The following contains spoilers for Blue Beetle, in theaters now.
From the trailers alone, it became clear Blue Beetle would produce one of the most bombastic heroes on the big screen. Xolo Maridueña's Jaime Reyes turns out to be this weapon of mass destruction, bonding with an alien Scarab. In the process, he embarks on a journey of growth and self-discovery, learning about the danger of weapons.
Just like the comics and cartoons, there are immense parallels to Iron Man. Sure, Tony Stark's tech is manufactured, not alien, but the principle is there regarding how to deal with these destructive tools. While the MCU played up Iron Man's conscience and evolution as a hero, director Ángel Manuel Soto riffed on some of these themes, making them better in Blue Beetle.
Blue Beetle Understands Responsibility Better
This isn't to knock Tony, but he struggled to grasp the concepts of accountability, transparency, and responsibility. The first film had him realizing his family's war legacy was hurting innocents worldwide. It's why the Ten Rings came after him. But even after, Tony kept making military applications, weapons, and innovative yet scary items like Ultron. He felt he'd have control, but Tony's ego and god complex made him blind to the fact he was seeding out poisons to the world. Even as far back as the Extremis project with Maya Hansen, Tony didn't keep track of things. Despite finding out his misgivings, the narcissist inside told him he was always doing good.
Blue Beetle paints a younger Jaime in a different light. He's inexperienced, but he knows all about owning one's actions. It comes down to him being a poor kid, not a wealthy playboy. Ergo, he's brought up differently, seeing the Edge Keys being mistreated while the elite parts of Palmera City become a neon town in bright lights. Jaime understands socioeconomics, politics, and how cause and effect ripple throughout society. It's why he's scared when he becomes Blue Beetle, wanting to separate from the being. He's not a kid with an ant farm -- which is the disposition Tony has whenever he has a eureka breakthrough.
It's all due to family and community. Granted, Tony was isolated as he didn't have his parents around. But Jaime also loses his dad, Alberto, in Blue Beetle's ending. Yet he takes the job seriously, despite knowing the city wants to exclude his kind. He doesn't become obsessed with science or being a 'cop,' realizing it's better to understand this power before flaunting it or using it in battle. That's the difference between both guys: Tony's ready to unleash weapons half-cocked for the greater good, while Jaime exhibits patience, understanding, and maturity over the fact he can change the world.
Blue Beetle Doesn't Use Science As a Savior
Given that tech and science are significant parts of the Blue Beetle and Iron Man franchises, it makes sense they'd be the engine of the films. Tony tried to use science to course-correct his family's history, creating solutions for the Avengers and the world. But he was so disconnected from the people on the ground, so he was confronted by a mother who warned him he'd never escape the blood on his hands, especially that of children.
This drove Tony to keep taking a scientific approach despite its shortcomings. Tony kept risking things that would backfire because he believed he had to develop an armor around the world. Blue Beetle adopts a different approach with its female philanthropist, Jenny Kord. She wants to undo Victoria Kord's mess with Kord Industries, which involves military projects like Tony's company. It's what Ted Kord (Jenny's dad) would have wanted, helping usher in an era of peace.
It's why Jenny meets Jaime's community in the end, promising to fix back the Reyes house that Victoria's goons destroyed. She wants to connect with the city's lifeblood, which starts with giving Rudy (played by George Lopez) back a truck. She's interested in providing folks jobs and rebuilding the neighborhood on the whole, recognizing the greatest resource is the human one. This kind of assimilation is what Tony lacked, as his kin always stayed in their ivory towers. They had good intentions but lacked the heart, soul, compassion, and empathy Jenny has, as she knows people will always trump science and machinery. To her, she can use her wealth and Ted's empire to fix the world away from weapons on a grounded approach. It's something Ted always wanted, instead of making the place too reliant on science or giving the good guys weapons.
Blue Beetle Has a Better War Aesthetic
While both properties have nuance and substance, it's hard to deny they're steeped in style, too. In Iron Man's case, the razzle-dazzle is thanks to the various eye-popping tech. But his methods are bombastic, and it can sometimes feel a bit perfunctory. He relies on rockets and his blasters, with the occasional brawls against Winter Soldier and Thanos. Blue Beetle, however, is way more dynamic.
Jaime's wars feel like an anime come to life, turning his hands into various weapons, from swords to hammers to blasters. He's the true OMAC of the film, which is what Carapax wants to be. To top it off, the Scarab gives him a martial arts aesthetic, making the fight sequences richer and like a fast-paced spectacle. Jaime also uses Scorpion's "Get Over Here!" move from Mortal Kombat, which ultimately affirms Blue Beetle is more fluid. It comes down to the essence of these characters. Tony is badass, but Jaime feels like a cyberpunk comic book superhero the way he cuts loose, crafting a grandiose, escapist vibe like no other.
Blue Beetle is now playing in theaters.