 
The Brave and The Bold

From Silent Knight to Dark Knight

by Michael Curry

Smashwords edition

Copyright 2014

_The Brave and the Bold_ & Batman are trademarks of DC Comics. All characters shown are TM & © DC Comics.

The Brave and the Bold, Batman, Justice League of America, Teen Titans, Silent Knight, the Viking Prince, the Suicide Squad, Hawkman, Metamorpho, Strange Sports Stories, Golden Gladiator, Starman, Black Canary and the Viking Prince and all characters associated or otherwise herein are trademarks of DC Comics. All associated artwork reproduced in this work is © DC Comics. All reproductions in this historical overview/index of the _Brave and the Bold_ and related magazines are copyright by the respective copyright holders, as indicated in conjunction with the individual illustrations or photographs, and are used here strictly for historical purposes and under the "Fair Use" doctrine of 17 USC 106 & 106a for the purposes of criticism and comment.

Regardless of copyright status, the author thanks all the creators who poured themselves through their work into each and every four-colored hero and villain mentioned in this index. I wish I could list you all and do justice to your fantastic work.

Discover other titles by Michael Curry:

Abby's Road, the Long & Winding Road to Adoption; & How Facebook, Aquaman & Theodore Roosevelt Helped

and

Toddler TV: A Befuddled Father's Guide to What the Kids are Watching

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Michael G. Curry

PO Box 93

Mount Vernon, IL 62864

(618) 246-1296

michael.64.curry@gmail.com

Table of Contents

Note from the author

Dedication

Blazing Adventures: Of silent knights and princes named Jon

Showcase: Of Strange Suicide Squad Stories Inside Earth

The Team-Up Years 1: The World's Greatest Super Heroes

The Team-Up Years 2: Lo, There Shall Come a Dark Knight!

The Team-Up Years 3: Coasting

The Team-Up Years 4: The Long Goodbye

Appendices

Errata, Additional and Supplemental

Final Tally

Tale of the Tape

Batman Family

Later Volumes of The Brave and The Bold

The Brave and The Bold (1991)

The Brave and The Bold: Flash and Green Lantern (1999)

The Silver Age: Brave & Bold (July 2000)

Brave & Bold Annual 1969 (2001)

The Brave and The Bold (2007 series)

Batman: The Brave and The Bold (animated series)

Reruns

Australian-Rules Brave & Bold

About the Author

Connect with Me!

Other Books by the Author

Abby's Road

Toddler TV

Note from the Author

Regarding the use of italics - I try to _italicize_ the title of every comic or magazine. This will clear any confusion between a comic title and a character. When I refer to Wonder Woman the character, she is not italicized; when I refer to her comic book, I italicze it - _Wonder Woman_.

_The Brave and the Bold_ is referred to in many different ways here: _The Brave and the Bold, Brave and Bold, The Brave & the Bold, B&B_, etc. They all mean the same comic book series.

I may have missed a few and I apologize for the errors.

Dedication

To my dad who brought home stacks and stacks of comic books when I was a kid for me to enjoy!

And to my departed mother for selling them at yard sales for a nickel. Not that I'm bitter ... I've spent a fortune replacing them over the decades yet I would shred them all for five more minutes with her.

And as always everything I do is dedicated to my two lovely ladies - my wife Esther and my daughter Abby. I love you both with all my heart and soul!

Blazing Adventures

Of silent knights and princes named Jon

"Invitation" the comic cover called out amidst its four-color characters: "If you dream of riding in a thundering chariot – if you yearn to explore unknown seas – if you are ready to wield a clashing sword to guard an astounding secret – then – The Golden Gladiator, The Viking Prince, and The Silent Knight invite you to join them in blazing adventures from now on as a member of – THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD!"

In May 1955 the first issue of _The Brave and The Bold_ hit the nation's news stands. It was published by National Periodicals (only in the late 1970s did it legally become known as DC Comics) with an August 1955 cover month (hereafter the cover date will be used – keep in mind the date the comic was actually able to be purchased by eager readers would have been months earlier). To introduce new readers to the National Comics line, #1 featured ads for comics featuring their two biggest characters, Superman and Batman, in _Action Comics_ (#206) and _Detective Comics_ (#221) respectively.

Although the number of total comics published in the 1950s was more than at any time in history until the 1990s, the number of super-heroes was at its lowest. The funny-animal strip characters the Fox and the Crow appeared in as many comics as Batman – a feat unthinkable today.

A few years ago DC comics "rebooted" all of its titles starting at #1. If you don't count the renumbering, there are only five comics published in August 1955 that are still being published today, give or take a hiatus or restructuring of a few months. As you might guess they were the icons of the four-color world _Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman_ (although it was also "cancelled" and restarted as #1 during the 1980s, too, so does it count?), _Detective Comics and Action Comics_. The only other superhero magazines at the time were _Adventure Comics, World's Finest_ (these latter two featured Superboy and the Superman-Batman respectively, aiding their survival – no one bought _World's Finest_ to read Green Arrow), and Quality Comics' _Plastic Man_ , but that would be cancelled within two years.

A list of National's other comics published when _B &B_ #1 hit the stands show the typical range of comic book readers at the time: _A Date with Judy, Our Army at War, Our Fighting Forces, All American Men of War, The Adventures of Bob Hope, The Adventures of Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Peter Porkchops, Fox & Crow, Frontier Fighters, Tomahawk, House of Mystery, Mystery in Space, My Greatest Adventures, Showcase, Strange Adventures, Star Spangled War Stories, Real Screen Comics, Western Comics and All-Star Western_. I may have missed some. National staples _Sugar & Spike_ (in their own comic) and _Tales of the Unexpected_ had yet to debut. Quality was still publishing magazines later taken over by National Comics: _GI Combat, Plastic Man, Blackhawk_ and _Robin Hood_ and some romance titles.

Obviously, grown men in underwear and capes were not on the priority list of comic book publishers. Captain Marvel and other Fawcett heroes had been cancelled due to National's extensive (and expensive) litigation; Timely's Captain America, Human Torch and Submariner were revived a few times in the fifties without success.

New to comics at the time was the Comics Code Authority -- a group created to regulate the content of comic books to prevent the government from doing it -- ensured no further sexual exploitation, gruesome and/or violent activity or any fun at all would be depicted in comic books. This rang the death knell for EC Comics and drove their readership underground for the next thirty years.

The first volley of the superhero revival would be fired two months later with _Showcase_ #4 and the return of the Flash, ushering in the Silver Age of Comics. _B &B_ #1 and _Showcase_ #3 shared the newsstands.

_B &B_ #1 was a fairly typical comic for its day – focussing on swashbuckling sword operas – where adventures abound in ancient bygone days. Heroes were beyond reproach, their allies no less than absolutely trustworthy, sneering villains were ingenious yet always fallible and damsels were always, always, in distress.

Until issue #16 there were three stories per issue, along with the mandatory page of text (to allow comics to be mailed at magazine subscription rates) and a one-page humorous "cartoony" strips.

Texts in issues 1 – 24 include descriptions of battles, weaponry and peoples, cultures and specific heroes and villains of Roman and Medieval times. Single page comics ranged from public service cartoons regarding the International Labor Organization, going back to school, Pennies for Unicef, National Brotherhood Week and getting a library card. There were also humorous knight cartoons scattered throughout the twenty-four issue run.

The first issue's cover showed all three features in action blurbs (National having no idea yet which of the three would be the star of the magazine) – covers afterward would feature only one star, with banners proclaiming the adventures of the other two.

***

Just from observing the covers, it would appear the Silent Knight was the star attraction. Including #1, he appeared on eleven of the first fifteen covers and again in issues #18 and 20. Only Batman appeared on the cover of _B &B_ more times.

And with good reason: the Silent Knight feature was certainly the most colorful and energetic of the features in this period. Bright red and blue hoods and capes abounded in the days of Camelot; as young Prince Brian Kent was trained in the ways of knighthood and leadership until he could ascend the thrown on his eighteenth birthday. In the meantime, wicked Sir Oswald controlled the kingdom. To help the oppressed, young Brian assumed the red mantle of a knight, but as he stated in every issue, "Now I must remain mute, lest my voice reveal my true identity!"

With the aid of his trusty horse and falcon, Brian fought brigands, Oswald's henchmen and even some Knights of the Round Table to keep the peace. Ever attracted to the fair lady Celia, she had eyes only for the Silent Knight (this plot devise being a comic staple). At times it seemed very superheroic – Brian had to sneak away to change into the Silent Knight. Often Celia tried to prove Brian and Silent Knight were one and the same, only to be fooled into thinking otherwise. Lois Lane and Clark Kent – no relation to Brian (not at the time - DC missed that obvious twist for decades and only hinted at it in _The Brave and The Bold_ 2007 series #10) – had been going round and round with this plot devise for seventeen years by now!).

Silent Knight appeared twenty-two times in _Brave and Bold_ ; as many as the more popular Viking Prince. The stories were written by Robert Kanigher and sometimes by Bob Haney and were drawn mostly by the legendary Irv Novick (a few stories were drawn by Russ Heath). Novick's art style fit the feature perfectly – as clean and brightly colorful as the Cinemascope movies "Ivanhoe" and "Robin Hood" from which Silent Knight was inspired. Scale armor was painstakingly detailed as were the weapons of the period. Later, more fantasy-based stories focussing on dragons and magical beasts certainly did not dampen the spirit of the comic. One could almost hear the orchestra swelling during the jousting and hand-to-hand combat scenes.

As beautiful as the art was, the strip seemed to suffer from... sameness. A brief synopsis of the stories published show some of the flaws:

1. With his father "accidentally" killed by Sir Oswald, our Brian is ordered by Oswald to train in knightly ways. Brian impresses his teachers with his skills. Brian unintentionally allows the falcon Slasher to escape. While recovering it, Brian discovers the mysterious armor, helmet and sword held floating mysteriously in the forest. He dons the armor, defeats a group of brigands and is given the name Silent Knight.

2. Prince Brian has to protect fair lady Celia (who was delivering jewels) from the Robber Baron.

3. Cedrick the Black storms the castle. With all other knights away on missions, the castle's only defenders are old Sir Grot, evil Sir Cedrick, and Brian!

4. How can the Silent Knight defeat the Robber Baron, when the Baron uses a shield as tall as a horse?

5. Brian defeats the twin "Hooded Terror", who blocks a bridge demanding a toll; then on to the Tournament of Roses to defeat Sir Edwin's knights.

6. Evil Sir Edwin hires a fake Silent Knight to lure the real hero into his clutches.

7. Ala Cinderella's slipper, everyone must try on a replica of Silent Knight's suit of armor. Will Brian be revealed as the Silent Knight?

8. Evil Sir Oswald (Edwin and Oswald are apparently interchangeable) orders Brian to capture the Silent Knight!!

9. To appease the wrath of a knight, Alvin the kitchen boy must capture the Silent Knight.

10. Evil Sir Oswald orders our Brian Kent to deliver the Sun Ruby to Sir Duncan through the Forest Perilious. How can the Silent Knight save him from bandits when he is the Silent Knight?

11. Tana the Stallion and Slasher the Falcon compete to see who Silent Knight needs and relies on the most!

12. Sir Brathe plots to capture the Silent Knight and take him to Camelot to ensure his membership in the Round Table.

13. In a series of continuing story lines, Sirs Galahad and Lancelot woo fair Lady Celia and battle the Silent Knight.

14. Tricked into going to Camelot, the Silent Knight bests Galahad and Lancelot in a two-to-one joust.

15. Guinnevere states that only the bravest knight could challenge the Silent Knight and make him speak! Galahad and Lancelot accept the challenge!

16. Silent Knight meets the challenge of the Triple Thunderbolts (evil knight triplets!) to save Camelot.

17. Sir Edwin tries to drown and then burn the Silent Knight to make him reveal his identity.

18. As tall as a mounted knight, evil Sir Hawk torments all who enter the Forest Perilous! When he kidnaps the fair Lady Celia, the Silent Knight must best Sir Hawk in combat!

19. Silent Knight loses to Morgan La Fay's champion – an empty suit of armor! To win his freedom, Brian must retrieve a golden apple and a necklace guarded by, respectively, a dragon and a giant sword-wielding arm!

20. A horse (Tana) only responds to Brian, will it also respond to the Silent Knight and expose his secret identity?

21. The Silent Knight rescues a giant eagle from a dragon. The eagle returns the favor in rescuing the Knight and Celia from the vengeful ghost of a haunted castle.

22. Russ Heath draws the final tale of the Silent Knight. Brian must accept the three challenges of the Queens of Dread or England it doomed! 1) Cross the Knife Edge Mountains, 2) defeat the Knights of the Clock (mechanical knights) and 3) defeat a Queen of Dread in hand-to-hand combat without touching her (as no knight can touch a lady)! Editorial: One small problem with this story is that Silent Knight falls before completing his crossing of the Knife Edge Mountain! He is attacked and thrown off the mountains by Bird Men and is saved by landing on and taming a griffin. But he never crossed the mountains! He failed in his first task! But that fact is gleefully overlooked!

The similarity in storylines is particularly evident while reading several stories in sequence. Truly unique plots (such as the competition between the horse and falcon) were too few. This was true of most comics of the period - their readership changed every few years as comic book fans grew up. And hardly anyone collected these comics. They were literally periodicals - to be read periodically and then given to or traded with friends then to be discarded.

When the limitations of the premise became evident the stories began to focus more on magic and mysticism – for example, King Arthur and Merlin appeared more frequently. By this time, though, most of the energy of the strip had gone. Silent Knight began losing more and more cover appearances and his last tale, drawn by Russ Heath, adopted the darker tones of Heath's other features.

But the twenty-two adventures of the Silent Knight were still fun to read, which was the whole point, wasn't it?

***

Issue #1 also featured the first of five appearances of the Golden Gladiator, and was his only cover appearance. Robert Kanagher and Bill Finger wrote individual stories with the art on all five stories by Russ Heath. The equal in skill to Irv Novick, the style was completely different. The lines were darker, the motion less fluid and the colors more muted. The characters were also beefier and more muscular than any other feature.

National was obviously trying to cash in on the success of Hollywood's sandal epics ("The Robe", "The Silver Chalice", and oh yes, "Sparticus"). A former slave wins his freedom in the arena and makes his name with his fighting powers and honorable demeanor. Wearing armor made of solid gold gives him his name (and very likely a backache – how could he defend himself? Gold is among the softest and heaviest of metals, not a good idea for armor). The storylines were as follows:

1. In the origin tale, a shepherd boy named Marcus is framed for the attempted murder of a praetor; he is made a slave, but wins his freedom in the arena.

2. The Golden Gladiator battles Attila the Hun – stealing the Hun's sword and ensuring peace for Rome!

3. Marcus returns to his home village, only to find that, while the men are away fishing, the town is under attack by Cassius the Conqueror! The only aid he can find come from the town's children!

4. Captured by a collector of all things gold, the Gladiator had to fight his way to freedom.

5. While stationed in Egypt, Marcus fails to protect the Banner of Peace from being stolen; can he recover the banner before dawn when the desert tribes will attack?

Golden Gladiator never was as successful as his _B &B_ mates. Perhaps the premise was too limited; perhaps the writer and editor could not come up with any further stories to tell. After four issues, he was dropped. Although he appeared again in issue #6, the Golden Gladiator's time was gone. He was replaced by one of the most famous heroes of all time!

***

Robin Hood is such an obvious choice for _B &B_'s format one wonders why they bothered with anything else. Maybe it was because Quality Comics was already publishing a _Robin Hood_ comic at the time. Perhaps that's why Robin Hood only appeared on the cover of _B &B_ three times -- #5 (his debut), #12 and #14.

The premise is well-known: while King Richard fights in the crusades, evil Prince John takes the thrown and oppresses the masses. Prince John eliminates the lords loyal to his brother, including Robert, the Earl of Huntington. Hiding in the woods, Lord Robert adopts the name Robin Hood who, with his band of Merrie Men, combat the machinations of the evil Prince John.

Kanigher again wrote, Heath again drew. Perhaps in their eagerness to make room for a Robin Hood strip they gladly ousted the Golden Gladiator. Heath's art again is dark and thick – perfectly reflecting oppressive times. Colors were forest green and maroon compared with the Silent Knight's bright inks. Even while Robin Hood laughingly thumbs his nose while escaping Prince John, the Sheriff of Nottingham and their minions, the costumes and colors remained muted and dark; as if reminding us that the evil of Prince John will return next time. Joe Kubert drew a few issues, doing his usual more-than-competent job, although nothing spectacular as was the case elsewhere in those issues. In his first few issues, Robin Hood appeared more like Errol Flynn – fair skinned with light brown hair and a goatee. Later he appeared more muscular, with dark hair and eyes.

Surprisingly, considering the well-known plot, the sameness that plagued Silent Knight did not happen in this strip. Although Prince John always plotted and Robin always won out, the stories were unique and well done:

1. Prince John captures the Merrie Men, and Robin must perform three tasks: capture the Golden Stag bare-handed, defeat a giant on a bridge over a ravine, and snuff out a candle with an arrow while blindfolded.

2. Prince John's trained boar attacks Robin. Later, King Richard is rescued by kites flown over Prince John's castle.

3. Robin Hood rescues Little John and is pursued through Sherwood Forest – how is Prince John tracking him so easily?

4. A court jester helps Prince John try to capture Robin Hood through various games and challenges.

5. Can Robin Hood fight twenty swordsmen, rescue his merrie men and save Maid Marion with only three arrows?

6. At Prince John's behest, King Trident's colossal floating fortress smashes King Richard's supply ships. Robin Hood vows to stop the pirate!

7. An amnesia-stricken Robin Hood is duped by Prince John into capturing the Merrie Men!

8. Robin Hood faces three challenges (spend the night in a haunted castle, steal a black eagle's egg and shoot an arrow through a solid oak tree) to win a golden apple from Prince John. Is this the same golden apple the Silent Knight retrieved for Morgan La Fey?

9. Robin Hood is crowned king for one day. His duties: collect unfair taxes, imprison knights loyal to King Richard and (gulp!) capture the Merrie Men!

10. Three fake Robin Hoods loot the Village of Tynesbury.

By issue #15 (January 1958), National had bought out Quality's line of comics, cancelled _Plastic Man_ and kept publishing _Blackhawk_ and _GI Combat_ and _Heart Throbs_. That also included the _Robin Hood Tales_ comic. There was no longer any reason to keep Robin in _B &B_, so he packed up and moved into his own National magazine – the first feature from _B &B_ to obtain his own magazine.

There were eight features that debuted in _Brave and Bold_ that moved on to star in their own magazines: Robin Hood, Justice League of America, an updated version of the Suicide Squad (some 25 years after its _B &B_ debut, but it still counts), Hawkman, Strange Sports Stories, Metamorpho, the Teen Titans and the Outsiders.

Robin's adventures in _B &B_ and his own magazine were reprinted in the several issues of _DC Super Stars_ in the 1970s, sharing the bill with the 3 Musketeers.

With Robin Hood's departure, _B &B_ changed format slightly to feature only two stories per issue. Silent Knight was still going strong, but the star of the comic was obvious from issue #16 on.

***

The Viking Prince was the best feature in _Brave & Bold_ and it's most popular. Other than the first issue, he appeared on the cover of issue #2 and was not seen on the cover until #16. After that he was on every cover until #25, with the exception of #s 18 and 20, the Silent Knight's last gasp.

Viking Prince did not appear at all in issue #6, being replaced by the Golden Gladiator (although the cover of #8 advertised a Golden Gladiator story, there was no such tale, but an unadvertised Viking Prince story replaced it). Viking Prince appeared in 23 issues, more than any save Batman (who appeared 138 times in _B &B_, including the JLA issues). Flash is third with 13 appearances, followed by Hawkman with 11 (including team-ups and try-outs), Green Arrow and Wonder Woman tie with 10 appearances each, and the Metal Men, Aquaman and Green Lantern are next with 9 appearances each (either as a team-up or in the Justice League).

Viking Prince was so popular the Silent Knight was dropped entirely after issue #22. The next two issues featured the Viking Prince solely, even giving him a logo under the _Brave & Bold_ banner. He was the first solo "try-out" feature in _B &B_!

Premise: In 964 AD, a young Viking warrior is found afloat and adopted by a fishing village. The village is thereafter constantly under attack. Why? It seems the warrior, named Jon, is actually a prince in exile. He is being attacked by the man who overthrew his father and is trying to eliminate the competition. Jon finds a home with the poor fisher folk and falls in love with the village leader's daughter Gunnda. Jon eventually meets up with his father's advisor, a mute bard, and must complete the 12 Tasks of Thor to regain his thrown.

In the last two issues of his appearances (#23 and 24), the continuity of the last twenty or so issues was ignored. Jon the Viking Prince (not to be confused with Robin Hood's nemesis John, the Saxon Prince) lives with his father and his cortège in their kingdom and is betrothed to Princess Asa from a neighboring kingdom. Supposedly in issue #23, Jon prevented his exile by avoiding a prophecy his father saw in a vision. National would more viciously adopt this "let's pretend that never happened" style throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

Some of the storylines are:

1. Jon had to win two out of three challenges against a redheaded opponent to win the first dance with the Winter Queen.

2. A Viking commander from Jon's forgotten past attacks Jon and his village.

3. Thorvald kidnaps Captain Olaf, but will exchange him for Jon. Jon counters – he will exchange Olaf for the mystic Hammer of Thor Jon just discovered. Thorvald tricks Jon, but that's okay, it was a fake Hammer of Thor, too.

4. (In artwork that looks amazingly like Wally Wood) A "ghost ship" attacks Jon's village, which ends up being a trick (again) by Thorvald.

5. An ice dragon torments the fishing village (which is actually an iceberg carved into a dragon and manned by evil Lord Thorvald's men).

6. Giant eagles attack Jon's village.

7. A volcano thaws out a hibernating herd of mastodons that stampede toward Jon's adopted village.

8. A deadly fire troll (which is really a volcano rock uncannily shaped like a human head), traps and kills fishermen from Jon's village.

9. Jon's boat is blown in a storm to America where be befriends a native village. Just in time – it's then attacked by a rival tribe! Very respectfully of Native Americans, despite it being published in 1957 (compared to the very un-PC #71, for example).

10. A magnetic meteorite makes all metal weapons useless! What a time for Thorvald to attack!

11. Jon fights a dinosaur that has come to life and attacks the village.

12. Jon & his beloved Gunnda are captured by pirates and must foil their plot to seize the fishing village alone!

13. Jon escapes pirates and pretends to be a ghost to win back the village.

14. Sealed in a cask and thrown overboard, Jon lands ashore in... Baghdad! Of course, back then Baghdad was on the ocean! Yeah, that's it! Anyway, Jon recovers a helm, shield and sword stolen by the evil tyrant Saddam Husse... er... El Kazim to help rebels overthrow him!

15. A maelstrom hurls Jon into an undersea kingdom ruled by the monstrous Trukka. Jon helps Merla, the Princess of the Lake regain her rightful throne.

16. In a continuing storyline, Jon regains his memory and must complete the 12 Tasks of Thor to regain his throne. He completes three in one story: defeat a giant, bring back fire in an ice demon's helmet and rescue a maid from the sea. This maid is Ylla, daughter of the King of Skane. In later stories Jon is betrothed to Asa, daughter of the King of Skane.

17. Jon and the mute bard battle the sorcerer Ice King.

18. Another Task of Thor requires Jon to obtain a feather from a great hawk on the top of a sheer cliff. The hawk ends up being a winged horse! Capturing it, the Viking Prince is carried to Valhalla, where he fights the valkyrie, only to ally with them to defeat the Moon Vikings!

19. Jon rescues a maiden from the underworld kingdom of Wotan.

20. Jon continues his quest to complete the Twelve Tasks of Thor to win back his kingdom, accompanied by his friend, a mute bard. He must get another feather, this one in the Arctic. Jon drops through a crevasse into the ocean, where he rescues a mermaid from a killer whale. The mermaid whisks Jon to a tropical island – where he rescues the villagers from an erupting volcano and an attacking Fire Bird! He gets his feather!

21. With apologies to Jonathan Swift, when the Viking Prince and the mute bard crash into an unknown island, Jon is tied up by a village of tiny islanders. Gaining their trust, he helps them thwart a giant spider, a giant squid and a boatload of "giant" (normal sized) bandits!

22. When the Viking Prince took over as the sole feature of with issue #23, the Twelve Tasks of Thor (indeed, the entire plot of Jon living in exile in a fishing village) is scrapped when we are shown his "origin". The Viking Prince's father, King Rikk, has a vision of his defeat and Jon's banishment. So he trains his young son to fight and to master his physical prowess. At this time Jon meets his bride-to-be, Princess Asa. When the Dragon King appears and attacks, Jon defeats the prophecy by beating the Dragon King in hand-to-hand combat.

23. The Dragon King's brother turns Asa to wood and uses her as a figurehead on his Viking ship! Jon rescues her and brings her back to life when he uses the last of his water to protect her from fire (love conquering all). Jon and Asa ride off in their Viking ship into the sunset. But whatever happened to Gunnda!!?

24. Klagg the Red challenges Jon for his title and for his fiancé Asa.

25. Jon's father is captured by pirates; Jon, Asa and Reya the black falcon to the rescue!

Robert Kanigher authored these stories as well, vastly outshining his other _B &B_ features: certainly superior to Silent Knight and Golden Gladiator. Robin Hood had room to maneuver plot-wise (as all the movies and televisions programs over the last half-century will attest), but Viking Prince always had much better stories. Whether opposing swashbuckling pirates or fighting dragons and valkyre, Viking Prince's readability never wavered. The sameness of plot from which Silent Knight suffered never materialized in Viking Prince. Perhaps the writer and editors were inspired by the art....ah the art!

If the Viking Prince were a newspaper comic strip in the 1920 and 1930s, Joe Kubert's name would be mentioned in the same breath as Alex Raymond and Hal Foster. War comic fans would argue Kubert's best work was with Sgt. Rock and DC's other war heroes. Superhero fans would argue Kubert's best work was with Hawkman. Kubert became a legend in both these genres and also what would now be called "sword and sorcery" with Viking Prince. His pencilling would probably even work with Archie and Casper the Friendly Ghost!

Kubert's style is very stylized yet yet very accessible. His characters were realistically lean and muscular. His women were curvy and beautiful. When Jon looked weary, his shoulders sagged and his arms hung limp at this side. His action scenes were straight out of "Flash Gordon" and "Tarzan". He was the perfect choice for this strip and it showed.

He had his off moments though, issue #16's Viking Prince story looked rushed and sketchy. #16 was the first issue to feature only two stories, so the Viking Prince and Silent Knight tales were longer than in previous issues. Perhaps Kubert was rushed to complete the thirteen-page tale.

Kanigher and Kubert would thrill us with their war comics for the next twenty years. Sgt. Rock and the Unknown Soldier may be more familiar to readers than the Viking Prince stories, but they equally survive the test of time as comic book classics. And not just comic books: it's just as thrilling to reread Viking Prince as it is to reread the aforementioned Tarzan and Flash Gordon strips at their prime. If _B &B_ stopped publication at this point, it would still be a classic among collectors.

Reprints of the Viking Prince are scattered throughout the DC Universe. He was a back feature in one of the aforementioned _DC Super Stars_ with the 3 Musketeers and Robin Hood. Jon even had his own issue of _DC Super Stars_ dedicated to his early adventures. The 100-page giant issues of _B &B_ featured Jon several times, as did the 52-page 25-cent issues in the late 1960s.

And Jon did have some new adventures since , proving his durability; whereas (rare cameos aside) Silent Knight and Golden Gladiator have not been heard from in forty years. Robin Hood will always have an audience, but it's not fair to compare him to National's original creations.

We next meet Jon some six years later in the comic _Our Army at War_ in which he is encased in ice and is rescued by... Sgt. Rock!! In this two-parter, the Viking Prince and Easy Company battle Nazis!

Jon next appears in two issues of _Justice League of America_ in a JLA-JSA meeting along with other heroes through time (Enemy Ace, the Black Pirate and Jonah Hex among them).

Robert Kanigher wrote a four-part adventure as a back-up feature for Roy Thomas' _Arak_ comic in 1982.

A hardback book of new material was also published in the early 1990s. Jon appeared again in the 1990s in an issue of _Time Master_ teaming up with fellow _B &B_ alum Cave Carson!

***

Index by Issue: (stories are listed in order)

_Brave & Bold_ #1:

Viking Prince: Battle for the Dragon Ship

Silent Knight: Duel in Forest Perilous

Golden Gladiator: Thunder of the Chariots

_Brave & Bold_ #2:

Golden Gladiator: Sword of Attila

Viking Prince: Threat of the Phantom Vikings

Silent Knight: Knight for a Day

_Brave & Bold_ #3:

Golden Gladiator: Invisible Wall

Viking Prince: The Hammer of Thor

Silent Knight: Challenge of the Black Lance

_Brave & Bold_ #4:

Silent Knight: Robber Baron of the Forest Perilous

Viking Prince: Whirling Warriors

Golden Gladiator: Captive Champion

_Brave & Bold_ #5:

Robin Hood: The Blind Bowman

Viking Prince: Battle with the Ice Dragon

Silent Knight: Shield of Terror

_Brave & Bold_ #6:

Robin Hood: Battle of the Kites

Golden Gladiator: Battle of the Pyramids

Silent Knight: The Hooded Terror

_Brave & Bold_ #7:

Silent Knight: Duel of the Double Identities

Robin Hood: Forest of Traps

Viking Prince: Invasion of the Sea Eagles

_Brave & Bold_ #8:

Robin Hood: Challenge of the Grim Jester

Viking Prince: The Outcast Viking

Silent Knight: The Secret of the Arabian Horse

_Brave & Bold_ #9:

Robin Hood: Three Arrows against Doom

Viking Prince: Peril of the Burning Sea

Silent Knight: Tale of the Falcon and the Stallion

_Brave & Bold_ #10:

Robin Hood: King of the Sea

Viking Prince: Secret of the Feather-Men's Ship

Silent Knight: Challenge of the Round Table

_Brave & Bold_ #11:

Robin Hood: Versus the Merrie Men

Viking Prince: The Terror Stone

Silent Knight: Forest of Fearful Traps

_Brave & Bold_ #12:

Robin Hood: Apple of Peril

Viking Prince: Monster of the Viking Sea

Silent Knight: Shadow of the Silent Knight

_Brave & Bold_ #13:

Silent Knight: Versus the Sleeping Knights

Viking Prince: The Fighting Figurehead

Robin Hood: King Robin the First

_Brave & Bold_ #14:

Silent Knight: The Armor of Doom

Viking Prince: The Ghost Ship

Robin Hood: The Secret of Sherwood Forest

_Brave & Bold_ #15:

Robin Hood: The Bow that Couldn't Be Bent

Silent Knight: Three Flaming Dooms

Viking Prince: The Viking Genie

_Brave & Bold_ #16:

Viking Prince: The Viking and the Mermaid

Silent Knight: The Trap of Sir Hawk

_Brave & Bold_ #17:

Viking Prince: The Lady of the Lake

Silent Knight: The Triple Tournament

_Brave & Bold_ #18:

Viking Prince: Threat of the Ice King

Silent Knight: The Double Decoy

_Brave & Bold_ #19:

Viking Prince: Challenge of the Flying Horse

Silent Knight: The End of the Silent Knight

_Brave & Bold_ #20:

Silent Knight: The Haunted Castle

Viking Prince: Secret of Odin's Cup

_Brave & Bold_ #21:

Silent Knight: The Sword in the Lake

Viking Prince: The Viking and the Firebird

_Brave & Bold_ #22:

Viking Prince: The Invisible Viking

Silent Knight: Challenge of the Sinister Queens

_Brave & Bold_ #23:

Viking Prince: Origin of the Viking Prince

Viking Prince: Figurehead of the Viking Sea

_Brave & Bold_ #24:

Viking Prince: Trail of the Black Falcon

Viking Prince: Curse of the Dragon's Moon

***

It was a fun four years, but the times and audiences were changing. Errol Flynn and Victor Mature were giving way to bug-eyed monsters and cold war paranoia. No one was reading Hal Foster-esque tales. They were reading comics like the _Challengers of the Unknown, Sea Devils_ and other hard, gripping modern tales of science fiction and horror! Even the superheroes were coming back – who would have expected that four years ago?

