Blue Beetle #5

Part of DC's New 52 initiative, Blue Beetle #5 puts Jaime Reyes' moral code front and center with a cover that hits hard. Tyler Kirkham and Sal Regla's cover depicts Blue Beetle looming over a bloodied, unconscious figure cradled in his arms, his scarab armor bristling with jagged mandibles as the stark red background amplifies the weight of the moment — and the bold challenge "Heroes Don't Kill!" hangs over the scene like a verdict. Writer Tony Bedard and artist Ig Guara continue their New 52 take on the teen hero in "Heartless," a story whose title alone suggests Jaime is being pushed somewhere he never intended to go.