The Brave and the Bold

The Brave and the Bold

Cover of The Brave and the Bold #1 (August–September 1955). Art by Russ Heath, Joe Kubert, and Irv Novick.
Publication information
Publisher DC Comics
Schedule Bimonthly #1-117
Monthly #118-200
Format (vol. 1 and 3)
Ongoing series
(Flash and Green Lantern:...)
Limited series
Publication date (vol. 1)
August–September 1955 – July 1983
(vol. 2)
December 1991 – June 1992
(Flash and Green Lantern:...)
October 1999 – March
No. of issues (vol. 1): 200
(vol. 2 and Flash and Green Lantern:...): 6 each
(vol. 3): 35
Main character(s) (vol. 1)
Many characters until Batman and a rotation of DC Universe characters with #50
(vol. 2)
Green Arrow, the Question, and the Butcher
(Flash and Green Lantern:...)
Flash, Green Lantern
(vol. 3)
Rotating characters from the DCU
Creative team
Written by
Penciller(s)
Inker(s)
Collected editions
The Brave and the Bold Team-Up Archives, Vol. 1 ISBN 1-4012-0405-8
The Brave and the Bold, vol. 1: The Lords of Luck ISBN 1-4012-1588-2
The Brave and the Bold, vol. 2: The Book of Destiny ISBN 1-4012-1861-X
The Brave and the Bold, vol. 3: Demons and Dragons ISBN 1-4012-2190-4
The Brave and the Bold, vol. 4: Without Sin ISBN 1-4012-2286-2

The Brave and the Bold is the title shared by many comic book series published by DC Comics. The first of these was published as an ongoing series from 1955 to 1983. It was followed by a mini-series in 1991 and 1999, and was revived as an ongoing title in 2007.

The focus of each version of the series has varied over time but most commonly features team-ups of characters from across the DC Universe.

Publication history

Volume 1

The first volume of the series ran for 200 issues from August/September 1955 to July 1983.[1] Originally, The Brave and the Bold was an anthology series featuring adventure tales from past ages with characters such as the Silent Knight, the Viking Prince, the Golden Gladiator, and Robin Hood. With issue #25, the series was reinvented as a try-out title for new characters and concepts, starting with the Suicide Squad created by writer Robert Kanigher and artist Ross Andru.[2] Gardner Fox and Joe Kubert created a new version of Hawkman in issue #34 (February–March 1961) with the character receiving his own title three years later.[3][4]

Editor Julius Schwartz hired Gardner Fox and artist Mike Sekowsky to create the Justice League of America. The team debuted in The Brave and the Bold #28 (Feb.-March 1960), and after two further appearances in the title, received its own series.[5]

Issues #45 through #49 were devoted to "Strange Sports Stories" combining sport and science-fiction in tales such as "Challenge of the Headless Baseball Team" and "The Man Who Drove Through Time." Strange Sports Stories was later resurrected briefly as a DC Comics title in its own right in 1973, but lasted only six issues.[6]

The series was changed yet again with issue #50 as a team-up title between established characters. Starting with issue #59 The Brave and the Bold became, more specifically, a Batman team-up book with the Caped Crusader as the book's main focus.[7] This was due to the popularity of the Batman television series, which led to the creation of Batmania. After issue #74, The Brave and the Bold was exclusively a Batman team-up title until it ended with issue #200.

The teaming of Robin, Kid Flash, and Aqualad in issue #54 (June–July 1964) by writer Bob Haney and artist Bruno Premiani led to the creation of the Teen Titans.[8] The three heroes subsequently appeared under the name "Teen Titans" in issue #60 (June–July 1965) by Haney and artist Nick Cardy and were joined by Wonder Woman's younger sister Wonder Girl in her first appearance.[9]

The Metamorpho character was created by Haney and artist Ramona Fradon in The Brave and the Bold #57 (December 1964–January 1965).[10]

