Excellent athlete, acrobat, and hand-to-hand combatant
Possesses advanced weapons and equipment
Highly skilled spy, pilot
Theodore Stephen "Ted"Kord[a] is the second fictional character to use the identity ofBlue Beetle, asuperhero who was originally published byCharlton Comics and later acquired byDC Comics.[1] He was created bySteve Ditko and first appeared as a back-up feature inCaptain Atom #83 (November 1966), withGary Friedrich scripting from Ditko's conception and plot.
Ted Kord was a genius-level inventor and a gifted athlete, sharing much more in common withDan Garret, theFox 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 inCaptain Atom #83–86 (November 1966 – June 1967) before getting his ownBlue Beetle title,[2] which ran for 5 issues between June 1967 and November 1968. A sixth issue was produced, but published in theCharlton Portfolio byCPL Gang. TheQuestion ran as a backup series, with the fifth issue featuring a quasi-team-up in which the Blue Beetle story continues in part in theQuestion tale.
An origin was given inSecret Origins vol. 2, #2, linking him to the original Blue Beetle. Ted was a former student ofDan Garrett, and they were investigating his uncleJarvis 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 comicCharlton Bullseye featured a team-up of the Blue Beetle and the Question. Later,AC Comics would publish a story intended forCharlton Bullseye inAmericomics #3, and a one-shot of a team-up of all the Charlton "Action Heroes" called theSentinels of Justice, as the company called its lineup. Upon losing Blue Beetle, AC Comics created a similar character calledScarlet Scorpion.
DC Comics acquired the Charlton heroes in the mid-1980s and used theCrisis on Infinite Earthscrossover event to integrate them all into the DC Universe. During this period, Ted Kord had his ownBlue Beetle series, written byLen Wein,[4] which ran for 24 issues from June 1986 to May 1988. Also published during this time wasSecret Origins #2 (cover illustrated byGil Kane), which explained the origins and careers of the Ted Kord and Dan Garrett Blue Beetles in the post-Crisiscontinuity. 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 theLegends) Ted was more often portrayed as a second string joke. He was short on money, leading to his entering "get-rich-quick" schemes withBooster Gold. A brief appearance inJLA: 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 ofWayne Enterprises, headed by Bruce Wayne /Batman.
Kord is probably best known as the wisecracking Blue Beetle ofKeith Giffen andJ. M. DeMatteis' lighthearted, five-year run on variousJustice League of America titles (notablyJustice 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 untilJustice League America #113.Dan Jurgens tied "The Death of Superman" storyline intoJLA, in whichDoomsday 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 asExtreme Justice.[5]
Kord then entered a period of relative obscurity. TheminiseriesThe LAW (Living Assault Weapons) reunited him and the other heroes acquired from Charlton, but the series met with critical disfavor.[citation needed]
In July 2003, Giffen, DeMatteis, and originalJLI artistKevin Maguire reunited for the six-issue miniseriesFormerly 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 sequelstory arcI Can't Believe It's Not the Justice League was initially slated as a second miniseries, but instead ran delayed inJLA: Classified #4–9 (2005).
Ted made several appearances inBirds 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 inValhalla 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]
InHeroes 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 theHall of Justice.[16]
InDark Nights: Death Metal, Blue Beetle is imprisoned onApokolips afterThe 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]
TheCharlton 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 theQuestion, as well as a brief appearance byCaptain Atom. Volume 1 of the archive contained nearly all of Captain Atom's Charlton stories and a brief appearance by Nightshade.
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 teammateGuy Gardner claims that Ted was smarter thanBatman, "although nobody ever noticed".[23] Kord was an Olympic-level acrobat and skilled hand-to-hand combatant, having studied in the martial arts ofkarate[24] andaikido.[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]
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'sairship, 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 toMister Miracle's flight discs used throughout the entireExtreme Justice run[30] and claimed to Barbara Gordon that he could keep the Birds of Prey jet flying 24-7 with technology based on theNew Gods'Mother Boxes.[21]
As aBlack 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 theSupernova suit.[12]
Ted Kord appears inKingdom 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 inJustice Riders as an inventor who teams up with Booster Gold.[33]
A future variant of Ted Kord appears inJustice 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]
Several alternative variants of Ted Kord appear inCountdown: Arena, most prominently an anthropomorphic blue beetle named Ted who serves as the pet of Mr. and Mrs. Kord fromEarth-33 who is forced to fight for a role in theMonarch's army, during which the latter kills him.[36][37]
Ted Kord appears in theSmallville episode "Booster", portrayed bySebastian 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 hiresBooster 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 inBatman: The Brave and the Bold, voiced byWil 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 uncleJarvis Kord from obtaining the scarab, which eventually came into Jaime Reyes' possession.
Ted Kord / Blue Beetle makes non-speaking appearances inYoung Justice.[39] This version was a member of theJustice 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 byDeathstroke andSportsmaster and sacrificed himself to prevent them from obtaining the Scarab.
Ted Kord makes a vocal cameo appearance in the mid-credits scene ofBlue Beetle, voiced by Bobby McGruther.[45] This version was previously based in Palmera City before disappearing sometime prior to the film, leaving behind an older sister and daughter namedVictoria andJenny Kord (portrayed bySusan Sarandon andBruna Marquezine respectively).[46][47]
Ted Kord appears inInjustice 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. AfterBooster Gold informs him of his impending death, Kord reassumes the Blue Beetle mantle, but is attacked and abducted by theLeague of Assassins, who taskKiller Croc andOrca 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.
This version of Blue Beetle has been ranked as the 61st-greatest comic book character of all time.[54] AnIGN ranking stated that his intelligence, his "bwahahha" antics, his endearing partnership with Booster Gold, and his brave sacrifice during the build-up toInfinite Crisis all serve to cement his legacy.[55]
^In many stories and character entries, it is noted that "Ted" is an abbreviated form of "Theodore", but inChuck Dixon'sBirds of Prey,Barbara Gordon states that "Ted" is actually short for "Edward". InCountdown to Infinite Crisis, the wizardShazam repeatedly addresses Ted as "Theodore Kord"; andCheckmate's profile of Blue Beetle also lists him as such.
^Booster Gold vol. 2, #26, shows his tombstone engraved with the "Theodore Stephen Kord" name.
^McAvennie, Michael; Dolan, Hannah (2010). "1960s".DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle.Dorling Kindersley. p. 123.ISBN978-0-7566-6742-9.After Ted Kord assumed the scarab as Blue Beetle in a back-up feature ofCaptain Atom #83, writer/artist Steve Ditko and co-writer "D.C. Glanzman" (who was actually Ditko) launched the Blue Beetle into his own series.
^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".
^Beatty, Scott (2008). "Extreme Justice". In Dougall, Alastair (ed.).The DC Comics Encyclopedia. New York: Dorling Kindersley. p. 117.ISBN978-0-7566-4119-1.OCLC213309017.
^abcde"Blue Beetle / Ted Kord Voices (DC Universe)". Behind The Voice Actors. RetrievedApril 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.
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