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Unhappy Valentine’s Day to Firehawk and Booster Gold

We’ve got a special Valentine’s Day treat for you today… a crossover! Everybody loves a crossover!   Today we’ve teamed up with our good buddy Walter from BOOSTERRIFIC to discuss the self-destructive romance between Firehawk and Booster Gold.

Firehawk and Booster Gold

Let’s face it, everyone makes a relationship mistake at some point.  You look back years later and wonder, “What was I thinking?!?!”  Well, Firehawk’s relationship mistake was Booster Gold.   Let’s take a look at how it all began…

FIRESTORM vol II #100 (August 1990) – EXTREME JUSTICE #0 (January 1995)

Firestorm #100 - Ron Raymond and Lorraine Reilly

At the close of Firestorm #100, it looked like Ron Raymond and Lorraine Reilly (a.k.a. Firehawk) were headed for relationship bliss.  Sadly, by Extreme Justice #0 Ron was most definitely flying solo.  That means that either Ron and Lorraine didn’t work out as a couple, or they never really got off the ground.  They seemed like a match made in heaven.  We may never know what happened between these nuclear paramours, but it’s probably safe to say that Firehawk was lonely and vulnerable afterward.  That would help explain what happened next…

CHASE #4 (May 1998)

The Teen Titans (the Dan Jurgens team, led by an age-reduced Atom) were making a public appearance when Booster Gold arrived to grab some of their spotlight.  Oh Booster, you shameless glory-hound!   Without warning, a group of supervillains attacked!  At the same time, Firehawk arrived on the scene apparently with the intention of trying out for the Teen Titans.  It was a hard-fought battle, but in the end the Titans, Booster, and Firehawk prevailed.  Booster even managed to save Firehawk’s life, which clearly impressed the young lady.

Chase #4: Firehawk and Booster Gold meet for the first time

Chase #4: Firehawk and Booster Gold meet for the first time

Lorraine was swept off her feet by Booster.  I suppose it’s understandable.  He was a handsome, charming guy that had just saved her life.  A partnership was formed, and something a little more.

I want you to notice a particular line.  One of the first things Booster says to Lorraine is, “You’re, uh, seeing Firestorm or something, right?” Sort of an abrupt question to ask a young lady at a moment like that, one that I’ll address in just a bit.

After their meeting in Chase #4, Booster Gold and Firehawk became quite the celebrity couple.  The press dubbed them “Red and Gold”, a pun on the old “Blue and Gold” duo of Blue Beetle and Booster Gold.  The crazy part is that Firehawk isn’t red!!!  Booster and Firehawk both wear blue and gold!  They say love is blind, perhaps journalists are too.

One thing that has always bothered me about this issue is that Firehawk was planning to try out for the Teen Titans.  The TEEN Titans!?!?!  Firehawk is at least college-aged, why would she be interested in hanging with a bunch of high school kids?  If she’d never shown up to meet the Titans, she would have saved herself a bunch of heartache.

DCU Heroes Secret Files and Origins #1 (February 1999)

Booster Gold and Firehawk’s off-again/on-again romance continued for a few years.

DCU Heroes Secret Files and Origins 1999: Chase asks about Firehawk and Booster Gold

Guide to the DC Universe 2000 Secret Files & Origins #1 (March 2000)

On one particular occasion, there was a very uncomfortable confrontation between Firehawk and Firestorm about Booster Gold.

Guide to the DC Universe 2000 Secret Files: Higher Learning with Firestorm, Firehawk, and Booster Gold

Guide to the DC Universe 2000 Secret Files: Higher Learning with Firestorm, Firehawk, and Booster Gold

Guide to the DC Universe 2000 Secret Files: Higher Learning with Firestorm, Firehawk, and Booster Gold

THE END OF THE ROMANCE

Booster Gold and Firehawk were last seen together as a couple in the scenes above from the Guide to the DC Universe 2000 Secret Files & Origins #1.  By Formerly Known as the Justice League #1 (September 2003), Booster was in a relationship with a woman more than 30 years his age.  In classic Booster style, he was using the older woman for her money.  Classy, Booster; real classy.  Obviously his relationship with Firehawk had ended prior to that point.  Their relationship is never really mentioned again, but Firehawk did direct a snarky comment towards him in 52 #1 (July 2006).

