The Brave & The Bold Index Part 16
Team-ups: The Long Goodbye Part 2
June 1979 – July 1983
1981
#170: … & Nemesis.
“…If Justice Be Blind”, Writer: Cary
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 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!).
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.
Infantino’s
art is fair here (a rare thing at this time); 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
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…
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
Another
oft-requested team-up comes to pass. 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 being 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
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? Well, all
but one member!
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
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”.
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!
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.
Professor
Hugo Strange steals Starman’s cosmic rod and threatens to decimate Gotham
City
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
#183: … & Riddler,
“The Death of Batman”, W: Don Krarr, A: Carmine Infantino.
Clues on a
board game leads 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!
Copyright (c) 2012 Michael G Curry
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