Blue Beetle (Charlton, 4th Series)

Before he was added to the DC Universe in the mid-80s, the Blue Beetle was the brainchild of Spider-Man co-creator Steve Ditko for another company. In 1967, Charlton Comics gave the Blue Beetle his own short-lived title. Sharing the same name as a super-hero from the late 30s, Ditko’s Blue Beetle is Ted Kord, a scientific genius and millionaire who fights crime with a variety of high-tech gadgets including a beetle-shaped airship. Although the series only lasted five issues, the Blue Beetle served as the inspiration for Nite Owl in Alan Moore’s landmark mini-series Watchmen.

— Michael Sutton

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#1

Jun 1967

Cover: $0.12

W: Steve Ditko, David Charles Glanzman · A: Steve Ditko

1st appearance of the Question; 1st appearance of the Question (Vic Sage); 1st appearance of the Squid Gang; 1st appearance of Vic Sage; Blue Beetle series continues from Captain Atom (Charlton) #89

1 copy for $318.75
#1 - 2nd printing

Reprints Blue Beetle (Charlton 4th series) #1 with redone cover & $0.35 cover price

Cover: $0.35

W: Steve Ditko, David Charles Glanzman · A: Steve Ditko

Reprints Blue Beetle (Charlton; 1st appearance of the Question; 1st appearance of the Question (Vic Sage); 1st appearance of the Squid Gang; 1st appearance of Vic Sage; (Modern Comics Reprint); ca. 1977

3 copies from $6.50
#3

Oct 1967

Cover: $0.12

W: Steve Ditko, David Charles Glanzman · A: Steve Ditko

1st appearance of the Madmen

1 copy for $26.00
#3 - 2nd printing

$0.35 cover price

Cover: $0.35

W: Steve Ditko, David Charles Glanzman · A: Steve Ditko

Reprints Blue Beetle (Charlton #3 (Oct 1967); 1st Appearance of the Madmen; Modern Comics reprint; ca. 1977

1 copy for $8.00
#5

Jan 1968

Cover: $0.12

W: Steve Ditko, David Charles Glanzman · A: Steve Ditko

1st appearance of the Destroyer of Heroes; Blue Beetle & Question team-up in 1st story; Final issue

1 copy for $24.95