To survive, _Brave & Bold_ must move on, and bid adieu to our heroes of aulden days.

Too bad though, some of those tales were real classics.

There would be more classics to come.

return to table of contents

Showcase

Of Strange Suicide Squad Stories Inside Earth

With _Brave & Bold_ #25 came a change of format. Why? Perhaps the genre (swashbuckling adventure) was dying out in comics as it was in movies and television. Plus superheroes were exploding in popularity for the first time since World War Two. The Superman television program helped, as had the revival of the Flash and Green Lantern (National Comics being nearly the only publishers still doing superheroes). National's _Showcase_ title was among its most successful – Flash, Challengers of the Unknown, Green Lantern and Lois Lane featured in three-issue stints (or so) attracted readers. The powers-that-be at _Brave & Bold_ decided to do the same.

Even the appearance of the magazine would change. Now the proud "Brave and Bold" banner would be shrunk down and placed in the upper-left hand corner of the comic to make room for the specific feature's logo, as it had done with the Viking Prince solo runs of #23 and #24. This has led to some confusion – "Viking Prince #23" was recently sold on Ebay for $5.00 instead of ten to twenty times that if properly labeled " _Brave & Bold #23_" (a hint to those looking for back issues).

So the Viking Prince, the sole survivor of _B &B_'s first four years, was quietly shelved (are there still unpublished Viking Prince stories in a vault somewhere slowly crumbling to dust?) and the magazine was thrust ahead 1100 years!

***

"Introducing America's Top Secret Weapon" screamed issue #25 in September 1959, "in reports never before published to the world!!" Thus was introduced The Suicide Squad: Colonel Rick Flagg, command pilot; Jess Bright, nuclear physicist; Dr. Evans, astronomer/astrophysicist; and Karin Davies, eye-candy, er, space-medicine nurse. Yes, Task Force X, "known as the Suicide Squad because of the fantastic perils it unhesitatingly faces with supreme courage and unique methods."

Rick and Karin are in love of course (typical 1950s science fiction – there's always a woman and she and the leading man always fall in love). However, Jess and Dr. Evans love Karin too! So Rick and Karin decide to keep their love for one another secret for the good of the team. A love quadrangle would only get in the way of team missions! This was mentioned every issue and was pretty much the sole character development.

The Suicide Squad was Robert Kanigher's version of the Challengers of the Unknown, with wonderful Ross Andru/Mike Esposito art instead of wonderful Jack Kirby art! Said art was typical 1959 – straightforward and realistic-looking men, women and machinery. Imaginations were let loose on the "perils" – gigantic aliens and beasts attacked our heroes non-stop. While the artwork was good, the storylines were for the most part... well... silly. By today's standard, that is. They were definitely of its time. A ten-year-old in 1959 would eat these stories up!

The perils were of the science-run-amuck-because-we-tampered-in-God's-domain found in the "B" movies playing down the street. One expected to find Peter Graves or Leslie Nelson popping in to help!

In their first story (#25: Three Waves of Doom) an earthquake awakens a dinosaur-like creature that sets fire to Tokyo - er - Atlantic City, freezes metal and absorbs all chlorophyll! The Suicide Squad defeats it by tricking the beast into grasping onto a rocket and shooting it toward the sun!

One of the perils of writing science fiction and adventure writing is the "as-you-know-Bob" info dump, or idiot lecture. A character provides exposition by explaining a situation to another character. Both characters should know these facts already - but the readers may not. "Bob" is a substitute for the reader; but it makes Bob seem like an imbecile and the other character as a pompous windbag.

"As you know, Bob, Mars is the fourth planet from the sun."

"Of course I know that, Frank, I'm an astrophysicist..."

Because of that the stories sometimes talk down to its youthful audience. Facts are thrown in almost as if the characters are showing off their intelligence (one character actually says, "It's a good thing we have enough sodium manganate on board!" What?!). Kanigher is better than that. He was such a prolific writer - but even Babe Ruth didn't hit home runs all the time. Perhaps a small word balloon explaining WHY they were carrying sodium manganate on board would help. Perhaps this series wasn't the main dish on his plate. Not that Kanigher didn't always give 100%, but ... you never know. I'm only speculating: and what do I know anyway? Kanigher is a comic book writing legend and I write about adoption and toddler television shows. I'm sure if we ever meet in the hereafter I'll get an earful from him.

But in six issues we never learn Dr. Evans' first name!

The Suicide Squad was given three issues to do their thing (#25 – 27) and another three-issue try-out later in 1961 (#37 – 39), without success. The plots of the other five issues read like an edition of Weekly World News:

1) Radiation shrinks the Squad down to matchstick size, yet they must still thwart a submarine attack against America! (#26: The Sun Curse)

2) Dinosaur-like serpent attacks Paris metro, boats on the Seine and the Eiffel Tower! (#26: Serpent of the Subway)

3) Scientist turns self into ten-story reptile – carries A-bomb into city! (#27: Creature of Ghost Lake)

4) Intelligent dinosaurs from other dimension invade earth! (#37: Raid of the Dinosaurs)

5) Planeload of nuclear missiles land on island of Cyclops! (#37: Threat of the Giant Eye)

6) Alien giant's pet pterodactyls capture warships, planes, Statue of Liberty! (#38: Master of the Dinosaurs)

7) Other-dimensional "mirage men" try to kill the Suicide Squad! (#38: Menace of the Mirage People)

8) Gigantic dinosaur-shaped spacecraft contains Jurassic zoo! (#39: Prisoner of the Dinosaur Zoo)

9) Sculptor-Sorcerer kills scientists by turning them into gold statues! ("The attorneys for Ian Fleming are still holding on line three!"). This was the only attempt at a supervillain for the series. Had it been successful ... would he have been a recurring villain? (#39: Rain of Fire)

The texts in the issues were interesting, albeit soon forgettable: "real" sea serpents and dragons were examined, including the one spotted in Gloucester Harbor, Massachusetts in 1817. Another text teaches us how sonar can track a submarine.

During their second try-out the price of _Brave & Bold_ jumped from a dime to twelve cents (with issue #39).

Task Force X faded into obscurity for twenty-five years. Keith Griffin brought back the idea of a Suicide Squad in the late 1980s as a companion to his new _Justice League_ title. This time, Rick Flagg recruits villains and minor superheroes (including fellow _B &B_ alumni Nemesis) to do battle with evil. Flagg even went toe-to-toe with Batman to a mutual draw (not even Superman could do that in the late 1980s!). That version of the Squad was definitely more successful, being fully entrenched in the superhero genre. But these six issues are the originals and a fun read: just as the Thunderbirds TV show was some years later – silly, but charming.

But as good as it was, the quality of the Squad as a comic book paled in comparison to previous issues with the Viking Prince and Silent Knight. Overall, not a very good start to _B &B_'s _Showcase_ -style format.

It would hit a home run next time.

***

_B &B_ would never match the success or sales of issues #28, 29 & 30, featuring the first three adventures of the Justice League of America. Since the debut of their own comic in late 1960, there has never been a month without at least some kind of version of the JLA published by National or DC.

Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter and Aquaman joined together to fight evil.

Note that Superman fans were very excited that year: Superman appeared in a "new" comic and Supergirl made her debut in _Action Comics_ as well!

These Justice League's _Brave and Bold_ issues were written by Gardner Fox and drawn by Mike Sekowsky. The editorial reigns of _B &B_ were taken away from Kanigher and given to Julie Schwartz. This was Schwartz's third try at reviving Golden Age characters – updating them for a modern audience. The Flash and Green Lantern were rousing successes (GL was very shortly to get his own comic), so he tried again! This time he brought back the old Justice Society of America: changed the name to something "more exciting" (someone once said a Society makes them sound like they got together to have tea) and updated the roster with the few heroes available at the time. There was really no one else around: Adam Strange? He's good, but harder to work into a plot than Aquaman, so instead he was a frequent guest. Roy Raymond TV Detective and Rex the Wonder Dog wouldn't work, Challengers of the Unknown and the Blackhawks would make things too crowded. Superboy would be impossible! Batwoman? Robin? Nah! Green Arrow? Oops, forgot about him – he'd join in _Justice League of America_ #4.

I hate to say bad things about the art by Mike Sekowsky. Fans and critics of his artwork argue to the present day! In my opinion, he drew excellent solo Green Lantern and Wonder Woman stories later on, but his artwork in the first year or so with the JLA was poor. Figures were either stiff and awkward or rubbery (the cover of #29 has the Flash running in a squatting position). The stories more than made up for it.

The plots of these issues are now part of DC's mythos:

1. (#28) "Starro the Conqueror" takes over the minds of the citizens of Happy Harbor, except for resident teenage oaf Snapper Carr. Why? Flash presumes it was because Snapper was covered in lime while working in his yard. I always thought it was because Snapper had no mind to control. Because of Snapper's lack of hygiene, he is made an honorary member of the JLA. The Holy Grail of Silver Age comics – the most sought-after and the most reprinted, second in importance only to, perhaps, _Showcase_ #4.

Only one problem sticks in my mind: the mighty Justice League is sent out to fight a giant starfish? Was the Suicide Squad too busy?

2. (#29) "Challenge of the Weapons Master", who comes from 10,000 years in the future by using his robot-armor to go back in time to battle the JLA! This has one of my favorite lines from, of all people, Batman: "Zotar may be one of the most powerful foes we've has ever fought!" Well, that's true, considering this was the second foe they ever fought! The first was a starfish for goodness' sake!

3. (#30) "The Case of the Stolen Super Powers": The robot Amazo absorbs the powers of the JLA to give him enough power to attain the formula for immortality for his maker, Professor Ivo.

As opposed to the previous three issues, here the stories (while still aimed primarily at children and pre-teens) were simple without being simplistic. By this time Fox had been sprinkling scientific facts in stories for twenty years and he was good at it! Rather than showing off (as was the impression with the Suicide Squad), we were given useful information that fit into the storyline. That is, it made more sense for Snapper Carr to have bags of lime lying around than for the Suicide Squad to be carrying enough sodium manganate to douse Godzilla!

The Justice League run in _Brave & Bold_ had many historic moments. Batman made his _B &B_ debut in #28. He didn't see much action though – as with Superman, Batman was kept behind the scenes to allow readers access to the other heroes. It was often explained that Superman and Batman appear in so many other comics they do not need the exposure. That logic escapes us nowadays – if a character is successful, he or she should be crammed into as many comics as possible. Batman in the late 1980s and Lobo in the early 1990s. Wolverine in the past 30 years. In 2001 and 2002, Green Arrow appeared in every comic DC published! And how many X-Men comics have there been? That way the character will saturate the market, everyone will get sick and tired of seeing his or her mug, and sales will plummet... oh... well, maybe Schwartz was on to something there.

Also, #30 featured the first letter column in _Brave & Bold_, as the JLA was so successful the magazine was inundated with mail. The letter column included information on the Justice Society ("my brother told me about a super hero group from twenty years ago..."); a request for a Junior Justice League featuring Robin, Kid Flash, Speedy, Supergirl and "the Boy from Atlantis"; and (a staple in the JLA mailroom) membership requests: Green Arrow, Supergirl, Robin and Adam Strange.

To say the JLA was successful is an understatement. After a four-month lag after _B &B_ #30, the JLA got their own magazine and never looked back. With _Brave & Bold_ #31, Schwartz gave the magazine's editorial seat to Jack Schiff for hopefully another successful try-out.

***

Or maybe not. Robert Kanigher was successful with the Sea Devils in _Showcase_ starring underwater adventurers (Kanigher did a great job with the Devils, so then why was the Suicide Squad not ... ), how about a series of adventurers under the earth itself?

Cave Carson, Adventures Inside Earth was the next try-out series running in issues #31 (September 1960) through #33 and again for two issues in #40 and 41. Cave Carson and his assistants Bulldozer Smith, professional sandhog and (more eye-candy) Christie Madison as geologist and romantic interest. Maybe Kanigher learned his lesson from Suicide Squad and kept the silliness to a minimum. The storylines here were just as silly-sounding as with the Squad, but somehow it worked:

1. In their first adventure, Cave and friends are attacked by a magnetic monster, a subterranean sea lizard, a lava creature and killer weed! (Killer weed indeed!) (#31: The Secret Beneath the Earth)

2. Evil scientists from an underground city attempt to invade the surface world. (#32: The City 100 Miles Down)

3. Cave tracks extra-terrestrial museum thieves under the earth and on to their own dimension! (#33: Alien Robots from Inner Earth)

4. Cave tries to stop the evil sorcerer Zenod from retrieving three magical crystals buried in subterranean caves. (#40: 3 Caverns of Doom)

5. Aliens with killer robots use an underground base to invade earth.(#41: Raiders from the Secret World)

The art was very well done by mostly Bruno Premanini and Mort Meskin. One would think being underground would make the art limited, but instead the scenery was beautiful – with vast caves, and exotic plant and animal life. The issue drawn by Joe Kubert (#40) was very well done, but seemed like just another assignment – as lauded as Kubert's art should be this was a fairly canny effort. He could draw stories like this in his sleep. In this case, he probably did.

Cave Carson was given a third try-out in _Showcase_ , indicating National's strong push for this feature. But except for brief cameos (e.g., in an early 1990s issue of _Time Master_ and later in _JSA_ ); Cave Carson, along with the Silent Knight and the Golden Gladiator, have faded into comics' history.

Whether Cave Carson and/or the Suicide Squad appeared in the DC mini-series _Crisis on Infinite Earth_ s I will leave to those with magnifying glasses and even more time on their hands than I have!

_Brave & Bold_'s nine issues (so far) of _Showcase_ -style try-outs was definitely a mixed bag. Two strikeouts and one phenomenal success. Will their next try-out be a dud or fly into the stratosphere ...

... like a... hawk?

***

_Showcase_ was too busy with other things, so Schwartz and Fox took over _B &B_ for three more issues to see if lightning would strike a fourth time. With Flash, Green Lantern and the JLA proved rousing successes, there really was only one Golden Age giant left.

Hawkman made his Silver Age debut in _Brave & Bold_ #34 on March 1961. He also appeared in issues #35, #36, and later in #42, #43 and #44. The original Hawkman appeared twenty-one years earlier in _Flash Comics_ #1 (January 1940) and co-starred in the magazine with the original Flash for over 100 issues. Hawkman never received his own magazine – although he did appear in every adventure of the Justice Society in _All-Star Comics_. Still, it had been thirteen years since there had been a solo Hawkman tale.

The revised Hawkman kept his 1940s name of Carter Hall, but his real name was Katar Hol from the planet Thanagar of the star system Polaris. He and his wife Shayera were police officers on Thanagar, and the hawk costume was their official uniform.

Unlike Flash and Green Lantern, the new Hawkman's costume changed little from the original. Hawkgirl's mask was redesigned. The new mask must have worked; the Hawkgirl from Cartoon Network's "Justice League" cartoons wore that same style forty years later!

Although Hawkgirl also starred in these features, it is still considered a solo Hawkman-centered series!

Three of his (their?) six _Brave & Bold_ try-out issues were "novel-length" and three issues contained two stories:

1) (#34: Creature of a Thousand Shapes) Tracking a dangerous Thanagarian criminal named Byth, who can assume the shape of any creature; Katar and Sheyera Hol come to Earth. After capturing Byth, they decide to stay on Earth to study police methods. His powers: flight, can talk with birds, can live in the vacuum of space for five minutes.

2) (#35: Menace of the Matter Master) The Matter Master debuts! Hawkman develops super-smell and can dive and swim for a short time.

3) (#35: Valley of the Vanishing Men) Carter's assistant Mavis disappears while tracking the Abominable Snowman. The Hawks investigate to find the Yeti are really aliens marooned on earth for eons and devolved back into savages. This story has the debut of the Absorbiscon – Hawkman's shortcut in lieu of investigation. He has all of earth's knowledge, so he knows the Yeti's teleportation weapons are invulnerable to wood. This saves a few pages of him finding this out for himself. New powers: can speak all languages (even Yeti) and can communicate with all creatures, not just birds.

4) (#36: Strange Spell of the Sorcerer) The Hawks defeat an archeologist who steals Babylonian and other artifacts to evoke sorcerous powers. Hawkgirl defeats a medusa by removing her compact from her belt and using the mirror against it. If the series were more enlightened, they'd still be stone statues by now. A letter writer requests they change her name to Hawkwoman, but Julie says that name is too awkward – they do it anyway years later.

5) (#36: Shadow Thief of Midway City) The debut of the Shadow Thief, one of Hawkman's most enduring foes. Forty-one years later, the two still battled it out in Hawkman's fourth series. This story was selected for an all-Kubert issue of DC Special as one of Kubert's best–drawn stories.

6) (#42: Menace of the Dragonfly Raiders) Resuming his police duties on Thanagar, Hawkman wins his helmet wings (making his helmet look more in line with his golden age counter-part) by again defeating the shape-changing Byth. This comic won an Alley Award for Best Single Comic Book Cover.

7) (#43: Masked Marauders of Earth) The deadly Manhawks debut! Their attacks on Thanagar led to the formation of the hawk-winged police corps; now the Manhawks are on earth stealing Terran rubies in order to perfect laser weaponry so they can get their revenge against Thanagar.

8) (#44: Earth's Impossible Day) "Earth's" July 4th celebrations coincide with Thanagar's "Impossible Day". So after the traditional Impossible Day picnic, the Hawks perform three impossible tasks: Make it rain upward, throw lightning (to capture an escaping convict) and dodge invisible bullets from an invisible gun. New powers: supersonic speed (enough to create a water spout), wings that can flap at hundreds of miles per hour to create hurricane-force winds (it was explained that the American Peregrine Falcon can dive at 160 miles per hour).

9) (#44: The Men Who Moved the World) Once Earth was in the same solar rotation with Venus. The city of Lansimar ruled the planet. When Earth was pulled to its present orbit by a huge planet-sized asteroid, Lansimar froze under the Arctic. Three revived Lansanarians try to pull Earth back to its original rotation. New powers: Can see in the dark.

The series is a pleasant mix of superhero plots in the early sixties – from scientific mumbo jumbo to magical mumbo jumbo. And the art... the art...

Joe Kubert's work on Viking Prince (last seen in #24, thirty-two months before) is the best art _B &B_ had produced. Until now. Only Kubert could top himself. Average people looked real; the villains looked real; Hawkman's muscles looked as hard as steel; and Hawkgirl was beautiful. Oh that red hair...

The Viking Prince is what Kubert's Prince Valiant or Tarzan would have looked like. Hawkman is what his Buck Rogers or Flash Gordon would have looked like – high flying science fiction. Kubert was really at his prime here and in the next few years. The Shadow Thief has a thin beard, the Matter Master had a beatnik's chin stubble, the police commissioner had a thick droopy moustache; my gosh everyone looked different! His detail to the individuality of even the secondary characters was phenomenal – how did he stay on a deadline?

Hawkman had a letter column in his first issue, including reaction to the rumors of a Hawkman revival and an interview with Gardner Fox. Fox suggested Hawkman should join the JLA and the birdman would do so in November of 1964. Come to think of it Gardner, you write the JLA, you make him join! Like Julie Schwartz would tell you no! The letter column also had a letter by Roy Thomas, applauding Hawkman's revival – but only if Joe Kubert draws him and Hawkman's helmet is a specific design. Because of his foresight, the Rascally One got his letter published.

A letter from Roy also appears in _B &B_ #35 again discussing the new Hawkman's helmet. Forty years later in his _All-Star Comics Companion Vol. 1_ (2002) Roy spends a whole page discussing the evolution of Hawkman's helmet. And you think I'm obsessive! There was also a letter from well-known professional fan the late great Jerry Bails and an autobiography of Joe Kubert!

After the first try-out Hawkman and Hawkgirl left Earth to return to Thanagar. To National's credit, a blurb at the bottom of the last page requested fans to send in their letters if they want to see more of the Winged Wonders. Apparently it worked!

The lesson of hyping themselves must have stuck – with Hawkman's second go-round _B &B_ was littered with house ads. Even in the Viking Prince days, Batman and Superman magazines were advertised, so were _Mystery in Space_ , _My Greatest Adventures_ and _The Flash_. But now we see ads for _The Atom, Metal Men, Aquaman_ , even _The Adventures of Bob Hope_ and _The Adventures of Jerry Lewis_ were advertised!

Hawkman didn't launch into a solo series of his own for some time after his two _B &B_ try-outs. He did share the bill with Adam Strange in _Mystery in Space_ for a while, but he was eventually awarded his own comic for the first time ever and did indeed join the JLA. Another Julie Schwartz-Gardner Fox success! Lightning struck for the fourth time. <Wheet!>

In between Hawkman's two three-issue stints _B &B_ dusted off more Suicide Squad and Cave Carson try-outs. Perhaps the publishers thought the previous low sales of these characters must have been a fluke! It wasn't.

So now what? After the Hawkman try-out, Julie Schwartz remained as editor and allowed Gardner Fox to experiment by creating one of the most unusual series of comics ever produced.

**

Strange Sports Stories ran for an unprecedented five issues of _Brave & Bold_ in 1963. From #45 – 49 sports tales were told with a science fiction twist. The best way to explain is to describe them:

1. (#45: Challenge of the Headless Baseball Team) The World's Series championship pole contains an element needed by aliens to maintain their warp drive, so they challenge the Champion New York Jets to a Worlds' Series! This tale was selected by Infantino himself as one of his favorite tales included in DC Special #1.

2. A chemist raises huge berry bushes; eating berries turn the chemist into the "Goliath of the Gridiron (#45)". But within a week, the same chemicals that caused the enormous growth killed the plants. Uh-oh.

3. (#46: Hot Shot Hoopsters) 14-year old college geniuses use science and mathematics to defeat Alvania University's basketball team.

4. (#46: Danger on the Martian Links) John Broome wrote an excellent tale of Wale Marner, the greatest golfer in the solar system of 2372, who wins the Mars Nine-Planet Tournament. Oh and defeats an alien invasion along the way!

5. (#47: The Phantom Prize Fighter) A Faustian tale: Boxer allows an alien to take over his body in six months so the alien can survive earth's radiation belt in exchange for being invulnerable in the ring for half a year.

6. (#47: Saga of the Secret Sportsmen) John Broome's tale of a time when sports and athletes are outlawed! And on top of that – Uranus attacks (stop giggling)! Interestingly, people participate in sports through what we would now call virtual reality – one wears special glasses and you see and can participate in various sporting events. John Broome was thirty years ahead of his time on this one!

7. (#48: The Man Who Drove Through Time) A man drives an 1896 automobile so fast he goes forward in time to 1964 and competes in the Indianapolis 500.

8. (#48: Duel of the Star Champions) An Altairan kidnaps the earth representative of the intergalactic Olympics and steals his "will to win".

9. (#49: Warrior of the Weightless World) Zero-gee basketball players are sent to destroy the evil alien Creon rocket-repair depot.

10. (#49: Gorilla Wonders of the Diamond) Genetically engineered baseball-playing gorillas beat the Yankees, the Reds, The White Sox and the Dodgers then try to conquer the world! Note that the story only said they played Chicago – I presume it was the White Sox and not the Cubs, because the story stated the crowd was surprised that the gorillas won...

Gardner Fox and John Broome gave us tales that could have come straight out of _Astounding_ or _Asimov_. The stories were incredible for their day. In the more cynical 21st century, the storylines sound quaint. But taken in light of their times the stories are wonderful pieces of science fiction for pre-teens and older!

The art was by Carmine Infantino. His artwork was even more stylized than Joe Kubert's and is definitely an acquired taste. I was never a big fan of his artwork – though I grew to like his work on Marvel's _Star Wars_ \- his term on _Spiderwoman_ and his last years on _The Flash_ were just plain bad, I'm sorry to say...

But he's such a giant in the industry and his interviews are so darn interesting how could you not like him personally? Well, I will say this – his work on "Strange Sports Stories" was the best thing he ever did!

Instead of angular and stiff, his characters looked almost realistic. Add in the scientific machinery at which he excels and you have a very stylized comic.

His most unique contribution to the series was the silhouetted text box next to the artwork. Nearly every panel in each story had a text box next to it describing the action, ("Suddenly a Venusian walked onto the basketball court" along with a silhouette describing the action – such as a Venusian walking, a man lighting a pipe, a basketball or baseball thrown, etc.).

It added a unique dimension to the stories. So much so that Infantino listed the series as being among his favorites. Mine too.

The letter columns praised the series' originality and requested more. Unfortunately, there would only be the five issues. In the early 1970s, National brought back _Strange Sports Stories_ as a horror book rather than in the science fiction genre. Instead of alien invaders, clawed hands sprang from the thirteenth hole, that sort of thing. It lasted a few issues, enough to qualify "Strange Sports Stories" as a _B &B_ feature that graduated to its own magazine. A later _DC Special_ titled "Strange Sports Stories" had superheroes vs. super-villains in a baseball game.

Malibu Comics released three issues of a comic titled _Strange Sports Stories_ in 1992. The covers indicate it was a horror title as DC's, or weird humor. These three issues are reasonably priced in the secondary market.

By the way, Infantino said in an interview in _Alter Ego_ that he hated drawing science fiction. This from the man who made Adam Strange the beloved stylistic feature it was; the man whose few later works of quality was Marvel's _Star Wars_ ; the man who helped make "Strange Sports Stories" one of the most truly unique series in _Brave & Bold_ and in comics altogether!

And remember: "Strange Sports Stories" got its own comic book, something the Viking Prince never did. So this series ranks up there with the Justice League, Hawkman and the Teen Titans.

Strange indeed.

***

Although _Brave & Bold_ was advertised in other comic books it never advertised itself - not even with a "our next exciting feauture" blurb. The Justice League audience could have been enticed to buy the next issue featuring Cave Carson if it was hyped enough at the end of the Amazo story in #30. Instead it was announced the JLA would get their own magazine. Whoopie! I'll save up for that instead of _Brave & Bold_! There was no mention of the return of the Suicide Squad after the first run of Hawkman. Why not? Couldn't it only have helped sales? The first issue of Suicide Squad's second run (#37) blurbed that they were back "because you demanded it!" We did? When? If we did where were the accolades in the letter columns?

The last "Strange Sports Stories" ran in September 1963. _B &B_ had an eight-year run of unimaginable successes and disappointing failures. But in those eight years the market had changed beyond even Gardner Fox's and Robery Kanigher's vast imaginations.

What do they do now?

Imagine reading the notes from the late-night brainstorming sessions: Superheroes seem to be the big thing again. Do we continue with our _Showcase_ try-out style or leave that to _Showcase_ and do something different? We can increase sales by showing superheroes and other popular National characters, but which ones? Maybe we can split the magazine between two characters, like Hawkman and Adam Strange in _Mystery in Space_. Or we can go back to three features; with superheroes instead of Vikings, gladiators and knights! Maybe we can recreate the magic of the Justice League by bringing back the Justice Society or revamp a new Seven Soldiers of Victory! Gosh, the Justice League has been so successful even Timely is back in the superhero game with their version: the Fantastic Four. It has an up-dated Human Torch and they brought back Namor the Submariner! Timely, Atlas or Marvel, whatever it's called this week, hmmph! Who would have thought? Remember those great Human Torch-Submariner battles? Two great heroes together in one giant story...

Two great heroes in one...

Two...

That's it!!!

return to table of contents

The Team-Up Years Pt. I

The World's Greatest Super Heroes

November 1963 – November 1967

Why did National decide to turn _Brave & Bold_ into a team-up comic? It had never been done before and there was no indication it would be a success. Sure, _World's Finest_ had featured Superman and Batman teaming up together for years, but by this time they were more team-mates than a team-up. Flash and Green Lantern would pop up in each other's magazines, but could continuous (seemingly) random encounters between superheroes sustain a series?

_Justice League of America_ was hardly a team-up magazine. Ditto _All-Star Comics_ before it. Still, Marvel has had wonderful success having characters crossing-over every few months, as the characters featured would get some publicity they wouldn't otherwise get. And besides, who knows? National might strike gold with a team as popular as Superman-Batman. _B &B_'s days as a magazine of swashbuckling adventure had gone, and it had failed to become another _Showcase_ , maybe it can become another _World's Finest_.

As with a change in format in _Brave & Bold_ #50 (November 1963); so will there be a change in format for this index. Each issue shall be listed numerically, with issue number, guest stars, writer and artist, plot synopsis and other information (trivia, other features, letter page content, editorial comment, etc.).

November 1963

#50: Green Arrow & Martian Manhunter, "Wanted – The Capsule Master",

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: George Roussos. Murray Boltinoff and George Kashdan take over as editors.

Martians land on earth and try to recover three pieces of a doomsday weapon, unless Green Arrow, Speedy and the Martian Manhunter stop them. An editorial confirms the _World's Finest_ -style format and requests readers to write in and request characters to appear in the comic.

At this point in both the character's history they were at the top of the second tier. Not much was known of them outside fandom and neither had a lot of back story to worry about. If this team took off ala Superman-Batman the editors and creators could start with a clean slate. Green Arrow's popularity would grow (thanks in part to his restructured costume and personality in _B &B_) as would Martian Manhunter's in the late 1980s and 1990s thanks to his Justice League membership and his own successful magazine.

1964

#51: Aquaman & Hawkman, "Fury of the Exiled Creature",

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Howard Purcell. Fish and Fowl! This is Hawkman's 8th appearance (the month before (11/1963) he started a solo stint in _Mystery on Space_ ). He would get his own magazine in March of 1964 and join the Justice League in November 1964.

Tyros, an Atlantean exile, finds a ruby that turns him into a winged reptile with the ability to control birds and sea creatures. Hawkgirl and Aqualad have as much action as the two stars, but do not appear on the cover at all!

Another second-tier, or perhaps far-down-the-first-tier, pair up. Hawkman's title would begin later that year - lasting 27 issues to 1968 (before merging with the Atom's comic for another year) and Aquaman's comic had been around for two years with another 8 excellent years to go!

The letter column states the next issue will feature the Flash and the Atom.

#52: Sgt. Rock, Johnny Cloud, & The Haunted Tank (labeled as Three Battle Stars), "Suicide Mission",

Writer: Robert Kanigher, Artist: Joe Kubert (his last credited work for _B &B_). Editor: Robert Kanigher.

Three of DC's World War Two stars team up to rescue a leader of the French underground. The leader is locked in a suit of armor. When released, the leader is revealed to be Mlle. Marie! A fourth Battle Star! Joe Kubert fans have been spoiled with _B &B_: now we can watch his mastery of the war genre. And we weren't disappointed. Superb art as usual. Kanigher is in his element, too, writing an excellent script! This issue was so good it was reprinted in the one-and-only issue of _Battle Classics_ during the 1978 DC Explosion.

Where's Flash and Atom? Might have been deadline trouble. Plus this story fit better in _B &B_ than in a war comic. Each chapter featured one of the battle stars, which would have been awkward in a supposed-Sgt. Rock "solo" story. Kanigher is once again in the editorial seat and the text feature is Rock's "Combat Corner", which implies this was meant for one of National's war comics rather than _B &B_. But who's complaining? Good story, good art!

#53: Atom & Flash, "Challenge of the Expanding World",

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Alex Toth. A golden age great for an artist! Boltinoff and Kashdan are back as editors (giving more credence to the theory that #52 was a fill-in).

A microscopic world begins to expand, threatening to destroy the earth. Unfortunately, the microworld's inhabitants don't see a problem with this!

