Booster Gold’s Original Costume Back, And I’m Convinced It’s The Secret To DC’s Entire Event

Warning! Spoilers ahead for DC All In Special #1!Not only is fan-favorite hero Booster Gold stepping into the spotlight for DC All In, he’s getting his classic outfit back as well. There’s a lot of questions surrounding the opening chapter of the DC Universe’s newest chapter, and I know this costume change plays a large role in it.

The heroes have survived Amanda Waller’s attack in Absolute Power and it’s a new day in the DC Universe. But peace is ephemeral in their world and as DC All In begins in earnest, Darkseid is returning to upend everything we know. But what is Booster Gold’s role in this and what does it mean for this ambitious new era?

Booster Gold Returns to His Very First Outfit

Booster’s First Visit to the Absolute Universe Results in a Classic Change

In DC All In Special #1 by Joshua Williamson, Scott Snyder, Daniel Sampere, Wes Craig, Dan Mora, Tamra Bonvillain, Alejandro Sánchez, and Steve Wands, it’s been nearly two months since the end of Absolute Power, and to make sure they never get caught off-guard again, the Justice League re-forms bigger and better than ever. They fashion new membership cards and Superman personally gives one to the hero from the future, Booster Gold, who has been waiting for this moment for years.

Booster arrives at the brand-new Watchtower along with hundreds of other heroes. Unfortunately, this momentous occasion is interrupted by Darkseid, who has bonded with the Spectre. After a dramatic fight, the Spectre is removed and Darkseid appears to die. However, the energy left behind leaves tears in the DC Universe, a portal to an unknown world. Mister Terrific analyzes the rifts and discovers that they’re actually a doorway to the Elseworld, a younger Earth that is now radiating with Darkseid’s energy signature. However, only time-travelers can safely pass through the rift, leading Booster Gold to volunteer for the mission.

Booster Gold dives into the rift and successfully winds up on the Elseworld, though several glitches occur during Booster’s travel. His robotic partner Skeets disappears during the journey and Booster’s costume has shifted to his very first outfit. Even stranger, Booster has accidentally time-traveled to this new world’s future. Back in the Prime DC Universe, time appears to skip backwards to before Booster volunteered to leave. And on the Elseworld, Booster discovers Darkseid, but the villain isn’t alone as he has assembled a brand-new version of the Legion of Super-Heroes, armed with Flight Rings bearing Darkseid’s omega symbol.

What is the Absolute Universe and Its Connection to Darkseid?

How Darkseid Created a World in His Image

If you’re a DC fan like I am, you’ve probably been keeping a close eye on any and everything related to DC All In and the new Absolute Universe. But for those who are unfamiliar, DC writers Joshua Williamson and Scott Snyder first revealed details on the their plans for DC All In back in July. This initiative is a gigantic storytelling initiative composed of two parts: Brand-new directions and storylines for the Prime Universe and a new world known as the Absolute Universe featuring dramatically different versions of iconic DC heroes.

While we all got to see plans and designs for these new takes on our favorite heroes, we didn’t know what exactly was going to lead into this new world, though Snyder did hint that this new world was built on ‘Darkseid energy’ in the same way that the Prime Earth was based on Superman. After months of waiting, the dam finally broke and details came out revealing that Darkseid’s death would shape the young, impressionable Elseworld (an Earth created in Snyder’s last big DC event) and turn it into a world that reflected Darkseid’s oppressive ideals.

And yes, we do see that happen here in DC All In Special #1. After Darkseid goes crazy from being cut off from the multiverse, his physical body is destroyed, sending his energy to the Elseworld where it has a dramatic impact on the standard DC timeline. On this Earth, heroes don’t have the things their Prime counterparts do, like Batman’s privileged upbringing or Wonder Woman’s connection with her Amazonian sisters. In this new world, hope is the enemy and turmoil is the natural state of Darkseid’s world.

Booster Gold’s Costume Change is a Crucial Clue

DC All In is Going All Over the DC’s Timeline

I have to say, I was impressed with the DC All In Special #1, but what really drew my attention was Booster’s journey to the Absolute Universe. As cool as it was to see Booster back with his old outfit (and that spiffy collar), I immediately did a double take. Booster somehow winds up in the future of this world, yet he’s somehow regained a costume he hasn’t worn in years. What makes this situation even stranger is that in the Darkseid half of the special, Booster Gold appears to still be wearing his modern outfit (with no distinctive collar).

As I mentioned earlier, there are a few other odd moments, particularly when time appears to skipping around. A panel featuring Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman is repeated right after Batman warns that they can’t lose track of Booster. It’s hard to say what the significance of that repeating conversation is, but perhaps a diverging timeline was just created? Another odd thing of note is that both halves of the special see Booster Gold discovering the modified Flight Rings in the Absolute Universe, but the rings appear on different hands in each story.

DC is On the Precipice of Changing Its Timeline

Booster Gold’s Costume is Just the Start

Now, it’s early in this new era, but I do love making wild theories. It’s pointed out that time is chaotic in the Absolute Universe and a malfunctioning flow of time would explain why Booster traveled to the past while getting his old costume back. We also saw Darkseid’s death create a portal between the Absolute and Prime Universes, the former’s unstable nature could be impacting the latter, explaining why the Trinity’s conversation repeats. Bringing back Booster Gold’s costume isn’t just a fun Easter egg, it’s a hint that big changes could be on the horizon for DC’s timeline.

I don’t want to throw around the word ‘reboot’ just yet, but if there’s one thing that happens when time-travelers are involved, it’s shifts to the timeline (right, Flash?). With Darkseid’s new world already causing minor glitches in reality, I wouldn’t be surprised if we start seeing other alterations to DC continuity like changes to origins, tweaked history, and the like. Of course, that’s just the best case scenario. If Darkseid’s new Absolute Universe isn’t reigned in anytime soon, Booster Gold’s costume switch is going to be the least of anyone’s worries.

DC All In Special #1 is available now from DC Comics.