC Films