The folks at National can learn! _Brave & Bold_ has never touted the magazines of its guests – other than stating the JLA will get its own magazine. This issue, however, has house ads for both Flash and Atom's magazines.

#54: Robin, Kid Flash, & Aqualad, "1,001 Dooms of Mr. Twister",

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Bruno Premanini (His first art in _B &B_ since Cave Carson). Fans have been clamoring for a Junior Justice League ever since there has been a Justice League. One such request was published in the letter column of _Brave & Bold_ #30. The fans finally get their wish. This is touted as the first appearance of the Teen Titans, although they were never called by that name in this issue.

Teenagers of Hatton Corners are kidnapped by Mr. Twister, fulfilling a curse from colonial times! Ironically, Robin stars in _B &B_ before Batman! (Batman makes his fourth cameo appearance in _B &B_ here, after the three-issue Justice League try-out).

#55: Metal Men & Atom, "Revenge of the Robot Renegade",

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Ramona Fradon.

Dr. Magnus' first robot creation, Uranium, turned evil and was destroyed. In this story he re-forms, creates a female sidekick – Agentha (silver) – and destroys the Metal Men. Ray Palmer intercepts Magnus' laser SOS, re-forms the Metal Men, and they tackle Uranium together!

The _Metal Men_ comic had been out for about a year at this time; the Atom was in his second year of his own title.

#56: Flash & Martian Manhunter, "Raid of the Mutant Marauders",

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Bernard Bailey (another golden age great – the original artist for Hourman and the Spectre), George Kashdan is listed as the solo editor.

Scientists from the planet Argon create a mutant with all the Justice League's powers (I know, I know, that sort of technology is Amazo-ing) that raises havoc at the New York World's Fair. This issue should have been billed as featuring three DC stars, as Hawkgirl plays a crucial unbilled role. Well, no wonder she isn't given equal billing, being a girl after all...

A New York World's Fair display of the Justice League members does not include Hawkman, although the mutant does sprout Hawkman's wings. Plus Flash and MM contact Hawkgirl through Hawkman's JLA communicator. This issue was published in November of 1964 – the month Hawkman joined the JLA.

Believe it or not, Batman was not as popular as you would think before his 1960's TV show. His titles were close to cancellation. But he was still considered the top tier character at National, second to Superman. Flash was arguably in third place. His many appearances in _B &B_ before Batmania ensconced the Caped Crusader as the book's star confirmed that.

1965

#57: Metamorpho, "The Origin of Metamorpho", February 1965

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Ramona Fradon. _B &B_ reverts back to its try-out days. Why? Who knows, but it's another success! The Element Man won his own series that summer and has popped up everywhere in the DC Universe since. He even appeared in the 2002 Justice League cartoon on Cartoon Network. He became a founding member of another _B &B_ spin-off – the Outsiders.

Okay, keep up with me now. Rex Mason loves Sapphire Stagg. Her father, millionaire industrialist Simon Stagg hates Mason. Simon Stagg will allow Mason to marry Sapphire if he will obtain the Orb of Ra. Mason, accompanied by Stagg's toady Java, finds the Orb. Java takes the Orb and traps Mason in the pyramid. Mason is bombarded by radiation from a meteorite inside the pyramid. Nearing death, he takes a pill that Stagg gave him years ago in the event of imminent death. The radiation and the pill combine to turn Mason into Metamorpho the Element Man – who can transform into any element!

Despite being "no whiz at chemistry" Mason becomes magnesium, sodium carbonate and fire foam (carbon, sodium and water) in this issue. Just think what he could do if he was a whiz at chemistry!

#58: Metamorpho, "The Junkyard of Doom",

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Ramona Fradon.

Metamorpho is kidnapped by ex-Nazi Maxwell Tremaine and battles his junkyard of doom – a repository of the world's dud weaponry that Tremaine has repaired or improved. This includes a robotic praying mantis and daddy long-legs, a missile with insect wings and a giant tank with a spiked drill.

#59: Batman & Green Lantern, "Tick-Tock Traps of the Time Commander",

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Ramona Fradon. Batman's first starring appearance in _Brave & Bold_, and fifth overall.

The Time Commander uses Batman as bait to trap Green Lantern and absorb his powers. Then he sends parts of Gotham City into different time periods to remain there forever until his alter ego, John Starr, is pardoned of all crimes.

If Flash was not the third most-popular superhero in National's collection, then it would be Green Lantern (Wonder Woman ... not so much back then). His late entry into _B &B_ is an oddity.

In DC's revival of _Brave & Bold_ in 2007, Batman and Green Lantern were the first issue's stars as an obvious honorara. Another issue (#10) featured Superman and the Silent Knight with a subtle reference to Brian Kent being Superman's distant (adopted) ancestor...

#60: The Teen Titans, "The Astounding Separated Man",

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Bruno Premanini. Team-up or try-out? You decide! Regardless, this was another _B &B_ try-out triumph! Fully one year after their unofficial "first appearance" in issue #54, now the youthful sidekicks of our favorite heroes are officially a group. Other than a lull in the late 1970s, there has been an incarnation of the Titans ever since they first appeared here. This issue debuts Wonder Girl – the last new character introduced in _Brave & Bold_ until Nemesis some fifteen years later.

_Brave & Bold_ #10 (2007), which featured the aforesaid Superman/Silent Knight meeting contains another story - Aquaman and the Teen Titans. That tale takes place in between _B &B_ #54 and this issue.

After the events of #54, Robin and gang decide to form a group to help kids in trouble. The teens of Midville (as well as everyone else) are menaced when a criminal steals a serum from the father of Midville's Teen-Mayor-for-a-Day, turning him into the Separating Man: whose giant individual body parts attack the town! Ew.

#61: Starman & Black Canary, "Mastermind of Menaces",

Writer: Gardner Fox, Artist: Murphy Anderson, Julius Schwartz takes over as editor. For the first time in over 15 years Black Canary stars on the cover of a National Comic (as opposed to being one of many in a JLA-JSA meeting); almost twenty for Starman! Black Canary's logo has never appeared on a cover before! This comic also won an Alley Award for Best Comic Book Cover.

National was likely testing the waters to see if any of the old JSA stalwarts could handle a solo series, as four months earlier Dr. Fate and Hourman teamed up in two issues of _Showcase_. Interesting role reversal of _Showcase_ copying _Brave & Bold_ by featuring a team-up!

Murphy Anderson's art is spectacular as our JSA team mates fight the Mist! He is using Dinah Drake's hypnotic flowers to force rich socialites to steal from themselves!

#62: Starman & Black Canary (with Wildcat), "The Big Super-Hero Hunt",

Writer: Gardner Fox, Artist: Murphy Anderson.

For the first time in _B &B_ a team-up returns! This time to fight Mr. & Mrs. Menace – the Sportsmaster and the Huntress. Here is it revealed that the two villains have married (the first marriage of super villains?). Wildcat makes his silver age debut, and his first of many in _Brave & Bold_.

1966

#63: Supergirl & Wonder Woman, "Revolt of the Super Chicks",

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: John Rosenberg. George Kashdan is back as editor. By this time the once proud _Brave & Bold_ banner has been shrunk down to two inches.

A huge step back for the suffragette movement: Supergirl renounces her heroic lifestyle to live with the jet set in Paris. Wonder Woman, sent to convince Supergirl of the error of her ways, also falls into the sway of the jet set, and renounces her super-do-good lifestyle. With their new boyfriends they head to the Ile D'Amour, not knowing the island is also the hide-out of the evil Multi-Face! Will our girls go back to their super life or remain "frail and feminine" and keep their boyfriends happy?

Mort Weisinger kept a tight rein on the Superman family of titles and characters back then - to have them appear in a non-Superman book was a rarity - _Justice League of America_ being the exception. But the story needed two female leads and there really was no one else in National's roster that would fit the bill.

A small tag line on the last panel warns us that "the Spectre is coming!" Cool!

#64: Batman vs. Eclipso, which was also the story title.

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Dick Giordano and Sal Trapani.

Hey, where's the Spectre?

This issue (March 1966) begins National's checkerboard design ("Go-Go Checks") along the top of all their comic covers.

They get an "A" for a great idea: the first villain as a co-star! Batman's greatest love and one-time crime-fighting companion, Marcia Monroe returns (Who!? You probably won't find her listed in any Batman sourcebook)! But she frames Batman for the theft of the cat emerald. While he sits in stir, Marcia, as the Queen Bee (not the JLA foe) and Eclipso take over Gotham's crime cartel.

Eclipso was arguably the first National villain to get his own series. His plots were always thwarted by Bruce Gordon and his allies. In later decades the character is turned into a demonic lord of vengeance ... or some such ... sucking the fun out the old series altogether.

Saints preserve us! Chief O'Hara debuts in _B &B_, having been broadcasting his befuddlement of the most dastardly assortment of criminal minds the likes of which Gotham City has ever produced lo these past ninety days (translation: he had already been on the Batman TV show for three months).

#65: Flash & Doom Patrol, "Alias Negative Man",

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Bruno Premanini. An ingenious idea: team up a new, lesser-known DC character with an established one – introducing fans to the Doom Patrol who might otherwise not buy their comic. This was also done the previous issue, but more was made about the fact that is starred a villain rather than a newer more obscure DC character.

Negative Man is kidnapped by the Brotherhood of Evil (no, not Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, just Brotherhood of Evil. Hey, give the Doom Patrol a break; they predated that other superhero group led by a man in a wheelchair by three months – June 1963 as opposed to September 1963)! The Flash disguises himself as Negative Man and fills in, fooling the Brotherhood into thinking, "If that's Negative Man, who's in this lead-lined coffin?" Creek! Whoosh! "Aargh!"

Flash and Doom Patrol were a featured team-up in issue #8 of the revived _B &B_ from 2007 as an obvious (and admitted) homage.

#66: Metamorpho & Metal Men, "Wreck the Renegade Robot",

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Mike Sekowsky, legendary JLA artist, who last appeared in these pages six years ago in issue #30 and does an excellent job in this story! His artwork looks almost Kirby-esque.

Doc Magnus cures Metamorpho and turns him back into Rex Mason! What a bad time for someone to take over the minds of the Metal Men and order them to destroy Simon Stagg!

#67: Batman & Flash, "Death of the Flash",

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Carmine Infantino, who last appeared in these pages three years earlier with his masterly work on Strange Sports Stories. Here he does a very good job on the two superheroes for which he is best known.

The Flash discovers that his super speed skill is slowly killing him – he must stop running or he will die! Bad time for the Speed Boys to start a super-speed crime spree in Gotham!

In January of 1966 the TV show "Batman" debuted on ABC. By this issue (September 1966), the show is a runaway smash and anything with Batman's image on the cover would become a huge seller! Flash has starred in more issues of _B &B_ than any other character during the team-up and try-out years. Batman has starred in only three issues. Flash's reign as most popular _B &B_ character will end shortly.

#68: Batman & Metamorpho, "Alias the Bat-Hulk",

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Mike Sekowsky, in another excellent job! Why didn't he do this well in _Justice League of America_?

The Joker, Penguin and Riddler all make their _B &B_ debut. Metamorpho appears for the second time in three issues. Batman is the first character to star in two consecutive issues with different stars. Ads in the comic explain why: the Batman TV show, the Batman movie, the Batman syndicated newspaper strip, Batman Aurora models and, oh yes, Batman comic books are advertised in this issue. Metamorpho tells Batman in the final panel that he'll see Batman "on the TV". Subtle, isn't it?

The three dastardly bad guys spray Batman with a chemical that changes him into Bat-Hulk: a huge lumbering bad guy whose hands destroy everything they touch! He can even throw chemical fireballs. In a moment of lucidity, Batman goes to Simon Stagg and Metamorpho to try to find a cure. Before they do, Metamorpho must stop Bat-Hulk and his three allies during their criminal rampage on Gotham.

Unabashed plug department: This is Batman's fourth starring appearance in _B &B_, and in the last three he mentions Robin being away at a Teen Titans meeting to explain his absence.

1967

#69: Batman & Green Lantern, "War of the Cosmic Avenger",

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Win Mortimer.

The Time Commander (from issue #54) returns and again tricks Green Lantern and Batman into giving him some of GL's power. Time Commander then uses the power to summon Cosmo: "A humanoid recalled from the limbo of the past..." but now imbued with cosmic "star power".

#70: Batman & Hawkman, "Cancelled: Two Super-Heroes",

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Johnny Craig.

The Collector decides to start collecting super-hero secret identities. When Batman realizes what is going on, he tricks the Collector into thinking Batman is Carter Hall and Hawkman is Bruce Wayne!

#71: Batman & Green Arrow, "Wrath of the Thunderbird",

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: George Pepp. This is Green Arrow's second appearance in _B &B_ and his first team-up with Batman (of nine – the most frequent guest star in the series).

Batman and Green Arrow help train a friend to win the chiefdom of his Native American Kijawa tribe. His opponent cheats to win and releases the Thunderbird, who attacks everyone in sight! Native American slurs abound in this pre-politically correct story!

#72: Spectre & Flash, "Phantom Flash, Cosmic Traitor",

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Carmine Infantino, who we saw last in issue #67 also featuring the Scarlet Speedster. This is the last issue starring the Flash without co-starring with Batman. Issue #63 told us that "The Spectre is coming!" It's about time! Actually, they were talking about his silver age debut in _Showcase_. This issue of _B &B_ is the Spectre's 4th silver age appearance.

The ghost of a World War One squadron fighter wreaks vengeance on his surviving comrades (he was the only fatality); and he's brainwashed the Flash into aiding him!

This issue mentions Earth Two, the alternative world in which the golden age heroes live, for the first time. It sets up some strange scenes – one, the Flash from Earth-1 is there to visit the Spectre (who visits the Spectre?); and two, when crooks spot a crimson blur racing toward them they shout out, "It's the Flash!" What they don't shout out is, "Wait, what's with the different costume?"

Spectre is one of the few characters from the Golden Age that fit well in this new Silver Age. Especially in the late 1960s when characters were getting stranger and less good-guy-wearing-a-cape. His run in _Showcase_ and his own brief series at the time still make for wonderful reading. Spectre's run in Adventure Comics in the early 1970s as the embodiment of vengeance is iconic.

#73: Aquaman & Atom, "Galg the Destroyer", Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Sal Trapani.

Galg the Destroyer is out to conquer the universe. The catch? He lives in a microscopic world in a drop of ocean water!

The Go-Go Checks are gone in this issue. So is Batman. As far as _Brave & Bold_ is concerned, the Go-Go Checks will never return, and Batman will never leave. Batman will soon begin his 127-issue run as the star.

***

These last two issues of _Brave & Bold_ (#72 and #73) were the lowest-selling in some time. The reason was obvious – they were the first issues in a nearly a year that did not feature Batman on the cover. Issues before the Batman TV show were selling from 249,000 to 279,000. Issue #69 (for example) sold 398,000 copies. As the TV show would say, "Zap! Pow! Ka-Ching!!" Seeing the dollar signs in front of their eyes (and the many zeroes before the period in their sales reports), the editors of _Brave & Bold_ vowed never to make that mistake again! _World's Finest_ aside (as that was always considered a Superman book at worst and a comic co-starring Superman and Batman at best); from here on, _Brave & Bold_ becomes the third Batman book.

When did National finally decide this? The comic itself doesn't say. Despite Batmania being in full bloom, #68 tells us that "we'll be seeing more team-ups of DC's fabulous heroes in the very next issue of _Brave & Bold_!" ... but not Batman specifically. Besides, limiting _B &B_ to one star and a guest would limit its scope, wouldn't it? Hardly, the best was yet to come!

return to table of contents

The Team-up Years Pt. II

Lo, there shall come a Dark Knight!

January 1968 – January 1972

The next twenty-five issues of _Brave & Bold_ are considered the best of the run during the team-up years. And rightly so: the issues from #79 through #86 inclusive are considered the best issues of the entire run; and among the best comics ever published!

By this time Marvel had been regularly beating National comics in popularity (nowadays we could call it "buzz"), if not in sales. Charleton was successfully publishing heroes like Captain Atom and the Blue Beetle. There were more superhero comics being published than there had been in twenty years. Compared to all the Distinguished Competition, DC seemed staid, static and – worst of all – boring to the growing-older reader. So National decided to fight back! DC decided to grow rather than wither - if you can't beat them, imitate them! National decided to change their style – introducing new and off-beat characters like the Creeper and Hawk & Dove. Comics such as _Aquaman_ and _Justice League of America_ and most notably _Green Lantern_ (soon to change its moniker to _Green Lantern/Green Arrow_ started to become – what's the word? – relevant! Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't.

This was to be the new look _Brave & Bold_: no longer will the adventures of the caped crusader be square and archaic, to use the words of a letter-writer, but real and important. Drug runners instead of petty crooks, terrorists and spies instead of monsters and aliens! Heavy, and deep, man, real deep.

Chances were taken – team-ups were done (and done well) that would seem unlikely: Adam Strange, Sgt. Rock and Phantom Stranger met the Caped Crusader. DC's most recent creation the Creeper starred. Experiments were done: The Bat Squad introduced a cast of assistants for Batman akin to the aids of pulp heroes Doc Savage and the Shadow. Batman entered the _House of Mystery_. And Green Arrow, the most frequent guest in the team-up years, was given a make-over: a new costume and character. That hasn't been done in _B &B_ since the Hawkman reboot in March 1961, 8½ years earlier.

Neal Adams was the artist during the classic eight-issue span (#79-#86) and helped make these issues the comic book legends they are. Adams wasn't a comic book artist – he was a photographer! The art in _Brave & Bold_ never looked more realistic, and the stories were inspiring.

Otherwise the artwork was excellently done by (mostly) Nick Cardy. With #98, however, another artist took over most of the art chores. Dick Giordano brought him over from Charleton. His name was Jim Aparo. More on him later.

Bob Haney was still in his own little continuity bubble – Bruce Wayne was a Senator, adopted a second ward and became a godfather to another youth, none of these facts have been acknowledged since – not even in Haney's later stories. Nonetheless, the stories written were still exciting. You never knew what would happen on the next page!

For the most part these twenty-five issues featured stories and art which were fun and admirable; entertaining and laudable. It was a brave and bold step for the comic and it helped put it at the forefront of comics generally and National Comics specifically. Comic book readers were starting to grow up, and _Brave & Bold_ grew up with them. It was the very best.

November 1967

#74: Batman & Metal Men, "Rampant Run the Robots", (since Batman stars in all remaining issues, only the guest – as indicated on the magazine's cover – will be listed).

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Ross Andru.

Batman begins his run through the remainder of _B &B_ as its star. This is also the first meeting of many with the Metal Men. Robots run amuck and commit crimes aplenty during a robot exposition in Gotham. Are the Metal Men also affected and committing crimes? Batman thinks so!

1968

#75:... & Spectre, untitled tail, Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Ross Andru. Wonderful cover by Neal Adams! A typo has the editor being George Hasdan instead of Kasdan!

On Chinese New Year (the Year of the Bat), the Lord of the Yellow River, Shahn-Zi traps the citizens of Gotham's Chinatown until its mayor, Bill Woo, turns over his son to become the new Lord of the River.

#76:... & Plastic Man, "Doom, What is thy Shape?",

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: George Roussos.

The Molder and his plastic robots terrorize Gotham! This issue also features a reprint of a Robin solo story, but the comic doesn't tell us when and in which comic it was originally published.

Plas' first appearance in _B &B_. He was a Golden Age great from Quality Comics bought out by National in the 1950s. Attempts to build up the character weren't very successful - his comics only lasted a year or two. Even a Saturday morning cartoon didn't help. But by his inclusion into the JLA title and appearances in the Batman: Brave and Bold cartoon, Plastic Man was firmly set in DC's pantheon.

#77:... & Atom, "So Thunders the Cannoneer",

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Ross Andru. Artist and writer credits are starting to appear more regularly now. Ross Andru has been drawing so many issues of _B &B_ lately it almost, almost seems to establish a specific look of continuity for the book! This idea of a certain look for _B &B_ will be very important in future issues with Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Also in this issue, in the text page, the editor requests letters to the comic. Instead of one-page texts regaling us with information on the Great Wall, ghosts, real-life tiny individuals, "real" proof of ghosts, etc., we will soon get correspondence from fellow fans!

The Cannoneer and his circus cronies steal the Brotherhood Train – featuring one car for every nation, a World's Fair on a rail!

#78:... & Wonder Woman (with Batgirl), "In the Coils of the Copperhead",

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Bob Brown, Editor: Murray Boltinoff.

To lull the villainous Copperhead into the open, Wonder Woman and Batgirl pretend to be in love with Batman, distracting him from his battle against crime. It seems to work, until they really fall for him!

Batgirl is the co-star, and is given a mention on the cover, but it is more of a Batman-Wonder Woman team-up. Batgirl's presence is more to capture the TV fans. This issue also introduces the villainy of the Copperhead, the last bad-guy of note to debut in _B &B_ (others being Starro, Amazo, Matter Master, Shadow Thief, and the Manhawks). Copperhead fought Hawkman in the fourth series of his magazine, teaming with the Shadow Thief – a _Brave & Bold_ reunion that went unnoticed!

#79:... & Deadman, "Track of the Hook", August-September 1968.

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Neal Adams.

Beginning the "classic" run of _B &B_ through #86. Upon release, and to this day in the back issue market, this issue was phenomenally popular. Deadman appeared in _Strange Adventures_ and this issue is an integral part of that story but told in the other magazine. More than just a guest appearance - this is part of the Deadman storyline and mythos. A rare thing for _Brave & Bold_ and DC in general.

Deadman helps Batman identify "The King" – Gotham's syndicate leader, in exchange for Batman helping track down Deadman's killer, the Hook. They break the syndicate, but fail to find the Hook. But we do meet Max Chill – the brother of the man who killed Batman's parents.

The first letter column appears in _Brave & Bold_ since issue #49, exactly five years before! This comic also won an Alley Award for Best Full-Length Story.

#80:... & Creeper, "And Hellgramite is his Name",

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Neal Adams. Another new villain is introduced with some durability – Hellgramite tormented Green Arrow through the 1970s in World's Finest Comics, but hasn't been seen much in the past thirty years. Tony Isabella, future Marvel and DC writer/editor and creator of Black Lightning, Misty Knight and others, has a letter in this issue's letter column.

Hellgrammite captures three of Gotham's gangland bosses. Batman and Creeper fight Hellgrammite, Commissioner Gordon and each other to find out why!

Creeper was another _Showcase_ creation that reflected the move in the mid-1960s away from standard superhero fare. No capes and utility belts here - just strange weirdness. He was created by the legendary Steve Ditko.

1969

#81:... & Flash, "But Bork Can Hurt You",

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Neal Adams.

A two-bit hood suddenly becomes invulnerable and takes over Gotham City's underworld! Flash discovers Bork's secret (island natives created a stone statue of Bork, imbuing him with invulnerability) just before Bork forces Gotham's mayor to banishing Batman from the city forever. Flash runs in outer space and through the sun unharmed, a power he's never shown before!

Bork was revived by Kurt Busiek as a member of his _Power Company_ series, but otherwise the character has not been used.

#82:... & Aquaman, "Sleepwalker from the Sea",

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Neal Adams. This issue begins a new logo. Gone is the waiving _Brave & Bold_ banner seen since the first issue. Now we have simple blocked script in capital letters announcing the comic name. Small wonder – the banner logo has been shrinking for years and was almost invisible. The plain logo belays the excellent material within!

Aquaman's brother Orm, the Ocean Master, tricks Aquaman into being his "muscle" in a shady marine development deal.

#83:... & Teen Titans, "Punish Not My Evil Son",

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Neal Adams.

Robin is jealous when Batman adopts a second ward – the son of a deceased friend. But the second son of Batman is a bad seed. He finally turns from the dark side in time to save Batman.

#84:... & Sgt. Rock, "The Angel, The Rock & The Cowl",

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Neal Adams. Joe Kubert assists an uncredited co-artist. The combination of Adams and Kubert (who assists on the panels with Easy Company) is fantastic! Adams photographic style and Kubert's distinctive method gives the art a natural look – actions become realistic speed blurs!

Another friend of Bruce Wayne is killed (two issues in a row now...), this time during WWII while spying on the Nazis. Bruce Wayne takes over the case and interferes with Easy Company's orders to blow up a bridge on D-minus-one-Day. According to the Overstreet Price Guide (and others), this is the first appearance of the golden age (Earth-Two) Batman in the Silver Age (barring an earlier one-panel cameo in _Justice League of America_ #82). In the letter column to #86, one writer complains about the time-anomaly: A 60-year old Rock and a still-young Bruce Wayne.

A house ad for this issue appears on the last page – "how can it (this team-up) be possible?" This is one of the strangest team-ups even for this era - but it really works. The editors saw that too - Rock came back many times to team with Batman. He was one of the more popular guests!

The blurb for the next issue asks "How can we top this?" and answers "this is to prepare you for what's coming next!" The beautiful thing about _B &B_ in this era is... they're right!

#85:... & Green Arrow, "The Senator's Been Shot".

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Neal Adams. Fifteen cents?! Fifteen cents! For a comic book? Outrageous! This better be some story!

It is! Like their promise in the previous issue, they top themselves. Although probably not to compensate us for the extra three cents, this is the most popular _B &B_ of this era. It is certainly the most reprinted. It was part of the "Millenium Edition" reprint issues in 2000. This issue introduced a "new look" for Green Arrow – new costume, blond goatee – but the radical attitude came later in Green Lantern's comic.

Here _B &B_ combines its team-ups with its old genre of introducing new characters (or newly remodeled characters) and is done excellently!

The Senator was shot because he supported a crime bill that would eliminate the career of evil financier Miklos Minotaur. Bruce Wayne is appointed interim senator. Meanwhile, Minotaur must eliminate his competitor (Ollie Queen) from wining a multi-million dollar Gotham renovation plan.

This is a prime example of Bob Haney's isolated DC Continuity. Bruce Wayne's stint as a senator has never been elsewhere referenced, not even in _Brave & Bold_.

#86:... & Deadman, "You Can't Hide from a Deadman",

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Neal Adams. Tony Isabella again contributes to the letter page.

In a story continued from _Strange Adventures_ #216 (Deadman's last issue in that magazine): Deadman is poisoned while in Namba Parbat (where he obtains corporeal form). To save his life, Batman and Deadman's brother Cleveland fight the Sensei's Society of Assassins, one of whom has the antidote.

It is an excellent bookend to the best run of the series - starting with Deadman in issue #79 and ending with Deadman here. Plus these two Deadman tales are considered part of his canon. Good times for the book - great stuff to read.

1970

#87:... & Wonder Woman, "The Widowmaker",

Writer and Artist: Mike Sekowsky and inked by Dick Giordano.

Issue #150 lists the writer as Bob Haney, but this issue and #88 state Sekowsky wrote the tale of Bruce Wayne racing at Monte Carlo. Wonder Woman discovers that Bruce's car is sabotaged by his racing adversary Willi Van Dort.

Batman appearance here is almost token. Could this have been a Wonder Woman tale revamped for inclusion in _Brave & Bold_? Sekowsky wrote and drew Wonder Woman's comic at the time, and with the artwork of Neal Adams being so much in demand could this be a "rush job" to meet a deadline?

Part One of a text page summarizing the first 24 issues of _Brave & Bold_ debuts, written by Marv Wolfman!

#88:... & Wildcat, "Count Ten & Die",

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Irv Novick (his first work on _Brave & Bold_ in 66 issues – just short of eleven years! Future DC scribe Marty Pasko has a line published in the letter column (one of the few slams on the Green Arrow remake – "Where's Speedy?")

Washed-up has-been Ted Grant lives on skid row, but is convinced by Bruce Wayne to coach the boxing team for the World Youth Games in Vienna. Batman goes too, to capture an iron curtain spy!

The text page featured Part Two of Marv Wolfman's summarizing _Brave & Bold_. Here he discussed the new characters introduced in _B &B_ who went on to their own comics (JLA, Hawkman, Teen Titans and Metamorpho).

Wildcat appears in costume in only five panels! Was this a Batman story originally featuring a "normal" ex-boxing champ and rewritten – substituting Wildcat to make it a _B &B_ tale? Good story (so was last issue), but what gives? Were the editors at _B &B_ caught so unawares?

Maybe it was done on purpose, as an experiment (a team-up in which the superheroes never actually meet except in their other identities). Just as last issue was a Wonder Woman story with a Batman cameo, so this was a Batman story with a Wildcat cameo.

Regardless, it was well done, which is the whole point.

#89:... & Phantom Stranger, "Arise Ye Ghosts of Gotham",

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Ross Andru. Part Three of a text page summarizing the first team-ups in _Brave & Bold_.

Okay, stay with me. 150 years ago the Hellerite sect settles in Gotham. Being different, their settlement was burned down and they were run out of town. Now a descendant of sect founder Joseph Heller and descendants of the Hellerite survivors settle in Gotham Park and demand reparations! Their hatred summons forth the ghosts of the Hellerites and Joseph Heller! Gotham starts turning into salt and every first born male child turns into warlocks! Including Dick Grayson! Holy Charleton Heston! Will Batman side with Phantom Stranger who offers his assistance, or go with Doctor Thirteen, who believes the Stranger a charlatan?

The idea of reciprocity (one sovereign state recognizing and obeying the laws of another) between Gotham's family law/guardian statutes and the Laws of Divine Retribution is intriguing. In other words, if the Cosmic Laws of Vengeance recognize Dick Grayson as being Bruce Wayne's first born male child; then, under Full Faith and Credit provisions, it must also recognize the right to due process, illegal search and seizure and trial by jury. Wouldn't that put the Spectre, for example, out of business? What hath Haney wrought?

The Phantom Stranger is one of my favorite characters. He was introduced in the 1950s as a more-or-less crime fighter fighting supernatural threats; kind of a mysterious Kolchak. He was rebooted in _Showcase_ and in his own series as a being who intervenes for good against all manner of creepiness.

#90:... & Adam Strange, "You Only Die Twice",

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Ross Andru. Part Four of Marv Wolfman's history of _Brave & Bold_ team-ups continues.

Adam Strange is accidentally whisked into the future and brings back Batman's obituary! Can they prevent his humiliating demise?

Another alum of _Showcase_ , Adam Strange was a great science fiction here in the vein of Buck Rogers or Flash Gordon.

#91:... & Black Canary, "Cold Corpse for the Collector",

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Nick Cardy. The fifth and final Chapter of the history of _Brave & Bold_ team-ups is included as a text page.

Black Canary falls in love with the Earth-One counterpart of her deceased husband Larry Lance. Unfortunately, Lance may be the mob boss Batman is currently hunting!

She appeared earlier in _B &B_ teaming with her fellow JSA member Starman. Since then, in the pages of Justice League of America, she became widowed and relocated to Earth-One and gained her sonic powers. Later continuity revealed she was actually the daughter of the Earth-Two Black Canary and ... well ... her history has been rebooted several times by now; best to forget about it...

#92:... & the Bat Squad, "Night Wears a Scarlet Shroud",

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Nick Cardy.

This is an attempt to create a group of sidekicks or aids for Batman ala the pulp heroes that inspired his creation – the Shadow, the Spider and Doc Savage. Just in case the point is missed, the girl was named Margo (however, they held back giving her the last name of Lane). The Bat Squad consisted of the Major, retired Scotland Yard; Mick, reformed pick-pocket turned mod-rocker; and Margo, eye-candy (shades of the Suicide Squad and Cave Carson!). They never appeared again, and were probably better suited for Detective Comics than as a team-up in _Brave & Bold_. Was this an attempt to go back to _B &B_'s "try-out" days to test the water for a new group of "Bat-partners"?

During a filming of "The Scarlet Strangler", the star and the director disappear. Batman and his Bat Squad track the clues and find themselves back in 1904 London and come face to face with the real Strangler!! Or is it a giant ruse by a Strangler wannabe?

