In a move that few fans saw coming, Blue Beetle's entry from last year's Round Robin tournament is getting a full comic release. The shocking announcement is a game-changer for any participant that doesn't go all the way in the intense competition.
DC began its game in 2021 with a lineup of 16 potential titles that fans could vote for which one they'd like to see get a full series. The field was littered with a mix of well-known heroes to characters that haven't starred in a book in years. Though fan-favorite Jaime Reyes made it to the third round with Blue Beetle: Graduation Day, it lost to Suicide Squad Seven, which in turn lost to the competition to Robins. There were a number of raw feelings among fans who thought smaller titles never stood a chance against pitches with more popular characters.
Despite only one ongoing 2022 Round Robin would be released as six-page stories.
This is a particularly notable moment as no series that has been eliminated from either Round Robin tournament has been brought back. The closest fans have come to seeing a title get another chance was when Justice League Queer reappeared in 2021's DC Pride #1 and Tis the Season to Be Freezin' #1. Beyond that, the pitches have remained unused, making Blue Beetle's new series a victory for every story concept that doesn't win the Round Robin.
Fans have had a number of issues with the Round Robin competition, from pitting creative teams against one another to unfairly putting books with less popular characters up against fan-favorites. The teasing nature of the tournament has also rubbed fans the wrong way, showing off art and story pages from books that have a very low chance of winning. Bringing Blue Beetle: Graduation Day back isn't just a good thing for fans of Jaime Reyes, it's a good way of restoring confidence in the Round Robin. If fans know their preferred title still has a chance of seeing publication, they're much more likely to embrace the spirit of the competition, even if their pick doesn't win the tournament. The release of Blue Beetle: Graduation Day is a great way for DC to show that they are listening to the fans who participate in the Round Robin.
Source: DC
