DC’s Most Important Hero Names the 1 Justice Leaguer He’ll Never Respect

WARNING: Contains Potential Spoilers for DC ALL IN SPECIAL #1!

DC’s ALL IN initiative, set to redefine the DCU for years to come, has arrived, bringing with it the universe’s newly crowned most important hero, who is claiming his spot as the Justice League’s MVP while throwing some hilarious shade at a fellow teammate. This shade makes it clear once and for all that there is one hero in the entirety of the DC Universe that NO ONE respects.

On October 2, 2024, DC’s ALL IN initiative will launch with the highly anticipated release of Scott Snyder, Joshua Williamson, Wes Graig, and Daniel Sampere’s DC ALL IN SPECIAL #1. In the meantime, fans can dive into a sneak peek of the issue below.

The preview showcases the Joshua Williamson and Daniel Sampere-led Alpha half of the story, narrated from Superman’s point of view. Not only does the Man of Steel’s perspective reveal significant developments regarding the new Justice League, but it also teases Booster Gold’s new MVP status within the DCU—though not before the time-traveler takes a moment to throw shade at Green Lantern Guy Gardner.

“Everyone Say ‘Guy Gardner Sucks’”: Not Even Booster Gold–DC’s Resident Screwup–Respects Gardner’s Green Lantern

Booster Gold vs. Guy Gardner: Who Do You Think Is the Better Hero?

Fans and critics alike are all too familiar with Booster Gold’s reputation as a selfish, fame-seeking, self-proclaimed hero. However, the ALL IN Special marks the beginning of a slow process to redefine Michael’s character as he heroically rescues children from a burning building. Instead of turning the rescue into a publicity stunt or soliciting likes and subscribers, he graciously declines such offers from the grateful parents. When his robot companion, Skeets, suggests that Booster at least take a selfie with the family, he obliges, telling everyone to gather in and instructing them to say, “Everyone say ‘Guy Gardner Sucks’” before snapping the picture.

This humorous moment showcases Booster’s growth—demonstrating that he’s not simply chasing fame—while still keeping him true to his stardom-seeking personality. This light-hearted banter also reveals that even Michael, often dismissed as a C-list hero and a “joke” by others, doesn’t respect Guy Gardner, who is equally, if not more, scorned. Consequently, this reorganization of the hero hierarchy in the minds of fans further demotes Guy Gardner. While fans typically rank heroes based on personal preferences, they may soon find it impossible to ignore Booster Gold as DC’s most significant character if the publisher has its way.

Why & How Did Booster Gold Become the Justice League’s Most Important Hero?

Scott Snyder Confirms Booster Gold Will Be the DC Universe’s New MVP

This article makes a monumental claim, labeling Booster Gold as DC’s new MVP. So when did this character transformation occur, and how did fans miss it? To be fair, this revelation hasn’t yet surfaced in the comics; it emerged during a roundtable interview with Scott Snyder and Wes Craig, who spoke with Screen Rant about the changes the ALL IN initiative will bring, including Booster Gold’s newfound significance in DC’s narratives. Snyder emphasized that Booster Gold’s role in DC will be entirely unique, as Michael, being a time-traveler, will bring an unparalleled perspective to the narrative, especially regarding the upcoming creation of the Absolute Universe.

This unparalleled perspective positions Booster as the most important hero in the Justice League, enabling him to provide invaluable insights to its typical leaders—Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman. However, his role is likely to extend beyond mere counsel, as he is likely to be at the center of the action as well, especially since he has been labeled as the bridge between the Absolute Universe and the DC Universe. While the specifics are still emerging, it’s evident that his time-traveling abilities will be vital in facilitating this connection. As a result, Booster is DC’s MVP for the unique contributions he can offer.

“We thought of a lot of different characters you wouldn’t expect to be on [the new Justice League roster], from Ambush Bug to whoever. And then it was kind of like, “You know what? Booster has this really powerful kind of view of it.” Because having been not only a time traveler, but specifically being familiar with this kind of resplendent, Superman-inflected future of Legion, it feels like he would understand this moment in the trajectory of the DCU narrative, and he would see its importance. So if he was kind of both the comical character, you know, who you’re like, how could he be invited? And then you start to get a sense of what it means to him to be here at this moment, because he knows it goes a certain way. And then suddenly, when that moment doesn’t go that way, he understands the gravity of why, and how badly things can go because of that.”

Superman Hand-Delivering Booster Gold’s Justice League Invitation Foreshadows His Upcoming Importance

DC Is Poised to Elevate Booster Gold to A-List Hero Status

In addition to Snyder’s insights on Booster’s newfound importance, fans can also sense this significance from the ALL IN Special preview. The narrative reveals that the Justice League is opening its membership to every hero on Earth. Yet, among all the recipients, Superman chooses to personally deliver one membership card to none other than Booster Gold. This act of singling out Booster seems to foreshadow what Scott Snyder and Wes Craig confirmed in a behind-the-scenes roundtable interview: the time-traveling hero is set to play a central role in the upcoming narratives, making him one of, if not the most important Justice League hero for the foreseeable future.

DC ALL IN SPECIAL #1 is available October 2, 2024, from DC Comics!