Oddly, in #89 Batman did believe in ghosts and spooks, but in this issue he plays the skeptic.

Nick Cardy's art in his six-issue stint as "regular" artist is spectacular! Rather than Neal Adam's lithe, lean Batman, Cardy's caped crusader is beefier: agility versus strength. His style is similar to George Tuska, who has contributed a few one-page stories in the past few issues. Cardy is a wonderful artist (so is Tuska for that matter) and continues to keep a sense of continuity in _B &B_.

1971

#93:... in the House of Mystery, "Red Water, Crimson Death",

Writer: Denny O'Neal, Artist: Neal Adams. Adams is back as artist, in one of the best Batman stories, and for that matter one of the best comic book stories, ever. This issue appeared in a "Best of DC' tabloid in the late 1970s. The art is perfect, the tale is suspenseful and moody!

Cain, the "host" of _House of Mystery_ tells the tale: While on (what should be) a restful vacation voyage to Ireland, Bruce Wayne befriends Sean, a boy from the Aran Islands. Wayne stays with Sean's family and discovers a plot to frighten the fisher folk off the island to ensure exclusive fishing rights for the villain behind it all – Alouysios Cabot. A typical tale, until Batman is helped by the ghost of King Hugh of Aran.

Future _Justice League_ and _Legion of Superheroes_ author/artist Keith Griffin contributes a letter.

#94:... & Teen Titans, "Rebels in the Streets",

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Nick Cardy. In the Titan's own book, Robin had left the group. Haney and Cardy (who also wrote and drew _Teen Titans_ ) used this issue to bring Robin back into the Titans.

Ghetto teens make an atomic bomb and will detonate it unless their demands are met – jail all drug dealers, slum lords and (eep!) Commissioner Gordon and Batman!

#95:... & ?, "Cold Corpse on Delivery",

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Nick Cardy. _B &B_ Baddie Ruby Ryder, the world's richest (and most ruthless) woman, makes her debut. Outside of Haney's work, though, Ruby is rarely seen. Also, this issue has the "Read it Ever, Miss it Never" tag line at the end of the story. This tag line hasn't been seen in _B &B_ in years (used mostly during the "Go-Go Checks" era), and will never be seen again! Another tag line will debut next issue, with a bit more staying power!

Ruby Ryder hires Batman to find her missing fiancé. When he finds him in South America, Batman brings him back to Ruby, who shoots him dead! Luckily it was Plastic Man in disguise trying to establish a new life. Thus starts Bob Haney's apparent hatred of Plastic Man – hereafter portraying him as an unlovable loser, social pariah and washed-up hero. Haney would have given Plas BO if it would get past the comics code.

The first "mystery" guest in _B &B_ – the reader is provided clues as to the guest's identity. This one's a toughie! The "clues" provided are merely vague shapes (a hand pushing Batman, etc.). Once you know who the guest is, the clues are easy in retrospect. The hand pushing Batman was next seen in a sewer grating. How did he get down there so fast? Easy – he stretched out of the grating!

#96:... & Sgt. Rock, "The Striped Pants War",

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Nick Cardy. " _B &B_ Seeing You" debuts as the tag line in the letter column – and used from here on. Rock remembers Batman from issue #84. He must have been debriefed after the adventure – Rock met Bruce Wayne, but was unaware of Batman's participation!

Bruce Wayne's friend, the ambassador to an unnamed South American country is kidnapped (I would avoid being Bruce Wayne's friend...). Bruce is appointed interim ambassador and, as Batman, hunts for the terrorist-kidnappers. The clues point to an insider helping the terrorists. Clues that point to the thirty-year man – Sgt Rock!

#97:... & Wildcat, "The Smile of Choclotan",

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Bob Brown. Twenty-five cents? Twenty-five cents for a comic book!? Hmmph, well, the page count did double to 52 pages. Still, in my day you could buy a comic for a dime...

Deadman's debut /origin story from _Strange Adventures_ is reprinted. Future DC Answer Man Bob Rozakis asks questions in the letter column. The editor claims there were only five dissenting letters received for #94 (Teen Titans) and only one dissenting letter for #93 (House of Mystery). One... out of two hundred thousand readers wrote to say he didn't like the issue. Hyperbole? Quite likely, but they were great issues!

Amnesia strikes Wildcat (wildcat strike?) as he looks for the lost temple of an Aztec god. Can Batman help him regain his memory and re-find the temple before temple-raiders kill them both? This is the third issue in a row that takes place in Latin America.

#98:... & Phantom Stranger, "Mansion of the Misbegotten",

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Jim Aparo. Two reprinted stories in this issue – a Challengers of the Unknown tale and a rare Phantom Stranger story from the 1950s.

Batman's friend Roger Birnam dies (another friend bites the dust...). On his deathbed Roger makes Batman promise to care for his widowed wife and young son. Ooo, too bad they are the ring leaders of a murderous satanic cult...

This was Jim Aparo's first attempt at drawing Batman - for a published comic book of course, I'm sure he had drawn Batman before for his portfolio - having been selected for this issue because of his stunning work on _Phantom Stranger_. It was a throwback to olden days where the regular artist of the guest star did the artwork in _B &B_. Comic fans to this day should be grateful for this decision!

Dick Giordano brought Jim Aparo from Charleton Comics, where he worked on Nightshade, among other stories - most notably his work on the Phantom. His style is more like Neal Adams than Nick Cardy – although his first few issues were Cardy-esque – beefy and stout characters. His lean and lithe Batman will develop quickly. While not the photographer that is Neal Adams, Aparo's art is just as good – characters are alive – skinny, fat, curly hair, balding, every illustration is... well... different! Angry characters are livid, happy characters are ecstatic, surprised characters are in shock! When Batman lands a haymaker on the bad guys, the comic shudders! Aparo's portrayal of emotion and action is perfect. Aparo's Batman will be the template for the next twenty years. He's one of the best.

1972

#99:... & Flash, "The Man Who Murdered the Past",

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Nick Cardy (the index in issue #150 states this issue was drawn by Jim Aparo). Viking Prince returns to _B &B_ in a reprinted story.

The ghost of a Satan-worshipping Portuguese whaler possesses Batman. If Old Manuel can come back from the dead, can Batman use the same method to bring back his parents? Well, no, but it's suspenseful for a few panels!

#100:... & Green Arrow, Black Canary, Green Lantern, Robin, "Warrior in a Wheelchair", Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Jim Aparo. History repeats itself – Aparo replaced Cardy as artist for Aquaman, and does so again now in _Brave & Bold_.

A Deadman reprint rounds out the issue. Bob Rozakis appears in the letter column again.

Batman is temporarily disabled – the slightest shock could kill him! So he enlists the aid of his friends to do his detective work for him. Black Canary almost blows her mission – she couldn't go outside as it would ruin her hairdo by standing in the rain! After her last appearance (siding against the Batman in favor of her husband's doppelganger), one wonders how Batman could have trusted her the next three times she appears!

***

The artists and writers from this era would be inducted in any comic book hall of fame on the first ballot. And these weren't guests – these were the regular monthly artists! Neal Adams, Nick Cardy, Jim Aparo. Guest artists included Mike Sekowsky, Joe Kubert, and Irv Novick. Add writers Denny O'Neal and Bob Haney and _Brave & Bold_'s pedigree is complete. Neal Adams proved so popular he was quickly moved to National juggernaut _Justice League of America_ before settling into DC's flagship _Detective Comics_. He and Denny O'Neal worked together again on _Green Lantern_ (renamed _Green Lantern/Green Arrow_ ) where they helped redefine what we think of as "funny books".

Chances were taken in this era – _B &B_ introduced new characters, highlighted little-known or forgotten heroes. Batman appeared in cameo in one issue (#87) and the guest barely appeared in another (#88). If they were really willing to take a risk, #88 could have been done with the secret identities only – no long johns could have appeared at all and it still would have been a terrific story!

It was uncanny – every story was well written, beautifully drawn and well received. Few comic books in the past seventy years can claim such a flawless span of issues, and most of those comics making such a claim would be from DC's main competitor! As for _Brave & Bold_, the stories and art were tremendous and the sales of the magazine reflected it. _B &B_ was National's pride and joy, one of DC's very best comics.

_Brave & Bold_ was at the very top. Unfortunately, once you've reached the top, there is only one place to go.

return to table of contents

The Team-up Years Pt. III

Coasting

March 1972 – May 1979

For the rest of the 1970s, _Brave & Bold_ seemed to rely on its popularity.

This was the lowest point in _Brave & Bold_ history, if only because it was its least creative. Sales were still good and solid (it went monthly in this period as did many DC comics), and the stories and art were sometimes fantastic. But as a reflection of the superhero comics industry at the time, _Brave & Bold_ seemed tired and in need of some fresh ideas. Batman met only ten new characters (that is, characters who had never appeared before in _B &B_) in this fifty-issue run, and one of them was Superman. Supergirl was another. That averages one new team-up every two years.

Most of the new team-ups were exciting in idea if not in application. Some of Batman's most bizarre partners were in this time period – the Demon, Manbat, Kamandi, Swamp Thing, the Unknown Soldier and Richard Dragon Kung Fu Fighter! Mr. Miracle appeared – the only nod to Kirby's Fourth World series going on elsewhere at National.

These new heroes reflected National's attempt to refresh their line in the 1970s. Kirby's work (including the aforementioned Kamandi), gave a shot of excitement at National. The horror genre was at its peak with DC's mystery magazines and _Phantom Stranger_ and _Swamp Thing_ putting out excellent stories and art. Sword and sorcery magazines came back – harkening to _B &B_'s earliest days only with a more modern twist (read: more sex and violence) – _Warlord, Claw, Stalker_ , even a comic book loosely - and do I mean loosely - on Beowulf. DC even tried pulp heroes ( _The Shadow_ and the Avenger in _Justice Inc_.) and gave villains their own comics – _Kobra, the Secret Society of Supervillains_ and _The Joker_!

While these comics were wonderful and exciting in themselves, the superhero genre was stagnating. At one time the two biggest selling comics at National, both _Justice League of America_ and _Brave & Bold_ were at their lowest ebb. Even turning the comics into 100 page giants packed with new material and wonderful reprints didn't help boost sales in a faltering economy.

The price of comics going from ten to twelve to fifteen, twenty-five, fifty cents also hurt sales.

A lot.

Maybe it was partly the fault of the editor, Murray Boltinoff, and his choice of guests. He insisted _B &B_ feature "real" heroes – no more ubermensch in underwear with impossible and inexplicable powers. Reprints in the 100 page giants consisted of Viking Prince, Silent Knight, Green Arrow, Secret Six, Teen Titans and Blackhawk stories. While this idea worked for Charleton comics (this was also one of Dick Giordano's favorite mantras), at _B &B_ it made for boring team-ups. Wildcat appeared on average every eight issues. Green Arrow appeared annually.

Plus the guests seemed interchangable – Metamorpho could have been Plastic Man could have been the Metal Men. Green Arrow could have been Wildcat could have been Black Canary. Batman needed someone to investigate a health spa who could not be seen. He called Deadman. Why not the Martian Manhunter? Come to think of it, why not Element Girl instead of Metamorpho? Why not Black Orchid instead of Wonder Woman? Dolphin instead of Aquaman? They did it once – with Supergirl instead of Superman, and it worked! They didn't take the hint...

Imagine Batman meeting the New Gods or the Forever People (Mr. Miracle's appearances hardly mentioned the Fourth World: there was one appearance by Granny Goodness and a mention of Darkseid but otherwise Miracle's three team-ups added nothing to the mythos). Or imagine his teaming with the Avenger, Travis Morgan the Warlord, Captain Comet, Code Name: Assassin or Kirby's Sandman.

Meanwhile, Marvel was once again beating DC at its own game: The Thing in _Marvel Two-in-One_ introduced new characters (for example - while _MTiO_ did not debut of Spiderwoman - it certainly put her in the limelight) and teamed with Doc Savage. Spiderman's _Marvel Team-Up_ guest-starred Howard the Duck and the cast of Saturday Night Live. It had continuing story lines with more than one guest (Thor and Havok in one, Dr. Strange and Ms. Marvel in another, Hulk, Woodgod and Warlock in yet another!). How can _B &B_ top that?

Ironically, Batman was having more exciting team-ups elsewhere than in his own team-up magazine. Walt Simonson's Manhunter fought Batman in _Detective Comics_ ; the Shadow out-spooked Batman in _Batman_ and in _Detective Comics_ where he "met" the ghost of Enemy Ace. On television he met Scooby Doo!

Twice!

Zoinks!

This is why the stranger team-ups (Swamp Thing, Kamandi, Manbat) seemed so strange and brought a lot of response, positive or not. Swamp Thing? I gotta buy that! Kamandi and Batman together? How? Good or bad, the powers-that-be didn't look at sales figures, only what they thought would "work". For that matter, however, when the stories worked, they worked. The Joker team-up is one of the best selling comics of this era. But then they wondered why the fourth Wildcat story in as many years didn't sell as well. Even adding the Joker as the titled villain to a Wildcat story didn't help sales. And the editors asked, "Why?"

Still, it wasn't all that bad: experiments were made – three of _B &B_'s four three-person team-up (the fourth being the 100th anniversary issue) and two of its five multi-part storylines appeared in this era (both with Green Arrow {sigh} well, their hearts were in the right place). The villainous Ruby Ryder appears in several issues to taunt Batman and Bruce Wayne – a small attempt to make _B &B_ truly a third Batman book? But as is the danger of team-up books, continuity and characterization must take a back seat to getting our heroes together to beat the bad guys in about twenty pages (not counting the unnecessary splash).

But such attempts were fleeting and (apparently) unnecessary. _B &B_ still had good sales and loyal readers from years past (the sales drop was proportionate to the industry as a whole), and the marvelous Aparo art was always spectacular, giving _B &B_ its distinct look. This was the time when Aparo made his nitch as the Batman artist. As influential to Batman as Wayne Boring or Curt Swan were to Superman.

It wasn't the best, but it was still good! And that's all that matters!

Isn't it?

(Unless otherwise stated, Bob Haney wrote and Jim Aparo drew the issues)

May 1972

#101:... & Metamorpho, "Cold Blood, Hot Gun"

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Jim Aparo.

A Gotham mansion is being sold via sealed-bid auction. A hired killer named Bounty Hunter is trying to eliminate everyone who submitting a bid, including Bruce Wayne and Metamorpho's girlfriend Sapphire Stagg! Who hired him and why? Ends up being one of the brothers selling the mansion.

This issue features a blurb for the return of a Metamorpho strip in _Action Comics_ , a reprint of a _B &B_ Viking Prince story and a third letter by Bob Rozakis is published.

#102:... & Teen Titans, "Commune of Defiance"

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Jim Aparo and Neal Adams (hard to imagine! Like Lennon and Jagger, or Sinatra & Crosby in "High Society") and the result is one of the best artwork in comics! Wondergirl never looked prettier (in all of three panels she was in! Boo! Hiss!)

Barcleyville is Gotham's oldest city, but now it's a crime-ridden slum and set for demolition. The Young Aquarians (a good-natured youth gang) can prevent the town's demolition if in 30 days they can roust out all the muggers and pushers and clean up the town. It works, until the mob boss brings in his hired goons during the victory block party! The plot is somewhat reminiscent of issue #84 (ghetto teens clean up their town), but this was executed better, almost as if it were a rewrite.

This is Aparo's second visit to Barcleyville, the town was featured in _Phantom Stranger_ #4, which he also drew.

Also features a silver age Robotman story, with a guest appearance by his fellow Doom Patroller, the Chief. Rozakis and uber-comics-fan (the late) Robert Morrisey have letters.

#103:... & Metal Men, "A Traitor Lurks Inside Earth"

Writer: Bob Haney, Artist: Bob Brown. Twenty cents? That's better! Well, they did cut the page count in half, but we're paying five cents less than last issue for the same number of pages before the price hike when it was fifteen cen – HEY!! Bob Rozakis' name is again mentioned in the letter column applauding #101.

John Doe, the robot in charge of all US nuclear missiles goes insane. Batman asked the help of the newly-reformed Metal Men, until they decide to join John Doe's side! As with #101 (Metamorpho), this issue picks up the threads to the guests' canceled magazine.

#104:... & Deadman: "Second Chance for a Deadman"

Deadman helps Batman infiltrate and gather evidence on a Florida spa that also changes the identities of fugitive criminals! Only one problem: Deadman falls in love with the woman in charge!

Bob Rozakis' and Mark Gruenwald's letters are published.

1973

#105:... & Wonder Woman, "Pay Now – Die Later"

Another Bob Rozakis letter (anyone keeping track? Seven so far, six in a row) appears. This issue features superb art by Aparo – a shining star among a galaxy of great performances in _Brave & Bold_ by "Jaunty Jim"!

A senorita and her revolutionary brother ask Bruce Wayne to pay their father's ransom before he reveals the location of his country's exiled treasure trove. Wayne suspects a scam and enlists Wonder Woman's help to expose it all. Trouble is Batman finds out it isn't a scam after all! Is it too late?

#106:... & Green Arrow, "Double Your Money or Die"

Eighth Rozakis letter. And a letter by professional fan-boy, the late Rich Morrisey from Framingham, Mass. also contributes.

There are "five little shareholders" who will cash in a ten million dollar dividend. Unfortunately, someone is killing them off – the sole survivor is Oliver Queen! If all shareholders die, the money goes to a Swiss clinic dedicated to new plastic surgery techniques. Ah, that explains Two Face's murderous intent.

This is the first appearance of a major Batman villain in seven years – since the Joker-Penguin-Riddler team in #66.

It is a great storyline!! Full of twists and turns! A blatant Haney-ism though: Queen is no longer destitute and collects the ten million in dividends at the end of the story! This is explained later – either the story took place before Queen lost his fortune, or Queen is the type to "... gain a million, lose a million" (to quote the editor). Or Haney goofed.

#107:... & Black Canary, "The 3 Million Dollar Sky"

Another Rozakis mention in the letter column, as well as a "full" letter from Joe Rusnak. Note that _B &B_'s letter columns read more like movie posters than actual letters – "Fantastic," says Bob Rozakis of Elmont, NY; "Fair," Keith Griffin of Mobile, Ala. Writes; "Blows!" Mike Curry of St. Louis, MO shouts. This way the editors can mention twenty or more letter-writers in one issue. Every few issues someone complains about publishing complete letters and addresses so they can contact fellow fans, but the editors continually refuse to do so. Too bad, it would help establish a stronger fan base if they could contact each other and discuss their favorite issues.

A skyjacker demands three million dollars, the release of a drug kingpin and a trip to San Pedro. Batman and Black Canary disguise as an aviator and a stewardess (you are left to you own devises as to who disguised as which!) to foil the plot.

#108:... & Sgt. Rock, "The Night Batman Sold his Soul"

No Batman didn't sign on to be the commercial spokesmen for Pepsi, he shouted that he'd give his soul to be rescued after being trapped in a well during a manhunt. Now the old man who rescued him claims to have his soul! Batman thinks he is the devil, Rock thinks he's an alive-and-well Adolph Hitler (there's a difference?).

Letters? Yep, Rozakis again – ten times so far, ninth in a row.

_B &B_'s first swear word – "hell" – is used three times, but in context ("we've gone into the bowels of Hell") rather than cursing. They are fighting the devil after all! So I guess that's all right...

#109:... & Demon, "Gotham Be My Grave"

The first Kirby-moves-to-DC created character to appear with Batman! And discounting the Bat Squad (who weren't established characters) and the House of Mystery (that was more of a style than a team-up), this is the first new team-up since Adam Strange in #90 – three years ago! "Hell" is mentioned twice in this story, but still not used as swear words. Still... they're pushing it! Rozakis, Keith Griffen and Richard Morrisay all contribute to the letter page.

A sailor condemned to death in 1883 returns to haunt Gotham and killing all sailors and seamen in its path.

1974

#110:... & Wildcat, "A Very Special Spy"

Rozakis again is named in the letter column, as well as the first request for a Swamp Thing team-up and a Black Orchid team-up. One reader suggested Plop! Now that would be interesting!

Ted Grant (Wildcat) takes the job as a vice president of an energy corporation for the sake of publicity. Too bad the company is involved in corporate theft and murder!

#111:... & Joker, "Death has the Last Laugh"

This is the best selling issue of (and one of the most sought after) _Brave & Bold_ in this period. Features letters by Rozakis (does he slip twenty dollar bills in with his letters?) and Bob Rodi.

Someone is framing the Joker for murder! To prevent an underworld massacre, Batman makes a deal with the Clown Prince of Crime to bring in the real killer – together!

#112:... & Mister Miracle, "The Impossible Escape"

Sixty cents! Sixty cents!! What am I, made outta money? Well, it is 100 pages of comics. Most of it reprints, but tripling the price for over triple the pages – well, okay for now! This issue also features reprints from issue #s 59 (Batman and Green Lantern), #52 (Aquaman and Hawkman) and the Silent Knight story from #15. A letter from Keith Griffin is published (who apologizes for his "nasty letters" to _B &B_). Uh-oh, where's Rozakis? Is he sick? Twelve mentions in the letter column in a row – a DiMaggio-like run!

Another milestone: for the first time in 16 years the Silent Knight appears on the cover of a comic book!

Another Kirby creation debuts in _B &B_ (the first being the Demon two issues ago)! And the only character from Kirby's "Fourth World" series of comics to star in _B &B_.

To investigate possible museum fraud, Batman searches for the tomb of Atun, first pharaoh of Egypt. Accepting the challenge of an archeologist, Mr. Miracle does the same. Will they find the secret of eternal life! Or be trapped forever in the tomb?

#113:... & Metal Men, "50 Story Killer"

The new mayor of Gotham fires Commissioner Gordon and forces Batman to retire. A new commissioner and the Metal Men will continue the fight against crime. It's a good thing, then – as terrorists have just "hi-jacked" the Wayne Enterprises Building, with Bruce Wayne and hundreds of employees inside!

Also features reprints of a _B &B_ Viking Prince story and Hawkman's debut tale; a Green Arrow story from 1958's World's Finest, and a Challengers of the Unknown tale from #14 of their magazine.

Bob Rodi and regular contributor Joe Peluso are mentioned in the letter column that also features full page biographies of Bob Haney and Jim Aparo. Bob Rozakis created a puzzle page, now being on National's payroll.

#114:... & Aquaman, "Last Jet to Gotham"

Batman and Gordon wait for a jet to land in Gotham holding a mafia boss. Unfortunately it also holds a nuclear bomb, set to go off when the plane lands! Batman and Aquaman try to rescue the passengers as mafia lieutenants try to rescue their chief.

This 100 page giant features a solo Aquaman story from 1961, a Teen Titans reprint, as well as the first team-up from _B &B_ #50 – Green Arrow and the Martian Manhunter.

#115:... & Atom, "The Corpse that Wouldn't Die"

Okay, I'll explain it again if need be. Batman is electrocuted when searching for a kidnapped girl. The Atom microscopically enters Batman's brain to stimulate his neurons to simulate movement to again try to rescue the girl. Atom is pretty good at it! He makes Batman walk, punch and do a backflip! Oh yes, Batman comes back to life after so much cerebral excitement.

This issue also features reprints of the Challengers of the Unknown, a solo Atom story, one of the Viking Prince tales from _B &B_ #23 and a reprint of _Showcase_ #55 starring Dr. Fate, Hourman and the golden age Green Lantern fighting Solomon Grundy – the best tale of the issue!

Bob Rodi again appears in the letter column, how close is he to tying Rozakis' number of entries (13)? #118's letter column swore on a stack of DC's that they received hundreds of positive letters on the recent Atom team-up and only two negative letters. Wow!

1975

#116:... & Spectre, "Grasp of the Killer Cult"

Army veterans turn into strangling thugs. No, they really do, literally: they are possessed by the spirits of nineteenth-century Kali-worshipping Thugs from Burma!

Good issue: reprints of a Teen Titan adventure from #16 of their comic, a Silent Knight reprint from _B &B_ #2(!) and the Batman-Wonder-Woman-Batgirl team-up from #78.

Letter column: another letter by Bob Rodi, and someone asks who designs the puzzles in _B &B_? Bob Rozakis! Sorry, Bob, a mention in the letter column doesn't count if you work for the company! More seriously, the letter column shows some revealing things this time around: The editor laughs at a Krypto suggestion for a team-up. Actually, it might make for a fun story! He certainly would have fit better than Wildcat (again) in #118!

Why do they take such pains to laugh at some suggestions? And belittle the remarks of some letter-writers? One writer in #119 called Haney and Boltinoff smug. This kind of criticism was usually shrugged off with a smirk by saying if they were why'd they publish the letter? Well, from reading nearly thirty issues of editorial comments, they were smug and arrogant! Stop talking down to us!

Great example: in this issue when more golden age characters are suggested, the editor makes a point to say, "What is it that makes these tarnished heroes so popular?" Well, I don't know, but they obviously are popular. Apparently, the only people who do not want golden age heroes to team up with Batman are the people in charge of selecting the team-ups. Every issue begs for Dr. Mid-Nite, the Crimson Avenger, or some other golden great. So why drag out Wildcat – again!? Considering how they treat Wildcat in every issue ("Pardon me, can you help a fellow superhero who's down on his luck?"), do they really think it would satisfy a golden age fan?

Do they think reprinting the Dr. Fate-Hourman team-up from _Showcase_ will satisfy demands? Will running Challengers of the Unknown reprints instead of teaming them in a new adventure with Batman stop the flood of requests? No, it didn't! Some readers took the editors to task for that question in the upcoming letter columns.

#117:... & Sgt. Rock, "Nightmare Without End"

The last of the 100 page giants, with reprints of a Viking Prince story from #24; the first issue of Secret Six, a Mission: Impossible-style group of "normal" people fighting international crime; a Blackhawk reprint from 1965 with Dick Dillin art and a Green Arrow story from _Adventure Comics_ circa 1952.

Rock participated in the execution of a soldier for cowardice during WWII. And the soldier's been haunting Rock ever since. Or is he really still alive and spying for the US all this time?

#118:... & Wildcat with Joker, "May the Best Man Die"

Twenty-Five cents! This is better! Twenty-five cents for a comic book. Beats sixty cents any day! Well, it's not a hundred pages anymore, but I can accept that...wait a minute! It's only 18 pages of comics! That's three pages less than when it cost 20 cents!

Well, as of this issue it is going from bi-monthly to eight-issues-a-year! So I get less pages per issue, but two more issues per year! (Still, sounds like a rip-off!)

To hush up a stoolie, the Joker poisons the drinking water of a prison. All 600 inmates will die unless Batman and Wildcat can rush the antidote to the prison before the Joker gets to it first. The trouble is the "antidote" are antibodies inside a small dog named Spot. And Spot has run off and is hiding somewhere in Gotham...

Does this count as a second team-up for the Joker? He is given credit on the cover, obviously to boost sales in an otherwise silly story.

For your consideration: Batman's _B &B_ stories always seemed geared toward the guest (how many times did Batman fight evil robots when the Metal Men weren't featured?). Since this story involved a dog, why would a Krypto team-up seem so far fetched?

#119:... & Man-Bat, "Bring Back Killer Krag"

A Mafioso widow puts a contract on the bounty hunter who killed her husband. The killer is living in a country ruled by a US-hating dictator. Three sets of hunters go after the killer: two ex-CIA agents, Man-Bat, who is desperate for money, and Batman!

Man-Bat was a villain/hero in the Batbooks and was given his own two-issue series - a woefully underappreciated pair of books. _Man-Bat_ #1 is the only time that I can find that Steve Ditko drew Batman.

#120:... & Kamandi, "This World is Mine"

Batman is magically brought into earth's future after the Great Disaster to lead a group of humans hiding in Mt. Rushmore to safety. Trouble is, Kamandi shows up – being pursued by gorilla slavers and bear rangers!

Two new team-ups in a row! And another Kirby creation to team with Batman. _Kamandi_ was DC's attempt to do a "Planet of the Apes"-style future dystopia. Kirby took the idea and remade it in his own unique style. _Kamandi_ was a smash hit and lasted until the DC Implosion. He popped up in DC continuity from time to time - even in the "Batman: The Brave & The Bold" TV cartoon. Whether there are any current plans for him in the New 52 is unknown.

This issue features a reprint from Secret Six #2. Letter pages features Bob Rodi and future comics scribe Jo Duffy and Justice League's Dan Jurgens. The price of the comic hikes to 50 cents for 64 pages this issue only, ala _Superman Family, Tarzan Family_ , etc.

#121:... & Metal Men, "The Doomsday Express"

_B &B_ quickly converts back to 18 pages for twenty-five cents. Why so soon? Sales were very good for #120. Maybe the powers-that-be decided against a bigger format for _B &B_.

A train bearing the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution is hijacked by Native American terrorists! Twist: foreign terrorists have hidden a bomb on the train!

#122:... & Swamp Thing, "The Hour of the Beast"

A plane-load of experimental biochemicals crashes into Gotham's reservoir, causing killer vines to spring throughout the city – crushing all in its path. Elsewhere in Gotham City, a P. T. Barnum-like huckster has captured Swamp Thing and is displaying him in his sideshow. Guess who the citizens blame for the plant attacks?

The letter column thanked a reader for a nice letter, explained a continuity flaw and asked if it helped improve the reader's enjoyment and thanked readers for their team-up requests. Oh, yeah, and whole letters are printed, not printed "sound bites". What gives? Ah, Jack C. Harris is now the assistant editor, taking over the letter column! I guess Boltinoff was too busy strangling puppies for profit and touring orphanages presenting his "Surprise, Brats, There Ain't No Santa Claus" lecture to do _B &B_'s letter column anymore. He remains the editor though...

Swamp Thing is a comic book icon and he still appears in DC titles, most recently _Aquaman_ (I have lived to see a day when there are two Aquaman titles on the stands...). But his first run only lasted a few years after his initial appearance in _House of Secrets_. As here, he popped up in comics (such as the revived _Challengers of the Unknown_ ) until his own title was brought back based on the movie. A few years into its run an author named Alan Moore took over the book. The rest is history...

#123:... & Plastic Man & Metamorpho, "How to Make a Super-Hero"

A rare three-teamer, and a sequel to #95. Batman finds Plastic Man out of work and panhandling as a bum. He asks Plas to guard Gotham as Batman while he is away. However, Plastic Man is then put under the sway once again of Rudy Ryder who 1) brainwashes Plas into thinking he is the real Batman and 2) frames Bruce Wayne for murder! Coincidentally, Bruce Wayne is in competition with Ryder over the purchase of an ancient African statue. Metamorpho springs Wayne and together they hunt down Ryder and Plas!

Long-time letter writer Joe Peluso contributes to the letter column.

This comic was in the waiting room of my dentist's office when I was a child - it was the first issue of _Brave & Bold_ I ever read. Oh, what it started ...

Bob Haney created Metamorpho, who has powers similar to Plastic Man (as they each admit during their battle). So guess which hero is called a freak (twice), a fool and an idiot? Plas gets a similar treatment in his last appearance in _B &B_ #148. C'mon Bob, don't be so petty! Cosmic justice: for a time, Plastic Man was one of the primary members of the JLA comic, while Metamorpho was killed off in _JLA_ in its first story arc. See Bob? I told you not to be so petty...

1976

#124:... & Sgt. Rock, "Small War of the Super-Rifles"

Joe Peluso contributes to the letter column again.

Top secret infantry rifles are stolen by terrorists. Rock, assigned to find them, ends up tracking the terrorists to Gotham. But the terrorists have managed to also steal the script to _Brave & Bold_ #124, and hunt down Jim Aparo and Bob Haney to stop them from completing the comic and thus halting their defeat!

Jim Aparo "appears" in this story as an actual character. Jim Aparo from _Comic Book Artist_ #9: "That was corny. I didn't live near the water as they had me in the story. I climbed out of my studio in the basement and climbed into a boat and went to a lighthouse or something. It was just written that way. I guess the readers believed it. I was just a joke. They [Haney and Boltinoff] wanted to fool around."

