While DC has faced significant challenges in 2023, with both Shazam! Fury of the Gods and The Flash underperforming at the box office, the newly established DC Studios aims to turn things around with the release of Blue Beetle this summer
. This sci-fi action-adventure film is set to hit theaters in August, and Warner Bros. has begun building up the marketing campaign. As part of this effort, McFarlane Toys has introduced a lineup of action figures for Blue Beetle, and now Funko has joined the fray by revealing the latest Pop wave featuring the beloved DC hero.
The Pop collection includes figures of Blue Beetle, the superhero’s civilian identity Jaime Reyes, and the film’s antagonist, Conrad Carapax. What’s more, there is a special Chase variant of Blue Beetle that glows in the dark. Additionally, GameStop will exclusively offer a Pop version of Blue Beetle with his iconic cannon weapon.
The heroic action doesn’t stop there, as Funko also presents a line of Soda vinyl figures featuring Blue Beetle, Jaime Reyes, and Conrad Carapax. The Soda figures include Chases such as a glow-in-the-dark Blue Beetle, Jaime holding his iconic blue scarab, and Conrad Carapax in his villainous armor. Moreover, there’s an adorable Amazon exclusive Soda figure of Jaime’s Nana. Finally, the collection is rounded off with a Pop keychain of Blue Beetle in the classic “superhero landing” pose.
The film follows Jaime Reyes (portrayed by Xolo Maridueña), the second Blue Beetle, who discovers a mysterious blue alien scarab that grants him a super suit with extraordinary abilities like flight, weapon conjuring, and super strength. Jaime must learn to control his newfound powers, which sometimes have a will of their own, while also navigating the challenges of young adulthood.
Although this premise has been explored in the comic book genre before, Blue Beetle holds special significance as the first big-budget blockbuster featuring a Latino superhero in a leading role. The film’s impact on representation in the major Hollywood landscape cannot be underestimated. Furthermore, the cast, which includes George Lopez, Susan Sarandon, Adriana Barraza, Bruna Marquezine, and Becky G, is truly remarkable. Given DC’s recent struggles, it will be fascinating to see how Blue Beetle performs at the box office. Hopefully, the film will receive a fair chance, as the character and his lore are among DC’s most cherished hidden gems.
Blue Beetle is set to soar into theaters on August 18, 2023. In the meantime, you can pre-order the film’s Funko figures on Entertainment Earth’s website. Take a look at the Funko collection and watch the trailer for Blue Beetle below:
