Blue Beetle Is Facing Backlash From Comic Book Fans (& It's All About El Paso)

Though Ángel Manuel Soto may have an eye toward creating a unique universe for the Reyes family, comic book fans are definitely dismayed that Jaime's hometown has switched up. Twitter users did not hold back their disappointment in this creative choice.

"Hold up... Blue Beetle is from El Paso, Texas. That said Palmera City... they better [not] have changed it up," said @Kenobi_Shinobi_. In response to an op-ed in Texas Monthly decrying the change, @dansolomon wrote "it is just so vanishingly rare that folks in border communities get to see themselves as the heroes." 

Twitter user @DaBalloonAnimal wondered if the hometown change might be a result of DC Comics hoping to copyright something unique that they could market to fans. Obviously, they cannot copyright a real place or a real town and hope to market it to audience members as a unique property. "it's weird that the setting is going from small Texas town to DC's version of MIAMI/LA," they added.

Soto stressed during the press conference, however, that El Paso is still a huge part of Jaime's life. "That doesn't mean El Paso isn't dope. El Paso is awesome. El Paso is very much present in the life of the family," he said. On August 18, fans will find out if El Paso is done justice at all when "Blue Beetle" hits theaters.