#125:... & Flash, "Streets of Poison"

Batman and Flash go to Rangoon to stop a poppy farm/heroin factory. While there they meet a female aviator missing for many months. Only later do they discover she has been in on the heroin trafficking the whole time!

#126:... & Aquaman, "What Lurks Beneath Bouy 13?", Artist: John Calnan (Aparo inks). Joe Peluso is again in the letter column; the price hikes to thirty cents for eighteen pages.

Atlantis, America, the USSR and terrorists play keep-away with an Atlantean satellite that can track nuclear submarines.

#127:... & Wildcat, "Deadman's Quadrangle"

Illegal aliens are smuggled to the US via Ted Grant's island resort. Is he somehow involved? No, but after five appearances with Batman in only 39 issues, fans have had enough. Wildcat appearing became something of a joke to letter-writers and future editors (including Mike W. Barr's text in the "Best of _Brave & Bold_" mini-series); this is his last appearance. Wildcat does later become intertwined with the Batman mythos in the 1990s and 2000s: he taught Batman how to box and had a fling (and a mini-series) with Catwoman.

#128:... & Mister Miracle, "Death by the Ounce"

This is _B &B_'s "DC Salutes the Bicentennial" issue. Joe Peluso again writes a letter.

In exchange for one ounce of a youth-restoring potion, Apokolypsian Granny Goodness kidnaps the world's richest ruler – the Shah of Kirkan – to prevent him from signing a US peace treaty.

#129:... & Green Arrow, Atom, "The Claws of the Emperor Eagle"

Only the third multi-guest issue and the first multi-issue storyline since #25 and 26 with the Suicide Squad seventeen years before!

Okay, I'll explain it again if need be: The people of Pathanistan created the Emperor Eagle to appease Alexander the Great. All who have since owned it are cursed and doomed. Oliver Queen, believing he can beat the curse, buys it. The plane carrying the Eagle is skyjacked by the Joker and Two-Face, who have been hired to return the Eagle to Pathanistan. Queen is put on trial in Pathanistan for "stealing" their national treasure, but Batman and the Atom rescue Queen before his execution.

Later, Joker and Two-Face steal the Eagle for themselves, and with Batman as a hostage, head for high ground, with Green Arrow and Atom and the whole Pathanistan army in pursuit!

#130:... & Green Arrow, Atom, Joker, Two-Face, "Death at Rainbow's End"

The cover boasts "Four Famous Co-Stars" in the same manner as the 100th issue.

Our heroes find the ancient city of Pathan, where the Emperor Eagle was created. Green Arrow convinces the citizens to make a duplicate and switch it with the real Eagle being held by Joker and Two-Face. During this time, Batman supposedly is killed in a landslide, but he pops up in the nick of time at the end of the story. The ruler of Pathanistan recovers the Eagle but plummets with it (we discover that the Eagle is filled with gold, rubies and diamonds) down a chasm where it is lost forever.

Joker and Two-Face, meanwhile, now own a large, hollow iron statue of an Eagle!

#131:... & Wonder Woman, "Take Seven Steps to Wipe Out"

Bad: the African country of Sudaria smuggles drugs into the US via diplomatic attaches. Worse: they are smuggling out the blueprints of the most top secret encoding devise ever created in the United States. Worst: they're latest diplomat is... eek!... Catwoman!

1977

#132:... & Richard Dragon - Kung Fu Fighter, "Batman – Dragon Slayer"

With this issue Joe Orlando takes over as managing editor and Denny O'Neil is the story editor. Cary Burkett handles the letter column. They promise some new blood in _B &B_ and not the same old team-ups again and again! They start with one of only ten new team-ups in this era.

Carlos Esteban hires the Stylist, a kung fu killer, to assassinate Richard Dragon. Why? Esteban was once the partner of Calvin Curtis, deceased eccentric billionaire. Dragon once helped Curtis – he fixed his bike and gave him a quarter for a cup of coffee. In return, Dragon may have inherited Curtis' billions!

Richard Dragon was DC's homage to the kung fu craze at the time. They also gave Karate Kid his own comic and fanboy shouts of a team-up between the two were ignored. Dragon still appears on occasion, as does Lady Shiva and other cast members. But it never acquired the level of sophistication and popularity of Marvel's _Shang Chi, Master of Kung Fu_ (whose character popped into Marvel's team-up magazines on occasion), making _Richard Dragon, Kung Fu Fighter_ something of a pale imitator, despite what I thought was a fun comic.

#133:... & Deadman, "Another Kind of Justice"

Batman enlists Deadman's help to lure drug lord Achille Lazlo back onto US jurisdiction by reviving a ghost from his past – the former drug lord Lazlo killed years before!

#134:... & Green Lantern, "Demolishment"

Green Lantern defects to the "other side's" People Republic! Batman attempts to kidnap GL and bring him back, but is captured instead and put through the brainwashing technique known as Demolishment! It ends up GL's defection is a rouse to reveal the Demolishment technique by having it used against the one person who might withstand it – Batman! Too bad it did brainwash Batman into trying to kill Green Lantern! Let's hope GL finds his lost ring in time!

The editors admit in the letter column that Wildcat and Sgt. Rock might have been overused in the past few years. "Hell factory" is used – arguably a swear word, but they're still pushing it!

#135:... & Metal Men, "More than Human"

Prince hikes to thirty-five cents.

A robot (created in the 1800s) claims legal right to the land on which sits Bruce Wayne's tower. The judge agrees, thus ruining Bruce's empire. Could his rival Ruby Ryder be involved? Continues in the next issue.

#136:... & Green Arrow, Metal Men, "Legacy of the Doomed"

This is the third multiple-issue story (second with Green Arrow) and the fourth multi-guest issue (third with Green Arrow).

Batman and the Metal Men are enjoined by court order from interfering in Ruby Ryder's shenanigans, but Green Arrow is not!

#137:... & Demon, "Hour of the Serpent", Artist: John Calnan.

This is a "sequel" to #75, as the evil Shahn-Zi returns. Teenage gangsters in Chinatown disguised as Shahn-Zi terrorize citizens. But their actions summon the real Shahn-Zi who seeks revenge against Gotham City and Batman!

#138:... & Mister Miracle, "Mile-High Tombstone"

Trond-Hag, "the Tombstone", is a volcanic island riddles with caves. Geologist Steve Lang goes missing while exploring the mountain, and Batman and Mister Miracle go to the rescue. They find Steve, as well as the villainous escape artists Cosimo (sent to kill Lang), and Kraken – the computer running an international crime cartel!

1978

#139:... & Hawkman, "Requiem for a Top Cop".

Back to bi-monthly!!? Noooo!!! Hawkman's first appearance in _B &B_ since #70 (over ten years). This has always been one of my personal favorite stories. One time fan – and former DC boss – Paul Levitz takes over from Denny O'Neil as story editor. Since Paul does his own letter column, Cary Burkett leaves for other pastures. Paul mentions that Bob Rozakis has had 135 letters published in his fan career. So in which four issues of _Brave & Bold_ did he not write a letter? 

In the late 1930s, Commissioner Gordon killed an alien accidentally. Although Batman and Hawkman agree it was in self-defense (Gordon thought the alien was about to fire at him), an alien mercenary disagrees, and tries to bring Gordon in for trial per intergalactic law. Gordon, a fellow adherer to the Rule of Law, agrees!

1978 _B &B Special (DC Special Series_ #8):...Sgt. Rock and Deadman. "Hell is for Heroes"

Ric Estrada and Dick Giordano artists. Paul Levitz, editor.

DC had "annuals" (larger editions of existing comics published once per year) throughout the 1960s with mostly reprinted material. Marvel Comics had since developed the Annual into an art form. DC Comics in the late 1970s, in an attempt to boost a sagging market, tried bringing back the annuals. Not wanting to be accused of copying Marvel, DC instead referred to their annuals as Specials and Spectaculars. Every comic from Wonder Woman and Superman to the Secret Society of Super Villains had their own specials. Unlike the annuals of old, these were all new stories and art. The issues were not published as an edition of their parent comic, but instead published under the umbrella title _DC Special Series_. _Brave & Bold_ was given its own special in 1978 _as DC Special Series_ #8.

To celebrate the uniqueness of this Special (to differentiate it from a "usual" issue of _Brave & Bold_, Batman never meets his partners – Sgt. Rock and Easy Company along with Deadman appear together in one storyline linked with the Batman storyline. This was the fourth time more than one star (other than as an established team – the Teen Titans, for example) appeared with Batman – #100 and the two-parters in #129-130 and 135-136– and would be the last. Too bad, it is an interesting plot device and would satisfy readers who clamored for more stars.

Batman tracks down Lucifer, a mad bomber. Meanwhile Sgt. Rock searches for a Batman statue stolen by Scottish Nationalists. But whatever harm comes to the statue, will also be wrought on Batman! Ouch! The statue is rammed by an army truck, set on fire by gypsies, attacked by the Loch Ness Monster and flung from a clock tower... you get the idea. Who's behind all this voodoo? Lucifer himself (the fallen angel, not the mad bomber) with the aid of the ghosts of Hitler, Guy Fawkes, Benedict Arnold, Bluebeard, Nero and Jack the Ripper! Rama Kushna sends Deadman to a mysterious stranger for clues, and Deadman and Rock recover the statue just in time for Batman's final battle with Lucifer (the mad bomber, not the prince of darkness). Rama Kushna herself takes care of Lucifer (the vile spinner of lies, not the mad bomber) and his ghostly ilk! Deadman eventually discovers the identity of the mysterious stranger to reveal this Special's fourth star – the spirit of Sherlock Holmes!

#140:... & Wonder Woman, "Dastardly Events Aboard the Hellship" (spell out the first letters of the title – get it?)

There's that aitch-eee-double-hockey-sticks word again. Swear words or appropriate? Hmm...

The CEO of Belmont Technologies offers Batman one million dollars to charity if he will rescue his daughter Esmeralda from the clutches of evil industrial spy Dimetrious (because she knows the secret of the new energy-crisis-ending solar cell). The UN's Crisis Bureau asks Wonder Woman to capture Dimetrious for his crimes. Actually, Dimetrious kidnapped the scientist who created the solar cell and Esmeralda and Belmont trick Batman and Dimetrious into revealing where the solar cell is by Esmeralda stating she loves Dimetrious and was never kidnapped! Dimetrious' simian guards capture Batman and Wonder Woman, who are drugged into performing as circus animals...

Whew! Anyone for an index of _Richie Rich and Casper_ instead?

#141:... & Black Canary, "Pay or Die"

Lots of "Jaws" references in this issue, as the Joker is back and now in the loan-sharking business. Those who can't pay up mysteriously explode! Batman sets a trap using Alfred as bait to catch the Joker. Batman and Black Canary must track down the Joker to discover how his victims explode or else, for Alfred, it's so long old chum (chum, sharks, get it? Never mind...!)

Haney must have learned a new word – vigorish: underworld slang for loan interest – as it is used about every third page. This issue also contains a rare thing for _B &B_ up until now – recognition of continuity of other DC comics! It is recalled that Joker was supposedly killed the last time he and Batman fought in _Detective Comics_ , and that the Joker was once in love with Dinah Lance (that is why Joker saved her from an exploding lendee)!

#142:... & Aquaman, "Enigma of the Death Ship"

The logbook of the sunken Alhambra contains the name of a stowaway who later becomes Gotham's drug kingpin. The book may also contain incriminating evidence against Aquaman's father, the lighthouse keeper who may have caused the wreck! Batman must fight the drug lord's scuba squad and Aquaman himself to get the log book! He does get it eventually, and absolves Aquaman's father from blame. And the name of the drug lord is...

#143:... & Creeper, "Cast the First Stone"

...Montgomery Walcott, TV's most respected and trustworthy newsman!

Unique to _B &B_ is this continued storyline without necessarily being a continued story – something at which Marvel's team-up books excelled!

With this issue begins the DC Explosion! Increasing the price to fifty cents and increasing the page count to 44, with all new material throughout the DC line! The beginning of a new era in comicdom! The greatest thing to happen to comics since Superman!

Why are you giggling?

The ripple effect of the DC Explosion hits _Brave & Bold_ as a new regular feature debuts: new adventures of Christopher Chance, the Human Target. "The Cat and the Canary Contract" by Len Wein (story) and Dick Giordano (art). Chance impersonates people marked for murder, betting he can stop the killers before they stop him! Here Chance must protect the mob witness who years earlier had Chance's father killed for failing to pay a debt!

#144:... & Green Arrow, "The Arrow of Eternity"

Monthly! At long last! After twenty-three years _Brave & Bold_ goes monthly!

While searching for Merlin's invincible arrow, Batman and Green Arrow are magically whisked to the Battle of Agincourt to face the old Teen Titan's foe the Gargoyle!

Aparo's art is fantastic: a rare venture into the sword and sorcery genre. He could have excelled in the Blazing Adventures years of _B &B_. While we're on the subject: with a little rewrite this could have been a book-length story, reset in King Arthur's time and also co-starring the Silent Knight! Why not? We will have to be satisfied with the Silent Knight having a small cameo in a battle scene being killed by an arrow! Boo!

Human Target: "The Symphony for the Devil Contract", Len Wein (writer) and Dick Giordano (art). The Human Target impersonates a famous symphony conductor, protecting him from a religious fanatic. Everyone's a critic... "Dammit"! _Brave & Bold_'s first blatant and undisputed swear word appears!

#145:... & Phantom Stranger, "Choice of Dooms"

The only member of Gotham's diamond-smuggling ring willing to testify suddenly becomes paralyzed! You see, the head of the ring is also a voodoo priest!

Back to seventeen pages and now forty cents, as the "DC Implosion" hits the comic giant, making them cancel many of their new books and reeling back their much-hyped back-up features.

1979

#146 :... (Earth Two) & Unknown Soldier, "The Secret that Saved the World"

Artist: Romeo Tanghal. #84 was partly set during World War II and told in flashback. This is the first _B &B_ story (during the Batman team-up years) set during the war.

A defecting German nuclear scientist is murdered and his secret designs for an atomic bomb will be smuggled back to Germany unless Batman and the Unknown Soldier can catch the Nazi killer!

The Unknown Soldier was one of my favorite war title characters - more of a James Bond-ish spy than a gun-toting solider Sgt. Rock, the Losers or the members of the Haunted Tank. His face was covered in bandages and was a master of disguise. He had his own title for years - starting as the main feature of _Star Spangled War Stories_ in 1970 before the title changed to _Unknown Soldier_ in 1977 and lasting another five years. The Unknown Soldier exists in the New 52 continuity, but not the same character that appears here.

#147:... & Supergirl, "Death Scream from the Sky", Writer: Cary Burkett.

The Children of Light, a terrorist-cult, gets control of a communications satellite complete with a killer laser aimed at Gotham! Batman and Supergirl finally discover an old JLA foe is behind it all. It seems the "father" of the Children of Light is a certain Doctor...

Mohammed comes to the mountain: some issues back, Paul Levitz admitted he was having trouble convincing Bob Haney to do a Supergirl team-up. The solution was simple: Haney got the boot and former letter column editor Cary Burkett wrote the much-demanded story! This is only the fifth issue of _Brave & Bold_ since #50 Haney did not write!

Aparo's Supergirl is stunning.

#148:... & Plastic Man, "The Night the Mob Stole Christmas", Artist: Jim Aparo and Joe Staton.

Haney returns and takes his frustrations out on his favorite whipping boy, Plastic Man. This is the last of Plas' four appearances in _B &B_. Plas is (of course) still shown as a lone loser (see the commentary of #123 for Haney's dislike of Plas.). A Florida mobster smuggles in illegal (untaxed) cigarettes into Gotham City and smuggles out the city's Main Street Christmas decorations to lure his competitors into a Christmas party trap. Too bad they also kidnapped Santa – it was Plastic Man trying to make a buck!

The combination of Aparo and Staton works here despite their divergent styles – Staton's heroes are drawn thickly and muscular, Aparo's are wiry and thin.

#149:... & Teen Titans, "Look Homeward, Runaway"

This is the last appearance of the Teen Titans in _Brave & Bold_, the magazine in which they debuted nearly fifteen years before.

Haney's temper tantrum over, it's back to _B &B_ business. Batman asks the Teen Titans to reunite to infiltrate the Runaways – an organized teen crime gang of (who else) runaways – to break up the gang and find their leader.

#150:... & ?, "Today Gotham, Tomorrow the World"

Terrorists called the Battalion of Doom threaten Gotham City with an atomic devise. They also kidnap Bruce Wayne who is guarded by Keeper Karnes. Bruce discovers Karnes is super-powered! He knows Wayne's Batman identity, is super fast (faster, even, than a speeding bullet), is very strong (more powerful than a locomotive)...

You get the idea, the terrorists have also kidnapped Jimmy Olsen. Superman hoped to be assigned as Jimmy's bodyguard, but got Bruce Wayne instead.

In the past fans screamed for Superman to guest in _B &B_. Those requests were (rightly) ignored: if you want to see Supes and Bats together, go buy _World's Finest_. In fact it was clearly stated in #120 Superman will never appear in _B &B_.

How times change. Letters in later issues panned the choice for this anniversary issue, saying it was nothing more than a warmed-over _World's Finest_ story. I disagree. If this was a story from _WF_ , there certainly wouldn't have been any "surprise". However, I expected a more special guest for #150. Superman could have easily been Martian Manhunter. Throw in Green Arrow (like Haney and company needed an excuse to bring him into a story) and you would have Batman teaming up with _B &B_'s first team from #50! That would have been a good anniversary team-up. Still, it was an interesting story and well done, if not up to hype. The letter column lists all the team-ups in _B &B_ starting with #50. Unfortunately it also lists #150 as starring Superman, ruining the surprise for anyone reading the letter column first (including yours truly...).

***

The issues in this era of _B &B_ weren't all stinkers. In fact, it contained some of the most interesting plots. And Aparo's art is brilliant. But the comic wasn't cutting edge anymore; it wasn't leading the field.

Although the letter columns promised new team-ups, you could almost hear the arguments behind the door – Levitz admitting to all that Haney does not want Supergirl in _B &B_ is a good example. Was he trying to coax readers into pleading for her appearance?

And Batman, for all his different interpretations, was turning into nothing more than a super-cop. He did fight some name supervillains, but the Joker as a loan shark? Dr. Light as a terrorist leader? What was the point of that? There were no new super-bad guys introduced in these fifty issues (like Hellgrammite or Bork), no new versions of old heroes (like Green Arrow), just Batman and... whoever.

And because of that, _Brave & Bold_ was no longer the best and brightest star at DC. Then again, it didn't need to be. It was no longer challenging and exciting. Instead of asking, "Who knows what the next issue will hold," readers said, "I don't know who will be here next issue, but the writing will be good and the art will be great and that's all right with me!"

Instead _Brave & Bold_ ran in place. Naturally and inevitably that meant it started to fall behind. Its momentum has kept it going after its prime for eight years now. In only half that time it will be gone.

return to table of contents

The Team-up Years Pt. IV

The Long Goodbye

June 1979 – July 1983

The inmates are running the asylum! Or more accurately, the fans have taken over the comic book company!

By July of 1979, uber-fan Roy Thomas has been editing at Marvel for nearly a decade. Joe Staton, whose letter to _Justice League of America_ #9 slamming Wonder Woman and praising Green Lantern reverberated for months in that comic, is now drawing those characters! The names of _B &B_ letter-writers Bob Rozakis, Bob Rodi, Keith Griffen and others are now in comic books on the first page instead of the last.

No more will fans suffer under the boot of the Moltinoff-Haney junta! Rise up, fellow fans! We have nothing to lose but more Wildcat team-ups! Guest stars who were laughed at or ignored are starting to appear: Supergirl, Superman, the Legion of Superheroes, the Guardians, Firestorm, Black Lightning, etc.

As many new team-ups appeared in these last fifty issues (23) than in issues #50 - #100! (Thirty heroes appeared total in issues #50 - #100, but only twenty-two with Batman). The fans were finally getting what they craved!

But then why weren't they happy? Part of the reason is because Bob Haney left, leaving a succession of writers to finish the series. Jim Aparo drew issues less and less frequently – he was now considered THE Batman artist, and his work appeared everywhere! Was there a cover he didn't draw in the late 1970s and early 1980s (with apologies to Ernie Chua/Chan!)? So much demand was on his time something had to give. It was issues of _Brave & Bold_. Fans were back to _B &B_'s early team-up days – various artists and a rotating roster of writers contributing stories that ranged from classics to just plain bad. There was no sense of continuity – you weren't sure what the next issue would bring. Paul Levitz admitted the same in his letter column.

Fans were no longer eagerly anticipating the next issue of _B &B_, which meant they started looking elsewhere.

Back to the fans running the company: During Haney's reign, as stated, Batman was the world's greatest detective, a super-cop. Now the fans thought Batman exchanging jokes with the Atom didn't fit his personality – he was a lone wolf, a creature of the night. This style of Batman worked in the pre-Robin days, and the O'Neil-Adams _Detective Comics_ of the late 1960s/early 70; isn't it time the pendulum swung back from Batman the world's greatest detective to Batman the brooding loner?

Fans, editors and creators thought so. So much so that the pendulum has yet to swing back.

This style eventually lead to Frank Miller's _Dark Knight Returns_ , turning Batman into a brutish thug (spoofs of him as "Brooding Sociopath Man" were closer to truth than satire), and eventually culminated in the series of Batman movies in the 1980s and 1990s. The Batman movies of the 2000s, although of Oscar-winning caliber, were still dark and brooding. Marvel did a bit better with its brighter-toned movies...

_Brave & Bold_ obviously did not fit into this paradigm. Batman constantly insulting, assaulting, threatening and/or ignoring his guest stars would not make for good reading. Later attempts at _Brave & Bold_ prove the point: either ultra-violent encounters with terrorists (with Green Arrow, the Question and the regrettably named Butcher), ignoring the team-up altogether for a more _World's Finest_ -style mode with Flash and Green Lantern starring, or ignoring Batman and allow other characters to team-up.

It was time to replace _Brave & Bold_ with a comic more in line with this style of Batman. I will let others discuss the logic in replacing _B &B_ with a comic about Batman (the brooding loner) forming a new group of superheroes!

I guess _B &B_ is a lesson in extremes: here's what happens when you ignore fans outright; and here's what happens when you kowtow to the most vocal fans every whim.

Well we still have four years and two months of fun left. Let's dig in:

(unless otherwise stated, Bob Haney wrote and Jim Aparo drew the issues)

June 1979

#151:... & Flash, "Disco of Death", (No, I'm not kidding!)

Who is killing the patrons of Gotham City's most fashionable disco? Batman believes it's the mob, Flash thinks it's the ghost of a marathon dancer from the 1930s. As bad as it sounds.

#152:... & Atom, "Death Has A Golden Grab"

Computers run amuck – planes crash, traffic snarls, prison cell doors open, Bruce Wayne apparently steals money from his own foundation and Ray Palmer embezzles Ivy University funds! The hunt for the computer criminal concludes in Switzerland, with Batman being fed into a trash shredder and Atom thrown into a garbage incinerator.

#153:... & Red Tornado, "The Menace of the Murder Machine", Writer: Cary Burkett, Art: Don Newton & Bob Smith.

A scientist, injured in a lab accident, takes his revenge by siccing his Mars probe robots against his industrial backers, unless Batman and the eternally whiny Red Tornado stop him first.

There was a Red Tornado in the Golden Age, but the character was remade for the Silver Age and beyond as an android with the power to generate tornado-force winds. He appeared in _Justice League of America_ at almost the same time as Marvel's red-faced android Vision. Both characters were known for moping about their lack of humanity - although the writers of the Vision made him more noble without Reddy's endless graspy need for acceptance.

A story about robots that doesn't co-star the Metal Men? Did they have to chain Haney to a water heater in the basement?

#154:... & Metamorpho, "The Pathway of Doom..."

Sapphire Stagg "hires" Batman (offers him one million dollars to his favorite charity) to find Metamorpho. The trail leads to France and Turkey, where our heroes stop a gold extortion ring, if they can avoid a mysterious assassin.

#155:... & Green Lantern, "Fugitive from Two Worlds"

Tri-Vul, a well-respected alien scientist, steals a large meteorite from Gotham's bedrock to take back to his planet, causing massive earthquakes in Gotham! But why? Batman and Green Lantern fight over jurisdiction: will he be tried in Gotham or before the Guardians? Can our heroes stop fighting long enough to find the meteorite and get it back to Gotham before an earthquake destroys the city?

#156:... & Dr. Fate, "Corruption", Story: Cary Burkett, art: Don Newton & Bob Smith.

A golden age character is treated with dignity and respect – Moltinoff must be chained to that hot water heater with Haney!

A dead cop accused of taking bribes from a drug lord turns the Gotham City PD (including Commissioner Gordon) into thieves and murderers! Batman must find evidence to clear the cop, while Dr. Fate battles the demon inhabiting the late cop's spirit.

Dr. Fate was inspired by the writings of H.P Lovecraft. I enjoyed his occult stories more so than the magician-as-superhero tales. Here Newton and Smith give this story a murky feel. It works.

#157:... & Kamandi (ties into _Kamandi_ #59), "Time... My Dark Destiny"

Extortion, Inc. has a new Enforcer: Kamandi! How is that possible? Seems he was flung back in time, lost his memory and imbued with invulnerability and super strength! Can Batman stop his crime wave?

Levitz announces in the letter column that it is time for _B &B_ to grow and as a result Haney is leaving as of this issue to allow him time for more projects. And that's it, no great goodbye, no mention of the tremendous effort he put into _Brave & Bold_ for the last 24 years, nothing! Was it amicable? Maybe I shouldn't have made so much fun of him...

Nah...

1980

#158:... & Wonder Woman, "Yesterday Never Dies", Writer: Gerry Conway.

The first issue without Haney features something Haney rarely used: a supervillain, and a new one at that! Flashback, whose chemical gas makes his victims relive their worst life experiences, vows to kill the members of a French-US business conglomerate. Can Batman and Wonder Woman overcome the traumas of the deaths of Batman's parents and Steve Trevor in time to stop him?

#159:... & Ra's Al Ghul, "The Crystal Armageddon", Writer: Denny O'Neil.

Super villains are coming out of the woodwork! Ra's is the second bad guy to co-star in a team-up! The Joker (#111) is the other. Ra's was one of the few Batman villains from the 1970s with staying power. He was featured in most of the various Batman cartoons and it still in DC's New 52 continuity - if only as the grandfather of the latest dead Robin.

A single drop of Professor Hatter's formula could turn the ocean into crystal! Imagine what a bottle-full would do! The League of Assassins kidnaps the professor, and Batman and Ra's try to find him before either he or the League spills/breaks the bottle!

#160:... & Supergirl, "The Brimstone Connection", Writer: Cary Burkett.

Colonel Sulfur kidnaps Supergirl's adopted father - he knows the third part of a new rocket fuel formula the Colonel wants!

#161:... & Adam Strange, "A Tale of Two Heroes", Writer: Gerry Conway.

As with the _Special_ and issue #200, Batman never meets his costar in this issue.

A Zeta Beam switches Adam Strange and (an unknowing) Batman. Batman is sent to Rann to help clear Adam who was framed for murder. That leaves Adam Strange to capture Gotham's serial killer before he strikes again! A very well-done story!

#162:... (Earth Two) & Sgt. Rock, "Operation Time Bomb", Writer: Bill Kelly.

World War II sabotage: bombs are planted on a new squadron of tanks financed by Wayne Enterprises. Now Batman and Sgt. Rock must disarm the tanks, discover the Nazi's attack plans, and defeat the man behind it all – the Iron Major!

I enjoy these WWII Batman tales - I wish they would have done more of them!

#163:... & Black Lightning, "Oil, Oil, Nowhere", Writer: Paul Kupperberg, Art: Dick Giordano.

Black Lightning was the creation of Tony Isabella - a former _Brave & Bold_ letter-writer turned comic book writer and editor. The first and only time a fan of the magazine had a character he created appear in it? He won a reader's poll for most requested team-up (Black Lightning, not Tony Isabella \- although that would have been a fun team-up!). After a delay (Black Lightning was scheduled to appear in _DC Comics Presents_ and the editors didn't want to compete with their sister team-up magazine), he finally debuts in _B &B_. Other than Mal appearing with the Teen Titans in #102, this is the first African American character to co-star with Batman in _Brave & Bold_. Not that DC had a lot of black characters to choose from...

Someone is stealing oil tanker trucks from Gotham and Metropolis. Enter Batman. One of the stolen trucks runs over an old lady in Metropolis' suicide slum. Enter Black Lightning. They both find the missing gasoline. Enter the general-turned-senator and his private army ready to take over the US. Buncha jive turkeys!

#164:... & Hawkman, "The Mystery of the Mobile Museum", Writer: J.M. DeMatteis, Art: Jose Luis Garcia Lopez.

Batman and Hawkman deliver "The Mysterious Ones" – two pre-Cambrian statuettes – to the Midway City Museum. Unfortunately, the original owners haunt the museum and Shiera Hall in order to get the statuettes back. A very Lovecraftian tale, including a cameo appearance by Cthulhu!

#165:... & Man Bat, "Prescription for Tragedy", Writer: Marty Pasko, Art: Don Newton & Dan Adkins.

South American drugs, smuggled into the US, may be the only thing to save Man-bat's daughter. Unfortunately, this batch has a deadly viral strain in it! Can Batman stop the lethal injection in time? Old Batman cast member Jason Bard appears in a panel. Bard is an obscure member of the Batman Family. He was Batgirl's detective boyfriend and was given his own feature (e.g. _Detective Comics_ #425, July 1972). Around this time he was a regular cast member of the Manbat feature in _Detective._

#166:... & Black Canary, "Requiem for Four Canaries", Writer: Michael Fleisher, Art: Dick Giordano and Terry Austin.

Fifty cents? Again!? Well, they added eight pages...

The Penguin (his first appearance in _B &B_ since #68 14 years before) vows to kill his four former henchmen who testified against him.

The story's been done before (most notably with the Joker), but the art by Giordano is beautiful! The story seems to focus more on the flirtation between Canary and Batman. This potential romance was also hinted at years before in an issue of _Justice League of America_.

This issue was roundly panned in the later letter columns. It wasn't that bad!

For the first time in fifteen years (since the debut of the never-seen-since Bat Squad), a new hero is featured. "Nemesis" by Cary Burkett (writer) and Dan Spiegle (art). To atone for a murder committed by his brother, Thomas Tresser becomes the master-of-disguise Nemesis. In his debut outing he captures crime lord J. R. Ogden and his hired gun, George Peal.

#167... (Earth Two) & Blackhawk, "Ice Station Alpha!", Writer: Marv Wolfman, Artist: Dave Cockrum (yes, THAT Dave Cockrum) & Dan Adkins.

Another long-time _B &B_ requested team-up finally comes to pass. The golden age (Earth Two to the purists) Batman and the Blackhawks each discover the Nazi's ultimate weapon: a machine that will melt the polar ice cap and drown the entire eastern seaboard!

Blackhawk, like Plastic Man, was (were?) another Golden Age character from Quality bought out by National Comics in the 1950s. _Blackhawk_ lasted well into the 1970s and has been revived since - most notably in a superb miniseries by Howard Chaykin.

Nemesis: "A Name Writ in Blood" by Burkett & Spiegle. More of Nemesis' origin it revealed: When their widowed father dies, Tom & Craig Tresser are raised by Ben & Marjorie Marshall, their father's best friends. When they grow to adulthood, the boys begin working for Marshall as government agents. Craig, mysteriously, shoots and kills Ben and is himself killed. Tom, now always under suspicion, removes his name from the government roles, takes his experiments (disguise techniques, bullets that shoot only non-lethal paralyzing toxins, etc.) and becomes the Dark Herald of Justice, Nemesis.

