Comic Title: Blue Beetle #8
Publisher: DC (DC Comics Inc.)
Address: 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY
Cover Date: January 1987
On Sale Date: October 9, 1986 Newsstand Date October 9, 1986
Source: DC Releases, #32

Newsstand Date October 9, 1986
Source: Amazing Heroes, #101

Shipping Date September 16, 1986
Source: Amazing Heroes, #101

Shipping Date September 16, 1986
Source: DC Releases, #32

Shipping Date September 16, 1986
Source: Comics Journal, #110

Copyright Date September 16, 1986
Source: Library of Congress, Copyright Office 1986
DC publication dates beyond April 1981 listed by the LoC
represent shipping dates NOT newsstand sale dates

Frequency: Monthly
Cover Price: $0.75
Page Count: 32
Editor: Karen Berger

Title: "Henchman"
Pages: 22

Feature(s):
Blue Beetle (Ted Kord Post-Crisis)

Writer: Len Wein
Penciller: Paris Cullins
Inker: Dell Barras
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Carl Gafford

Reprinted In:
Showcase Presents:Blue Beetle TPB (2015)

Feature Character(s)

• Blue Beetle (earliest chronological appearance; next appearance in Legends #2)

Guest Star(s)

• Ed Buckley (a henchman; no further appearances)

Supporting Character(s)

• Curt Calhoun (first post-Crisis appearance; next appearance in Blue Beetle #9)
• Melody Case (first post-Crisis appearance; next appearance in Blue Beetle #9)

Villain(s)

• Calculator (first post-Crisis appearance; next appearance in Hero Hotline #6)
• Several henchmen (Rudy, Frankie, and Andy named; no further appearances)

Other Character(s)

• Doris Buckley and Katie (Ed's wife and daughter; no further appearances)

Comments:
This issue is the first post-Crisis issue of Blue Beetle. Though his adventures appear to be a direct continuation from previous issues, the post-Crisis Blue Beetle is considered to be entirely independent from his Merged Earth counterpart.

Blue Beetle's first post-Crisis appearance was in Legends #2 which went on sale before this issue, but events in this story precede the Legends series.

Synopsis:
Ed Buckley, a former super-villain henchman, pursues a job at Kord Omniversal Research and Development after his release from prison. When he doesn't get the job he reluctantly accepts a job opportunity as a henchman for the Calculator. The crooks attempt to rob a Consumer Electronics Show where Ted Kord is in attendance. Ted becomes the Blue Beetle and tries to stop the robbery. When the crooks have him caught, Buckley helps the Beetle get free. Calculator then attacks Buckley before being defeated by Blue Beetle. After the fight, the Blue Beetle offers to speak on Buckley behalf at trial and promises him a job working for Kord.