The current lineup of the DCU is pretty straightforward. Everyone knows the power set of Superman, Batman, The Flash, and Wonder Woman. Jaime Reyes, the third Blue Beetle, is a more recent addition to the DC Comics Universe, and he's about to be introduced to a much larger audience. The powers of the scarab are a bit more complicated than super strength or laser eyes.
Blue Beetle is the last vestige of the old DCEU, which is now in the messy process of becoming the DCU. Under new leader James Gunn, it's hard to know what Jaime's position will be. Fans have been eagerly awaiting the big-screen debut of this unique hero for years, and there is so much fun to be had with his strange power set.
What are Blue Beetle's Powers?
Jaime Reyes is an ordinary teenager who lives in Texas. His sudden changes occur after a mysterious alien scarab beetle bonds to his spine. The scarab, known as Khaji Da, was designed as a weapon by an alien species called the Reach. The Reach were defeated in combat thousands of years ago, forcing them to act covertly in their later attempts to take over the universe. The scarab is one of their infiltration tools. They're meant to land on a hostile planet, bond with a host, and force them to conquer the world from within. Khaji Da was damaged before it could find a host. When it finally bonds with Jaime, it can only forge a symbiotic relationship, leaving Jaime with his free will and a few new capabilities.
Khaji Da gives Jaime access to a suit of armor equipped with several weapons and tools. The armor enhances Jaime's physical capabilities and protects him from almost everything. With the suit, Jaime can survive extreme conditions, the vacuum of space, and other inhospitable environments. Its enhanced communications allow it to serve as a universal translator and a universal controller of almost all technology. It can absorb almost any form of energy and redirect it into blasts, solid constructs, and impenetrable shields. The Blue Beetle armor's most iconic ability is shape-shifting. With a thought, Jaime's gear can form swords, shields, claws, grappling hooks, energy cannons, and much more. There's no limit to what he can create with the scarab. It can form wings and jet engines to fly, vibrate fast enough to phase through solid objects, or teleport by slipping between universes. It's one of the biggest physical threats in the franchise, but it's also a capable tactician.
Beyond all the weapons and mobility options, the scarab is an all-purpose problem-solver. Without any input from the host, the scarab can adapt to fight any foe. Khaji Da automatically scans everyone Jaime encounters, providing more information than he knows what to do with. In addition, the scarab can communicate with Jaime telepathically. Jaime can identify a person's superhuman powers and unique weaknesses at a glance. The suit will form countermeasures against any being. The suit has accurately countered more powerful metahumans like The Flash, Green Lantern, and even Superman. Blue Beetle is an extremely capable warrior who has everything he needs to defeat almost any foe.
Does Blue Beetle have any Weaknesses?
There are a few imperfections in the Blue Beetle's armor. Most notably, it's made of Reach tech. Any other weapon made by this powerful race of conquerors can pierce the armor and endanger Jaime's life. Khaji Da is hard-wired to avoid damaging anything natural, so an opponent like Swamp Thing would likely render Blue Beetle useless. In addition, the scarab is a technological marvel, but it has very little understanding of magic. When Jaime is confronted by a sorcerer, Khaji Da will often panic and fail to respond. This problem isn't consistent, as the armor has fabricated anti-magic contingencies in the past. In some cases, a sufficiently powerful magnet can disrupt the scarab's scanning function. This would leave Jaime without the knowledge he needs to win most fights. The scarab also has a strange relationship with the Green Lanterns. It originally disobeyed orders and forced Jaime to retreat whenever he saw John Stewart or Guy Gardner, but it now tries to kill them. Finally, like the Green Lanterns' ring, the scarab is partially dependent on imagination. If the suit can't think its way out of a problem, it's up to Jaime to figure it out. The suit can do anything he asks, but he must have the creativity to make it happen.
Blue Beetle is one of the most fascinating superheroes in DC's back catalog. There's so much that can be done with the idea of a shape-shifting alien suit of armor and a capable teenager in the driving seat. It's so much more than wings, lasers, and swords. The Blue Beetle can do almost anything as long as Jaime and Khaji Da can work together.