You'll notice how the Nemesis story descriptions are longer and more detailed than the Batman team-up main feature. A telling critique as to style and substance, isn't it?

#168:... & Green Arrow, "Shackles of the Mind", Writer: Cary Burkett. Jim Aparo is back after a six issue absence. Hmm, six issues missed to draw a three-issue mini-series Untold Legend of Batman. His "vacation" seems to have paid off; his artwork in this issue is more marvelous than ever.

Green Arrow coaxes Batman into appearing at a charity benefit featuring a thief-turned-escape-artist reformed by Green Arrow. Meanwhile, Batman tries to hunt down a museum thief who makes nearly impossible escapes. Hmm. Could Green Arrow's friend be behind it all? Or is he just a patsy for a real stage-magician-turned-thief?

This issue shows more escape tricks and techniques than all of Mr. Miracle's past appearances put together!

Nemesis: "Swift Wing of Recompense"; Burkett & Spiegle. Picking up his brother's investigation where it left off, Nemesis find his brother's undercover work was discovered by a mob boss named Kingston. Craig was brought before the "Council" and brainwashed, is that why he killed Ben Marshall? During his investigation, Nemesis also stops a drug smuggling ring.

#169:... & Zatanna, "Angel of Mercy, Angel of Death!" Writer: Mike W. Barr.

I'm honored to have Zatanna herself describe the plot of this comic. "A retsgnag sllik a htiaf relaeh ohw t'ndluoc eruc sih kaew traeh. Fi eht htiaf s'relaeh dewodiw efiw t'nac eruc mih, ll'ehs eb dellik oot, sselnu Namtab dna I pots mih tsrif!"

Thank you, Zatanna. That was wonderful.........

Is she gone? Between you and me, Zatanna has never been a character I liked very much. Oh she's a cutie, no doubt; and those fishnet stockings, hubba hubba. Although this was during her fishnet-less costume-era, grrr ... I mostly the character because, for the reader, her spell-casting method is a pain in the ass, or as she would say, a "niap ni eht ssa"! Thank you, but I don't want to read what Zatanna says backwards. Besides, her spells are usually explained in the next panel. Here, she stops a criminal by saying, "Snug otni sag!" That is, "Guns into gas!" In the very next panel the criminal says (and we are shown), "My gun has turned into gas!" Thanks, I just spent five minutes of my life trying to figure that out for myself! Well, not five minutes, as anytime Zatanna appears I always try to keep a mirror handy. But I shouldn't have to read a comic book holding a compact! (Besides, isn't "Guns into gas!" backwards really "!sag otni snuG"?) Why can't she just say something silly like Dr. Strange and be just as effective; "I shall turn the guns into gas by using my Amulet of Amaretto!" Just as dramatic, and makes me feel less dyslexic!

Others love Zatanna and I respect their opinion, of course ... ot hcae sih nwo.

Nemesis: "The Council Calls for Death"; Burkett & Spiegle. Kingston calls a meeting of the Council, a federation of all mob bosses under the leadership of "The Head". Kingston updates the Council on Nemesis' search for more details of Craig's brainwashing (Nemesis finds out the brainwashing was done on the orders of The Head by a former Nazi scientist). Nemesis is at the meeting disguised as the Council's security chief (all through the story the reader was left guessing who could have been Nemesis – he had to be in the meeting somewhere!). His next move is obviously to find The Head at his base of operations, which is in... (cue exciting music) Gotham City. Guess who stars with Batman in _B &B_ next month? That's right – Sisemen! Er, Nemesis (damn that Zatanna!)!

1981

#170:... & Nemesis. "...If Justice Be Blind", Writer: Cary Burkett.

The Head hires a killer to assassinate his contacts with the members of the Council. Then he has the assassin killed! Batman and Nemesis finally find The Head by finding the ex-Nazi scientist who brainwashed Craig. The Head turns out to be a criminal shot by Ben Marshall early in his career and forced to live the rest of his days in an iron lung. In a moment of truth, Nemesis refuses to kill The Head when he had the chance.

A Batman comic's back-up series teams up with Batman to finish a major story arc. Shades of Walt Simonson's Manhunter from _Detective Comics_...

#171:... & Scalphunter, "A Cannon for Batman", Writer: Gerry Conway, Artist: Jose Luis Garcia Lopez (excellent and flawless art as usual from Lopez, but I would have loved to see Aparo do Civil War battle scenes!). Scalphunter, a white man raised by a Native American tribe, replaced Jonah Hex as the lead for _Weird Western Tales_ , although by this time the only weird part of the comic was th title. Still, they were well done and should be collected in a trade paperback. I'd buy one!

Bruce Wayne finds a Civil War campaign patch suspiciously similar to his bat symbol. Through hypnotist Professor Carter Nichols, Batman goes back in time to the Civil War (Nichols hypnosis technique was used by Batman in the 1940s and most recently in the Superfriends comic). Batman and Scalphunter help Martha Jennings, "the Florence Nightingale of the Civil War", deliver medicine to the Union forces, if they can get past the Confederate Army! Wah dew awl thuh nawthun soljerz tawk with a suthun ache-cent?

Nemesis: "Double or Nothing", (Burkett/Spiegle). With The Head dead, Nemesis goes after the rest of the Council. His first job: stopping the rigged gambling house of M.C. Curtis – unless the pretty blond with the bomb stops Curtis first!

#172:... & Firestorm, "Darkness and Dark Fire", Writer: Gerry Conway, Artist: Carmine Infantino and Steve Mitchell.

Firestorm is experiencing memory blackouts, and Batman investigates. It seems the same explosion that created Firestorm gave the nuclear power plant sentience, and is slowly taking control of Firestorm's mind. Jason Bard, who appeared in only one panel in #165, has a larger role here.

Firestorm is a creation of Gerry Conway and Allen Milgrom. He debuted in his own book in 1978. He's still around in one version or another...

Infantino's art is fair here (a rare thing at this time - by now his artwork was lacking something); in fact, his final battle between Firestorm and Batman (dressed in an asbestos suit) is fantastic! His talent for drawing futuristic machinery never faded, but the rest of the art was angular and sketchy – his trademark in later days. Does he draw faces with a T-square or something?

Nemesis: "Pirate's Peril", (Burkett/Spiegle). After rescuing the lady from the casino, Nemesis chases Curtis to LA, where he foils Curtis' video pirating racket.

#173:... & Guardians of the Universe, "One of Us is Not One of Us", Writer: Gerry Conway, Artist: Jim Aparo.

Green Lanterns are missing! One of the Guardians of the Universe is an imposter! A Guardian comes to earth to enlist the help of the world's greatest detective. But first Batman must stop a jewelry theft ring. "Very well," sighs the Guardian, "let us go stop it, then." They eventually find Hal Jordan, revive his memory and discover Sinestro is behind it all! On to Maltus, the Guardian's home world!

When someone suggested this as a team-up in the letter column of _B &B_ #152, it was (nicely) called one of the strangest ideas ever submitted. But here we are. It is an excellent off-beat issue; Aparo's art is at its best! This is one of my favorites – full of dry humor. The Guardian states, "... it seems odd that the law-breakers have left no one on guard!" And as a ship's rigging smashes harmlessly against his skull, he says, "Perhaps I spoke too soon!" Wonderful! This story continues in the next issue.

Nemesis: "Knight's Gambit", Burkett/Spiegle. English Council member Noel Chesterton is next on Nemesis' hit list. Why does Chesterton want to kidnap ex-RAF officer Sir Robert Greene?

#174:... & Green Lantern, "To Trap an Immortal", Writer: Gerry Conway, Art: Aparo.

On Maltus, Green Lantern reunites with the Old Timer, the mortal Guardian from the classic _Green Lantern/Green Arrow_ series #76 – 81. The Old-Timer and Batman trick Sinestro into revealing himself, while GL goes for reinforcements – the entire Corps! Sinestro takes over the minds of the Guardians, leading to "a battle that will live in legend as an epic": Green Lanterns versus Guardians! Well, they said it is an epic battle; the readers couldn't tell – the battle only lasted two pages... of course nowadays it would have lasted through a six month line-wide crossover with dozens of "special" one-shot issues. Can't we have any middle ground here?

Nemesis: "Bishop's Sacrifice", Burkett/Spiegle. Nemesis uncovers Chesterton's plot – first he kidnaps a knight, his next victim is a bishop! Is the queen next?

#175:... & Lois Lane, "Heart of a Monster", Writer: Paul Kupperberg, Artist: Aparo.

Another oft-requested team-up comes to pass. Lois Lane was the first Superman cast-member to get her own series. She debuted in (surprise!) _Showcase_ in 1957 and had her own title the next year. Her book merged with _Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen_ and _Supergirl_ into _Superman Family_ in 1974 and that title lasted until 1982.

A high-ranking member of crime-terror organization Skull wants to turn himself in, unless Superman bad-guy Metallo gets to him first!

Nemesis: "Queen: EnPrise", (Burkett/Spiegle). As Nemesis rescues his female companion Valerie and the kidnapped bishop mysteriously returns. Why?

#176:... & Swamp Thing, "The Delta Connection", Writer: Martin Pasko, Artist: Jim Aparo. Excellent cover by Mike Kaluta (a non-Aparo cover on _Brave & Bold_ is very rare!).

Someone is killing off all the participants of a Gotham jewel heist from years before – and Felicia Kyle (Catwoman's sister) is next! (Un)Fortunately, she has escaped her Louisiana prison and has fled into the swamp.

This was an unsuccessful attempt to relaunch a _Swamp Thing_ title (that influential title reboot wouldn't happen for two more years). "Created by Bob Kane" appears under Batman's splash-page logo for the first time.

Nemesis: "Endgame", (Burkett/Spiegle). Bishop takes Rook (sonic trap on the bishop knocks castle occupants unconscious)! Knight takes Queen (fake Sir Robert Greene kidnaps Queen Elizabeth II)! Fake Queen (Valerie in disguise) and Nemesis take Council-member Chesterton! Will Nemesis mate Valerie? Check!!

#177:... & Elongated Man, "The Hangman Club Murders", Writer: Mike W. Barr, Artist: Jim Aparo, Dick Giordano begins as editor.

This story was dedicated to Bill Finger and a very... er... Fingerish story. A genuine whodunit, complete with a challenge to the reader to ID the killer before the heroes do! Who is killing fellow members of the Hangman Club – an organization of reformed criminals?

Elongated Man was a supporting character in Flash that proved popular enough to get his own back-up series in _Detective Comics_. He eventually joined the Justice League. Legend says that had the editor of _Flash_ (I think at that time it was Julie Schwartz) known that DC owned the rights to Plastic Man at the time (and had since 1956), he would have used that name if not the character. It was to our gain in retrospect.

Nemesis: "Honor Among Thieves", (Burkett/Spiegle). The next Council-member on Nemesis' hit list is Samuel Soloman. Too bad Soloman captures Nemesis first!

#178:... & Creeper, "Paper Chase", Writer: Alan Bennett, Artist: Jim Aparo (who has said this was his favorite story in _B &B_!).

A right-wing TV commentator's hatred creates a living origami monster that kills off criminals, poor people, minorities and then goes after Jack (The Creeper) Ryder!

Was that a Legion cruiser silhouetted against the moon? Yes, this issue starts a brief tradition in _B &B_'s last years – each issue has a "clue" as to next issue's guest. Jim Aparo: "I'd find out who the next team-up would be and I'd start leaving a clue for the readers in the drawing to see if they could find it. That way the readers would know who was going to be coming next. If it was Green Arrow, I'd have an arrow lying around or stuck in a wall. I did it to make sure these kids were reading."

Nemesis: "The Bitter Choice", (Burkett/Spiegle). With a devise strapped to his chest that could stop his heart, Nemesis agrees to bring all other Council members to justice, leaving Soloman alone to rule!

A shortened letter column only has room for one letter – the third letter to appear in _Brave & Bold_ by T.M. Maple. His letter was roundly mocked by Dick Giordano. It made one wax nostalgic for the old days of Murray Boltinoff laughing at the fans. No, actually it didn't...

#179:... & Legion of Super Heroes, "Time Bomb With the Thousand-Year Fuse", Writer: Martin Pasko, Artist: Ernie Colon & Mike DeCarlo. Price increases to 60 cents.

Never say never. The Legion has been suggested for a _B &B_ team-up with Batman as long as there has been a letter column in _B &B_. It was always laughed off as silly or "undoable". Maybe they were right...

In 1981, an impenetrable anti-matter egg, set to hatch (and explode) in 1000 years, is switched with a Gotham City time capsule by an evil 31st century scientist. This is all a plot by Legion villain Universo to destroy Metropolis! When the time capsule hatches...boom!

Although well received according to later letter columns, to me it seemed very rushed and confusing, even at 25 pages. Why not simply open up the egg in the 20th century? It was under lock and key in the 31st century to prevent just that! Why go back in time? This should have been a two-parter, or another 48-page "Special".

My friend Jill Weber is mentioned in the letter column in the team-up round-up.

#180:... & Spectre, "Scepter of the Dragon God", Writer: Mike Fleisher, Artist: Jim Aparo. Fleisher and Aparo together again on the Spectre! They redefined the Spectre in _Adventure Comics_ in the mid-1970s. If hyped, this issue would have been a mega-seller!

One-third of the scepter is placed too close to the ashes of ancient wizard Wa'ar Zen, resurrecting him. Zen gathers the other two pieces and Spectre and Batman are too late to prevent him from becoming omnipotent. Well, almost omnipotent. Some of Fleisher's dialogue for Batman didn't ring true – Batman's flippant "I did it with my little batarang." And calling Zen "old buddy" were too out of character even for me!

Nemesis: "Be Still My Trembling Heart", (Burkett/Spiegle). Nemesis finds the doctor who created the heart accelerator, and the doctor promptly turns on the devise, leaving Nemesis writhing on the floor!

#181:... & Hawk & Dove, "Time See What's Become of Me", W: Alan Brennert, A: Aparo.

An excellent story. _B &B_ does something it hasn't done in years – it makes a major change in a character (or two in this case). Here, it marks the end of two superhero's careers! The art is also not to be believed. Aparo was inspired!

Hawk & Dove - two more _Showcase_ alums - were brothers with two different world views during the Vietnam War and the other conflicts of the 1960s. As their names implied: Hawk was aggressive; Dove passive. They had a short-lived self-titled series and by this time had been seen only in a few issues of _Teen Titan_. They've been revived through the years \- sometimes with a female Dove.

Hank Hall (Hawk) has mentally broken down over the past 12 years and is losing control of his emotions. Don Hall (Dove) has become more and more passive. The "Presence" that gave Hawk & Dove their powers returns and realizes that giving Hawk & Dove their powers merely atrophied their humanity. So it strips Hawk & Dove of their powers to allow them to grow. Bad timing – Hawk has been kidnapped by a heroin kingpin!

Nemesis: "Heartbreak", (Burkett/Spiegle). Nemesis subdues Dr. Rice and uses him as a disguise to again infiltrate Soloman's mansion, where Nemesis deactivates the heart stimulator and puts it instead on Soloman himself!

1982

#182:... & Robin (of Earth Two), "Interlude on Earth Two", W: Alan Brennert, A: Jim Aparo.

Another excellent story and art! Intelligent and thought-provoking! Two stories in a row that dealt more with emotion than violence – things that might have been, lost opportunities and second chances. Both should appear in any "best of..." compilation.

On Earth-Two, Professor Hugo Strange steals Starman's cosmic rod and threatens to decimate Gotham City. So great is the storm he creates that it causes a rift between earths and whisks Earth-One's Batman to Earth Two. Strange, having taken over the Batcave, assaults Batman, Robin and Batwoman with the batmobile, a Batman robot and other bat-weapons. Robin is angry at Batman – for treating him as a junior partner (he points out that he and Batman are the same age and Robin has been fighting crime much longer) and considers Batman a rank imitator of the original. Robin is also mad at himself for thinking such things. Batman is angry at himself for forgetting how much he misses Batwoman (the Earth-One version is deceased). Batwoman is angry at herself for not telling Earth-Two Batman her true feelings, all the while trying not to fall in love with Earth-One Batman. Can the three heroes overcome their jealousy, mourning and melancholy in time to stop Strange?

Nemesis: "Enter: Greyfox", (Burkett/Spiegle). The three surviving Council members hire the Grey Fox – French assassin – to off Nemesis. The Fox's only clue is Valerie's brother in Las Vegas. In the terms of Marvel Role Playing Game this is known as the Disadvantage: Relative.

#183:... & Riddler, "The Death of Batman", W: Don Krarr, A: Carmine Infantino.

Clues on a board game lead Batman to a kidnapped mystery writer. The Riddler receives clues too – he's trying to find the fiend who's stealing his modus operandi!

Carmine Infantino art is typical Infantino at this time – very stylistic, to put it diplomatically. Takes some getting used to. Actually, this looks very much like one of his 1960s story. Hard-corps fans probably loved it, but it is somewhat stiff and distant.

This is the Riddler's first appearance in _Brave & Bold_ since #68, fifteen years before. This plot – a villain going after an imitator – is done much better in #191.

Nemesis: "Fox & Hounds", (Burkett/Spiegle). The Grey Fox hunts Nemesis through his stolen helicopter, Nemesis hunts the Grey Fox through his henchmen. A deadly confrontation builds on a lone airstrip.

#184:... & Huntress, "The Batman's Last Christmas", W: Mike W. Barr, A: Aparo.

In the first Christmas story since #148, Batman discovers evidence that his father bankrolled gangsters! Bruce decides since his father was a hypocrite, so was his entire career as Batman! Can the Huntress (visiting from Earth-Two for the holidays) convince Batman to put back the cape and cowl back on to find the truth?

This is the third issue in a row featuring a character strictly from the Batman family. What gives? Are they trying to see if a new Bat-book might sell without a non-Batman Family guest star? Considering they only have sixteen issues left, it's possible.

Nemesis: "Outfoxed", (Burkett/Spiegle). The Grey Fox kidnaps the daughter of Barney (Nemesis's mechanic) as bait. Nemesis is injured while rescuing the girl and Barney's wild rifle shot causes the Grey Fox's helicopter to explode!

This first page of this issue is a classic and reproduced here. You won't see this side of Batman since his reinvention as a brooding sociopath...

Plus it gives a good glimpse of the expert artwork of Jim Aparo.

#185:... & Green Arrow, "The Falcon's Lair", W: Don Kraar, A: Adrian Gonzales.

The Penguin sets a trap disguised as a Gotham socialite's birthday party filled with mechanical knights, killer falcons and fake Robins all to kill Batman! Bats can't make it, will Green Arrow do?

Green Arrow's last appearance in _B &B_. He totaled ten appearances (nine with Batman – more than anyone else – and one with the Martian Manhunter in the first team-up issue in #50) in the comic. He ranks fourth among total _B &B_ appearances (only Batman, Flash and Hawkman have had more – Hawkman with six issues devoted solely to him. And that's not counting Viking Prince and Silent Knight!).

Nemesis: "Triple Threat", (Burkett/Spiegle). The three remaining Council members make a deal – whoever destroys Nemesis will become the new Head of the Council! Nemesis infiltrates Jay Kingston's manor, not knowing Kingston keeps lions roaming his grounds. Bad time for his wound from last issue to start bleeding again!

#186:... & Hawkman, "The Treasure of the Hawk-God's Tomb", W: Dan Mishkin & Gary Cohn, Art: Jim Aparo.

The Fadeaway Man steals treasures from Gotham's museums to sell them to the highest bidder, unless Batman & Hawkman stop him first! Penguin must have escaped his capture of the issue before – he has a cameo during the museum auction eyeing the Gotham Eagle statue!

Speaking of Hawkman, this was his last appearance (his 11th). He had six issues as a try-out series (#34-36 and 42-44). His silver-age revival was second only to the Justice League as a successful _B &B_ try-out. He was featured in four team-ups with Batman and one team-up with Aquaman.

Nemesis: "In the Lion's Den", (Burkett/Spiegle). Nemesis escapes Kingston's lion and his gun toting henchmen, but Kingston has other plans. He discovers that Nemesis is somehow connected with widow Marjorie Marshall...

#187:... & Metal Men, "Whatever Happened to What's'ername?" Writer: Charlie Boatner, Art: Jim Aparo.

Nameless, the robot created by Tin (he called her Beautiful), was kidnapped by Platinum Man (of the Metal Women, don't ask...). Platinum Man rebuilds the Floating Furies, the Gas Gang, the Missile Men and BOLTS to kill Doc Magnus and the Metal Men!

I remember Nameless, she has a brief cameo in _Brave & Bold_ #74!

Nemesis: "Arena of Despair", (Burkett/Spiegle). Kingston kidnaps Marjorie Marshall, who with her husband Ben Marshall raised Nemesis and his brother, to lure Nemesis back to Kingston's manor and certain doom!

Jill Weber contributes again to the letter column – her second! Karen Wu's second letter appears this issue, too!

Another _B &B_ staple makes their last appearance. The Metal Men appeared nine times – twice without Batman (teaming instead with Metamorpho and the Atom) and seven with Batman.

#188:... & Rose & Thorn, "A Grave as Wide as the World", Writer: Robert Kanigher (Rose & Thorn creator, and his first story for _B &B_ since #52 18 years before).

A Nazi spy on his death bed tells Hitler himself the location of a lethal canister of nerve gas he had stolen during WWII. Well, he THOUGHT it was Hitler. Instead of Hitler, it was a neo-Nazi bent on destroying America! Continues in the next issue.

Rose & Thorn was (were?) a reboot of a Golden Age Green Lantern villain and appeared many time as the backup feature in _Superman's Girlfriend Lois Lane_. That was during the time at National (early 1970s) when it seemed the backup feature was more interesting than the lead – Black Orchid, Captain Fear and Rose & Thorn are examples.

Nemesis: "Gladiator's Gauntlet", (Burkett/Spiegle). Nemesis fights off gun traps! Spike-filled pits! Bullwhip carrying goons! A man with a hook for a hand! Knife tossers! Judo experts! Exploding doors! I can't watch anymore! Tell me when it's over!

#189:... & Rose & Thorn, "Grave..." Part Two, W: Kanigher, A: Aparo.

The hunt for the nerve toxin leads to Argentina and Martin Bormann! "Agoinzed"? Should have been "agonized", a very rare typo! The last multi-part story in _B &B_.

Nemesis: "Betrayal", (Burkett/Spiegle). Nemesis evades more traps and rescues Marjorie. Kingston is killed by a rival Council member's spy.

#190:... & Adam Strange, "Who Killed Adam Strange?" Writer: Mike W. Barr, Artists: Carmine Infantino and Sal Trapani.

Still in the jungle in South America (where's Thorn?) Batman is sent by Zeta-Beam to Rann. With the use of the beam, Batman restores Adam Strange to life, finds his killer and helps defeat alien invaders.

Infantino's art is very good for his style at this late date. Too bad it is such a strange story, pardon the pun \- and some plot points are hard to swallow. Batman's detective skills are at their nadir – he guesses who killed Adam Strange and happens to be correct. He brings Adam back to life because the Zeta Beam takes Adam back to earth in the same state he left. So how come it doesn't work in reverse and he returned to Rann dead? Mike W. Barr is better than this!

Nemesis: "Murderer's Proxy", (Burkett/Spiegle). Council member Maddox hires a hitman to kill his mole in Kingston's operation, to stop the mole from squealing. Nemesis is bent on stopping him!

#191:... & Joker, : Only Angels Have Wings", Writers: Don Mishkin & Gary Cohn, Art: Jim Aparo.

An imitation Joker kills the Penguin (the Penguin's back again!?) on live television. The real Joker asks Batman to track down the killer. This story makes for a better "team-up" than the classic #111.

This is the third time a Batman villain appears as a guest, the second for the Joker and his fourth cover blurb (along with #111, 118 & 130). He also appeared as the villain in #s 68 and 141.

Nemesis: "Dead Man's Bluff", (Burkett/Spiegle). Disguised as the assassin, Nemesis convinces Maddox's mole to turn himself in and implicate Maddox in Kingston's murder.

#192:... & Superboy, "You Can Take the Boy Out of Smallville..." Writer: Mike W. Barr, Art: Jim Aparo. Len Wein takes over as editor.

Mr. IQ tries to whisk Superman into the distant past to prevent Supes from foiling IQ's plot. Instead, he mistakenly switches the Superman of 1982 with the Superboy of 1967! IQ tries to empower his computerized brain that will take over the world with solar flares! Can Batman and the Boy of Steel stop him in time?

Great idea turned into (thankfully) a great story. Note that Superman was shown only in silhouetted shadows – there is a touching scene where he avoided nearly being seen by his parents. It was heart-wrenching to see him fly away instead of seeing his parents alive again. Also, it was interesting watching Batman "train" Superboy on using his powers more effectively ("don't use your heat vision to detonate a gun – you could hurt someone!" "Yes sir."). Considering Batman is lecturing someone who could break his neck with a pinky, Batman does a very good job teaching and instructing the lad!

Nemesis: "Operation Overkill", (Burkett/Spiegle). Sole surviving Council member Irene Scarfield tries to resurrect the Council. Nemesis, disguised as an actor in Scarfield's traveling troupe, overhears the plans to Operation Overkill that brings a chill to his spine. Good thing the next stop of the theater troupe is Gotham City! Next issue's guest with Batman is... surprise! Sisemen! Er, Nemesis! Damn that Zatanna!

#193:... & Nemesis, "Those Who Live by the Sword..." W: Cary Burkett, A: Aparo.

Scarfield hires the terrorist group the PLA to kill a senator who is sponsoring a strict anti-crime bill. Batman defeats the PLA and its leader Bloodclaw. Nemesis sacrifices himself to destroy the last Council member in a helicopter crash. The scales of justice have finally balanced. (Nemesis survives the crash, spends years recuperating in a hospital and joins the Suicide Squad - a fellow _Brave & Bold_ alumni).

1983

#194:... & Flash, "Trade Heroes and Win!", Writer: Mike W. Barr, Artist: Carmine Infantino and Sal Trapani.

Little-known/long forgotten Flash and Batman villains, the Rainbow Raider and Doctor Double-X take lessons in self-confidence from a female Tony Robbins-like character and nearly defeat our brave and bold comrades.

It is announced in the letter column that issue #200 will be the last issue featuring a Batman team-up format, and announces Batman and the Outsiders, but provides no other information.

This is Flash's last appearance: six times teaming with the caped crusader, four times with other superheroes and three times with the JLA, not counting cameos (#172 for example). Only Batman, Viking Prince and Silent Knight appeared more than the Flash.

Infantino drew the first Flash-Batman team-up (#67) and the last. These are the two superheroes with which he is most associated. Infantino's art isn't bad here, but still not very good. As with his later Flash work, sometimes his art just doesn't look realistic. But compared to more stylized artwork in comics in the past several years (especially the 1990s, ick), it's still very accessible.

#195:... & I...Vampire, "Night of Blood", Writer: Mike W. Barr, Art: Jim Aparo.

A Gotham gangster makes a deal with Batman – find the vampire killer that attacked his daughter and Batman will be provided with incriminating evidence against a rival gangster. In one of those coincidences that only happen in comics, the rival gangster is in cahoots with the vampire cult The Blood Red Moon, sworn enemy of Andrew Bennett (who tells the tale in his first person narrative typical of the "I... Vampire" series).

I do not recall if any other _B &B_ tales were told in first person narrative. None spring to mind. Neither the Viking Prince or Silent Knight tales, although some might have been. Some of the Sgt Rock tales had sections told in first person. Lots of issues had "flashback" scenes in first person, but a whole comic? This might be the first – I'm not going back through 194 issues to find out!

Great issue, Mark, you made up for #190! Thanks!

Speaking of that, future Flash scribe Mark Waid writes a scathing review of issue #190. Constant letter writers TM Maple and Kent Phenis also contribute. It is hinted in the letter column that after issue #200, _Brave & Bold_ will feature stories by new talent rather than team-ups. This idea will turn instead into what will be a 19-issue run of _New Talent Showcase_ beginning six months later in January 1984.

This issue could have ranked with the Haney/Adams Deadman stories (#79 & 86) as a great chapter in the guest character's mythos. This tale, although a good story, did not make you want to run out and buy _House of Mystery_. It is also a rare case of bad Aparo art. Let's put bad in quotes. The art is still marvelous, but not his best. For one thing: there's hardly any background! Instead of looking stylized, it looks rushed. You can actually tell on which panels he took his time and on which panels he did not. This issue was in desperate need of a finisher. Fortunately, even his poor artwork is better than most . The reason? Well, by this time he was doing other Batman books, including preparing _Brave & Bold_'s replacement! Where this issue could have been a classic, instead it seemed like they were buying time. The end is nigh.

#196:... & Ragman, "The Two Faces of Midnight!" Writer: Robert Kanigher, Art: Jim Aparo, doing his last Batman team-up for _Brave & Bold_.

A banker's daughter is kidnapped by terrorists. Batman and Ragman, each exhausted and wounded, take the other's leads, and costumes, to find her!

Another great tale with a unique hero. Ragman appeared in his own comic inthe 1970s. It was short-lived but a great and unique series. Kudos to Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert! Another triumph from both! If DC really wanted to push this issue and issues 195 and 197, they would be best-sellers. Instead they already had their sights set on Batman's new book.

#197:... (Earth Two) & Catwoman, "The Autobiography of Bruce Wayne", Writer: Alan Brennert, Art: Joe Staton (who else but the pre-eminent Earth-Two artist?) and George Freeman.

The Scarecrow's latest trick is a gas that creates the realistic illusion of one's greatest fears come to life! Batman sees Robin, Batwoman, Commissioner Gordon, Alfred and Clark Kent all disappear! He is alone! Who can help him since his friends are gone? How about an adversary? Batman asks Catwoman to help catch the Scarecrow. During the hunt, they help each other conquer their fears and also fall in love.

Bruce writes: "But lately I've had the feeling that time is somehow running short, that endings are not so very far away." He was writing about his own death previously shown in Adventure Comics, but he could also be writing about the end of his world's existence – three years from now the Crisis on Infinite Earths will be published: DC's failed attempt to reboot their long and wonderful history, eliminating any and all references to Earth-Two and these types of stories.

Bruce (and Alan) may have also been refering to _Brave & Bold_'s demise in three months...

Back to this issue: another great story, and a fine addition to the Earth-Two Batman mythos. This tale has been reprinted in several "Greatest Batman Stories..." anthologies.

These last three issues were fantastic! Could it be that they were trying to revive an interest in keeping _B &B_ going, or were they trying to make their last issues final blazes of glory? Regardless, overall the quality of the tales (story and art) of _B &B_'s last year was phenomenally good! Certainly more hits than misses.

#198:... & Karate Kid, "Terrorists of the Heart", W: Mike W. Barr, A: Chuck Patton.

Karate Kid is a member of the Legion of Superheroes who, during the Kung Fu craze of the 1970s, was whisked back to the present to prove himself man enough to Princess Projectra's father to marry her. A silly premise, I grant you. His title was cancelled to make way for the new titles of the DC Explosion of 1978.

It's a story that can only happen in comics: Terrorist group the Black Heart hire Karate Kid bad guy Pulsar to kill their traitor, Katy. Katy escapes and hides out in Karate Kid's girlfriend Iris Jacobs' apartment. Karate Kid travels to 1983 just in time to get in the middle of it all! Oh yeah, Batman is after the Black Heart too!

The letter column features fans reaction to _B &B_'s "cancellation". But the editors, over the past few issues, have only stated that #200 will feature the last Batman team-up and _Brave & Bold_ will then change its format. Ominously, the editors do not correct the mistake. The final team-up in #200 is announced.

#199:... & Spectre, "The Body-Napping of Jim Corrigan", Writer: Mike W. Barr, Art: Ross Andru and Rick Hoberg.