52 #1 - Booster Gold and Firehawk

This panel seems to imply that Firehawk and Booster Gold’s relationship didn’t end well.  No real shocker there.

OH FIREHAWK, WHY BOOSTER GOLD?

Firehawk is a bright lady.  Why, oh why did she have to fall for a lecher like Booster?  People often make mistakes in love, but this was a big one.

Booster Gold is best known for his love of three things: 1) gorgeous women, 2) money, and 3) fame.  Without a doubt, Firehawk is an attractive woman.  Additionally, the Reilly family is loaded!  Firehawk’s father was a Senator for goodness sake.  You know she’s gotta have a healthy trust fund or dowry stashed away.  It seems pretty obvious to me that Booster had ulterior motives for trying to get into Firehawk’s nuclear hot-pants.

REVENGE ON FIRESTORM?

Remember the line Booster asked Firehawk, “You’re, uh, seeing Firestorm or something, right?” Seemed like an odd question at the time, right?  Well, it just so happens that Booster and Firestorm had some bad blood between them.  So beyond Firehawk’s hotness and financial wealth, perhaps Booster pursued the nuclear princess in an effort to get back at Firestorm.  Maybe Booster saw this as a chance to steal Firestorm’s “girl”!

Here are a couple examples of Firestorm and Booster Gold clashing back in the Extreme Justice days.

Extreme Justice #10 (November 1995)

Extreme Justice #10 Featuring Booster Gold, Blue Beetle and Firestorm

Extreme Justice #10 Featuring Booster Gold, Blue Beetle and Firestorm

Extreme Justice #12 (January 1996)

Extreme Justice #12 featuring Booster Gold, Blue Beetle, and Firestorm

Extreme Justice #12 featuring Booster Gold, Blue Beetle, and Firestorm

Extreme Justice #12 featuring Booster Gold, Blue Beetle, and Firestorm

In both instances, Firestorm was definitely teasing Booster.  No way around that.  Firestorm was being a jerk.  It’s kind of surprising that Ron picked on Booster so much, especially after Booster’s sidekick Skeets helped Ron through his cancer treatments.  However, was anything Firestorm did REALLY that out-of-line?  Think of all the pranks Booster played during the JLI days.  Firestorm’s hijinks were nowhere near Booster’s accomplishments.  Were harmless jokes such as these truly motivation enough to actively pursue Firestorm’s lost love?  Does some macho teasing justify breaking Firehawk and Firestorm’s hearts even further than they already were?  I don’t think so Booster.  I just don’t think so.

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY FIREHAWK

Without a doubt, Firehawk is better off without Booster in her life.  I’m not sure who Firehawk is spending Valentine’s Day with this year, but I wish her a very happy one.   Who knows, now that Ronnie is back amongst the living, perhaps they’ll give their relationship another try.

Now this is just my take on the situation. Be sure to head over to BOOSTERRIFIC today to read Walter’s take on the doomed romance. My thanks to Walter for joining me in today’s crossover!

Support Firestorm and Firehawk (but not Booster Gold)!  Fan the flame!

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4 Comments

  1. Who knows, now that Ronnie is back amongst the living, perhaps they’ll give their relationship another try.

    Could be awkward. Firehawk was a senator as of the Jason Rusch Firestorm comic, and senators have to be at least 30 years old. Ronnie, on the other hand, actually seems to have regressed in age post-Blackest Night.

    Of course, Lorraine was always a few years older than Ronnie, but if the regression theory (I admit it’s more implied than outright stated) is correct….

  2. David H. says:

    as we can see here indeed art imitates life.

  3. Robert Gross says:

    It doesn’t make sense to me at all. Lorraine was the daughter of “the most liberal senator in the senate” and herself was always an idealist. What she would see in a money-grubbing materialistic jerk like Booster Gold is beyond me.

  4. […] and Booster Gold’s botched romance. You can read Firehawk’s perspective here on FIRESTORM FAN, and then check out Booster Gold’s perspective over on […]

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