Dan Garrett was the first Blue Beetle, created by Charles Nicholas Wojtkoski in 1939. This archaeologist gained powers from a mystical scarab, but his legacy was buried under decades of continuity. While Ted Kord and Jaime Reyes have their space, Garrett is almost a myth within the DC universe.
The original scarab and its mystical technology 🪲
Garrett did not use a biomechanical suit like Jaime Reyes. His power came from an ancient scarab that granted him superhuman strength and limited flight. Wojtkoski designed him as a pulp hero, without the backing of a high-tech suit. Today, that concept of a mystical artifact clashes with the alien explanations that DC later consolidated.
The first scarab was erased from the map 🏛️
Dan Garrett is the poor relation of the Blue Beetles. While Ted Kord was a genius without powers and Jaime is the cosmic heir, Garrett was left with a scarab that seemed pulled from a flea market. DC has resurrected him a couple of times, but always with the same role: being the grandfather no one invites to the superhero family dinner.