The Spectre enlists Batman's aid to find the body of Jim Corrigan, who was kidnapped by a sorceress and will use Corrigan's body as earthly host for her astral lover. If she succeeds, Spectre will be unable to regenerate and will cease to exist!

In the letter column, the editors announce _Brave & Bold_ #200 will be the final issue.

#200: Batman & Batman (Earth Two), "Smell of Brimstone, Stench of Death" Writer: Mike W. Barr, Art: Dave Gibbons.

$1.50!! A dollar fifty for a comic book!? Aw, it's the last issue, let it go...

Earth-Two 1955 (the year _B &B_ began): After a series of robberies, Batman and Robin finally defeat Brimstone. Earth-Two 1983: Hate is all that has kept Brimstone alive. His hatred of Batman is so great; when he hears of Batman's death, his mind passes into his Earth-One counterpart where another hated Batman still lives! Earth-One 1983: Brimstone causes riots in Gotham and eventually traps Batman in the same lava "hellpit" Batman escaped 28 years before! Can Batman escape – er – again – in time to save Gotham, catch Brimstone whilst finding out who the heck Brimstone is? Well of course he can, but he never figures out Brimstone's Earth-Two secret. And he never will.

"Batman and the Outsiders", Writer: Mike W. Barr, Art: Jim Aparo. Batman and the Outsiders protect Mikos from his own terrorist subordinates – who vow to kill Mikos (under his own orders) for the glory of the cause!

Oft-requested Batmite finally appears in _Brave & Bold_ in a one page comic.

For the first time since Nemesis, new characters were introduced – Halo, Geo-Force and Katana. They are the first new _B &B_ superheroes since Metamorpho, who is also a member of the new Outsiders.

One last team-up and one last try-out. The try-out was a success: the Outsiders going on to their own series (replacing _Brave & Bold_ on DC's roster) and lasting for several years afterward. Later incarnations link the Outsiders (still featuring the resurrected Metamorpho) as a splinter group of the Teen Titans. Appropriately, both groups began in _Brave & Bold_. The third incarnation harks back to the Batman-formed play-by-their-own-rules meta group.

It was trendy at DC for a while to introduce new groups by mixing new characters and old. At times it worked brilliantly (the Teen Titans); at times it was an utter failure (the Justice League of Detroit). The Outsiders were another success.

***

And that's it! After 262 new stories and 28 reprints _Brave & Bold_ was gone. We've seen them all – from the Atom to Zatanna. We've been from Camelot to Hell, from Rann to Oa and all points in between. We've seen knights and dictators, Vikings and terrorists, ordinary citizens and supermen, hard-working cops and pliable freaks. From King Arthur to Satan, from Queen Elizabeth II to Snapper Carr. It was quite a ride.

Team-up books were not necessarily on their way out with _B &B_'s cancellation – there were only four in existence by this time. But the cracks were showing – _Marvel Two-in-One_ was canceled one month before _Brave & Bold_ with its issue #100 (June 1983). Solely on the strength of their stars (as opposed to the quality of material), _Marvel Team-Up_ was cancelled on February 1985 after 150 issues, and _DC Comics Presents'_ last issue was September 1986 with issue #97. Subsequent attempts at team-up-books (mostly by Marvel with _Spiderman Team-Up,_ a revived _Marvel Team-Up_ ), didn't last long. Although supergroups would come back to popularity, with JLA, JSA, Avengers, Defenders and others being vigorously revived, the team-up book is probably gone forever. Adaptations of television cartoons aside...

The _Brave & Bold_ format, as discussed, probably wouldn't have fit into DC's paradigm after 1983. That includes to this day. Kevin Smith brought up the prospect of bringing back _Brave & Bold_ with Green Arrow in the early 2000s, but it did not come to pass.

But history won't judge _Brave & Bold_ by its team-up years, praiseworthy as the Haney-Aparo issues were. _B &B_ will be more known for its first fifty issues – the Viking Prince, the Justice League, Hawkman. And rightly so, but the team-up stories were also good, quality fun. Some were fantastic! Some of the very best stories of the magazine appeared in the last twenty issues of its run!

DC still trots out comics under the banner to preserve its copyright, but they have all so far failed to capture the wonder and wonderfulness of _B &B_'s glory years; _B &B_'s very best issues.

All two hundred of them.

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APPENDICES

Errata, Additional and Supplemental

The Golden Gladiator appeared in an issue of _Swamp Thing_ in its controversial time-travel story arc: controversial in that the story in which Swampy met with Jesus of Nazareth was not allowed to be published.

Cave Carson does not appear in _Showcase_ #100. Although it does not claim to include every character appearing in the magazine, a one-panel appearance (as was done with such obscure characters as Jason, Firehair and Manhunter 2070) could have been done. Cave has appeared in cameos in issues of _Wonder Woman_ and _JSA_.

The Golden Gladiator, Silent Knight and the Viking Prince appeared in _All Star Squadron_ #54 as part of the line-wide cross-over mini-series _Crisis on Infinite Earths_.

Cave Carson appears in _Crisis on Infinite Earths #11_. Rick Flagg and the Suicide Squad do not! It's the only group or character from _B &B_ that is not involved in the mini-series.

It has been established that the Silent Knight is one of the many reincarnations of Carter Hall in the fourth _Hawkman_ series. The "ghost" of the Silent Knight appeared in the comic to battle his former _B &B_ co-star. One presumes Shiera Hall is therefore the fair Lady Celia!

The continuity of any and all _Brave & Bold_-originated characters in DC's 2011 reboot, called the "New 52" is anyone's guess.

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Final Tally

Batman starred in _Brave & Bold_ in 134 issues, appeared in two cameos (in the first two Teen Titans stories – including their first team-up without the TT logo), and appeared in three issues with the Justice League of America, for a total of 139 issues.

Other characters have appeared several times – adding JLA appearances definitely helped. Flash appeared in 13 issues; Hawkman appeared in 11 issues, six of which were his solo stories; Green Arrow and Wonder Woman each appeared in 10 issues; and Metal Men, Aquaman and Green Lantern appeared in 9 issues.

The following DC characters appeared in _B &B_ and did not team-up with Batman: Martian Manhunter (although he appeared with Batman in the JLA stories), Doom Patrol, Johnny Cloud and the Haunted Tank.

The tally for Batman team-ups is as follows:

Total team-ups with Batman --

9: Green Arrow

7: Metal Men

6: Flash, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman

5: Black Canary, Sgt. Rock, Wildcat

4: Hawkman, Aquaman, Atom, Teen Titans, Metamorpho, Spectre, Plastic Man, Deadman, Joker (counting his "also starring" and "4 Famous..." spots)

3: Creeper, Phantom Stranger, Adam Strange, Mr. Miracle

2: Supergirl, Robin, Demon, Man-Bat, Kamandi, Swamp Thing, Nemesis, Rose & Thorn (in a two-parter)

1. Eclipso, Bat Squad, The House of Mystery, Kung Fu Fighter, Unknown Soldier, Superman, Red Tornado, Dr. Fate, Ra's Al Ghul, Black Lightning, Zatanna, Scalphunter, Firestorm, Guardians of the Universe, Lois Lane, Elongated Man, Legion of Superheroes, Hawk & Dove, Riddler, Huntress, Superboy,

I... Vampire, Ragman, Catwoman, Karate Kid.

A tally of writers and artists are below (no, the numbers do not add up to 200. More than one artist did appear in multi-story issues).

Writers:

Bob Haney: 122 issues

Robert Kanigher: 39 issues

Garner Fox: 16 issues

Mike W. Barr: 9 issues

Cary Burkett: 5 issues

Gerry Conway: 5 issues

Alan Bennet: 3 issues

Marty Pasko: 3 issues

Denny O'Neil: 2 issues

Paul Kupperberg: 2 issues

Dan Miskin/Gary Kohn: 2 issues

Mike Fleisher: 2 issues

Don Krarr: 2 issues

John Broome: 2 issues

One issue each:

Charlie Boatner

Marv Wolfman

Bill Kelly

J.M. DeMetteis

Alan Brennert

Artists:

Jim Aparo: 82 issues

Joe Kubert: 26 issues

Irv Novick: 22 issues

Ross Andru: 10 issues

Carmine Infantino: 10 issues

Neal Adams: 9 issues

Dick Giordano: 6 issues

Nick Cardy: 6 issues

Mike Sekowsky: 6 issues

Ramona Fradon: 4 issues

Bruno Penanini: 3 issues

Don Newton: 2 issues

Joe Staton: 2 issues

Bob Brown: 2 issues

John Calnan: 2 issues

Murphy Anderson: 2 issues

One issue each:

Romeo Tanghal

Sal Trapani

Alex Roth

Bernard Bailey

George Roussos

John Rosenberg

Win Mortimer

Johnny Craig

George Repp

Dave Cockrum

Dave Gibbons

Rick Estrada

Chuck Patton

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Tale of the Tape

DC was "required by law" to publish financial statements in their May/June/July issues, usually cutting into precious letter column space. These statements include total average issues printed each issue, total issues actually purchased, total subscriptions, and issues closest to the publishing date (October). Here I have used the average per issue for that year. Did Marvel, Harvey & Archie had to publish these too? Regardless, if the publishing statements can be believed (they were attested to, but then so were financial statements by Enron and Worldcom...), the following is a list of the annual sales of and comparables:

1966

_B &B_ 249,000

1967

_B &B_ 279,000 ( #74 sold for 398,000)

_Justice League of America ("JLA")_ 385,800

_Strange Adventures_ 146,600 (Deadman debuts)

1968

_B &B_ 290,900 (Haney-Adams issues)

_JLA_ 315,500

1970

_B &B_ 212,200

_The Flash_ 184,400

_JLA_ 200,785

_World's Finest_ 356,200

1971

_B &B_ 210,708

1972

_B &B_ 179,819

_JLA_ 168,871

_World's Finest_ 234,878

_Phantom Stranger_ 138,629

1973

_B &B_ 190,047

_JLA_ 187,055

_The Flash_ 162,400

1974

_B &B_ 190,100

_JLA_ 189,392

_World's Finest_ 181,542

_Adventure Comics_ 166,398 (the Spectre w/Aparo art)

_Phantom Stranger_ 179,566

_Wonder Woman_ 132,675

_Superboy/Legion_ 260,480

_Superman Family_ 174,416

1975

_B &B_ 158,000

_JLA_ 166,000

_Adventure Comics_ 106,647 (Aquaman w/Aparo art)

_Swamp Thing_ 124,581

_Superboy and the Legion of Superheroes_ 173,232

1976

_B &B_ 151,000

_JLA_ 193,000

_World's Finest_ 132,185

_Adventure Comics_ 104,309

_Superman_ 216,122

_Superman Family_ 156,636

1977

_B &B_ 147,912

_JLA_ 151,982

_World's Finest_ 95,997 (Dollar Comic begins)

_Detective_ 105,078

_Superman_ 226,127

_Superman Family_ 95,109 (Dollar Comic begins)

1978

_B &B_ 119,955

_JLA_ 126,805

_World's Finest_ 63,463

1979

_B &B_ 152,252 (#155 sold over 200,000 issues)

_World's Finest_ 85,194

1980

_B &B_ 109,180

_JLA_ 123,099

1981

_B &B_ 92,847

_JLA_ 128,243

_DC Comics Presents_ 135,604

_Wonder Woman_ 81,725

1982

_B &B_ 91,097

_JLA_ 114,071

_World's Finest_ 80,696

1983( _B &B_ was cancelled before the sales were published)

_JLA_ 119,519

_World's Finest_ 81,179

1984

_B &B_ None

_JLA_ 108,222

_World's Finest_ 70,677

Reprinted from Alter Ego #19, December 2002

***

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The Batman Family

Batman's cast of supporting characters appeared frequently in _Brave & Bold_. In some issues, Commissioner Gordon appeared in more panels than the supposed guest!

The issue list is as follows:

Batgirl: #78 (despite many promises to the contrary, she only appeared once)

Batwoman: #182, 197

Robin (as Batman's sidekick, not as a member of the Teen Titans or a named guest): #s 86, 185 (a robotic Robin), 197, 200

Dick Grayson (not as Robin): #s 89, 164, 167

The Mayor of Gotham City: #s 59, 67, 89, 94, 102, 105 (kudos to Aparo for drawing the same mayor in 102 and 105 – he must have won re-election!), 113, 148, 150

Alfred: #s 79, 82, 90, 96, 100, 101, 105, 141, 142, 147, 150, 153, 155, 157, 165, 167, 168, 169, 173, 176, 177, 184, 187, 190, 193 (Nemesis in disguise), 194, 200 and _DC Special Series #8: Brave & Bold Special_

Commissioner Gordon: (although it would be easier to list the issues in which he didn't appear...) #s 59, 64, 67, 68, 69, 70, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 86, 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 98, 100, 101, 102, 104, 105, 107, 108, 109, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 120, 122, 123, 124, 125, 132, 133, 135, 136, 137, 139, 140 (a wax figurine), 141, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 152, 153, 155, 156, 157, 161, 163, 165, 166, 167, 168, 170, 173, 177, 183, 184, 186, 197, 198, 200 and _DC Special Series #8: Brave & Bold Special_.

***

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Later Volumes of _Brave & Bold_

To date, there have been two six-issue mini-series and two one-shot comics with the _Brave & Bold_ title. These comics were likely printed as _Brave & Bold_ (as opposed to, say _Showcase_ or _Adventure Comics_ ) to preserve the copyrighted name rather than an honest effort to revive the title, despite pleas from theor letter columns. In 2007 _B &B_ was revived as an ongoing series that lasted nearly three years. There was also an ongoing series based on the excellent animated series that lasted just over two years. Discussion of these volumes/revivals/issues follow:

The Brave and The Bold (1991):

In 1991 the _Brave & Bold_ banner was displayed on a six-issue mini-series returning to the team-up genre. In fact, it featured one of the characters from the first _B &B_ team-up – Green Arrow! The magazine also featured the Question, a Charleton character assimilated into the DC universe, and the Butcher, an ultra-violent brute who was typical of the heroes the company was vomiting up at the time. The story was ripped from the headlines and filled with page after page of throat-slitting, bone-breaking, car-exploding action! Haney could have condensed it down to 22 pages, while not once needing to use the word "shit" in a word balloon.

The art was actually fair for the time. The humans looked, well, human! Limbs were proportional, facial features were... featured (except for the Question of course). Only one strange stylized panel in the first issue seemed out of place: it showed the Butcher in the background, yet still looming larger than the character in the foreground. Pardon me for being old fashioned, but I still enjoy perspective in my comic book art.

No title in any of the six issues; Writers: Mike Grell and Mike Baron; Artist: Shea Anton Pensa; Editor: Mike Gold.

#1. December 1991. Green Arrow and the Butcher each infiltrate a terrorist conference of various Indian tribes and an IRA member. The group kills a logging industrialist and weapons are on their way from Canada.

#2. January 1992. The Question discovers that the murdered industrialist's company was owned by English (later Canadian) Sir Arthur Youngblood, who is part Indian. Green Arrow is attacked by two terrorists. One of the terrorists returns to his native reservation in Quebec, where a Mohawk festival is underway.

#3. February 1992. Our three heroes meet at a Quebeci Mohawk festival. Green Arrow hunts the Indian and IRA member who attacked him. The Question and the Butcher interview Youngblood and are later attacked by two of his men.

#4. March 1992. The Butcher and The Question escape the attack. A riot breaks out at the festival, culminating in the terrorist's cry to arms to stop Youngblood's development of the Mohawk land.

#5. May 1992 (for some reason it skipped a month). Butcher infiltrates the rioters and finds the terrorists handing out the weapons from issue #1 (that must have been sneaked back into Canada...), the Question interviews the rioter's leader, Green Arrow is caught sneaking into Youngblood's manor – after he finds a roomful of weapons!

#6. June 1992. Our heroes discover all. Youngblood is instigating the riots and handing them the IRA weapons so the government will shut down the reservation. He will then build housing and industry over the entire area. The IRA attacks the reservation to further stir the controversy (with the weapons Green Arrow discovered). Can our heroes stop the attack? Do we care by this point?

The Brave and The Bold: Flash and Green Lantern (1999)

DC did better in its second mini-series. It featured a team-up of Flash and Green Lantern. DC had found sales success with a mini-revival of World's Finest; ten issues focusing on the ten-year relationship between Superman and Batman, with one issue representing one year. They decided to try again with the six years of friendship between Flash and Green Lantern. That is, the silver age versions – Barry Allen and Hal Jordan. Other than the obvious team-up reference, there was no other reason to put this under the _Brave & Bold_ banner. Still, it worked. It was an enjoyable series.

Mark Waid, who wrote a scathing letter condemning the story of _Brave & Bold_ #190, put his money where his mouth was by writing this series. And did a fine job – characterization was forefront, plot was secondary; but it worked. It examined (to paraphrase Pie(face)'s diary) Hal's fascination with Flash's freedom and Barry's discipline and Barry's fascination with Green Lantern's discipline and Hal's freedom. That Hal moved from job to job and girlfriend to girlfriend, while Barry had one job and one girlfriend-then-wife was brought up many times – who envies who? Who was happier? It seems that GL came off as the least happy...

The art was excellent. Barry Kitson and Tom Grindberg drew very solid and realistic characters. It came off professional, relaxed and fun – much like Barry & Hal's friendship.

Official the comic was called Flash & Green Lantern: _Brave & Bold_.

Writer: Mark Waid, Artist (unless otherwise noted) Barry Kitson, Editor: Peter Tomas.

#1 (October 1999): "Those Who Worship Evil's Might". Intergalactic evil scientist Saraar concocts a virus that strips the essence of evil from humans (the essences take form and attack their former hosts). Green Lantern (test pilot Hal Jordan) asks Flash to Coast City (hoping that as they get along so well in the JLA, maybe they'd get along off the job...) and both become infected! As their evil shadows leave, so do their senses of aggression and confidence (are these considered evil traits?)!

#2 (November 1999): "Lightspeed". In Central City, Green Lantern (insurance adjuster Hal Jordan) meets Kid Flash and Iris Allen. Black Hand and Mirror Master meet each other. Black Hand drains Kid Flash of his speed power, so GL lends Kid Flash some of his... um... lantern power. Now he's Kid Lantern! And Flash is jealous! (Kid Lantern? Didn't he go six rounds with Dempsey at the garden?)

#3 (December 1999): "A World of Hurt". Green Lantern (toy salesman Hal Jordan) and Flash go with their Earth-Two counterparts (yes I said Earth-Two dammit!) on a camping trip to an uninhabited planet – filled with yellow quicksand and wooden killer insects. The villain behind it all is... Alan Scott?!

#4 (January 2000): "How Many Times Can a Man Turn His Head", Art: Tom Grindberg (doing an excellent Neal Adams imitation). Central City's new mayor promises peace at any price – that price being a police state. Green Lantern (unemployed Hal Jordan) and Green Arrow, on their tour across America – discover the mayor's plan to lobotomize Flash's rogue gallery! More importantly, has Flash lost his best friend to this loud-mouth liberal hippie?

#5 (February 2000): "The Man Without Fearlessness". Sinestro is behind a rogue star that amplifies emotions. Green Lantern corps members without fear become foolhardy and are destroyed! The Guardians send in the cautious reserved Flash. When he finds out what's happened, fearless Green Lantern (truck driver Hal Jordan) flies to the rogue star to rescue his friend or DIE TRYING!! Uh-oh.

#6 (March 2000): "Running on Empty". While widower Barry Allen stays with Green Lantern (test pilot Hal Jordan), the original Star Sapphire (the Jay Garrick-Flash villain) possesses the body of the "usurper" Carol Ferris to regain her original power! Can Flash snap out of his mourning to save his best friend?

The Silver Age: Brave & Bold (July 2000)

_Brave & Bold_ was revived to publish new material as a one-shot issue under the _Silver Age_ miniseries. As DC had great success with its _Golden Age_ mini-series, it decided to try it again. In the _Golden Age_ series, various heroes from the 1940s gathered in an issue of _All-Star Comics_. The heroes then were featured in solo stories. Instead of issues #2, 3, 4, etc., the separate adventures were titled under actual National magazine titles – _Star Spangled Comics, All-American Comics_ , etc. The series concluded with a second issue of _All-Star Comics_.

As DC's motto is "if it works once, it will work a thousand times", they tried it again with the _Silver Age_. Bookended between 80 Page Giants (a silver age staple), various heroes from the 1960s appeared in revived _Showcase_ (cleverly featuring, as was the often done in the magazine, a revival of a golden age classic – an all-new Seven Soldiers of Victory!), _Dial "H" for Hero_ (why not call it _House of Mystery_? In another genuinely clever move, this issue teamed the two staples of that magazine – the Manhunter from Mars and Dial "H" for Hero), _Doom Patrol, Justice League of America,_ original issues of _Flash, Green Lantern, Challengers of the Unknown_ and of course _, Brave & Bold_.

Bob Haney did the script! Wow! A disappointment was that Jim Aparo did not do the art, except for the cover. Still Kevin McGuire is no slouch – he is an excellent artist. Platinum of the Metal Men never looked sexier! Still, Aparo art with a Haney story would have been very sentimental. Unfortunately the point of the story wasn't sentimentality. Any nostalgia was forced, making for no nostalgia at all. It was merely filler for the final frantic finale published later.

"The Great Gotham Switcheroo", Writer: Bob Haney, Art: Kevin McGuire, Editor: Dan Raspler.

Batman (really the Penguin) is having trouble fighting Catwoman (really Black Canary) and Felix Faust (really Green Arrow), so he enlists the aid of the Metal Men (really the Metal Men). Most of the story involves the Metal Men forming a tank and chasing our heroes/villains; which got tedious after a few pages. One real interesting twist was when Green Arrow uses Faust's real spell book to turn the Metal Men into... real men! No, really!

Brave & Bold Annual 1969 (2001 - all reprints)

DC released several comics in this similar style as an homage to the "annuals" published in the 1960s featuring reprinted material. This issue features reprints from _Brave & Bold_ #50 and 57, a Charleton Comic's Captain Atom-Nightshade team-up and a Newsboy Legion reprint. This was printed on high-glossy paper and sold for over five dollars. When a _Justice League of America Annual_ was published, a "lost" JLA tale was reprinted from _Mystery in Space_. Why not reprint a Batman team-up never seen in _B &B_? Perhaps a Batman-Elongated Man story from a mid-1960s _Detective Comics_? Or any other team-up from _Detective_ (Manhunter), _Batman_ (the Shadow) or _Batman Family_ (Robin, Batgirl – some of these tales were even drawn by Aparo!) or any other Batman team-ups from other magazines ( _Swamp Thing, Aquaman_ or even the 1980s' _Vigilante_ ). It was a lot to pay for to have a Captain Atom and Newsboy Legion reprint.

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The Brave and The Bold (2007 series)

For the first time in 24 years _Brave and Bold_ was back on the stands as an on-going comic. Not a miniseries! Not as part of a nostalgic advertising ploy! _B &B_ was back in all its four-color glory!

But this was not your father's _Brave & Bold_! Well, it WAS if your father's _Brave & Bold_ were the Team-Up Years Part 1! Although the caped crusader would appear from time to time, this would not be a one-character team-up mag, but would instead feature the length and breadth of the DC pantheon! And as befitting those times, most of the issues were multi-part story arcs that would fit nicely into a trade paperback – a trend that continues to this day. Unfortunately this causes stories that could be told in an issue or two to instead be tediously stretched out.

They were a mixed bag of stories: some were good, some were great and some were bad. Some harkened back to _B &B_'s glory days and included team-ups requested thirty years earlier and finally seeing fruition.

It lasted 35 issues. It was a good series, but I doubt anyone will make an index out of it.

Well, anyone but me ...

Keep in mind in these later days not only were the writer and artist mentioned, but the inker, the letterer, the dude who delivered the pizza, everyone was listed. Rightly so, but this little exercise limits the creators list to the writer and main artist – although the inker is usually also listed on the cover, too. Sorry about that if you are fan of those not mentioned! I've always been a big fan of Bob Wiacek! Joey Cavalieri is the editor of the entire series.

***

#1. April 2007. Batman and Green Lantern; "Lords of Luck Chapter 1: Roulette"; Mark Waid (w), George Perez (p). The first Batman team-up of the original _B &B_ is also the first team-up of the title's revival. After so many years of DC deciding that Batman did not like Hal Jordan, it was nice to see a few panels of them getting along (of course this was nothing compared to his dislike of Superman, which has only recently, finally, been ignored). After recharging his battery, Hal says sheepishly, "Sorry about the corny oath." Batman: "I'm okay with oaths."

An intergalactic thief regrets stealing the Book of Destiny and is killed by the aliens who hired him. Batman and Green Lantern chase the aliens to Las Vegas and split up to go after each one.

#2. May 2007. Green Lantern & Supergirl; "Lords of Luck Chapter 2: Ventura"; same team. GL and Supergirl follow the alien who stole the Book of Destiny to Venture - a casino-world. The alien is caught, but the Book of Destiny is stolen by a Rannian national who zeta-beams back home with Green Lantern in tow.

Some cute scenes of Supergirl flirting with Hal highlight the book. "Steady, Hal," he says to himself, "you have food in your fridge older than her; who are you – Ollie?"

#3. June 2007. Batman & Blue Beetle; "Lords of Luck Chapter 3: The Lord of Time"; Batman and the new(ish) Blue Beetle go after the earth-bound alien who wields the Haruspex – a reality-altering weapon. It was fun watching Batman, at this point fully in brooding sociopath mode (from which he never really recovered) be almost, to quote Beetle, "...nice." He's back to training an inexperienced youth. First a Batman working with Hal Jordan and now this!? The basement dwellers are feinting dead away. Don't worry – he's still Batdick in his other comics!

The alien is attacked by the Lord of Time and his allies the Fatal Five leading to an all-out brawl ending with Batman and Tharok merging into one being! Meanwhile, Supergirl, who can find her way neither to Rann nor back to earth, rescues and hires Lobo to take her to Rann.

#4. August 2007 (why did they skip July?). Supergirl & Lobo; "Lords of Luck Chapter 4: The Garden of Destiny"; same team. Supergirl and Lobo are taken to Destiny's home (we've met Destiny in DC's horror books and in the Sandman series), where Destiny tells them the background. He was going to give the book unto the care of four humans who live outside the Book of Destiny, but the Lords of Luck are attempting to steal the book by hiring the two Venturans. Lobo takes Supergirl to Rann and meets Green Lantern and Adam Strange in the midst of the civil war with Thanagar. Meanwhile, Batman/Tharok is shot by the Haruspex and lands in a holding cell – prisoners of the Legion of Superheroes!

#5. September 2007. Batman vs. the Legion of Superheroes; "Lords of Luck Chapter 5: The Batman of Tomorrow"; same team. The Legion separate Batman and Tharok. Batman, embued by temporal energy, unleashes monsters and villains throughout time. He escapes and the Legion chases him throughout the Metropolis of the 31st century.

#6. October 2007. Green Lantern & Batman; "Lords of Luck Chapter 6: The Girl Who Knew Too Much"; same team. In the future, Batman sees the Lords of Luck win their thousand-year battle to take over earth. Adam Strange's zeta beam and Green Lantern's ring bring Batman to 21st century Rann where they and Supergirl defeat the Lords of Luck and recover the Book of Destiny. They give the book to the Challengers of the Unknown – the four men who are missing from the Book of Destiny.

#7. December 2007 (why did they skip November?). Wonder Woman & Power Girl; "Scalpels and Chainsaws"; same team. Dr. Alchemy brainwashes Power Girl into helping him kill Superman. PG remembers only a vague word: Magistus. Supergirl muttered that name last issue, too. WW stops Power Girl from killing Supes. This story is bookended by the Challengers reading the Book of Destiny.

#8. January 2008. Flash & the Doom Patrol; "Wally's Choice"; same team. The Challengers keep looking for more references to Magistus. Flash takes his two super-powered children to Dr. Caulder – he can help control their super-metabolism. Metamorpho acts as the controlling agent, but disappears. Flash and the Doom Patrol save the youngsters from being destroyed. Where Metamorpho once stood is etched in acid one name – Magistus!

This team-up was one of the stranger and most fun from the title's original run (#65)! It is nice to see _B &B_ alum Metamorpho, too!

#9. February 2008. Blackhawk & the Boy Commandoes, Metal Men & Dial H for Hero, and Hawkman & the Atom; "Changing Times"; same team. The Challengers keep looking through history for more clues about Magistus. A "Magistus"-chanting metallic flying dinosaur is after Robby Reed's "H" Dial, can the Metal Men help Robby? Blackhawk and the Boy Commandoes must protect the Orb of Ra from the Nazis - and from mummies revived by Magistus, too! The Wizard of Ys tries to steal an ancient star chart for Magistus at a science conclave attended by Hawkman and the Atom in their civilian identities. This team-up harkens back to their silver age joint title.

#10. April 2008 (what happened to March?). Superman & the Silent Knight, Teen Titans & Aquaman and Aqualad; same team. No title. The Wizard of Ys exits the Book of Destiny to attack the Challengers! They see other stories of Magistus during the battle: taking place just after #54 of the original _B &B_, the not-yet Teen Titans reunite at Aquaman's wedding. Oceanus, under Magistus's control, kidnaps Aqualad to force his latent powers to reveal Atlantean alchemical secrets. Merlin asks Superman to protect the Silent Knight as he fights an ice dragon to recover the Golden Eye. It was the Silent Knight's first appearance on the cover of a comic book since The Best of DC #26 - a digest from 1982 of _B &B_ reprints. Otherwise we have to go back to #112 of the original series dated April 1974 - and then it was only a corner blurb hyping another reprint. His last cover appearance on an original story was _B &B_ #20 from October 1958 - fifty years! Young Brian Kent (whose last name stunned Superman - now he knows why Merlin summoned him to protect the knight!) had a cameo in _B &B_ #144 from November 1978 being felled by an arrow ... does that count?

#11. May 2008. Superman & Ultraman; Mark Waid (w), Jerry Ordway (a). No title. The Earth-3 (good version) of Mxyzptlk sends Ultraman to Earth-1 to help fight Magistus.

#12. June 2009. Only the _B &B_ title appears – no stars' logo is on the cover, but it features darn near everybody that has appeared so far! "Sunstroke", same team. Superman, Ultraman, the Challengers, Green Lantern, Supergirl and Power Girl fight Magistus and save Metamorpho Firestorm before Magistus can turn earth into an alchemical hell!

#13. July 2008. Batman & Flash; same team. "American Samuroids". TO Morrow and the Penguin plan to sell Samurai robots to terrorist nations but first they need certain nanite tech to empower their robots - tech held secret by Flash/Jay Garrick's friend and Wayne Enterprises.

#14. August 2008. Deadman & Green Arrow; "The Ghost Killers of Nanda Parbat, part one". Mark Waid (w), Scott Kolins (a). A demon captures Rama Kushna and uses her powers to created an army of ghosts who kill their hosts! Deadman enlists the aid of Green Arrow but is captured in Nanda Parbat! Part 1 of 2.

#15. September 2008. Nightwing & Hawkman; "Wings and Arrows, part two", same team. Deadman enlists Nightwing and Hawkman's aid in rescuing Green Arrow and defeating ^.

#16. October 2008. Superman & Catwoman; "Tempted", same team. Superman and Catwoman infiltrate an underworld auction in which the map of a certain cave in Gotham City is for sale! But is it the cave they THINK it is?

#17. November 2008. Supergirl & Raven; "Fathers, part one: Past Tense", Marv Wolfman (who co-created Raven) (w), Phil Winslade (a). Supergirl is taunted in her nightmares by her father Zor-El, who raised her since a baby with one purpose – to kill Kal-El (if you don't know who that is how have you made it this far into this book?). She enlists the aid of another hero with daddy issues – Raven – to help. Meanwhile, the son of an unknown metahuman breaks into a nuclear power research building in search of weapons.

#18. December 2008. Supergirl & Raven; "Fathers, part two: Controls", same team. Ah, ended up the building was the research lab of Beast Boy's father. The boy's power manifests – he is the son of Triumph, a trumped up "original" member of the JLA retconned into DC continuity. Supergirl and Raven foil his plans.

Somewhat telling – when I was re-reading this series after almost five years I accidentally finished #18 before I realized it was part two of two. The story made perfect sense (I assumed Supergirl asked for Raven's help before the issue started – I was familiar with the characters daddy troubles...) Kinda sad, really.

#19. January 2009. Green Lantern & the Phantom Stranger; "Without Sin, part one", David Hine (w), Doug Braithwaite (a), Bill Reinhold (i). Children born with mutant powers (a result of medicines taken by their pregnant mothers) and hidden away in a special hospital. One of the children, Cora, writes journal after journal of jibberish. The Phantom Stranger enlists Green Lantern to help – Cora also write GL's oath on a wall. She writes in alien languages – all civilizations that have all been destroyed. Except one – Kahlo. They go to Kahlo to investigate.

#20. Green Lantern & the Phantom Stranger; "Without Sin, part two", same team. Kahlo's world is a pleasure planet. It's world-being emits dream fantasies to everyone willing to fork out enough money to sustain the planetary culture. Too bad the planet is the latest target of Purge – who cleanses the universe of sin one planet at a time.

This issue has a full-page ad for Batman: _The Brave and The Bold_ , the comic book based on the animated cartoon (see below for its index)

#21. Green Lantern & Green Arrow; "Without Sin, part three", same team. Purge takes over the body of Kahlo's Green Lantern and we learn Purge's origin – he was the student of the Sage – a savior of an old ancient planet. When she disappeared, Purge used his powers to... um... purge the planet. The first of many. Meanwhile, the owners of the hospital housing the mutant children decide to finally cut their losses and... um... purge the place. Phantom Stranger sends Green Arrow to stop them.

#22. Green Lantern & Green Arrow; "Without Sin, part four", same team. Purge takes over the body of Hal Jordan as he and the Phantom Stranger race to earth to help Green Arrow. Purge finds a sinless being for the first time in Cora. The Phantom Stranger exorcises Purge from GL and into Cora. Inside Cora's soul, we find the Sage – she traps Purge and they move on to their final reward. Green Arrow stops the killers from destroying the hospital and the doctor in charge vows to reveal all to the authorities. .

The last page usually contains a tease of next issue's cover. This time the blurb read "Coming Soon..." and featured Batman swooping down to a hand holding the Dial H for Hero dial.

#23. July 2009. Booster Gold & Magog; "Shadows of Tomorrow", Dan Jurgens (w), Norm Rapmund (a); Booster Gold rescues Rip Hunter, Time Master from being pummeled in the time stream by Magog, the latest brutish thug of the DC pantheon. Someone at DC had the bright idea to establish the future events of the otherwise excellent Kingdom Come as DC canon. Magog was the chief villain of that series.

Booster confronts Magog in Kahndaq where each in his own way resolve a hostage situation involving children. Booster Gold rescues the children; Magog rips the arm off the terrorists' leader. Any questions?

And... where are Batman and Dial H for Hero? Reminds me of the Silver Age _B &B_ #51 hyping the Flash and the Atom teaming up the next issue and not appearing until #53.

#24. August 2009. Static & Black Lightning; "Last Time I Saw Paris", Matt Wayne (w), Howard Porter (a). Starting the first of three issues introducing various characters from the Milestone imprint into the DC Universe. Likely not coincidentally, these DC guests were also so-called minorities. I suppose teaming up Milestone characters with Caucasian DC characters would be... what?

Issue #16 stated that the Archie/MLJ line of superheroes would be introduced in _B &B_, but other than a brief "preview" of the acquired line's characters in this issue, those team-ups did not come to pass.

Former Secretary of Education Jefferson Pierce speaks at a high school graduation in Dakota. Holocaust attacks! Static, in his civilian identity recording the speech, helps out.

#25. September 2009. Hardwire & Blue Beetle; "System Compatibility", Adam Beechen (w), Roger Robinson (a), Hilary Barta (i). High tech equipment, weapons and armor from Hardware's enemy System are being smuggled into America through El Paso, unless Hardware and Blue Beetle can stop them!

#26. October 2009. Xombi & the Spectre; "Annihilating Angel", John Rozum (w), Scott Hampton (a). The Spectre judges a serial killer, but his ghost goes on killing – other ghosts, vampires, etc. Can Xombi convince the Spectre to judge someone he has already judged?

#27. November 2009. Batman & Dial H for Hero; "Death of a Hero", J. Michael Straczynski (w), Jesus Saiz (a). While visiting Gotham City, Robby Reed's HERO dial is stolen! The burglar becomes the Star and fights crime under Batman's suspicious eyes. This was a team-up requested from time to time in the original run.

#28. December 2009. Flash & Blackhawk; "Firing Line", same team. While helping with an experiment near the speed of light, Flash finds himself joining up with the Blackhawks at the Battle of the Bulge.

#29. January 2010. Batman & the Geek; "Lost Stories of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow", same team. Brother Power emerges from a burned toy factory and helps Batman fight a corporate arsonist.

Another team-up that was requested in the original run. This specific request was answered by the editor as follows: "The Geek? Yeek!" Nearly forty years later I still remember that...

#30. February 2010. Green Lantern & Dr. Fate; "The Green and Gold", same team. After the events of Justice League #7, Dr. Fate ponders his... fate. He magically places a part of his essence in Green Lantern's ring. In the present, GL's power ring runs out of energy on a hostile abandoned planet. GL reveals Kent Nelson's... well, fate... Can they save each other?

#31. Atom & the Joker;

same team. The Joker is dying from a neurological disorder. Only the Atom can administer the antidote in his neural cortex. Atom is blasted by neural synapses and shares the Joker's boyhood memories. Is the link now permanent?

Can't be _B &B_ series without at least one Joker team-up!

#32. Aquaman & the Demon; The sole survivor of an attack on a ship by elder things joins Aquaman and the Demon in resealing the deep-sea entry point of a Cthulhu-esque god!

#33. Wonder Woman, Zatanna & Batgirl;

Zatanna receives premonition of something horrible happening to Batgirl. They and Wonder Woman spend an evening clubbing the town! You see, the next morning were the events of The Killing Joke ...

#34. Doom Patrol & the Legion of Superheroes;

The LSH watches a black hole destroy the earth! They go back in time to convince Negative Man to help Lightning Lad destroy the black hole before it gets to earth!

#35. Inferior Five & the Legion of Substitute Heroes;

A tale done purely for comic effect - although it answers some mysteries from the last issue - moving time bubbles, black holes shifting in space (going from Jupiter to earth), etc. The Subs are jealous of the LSH's success from last issue and decide to steal the time bubble to convince the Doom Patrol to help destroy the black hole ... etc. This way the Subs will get the credit instead of the LSH. Too bad they don't know how to drive the time bubble all that well and end up in 1972 and recruiting the Inferior Five instead...

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***

Batman: The Brave and The Bold

Oh how I adored this cartoon. It was animated in the same style as previous Batman animated series, but with a much lighter tone. This was not the brooding sociopath emulated in the comics. This Batman had a light touch - a sense of humor and honor. He helped his fellow heroes when called upon. It was as if the Batman of the 1960s had not grown darker.

The opening credits were done in that sixties style, too. The show lasted for three seasons from 2008 - 2011.

As the title implies, each episode featured Batman teaming up with one or more other heroes. Some of the stories had a thread finishing in the season finale (Starro attacks!), but most were done-in-one stories.

And it co-starred everyone! From Superman to the Justice Society, from Kamandi to Space Ghost! There were no stories taken from the original comic. I was hoping for a few - the first episode of the Justice League cartoon from years before was taken from an issue of Justice League of America.

Some characters varied greatly from their comic-book counterparts: Green Arrow harkened back to his pre-Neal Adams look and enjoyed competing with Batman. Aquaman had the blond beard of his then-current comic book incarnation, but was an OUTRAGEOUS braggart. Despite this he was a loyal friend and a good hero. We learned his son Arthur died just as he did in the comics – to add a bit of pathos and reason behind the braggadocio.

The series was followed by a comic book of the same name that lasted 22 monthly issues; done in the same animated style. It was renamed _All New Batman: The Brave and The Bold_ , restarted at #1 and went another 16 issues. The comic was part of DC's younger reader line alongside Scooby Doo and the Tiny Titans.

I do not have any of these titles, but Wikipedia lists them (ah come on, give me a break - I've read almost 250 comics doing this little exercise; if someone else has done the work for me you bet I'm going to cut and paste it!). Sorry, no writer/artist/editor listed:

1. The Panic of the Composite Creature - After teaming up with Aquaman to defeat Carapax, Batman and Power Girl fight a composite monster (under the control of Lex Luthor) which is on a rampage in England.

2. Attack of the Virtual Villains - After teaming up with Superman to take down Toyman, Batman and Blue Beetle fight Thinker when trolls and ogres emerge from a video game and attack the real world.

3. President Batman - After teaming up with Wonder Woman to defeat Doctor Psycho (who is accompanied by Clock King, Killer Croc, Scarecrow, and Two-Face), Batman and Green Arrow must protect the President from Ultra-Humanite.

4. Menace of the Time Thief - After teaming up with Sugar and Spike to defeat Felix Faust, Batman and Aquaman team up to stop Doctor Cyber when she plans to collapse the time stream.

5. The Case of the Fractured Fairy Tale - After teaming up with Haunted Tank to defeat the Key, Batman and Captain Marvel team up to stop the Queen of Fables from abducting children.

6. Charge of the Army Eternal - After teaming up with Hourman to defeat the Calculator, Batman and Kid Eternity team up to fight General Immortus (assisted by the Royal Flush Gang). G.I. Robot, Shining Knight, Vigilante, and Viking Prince make appearances as spirits.

7. The Secret of the Doomsday Design - After helping Olympian defeat Circe, Batman helps the Doom Patrol fight Mad Mod when he steals some of the Doom Patrol's signature clothes in a plan to integrate them into "suits of doom."

8. Batman Vs. The Yeti - After helping Rising Sun fight a gang of ninjas, Batman teams up with the Great Ten to fight an army of yetis.

9. The Tale of the Catman - After teaming up with Doctor Fate, Doctor Occult, Sargon the Sorcerer, and Zatannato defeat the Void, Batman has an unlikely team-up with Catman to stop the Penguin, Riddler, Joker, and Two-Face.

10. Attack of the Colossal Bat-Monster - Hugo Strange has turned Batman into a giant monster that rampages through Gotham City. Now Green Arrow and Atom must stop the Bat-Monster, restore it back to Batman, and defeat Hugo Strange. Sounds a bit like "Alias the Bat-Hulk" story from _B &B_ #68.

11. The Fearsome Fangs Strike Again - After defeating Sportsmaster with the help of the Huntress, Batman and Green Arrow team up to prevent the Terrible Trio from obtaining a totem that will give them ultimate power. Green Arrow's second appearance in less than a year? An unknowing nod to the original run!

12. Final Christmas - While stopping Calendar Man's latest scheme, Batman is teleported to Rann to help Adam Strange save the universe, and Christmas, from imminent destruction at the hands of the Psions.

13. Night of the Batmen - When Batman breaks his leg during a mission with Angel and the Ape, Aquaman, Captain Marvel, Green Arrow, and Plastic Man cover for Batman to stop Bane, Killer Croc, Deadshot, Penguin, Catwoman, Joker, etc. from taking the opportunity to commit crimes. This comic's story was adapted into a 3rd Season episode.

14. Captured by Mister Camera - After teaming up with Plastic Man to take down the Scarecrow, Batman teams up with Huntress to battle Mr. Camera.

15. Minute Mystery - After teaming up with Super-Hip and Brother Power the Geek to stop Mad Mod, Batman and The Flash compete to see who is the "world's fastest detective."

16. Egg Hunt or: The Evil of Egghead - Batman must rescue the Teen Titans from Nocturna. When Wonder Girl reveals that Wonder Woman has been trying to contact her afterwards, Batman joins her to fight Egghead and Egg Fu.

17. A Batman's Work is Never Done - A week in the life of Batman takes him on adventures with Metamorpho (against Mr. Element), the Green Lantern Corps (against Mongul), Merry, Girl of 1,000 Gimmicks (against Toyman), Jonah Hex and Bat Lash, Hawkman and Etrigan the Demon (against Gentleman Ghost), the Inferior Five, and the Creeper (against Scarecrow).

18. All in the Mind - Batman teams up with Martian Manhunter to prevent an invasion from Mars by the White Martians.

19. Emerald Knight - Batman teams up with the Green Lantern Corps to prevent Cyborg Superman from killing Hal Jordan and taking over the universe.

20. Solving this Mystery... ...Will Take a Miracle - Big Barda seeks Batman's help when Mister Miracle goes missing and the Female Furies attack New Genesis.

21. The Menace Known as Robert - After teaming up with the Lady Blackhawks to take down King Rex and his Dinosaur Gang, Batman and Hal Jordan team up to stop a creature who calls himself Robert that emits yellow energy and can mutate living things.

22. Atlantis Attacked - Batman teams up with Aquaman when Ocean Master attacks Atlantis.

The All-New Batman: The Brave and The Bold:

1. Bottle of the Planets - After teaming up with Black Canary to defeat Joker, Batman and Superman shrink to investigate a string of robberies inside the Bottle City of Kandor and soon discover that the robberies are committed by Et-Rog.

2. That Holiday Feeling - Batman and Captain Marvel fight the Psycho-Pirate.

3. Mirror, Mirror... - Batman and Flash fight the Mad Hatter and Mirror Master in a mirror world.

4. The Bride and the Bold - Batman and Wonder Woman get married? This is caused by Aphrodite in order to make the two of them fall in love. Even though a wedding is set up, Batman, Wonder Woman, and the superhero guests have to deal with some supervillain wedding crashers.

5. Man-hunted - Batman and Guy Gardner team up to fight the Manhunters.

6. Now You See Me - Batman and Martian Manhunter team up to fight Clayface.

7. Shadows & Light - The teaser features Batman helping the Teen Titans against Time Trapper. At the start of his career, Batman ends up running into Gotham City's original protector, Green Lantern.

8. Under The Sea - Batman and Aquaman team-up to search for an artifact that will redeem the pirate Captain Fear's ghost and must overcome any obstacles which also include Black Manta and Fisherman.

9. (the title reverted back to _Batman: The Brave and The Bold_ with this issue) 3: 10 To Thanagar - When Batman and Hawkman take down a criminal, they must transfer the criminal to Thanagar while preventing the criminal's gang from freeing their leader.

10. Help Wanted - All Joe wanted was a job and ends up working for different villains (consisting of Calculator, Clock King, Ocean Master, and Toyman) where he has encounters with Batman, Superman, Green Arrow, and Aquaman.

11. Out of Time - Batman and Jonah Hex end up in 19th Century Gotham City.

12. Trick or Treat - On Halloween, Batman and Zatanna solve a break-in at the House of Mystery. They meet Klarion the Witch Boy who summons Blockbuster, Dala, Doctor Destiny, Hugo Strange and his Monster Men, Man-Bat, Monk, Professor Milo's Werewolves, and Solomon Grundy.

13. Batman Dies at Dawn - After Nightwing helps Roy Harper defeat the Royal Flush Gang, he is teleported away by Phantom Stranger who has reached through space and time in order gather everyone who has ever been called "Boy Wonder" like Jason Todd, Tim Drake, Carrie Kelly, and Damian Wayne. Seems Batman was wounded in Crime Alley and the different Boy Wonders have to infiltrate the League of Assassins' hideout in order to gain access to the Lazarus Pits.

14. Small Miracles - After teaming up with Blue Beetle to fight Crazy Quilt, Doctor Spectro and Rainbow Raider, Batman comes to the aid of Ragman when there is unrest in Gotham City's slums during Hanukkah.

15. No Exit - Mister Miracle comes to the aid of Batman who is in a death trap devised by Desaad and Doctor Bedlam.

16. Love at First Mite (Final issue) - On Valentine's Day, Bat-Mite develops a crush on Batgirl. Afterwards, Bat-Mite finds out that the comic is canceled and reflects on the team ups he'll never see (which include Dingbats of Danger Street, Super-Turtle and Space Cabbie). Batman reassures him by pointing out that he can still read the back issues.

Free Comic Book Day is to us comic book collectors what the running of the bulls is to the ASPCA. During Free Comic Book Day 2011, there was a "Super Sampler" featuring separate stories of Young Justice and _Brave & Bold_. The _B &B_ story featured Batman and the Flash fighting Heatwave and Firefly.

Thanks to the contributors to Wikipedia for the info:  http: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman: _The_Brave_and_the_Bold_(comics))

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Reruns

The stories throughout the entire run of _Brave & Bold_ can be enjoyed without bankrupting your savings. It is possible to find reprints of all eras of _B &B_ in the various other DC comics over the past fifty years.

_DC Special #9_ contains adventures of the Viking Prince (including his first story from issue #1 with a new splash page), as well as the Golden Gladiator's and Silent Knight's stories from issue #1.

There were two _Brave & Bold_ "specials" featuring reprinted material. The digest size _Best of DC Blue Ribbon Digest #26_ (July 1982) features a Batman-Deadman reprint and also reprints several stories from the first 50 issues of the comic. _Super DC Giant #S-16_ (September-October 1970) reprints the first Batman-Flash team-up and Metamorpho's origin tale. _The Best of The Brave and The Bold_ also reprints the stories from _B &B_'s first issues as well as the wonderful Haney-Aparo era stories. _B &B_'s 100-page giant issues also feature many reprints, but those are getting as expensive as the original issues!

While not a comprehensive list, the following is a good guideline: Note that "entire story" means it was the only feature in that issue, the reprints may have been edited.

Key: Issue number of the original story, the character featured and where it was reprinted. Note that these reprints may not be omplete and may have had a few panels (or pages) chopped off from the original.

#1. All three features were reprinted in _DC Special #12_

Viking Prince tale _Best of the Brave & Bold #1_

Golden Gladiator tale: _Best of the Brave & Bold #1_

#2. Silent Knight: _B &B #116_

Viking Prince tale: _Best of the Brave & Bold #3_

Golden Gladiator tale: _Best of the Brave & Bold #3_

#5. Viking Prince: _DC Special #12_

Silent Knight tale: _Best of the Brave & Bold #1_

#6. Robin Hood tale: _DC Special #22_ and _Best of the Brave & Bold #3_

Silent Knight tale: _World's Finest #182_

#7. Robin Hood tale: _DC Special #25_

#8. Viking Prince tale: _DC Special #25_

#9. Robin Hood tale: _DC Special #12, DC Special #23, Best of DC Blue Ribbon Digest #26_

(must have been a popular story!)

#11. Robin Hood tale: _DC Special #24_

#15. Silent Knight tale: _B &B #112, DC Special #25_

Viking Prince tale: _DC Special #24_

#16. Robin Hood tale: _DC Special #12_

#18. Viking Prince tale: _Best of DC Blue Ribbon Digest #26_

#19. Viking Prince tale: _B &B #101_

#21. Silent Knight tale: _Best of DC Blue Ribbon Digest #26_

#23. "Figurehead... ": _B &B #115_

"Origin... ": _B &B #99_

#24. "Trail of the Black Falcon": _B &B #117_

#28. _Justice League of America #39, Justice League of America Archives Volume 1, Justice League of America Super-Spectacular #1 1975_ (1999), _B &B #28 Millenium Edition_

#29. _Justice League of America #48, Justice League of America Archives Volume 1_

#30. _Justice League of America #39, Justice League of America Archives Volume 1_

#31. _Best of DC Blue Ribbon Digest #26_

#33. _Hawkman_ trade paperback 1989 _, Hawkman Archives, Even More Secret Origins Lost 80-page Giant_ (2003)

#34. both stories: _Hawkman_ trade paperback 1989 _, Hawkman Archives_

#35. "Shadow Thief..." stpry: _DC Special #5, DC Special #8_ ,

both stories: _Hawkman_ trade paperback 1989, _Hawkman Archives_

#38. _Best of DC Blue Ribbon Digest #26_

#42. both stories: _Hawkman_ trade paperback 1989, _Hawkman Archives_

#43. both stories: _Hawkman_ trade paperback 1989, _Hawkman Archives, DC Blue Ribbon Digest: Secret Origins_

#44. both stories: _Hawkman_ trade paperback 1989, _Hawkman Archives_

#45. "Challenge of the Headless Baseball Team": _DC Special #1, DC Special #9_

"Goliath of the Gridiron": _DC Special #7_

#46."Hot Shot Hoopsters": _DC Special #7_

"Danger on the Martian Links": _DC Special #9_

#47."The Phantom Prize Fighter": _DC Special #9_

"Saga of the Secret Sportsmen": _DC Special #13_

#48."The Man Who Drove Through Time": _DC Special #7_

"Duel of the Star Champions": _DC Special #9_

#49."Gorilla Wonders of the Diamond": _DC Special #7_

"Warrior of the Weightless World": _DC Special #13, DC Blue Ribbon Digest #13._

_DC Blue Ribbon Digest #13_ reprinted several "Strange Sports Stories", but mostly from the self-titled comic book from the 1970s, only one _B &B_ was included.

#50. _B &B #114, Annual 1969_ (2001)

#52. _B &B #112, Battle Classics #1_

#53. _Action Comics #406_

#54. _Greatest Team-Up Stories Ever Told_ trade paperback*

#57. _Super DC Giant #S-16, Annual 1969_ (2001)

#59. _B &B #112_

#64. _Super-Team Family #4_

#67. _Super DC Giant #S-16_

#75 and #76. ( _Batman Illustrated by Neal Adams_ but likely only the cover)Volume 1

#78. _B &B #116_

#79. _Batman Illustrated by Neal Adams Volume 1, Super-Team Family #2_

#80. _Best of the Brave & Bold #4, Batman Illustrated by Neal Adams Volume 1_

#81. _Best of the Brave & Bold #2, Batman Illustrated by Neal Adams Volume 1_

#82. _Best of the Brave & Bold #3, Batman Illustrated by Neal Adams Volume 1_

#83. _Best of the Brave & Bold #6, Batman Illustrated by Neal Adams Volume 1_

#84. _Batman Illustrated by Neal Adams Volume 1_

#85. _Best of the Brave & Bold #1, B&B #85 Millennium Edition, Batman Illustrated by Neal Adams Volume 1_

#86. _Best of DC Blue Ribbon Digest #26_

#93. _"Batman's Strangest Cases" tabloid, Best of the Brave & Bold #5_

#115. _The Strange Deaths of Batman_ tpb (Batman-Atom team-up)

#158. _Super Heroes Annual Volume 1_ , 1982 (A British reprint series)

#195. _I ... Vampire_ tbp.

#197. _The Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told Vol. 1_

The _America At War_ (Fireside books) trade paperback advertised a Suicide Squad story, but no such story appeared in the book - excellent though it otherwise is!

DC released various books under the _Showcase Presents_ title reprinting full runs of several of their titles - including _Brave & Bold_. It's three volumes reprint issues #59, 64, 67, 68-71 and 74-134.

_Legends of the Dark Knight: Jim Aparo Volumes 1 & 2_ reprints many _Brave & Bold_ issues (#98 - 151, minus the very few issues he did NOT draw).

Wikipedia has a thorough list of other reprinted material as well: http: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Brave_and_the_Bold

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Australian-Rules _Brave & Bold_

One of the delights of my collection is an Australian copy of _B &B_ #3. It was distributed by Gordon & Gotch of Melbourne by Colour Comics Pty Ltd in Sydney. No year was listed – it could have been anytime in the late 1950s. It was published in black and white – except for the color cover featuring the Golden Gladiator (he never appeared as the sole star on a US cover!).

The cover is unique – made from the same pulpish paper as the interior rather than the slick glossy cover we are used to!

As with the US version, this issue features three stories – one each of the Golden Gladiator, the Viking Prince and the Silent Knight. But the Golden Gladiator story is from #3! The Silent Knight tale is from _B &B_ #2 and the Viking Prince story comes from #5! This would make the Australian version of the comic date at least four months after the US .

Printing in black and white very much helps the Golden Gladiator story. Russ Heath's dark, thick lines are very well suited to black and white. Somehow it gave the story more depth that the four-color version!

Blazing Adventures for only 9D!!

Joe Kubert's Viking Prince looked fantastic in black and white! It only confirms by belief that if Kubert drew in the 1920s and 1930s, he would rank with Alex Raymond as one of the best comic artists ever. Who needs color?

Well, the Silent Knight does. Without the bright and vibrant colors on the strip, Irv Novick's work looks thin compared to the details of the other two features. To be fair, if it were meant to be published in black and white, Novick would have probably drawn the strip differently (look at his excellent black-and-white GI Joe advertisements in the mid-1960s). But as is the artwork makes this the weakest feature of the three.

Imagine if the comic was black and white in the US, following the example of the Australians. Without a change in style, Silent Knight would have been the one dropped after four issues instead of Golden Gladiator. Following the chaos theory to its illogical conclusion: like the butterfly flapping its wings and eventually causing a hurricane; because of dropping Silent Knight; Kennedy would not have been assassinated, the US would have won Viet Nam, Watergate would have been dismissed as a third-rate burglary and investigated no further! The world would now be in a nirvana of unbridled peace and prosperity, with Australia prominent as a world power because of their foresight! Paul Hogan and Yahoo Serious would be winning Oscars for their films; Air Supply, AC-DC and Men At Work would continue to dominate the music charts, with Kylie Minogue and Natalie Umbruglio right behind!

G'day mate! Put another shrimp on the barbee!

Dodged a bullet there, didn't we?

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Thank you for reading my book. If you enjoyed it, won't you please take a moment to leave me a review at your favorite retailer?

Thanks!

Michael Curry

About the Author

Michael Curry is an attorney living in southern Illinois with his beloved wife and daughter. Michael plays a poor guitar and enjoys listening to British Invasion rock. He also collects - and reads - comic books from the 1960s and 1970s. Groovy. He writes - and reads - science fiction, fantasy and horror (thriller) short stories and novels.

Michael is also the author of _Abby's Road, the Long and Winding Road to Adoption; and how Facebook, Aquaman and Theodore Roosevelt Helped_ and _Toddler TV: A Befuddled Father's Guide to What the Kid is Watching._

Connect with Me:

Follow me on Twitter: <http://twitter.com/currymichaelg>

Friend me on Facebook: Michael Curry

Subscribe to my blog: http://michaelgcurry.blogspot.com

Favorite me at Smashwords: <https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/Kendal64>

***

Other books by Michael Curry

Here is a snippet from my Smashwords book _Abby's Road, the Long and Winding Road to Adoption; and how Facebook, Aquaman and Theodore Roosevelt Helped!_ I hope you enjoy it:

(this excerpt begins when we finally settle on a name...)

Our son's name will be Arthur Curry. Do you know who Arthur Curry is? Arthur Curry is Aquaman's secret identity. Bruce Wayne is Batman, Clark Kent is Superman, Peter Parker is Spider-Man, Phyllis Diller is the Joker. Thus is Arthur Curry, Aquaman.

Since childhood I've always loved the comic book character if only for that reason – the art and stories were pretty decent too. If we named a son Arthur, the nerds will love it and the bullies will have no idea and not pick on him (they'll find another reason I am sure...). I told Esther why I liked Arthur.

The name Arwen I let die; but I would fight for Arthur...

"Okay," she said.

I was elated! Arthur Curry! How wonderful was that! And Arthur Sheldon Curry sounded good too! If my son wasn't going to be the mas macho Harley Brisco Curry, at least he can be Aquaman! We can decorate his room with pictures and drawings of the Monarch of the Deep – I still have my old 1970s Mego action figure we can put high high high out of reach on a shelf. His room will be painted to look like the briny deep – light and dark blues with bubbles, sea horses, sea weed...

"We can't do that," Esther said, "underwater scenes in a child's bedroom can lead to asthma."

What?

We'll use paint brushes, not rag weed. Nautical themes cause asthma? Really? Do western themes cause a kid to be allergic to barbeque? Would a snowy/winter motif cause hyperthermia? Did Wes Craven have Munsch's "The Scream" painted over his bed? Okay, I won't argue, Esther is usually right about these things. "Can we put up a picture of Aquaman?"

"Oh sure." Thank God for that at least.

...

***

Here is an excerpt from my Smashwords book Toddler TV: A Befuddled Father's Guide to What the Kids Are Watching!

"PBS Kids: The grand-daddy of children's programming

Before PBS, there were lots of things for the kids to watch. Most of it was crap, but there was a lot of it!

In the early morning you could watch, say, The Lone Ranger. Here we learned that good shall always overcome evil in less than thirty minutes. Problems can be solved not through gunplay, but by fistfights. The only problem the Lone Ranger couldn't solve was the degradation of Native Americans. I kid - I loved The Lone Ranger. I am probably the last generation who still gets a chill down their spine when they hear the opening notes of his theme song (the William Tell Overture). I get the same reaction when I hear the opening fanfare of Star Wars. The music starts and for one-tenth of a second I am twelve years old again. How can that be a bad thing?

Or one could also watch Lassie or Fury. Here an above-average intelligent dog or horse is raised by a loving teenager and his widowed parent. The parent's cantankerous father-in-law or uncle-in-law is also on hand to help raise the boy. Lassie/Fury is a wonderful and loving pet unless you get on his bad side.

"Ruff! Ruff!" (translation: "Feed me!")

"What's the matter, girl?"

"Ruff! Ruff! ("I said I'm hungry, feed me!")

"Where's Timmy?"

"Ruff! Ruff! ("I don't know; let's look for him after dinner.")

"Is he caught in a well?"

"Ruff! Ruff! ("Why would you ever think that? Just 'cause I pushed – er – he fell in one last week...")

"And there's a fire?"

"Ruff! Ruff! ("No, no, the smoke? The Finnegans are barbequing again...")

"We have to go rescue him!"

"Ruff! Ruff! ("Wait, come back! I... damn! All right! I'll take you to him! I didn't push him in or anything! {races to Timmy} Got to get to that little brat first in case he finks on me!")

Then came the cartoons. Heckle & Jeckle, Popeye with Brutus (not Bluto, Brutus), and for a time they even showed the old Beatle cartoons with (if I remember correctly) Krazy Kat and Beetle (coincidence?) Bailey cartoons sandwiched between the mop top's adventures. I remember Beanie and Cecil, Tennessee Tuxedo and the Three Stooges...

... and of course the mac-daddy of all pre-PBS kid shows – Captain Kangaroo.

There were also the Saturday mornings – hours and hours of superheroes, wascally wabbits and meddling kids.

And then PBS, when it was called NET (National Educational Television), decided it should create its own version of children's television programs. Children can be entertained and still learn their ABCs and 123s. They can learn about feelings – being angry, sad or happy.

They picked a show whose producer/writer/host had recently moved his show from Canada to Pittsburgh. He was making an impression with his puppetry and lessons about being yourself and not being afraid of your feelings.

They also picked a show with an urban theme, but also included a masterful puppeteer whose characters included a talking frog, a monster who lived in a trash can and another monster who loved to eat cookies.

The shows were successful – so successful that non-PBS stations filled their programming with similar children's shows. Gone was Race Bannon shooting neo-Nazis; instead we watched The New Zoo Review, The Big Blue Marble and (in the 1980s) The Great Space Coaster.

Even the beloved Saturday Morning orgy of violence and idiocy showed signs of teaching and learning with In the News (shown in segments between shows), Curiosity Shop and Talking With a Giant.

And Schoolhouse Rock. Who doesn't start humming the jingle while reading the preamble to the constitution? "We the People, in order to form a more perfect union..."