The title was the first to feature Neal Adams' version of Batman,[11] generating fan interest that led to Adams' style defining the modern Batman image to this day.[12] In addition, Adams updated Green Arrow's visual appearance by designing a new costume for the character in issue #85 (Aug.–Sept 1969).[13] The primary artist for the second half of the run was Jim Aparo, starting with #98 (October–November 1971). Haney frequently disregarded continuity by scripting stories which contradicted DC's canon or by writing major heroes in an out-of-character fashion.[14] Issue #100 (Feb.–March 1972) featured Batman and "4 Famous Co-Stars" (Green Lantern, Green Arrow, Black Canary, and Robin) in a story by Haney and Aparo.[15] Issues #112 (April–May 1974) to #117 (Feb.–March 1975) of the series were in the 100 Page Super Spectacular format.[16]

The character Nemesis, also known as Thomas Tresser, debuted in an eight-page backup story in issue #166 (September 1980) written by Cary Burkett and drawn by Dan Spiegle.[17] The Tresser character was created by Burkett in 1979, and named for an actor with whom Burkett was rooming in New Hampshire.[18]

Alan Brennert wrote four issues of The Brave and the Bold featuring Batman teaming with the Creeper, the Hawk and Dove,[19] the Robin of Earth Two,[20][21] and the Catwoman.[22]

The title's final issue featured a team-up of the Batmen of Earth-One and Earth-Two[15] and included a preview of Batman and the Outsiders, the title that replaced The Brave and the Bold on DC's schedule and became Aparo's next regular assignment.[23]

Volume 2

In December 1991–June 1992, The Brave and the Bold returned as a six-issue mini-series featuring Green Arrow, the Question, and the Butcher.[24] The mini-series was written by Mike Grell and Mike Baron.

Flash and Green Lantern: The Brave and the Bold

A six-issue mini-series was published from October 1999–March 2000 starring the Flash and Green Lantern titled Flash and Green Lantern: The Brave and the Bold.[25] This mini-series was written by Mark Waid and Tom Peyer with art by Barry Kitson and Tom Grindberg. A trade paperback of this mini-series was published in 2001 (ISBN 1-56389-708-3).

The title was used again in 2001 for The Brave and the Bold Annual #1 (1969),[26] a one-shot special that reprinted selected Silver Age team-ups. The book was designed in the 1960s-style "80-Page Giant" format as if it were an actual annual issue of the original run of the title, which did not have an annual in 1969.

Volume 3

DC resurrected the Brave and the Bold title as another on-going series in April 2007.[27] Deciding that it would be a random team-up series, and not a Batman team-up series, the first writer was Mark Waid, who remained on the title for its first sixteen issues. The first arc, "The Lords of Luck", involved Batman in a team-up with Green Lantern Hal Jordan. The story depicted the characters joining forces with various other characters in tracking down the book of Destiny, with appearances by Supergirl, Lobo, Blue Beetle, the Legion of Super Heroes, Adam Strange, and the Challengers of the Unknown. The second arc picked up threads from the first, but mainly focused on self-contained stories.

After Waid's departure, Marv Wolfman took over for a two-part storyline, involving Supergirl and Raven battling the son of Triumph, while David Hine and Doug Braithwaite did a four-issue arc on the series featuring Hal Jordan and the Phantom Stranger. Following this, Dan Jurgens wrote issue #23, featuring Booster Gold and Magog. Like Wolfman's run, this era was prominent for its team-ups between DC heroes and the characters of Milestone Media. Writer Matt Wayne and artist Howard Porter collaborated on a team-up between Static and Black Lightning, and Adam Beechen and Roger Robinson wrote another featuring Hardware and Blue Beetle. The final Milestone issue was a team-up between Xombi and the Spectre, by John Rozum and Scott Hampton.

In September 2009, the title was taken over by J. Michael Straczynski and artist Jesus Saiz with issue #27, which featured a team-up between Batman and Dial H For Hero. Similar to the Milestone issues, it was intended for Straczynski's run on the series to showcase the Red Circle Comics characters licensed from Archie Comics. This idea was ultimately scrapped. Following the first issue, Straczynski wrote team-ups between: Barry Allen and Blackhawk; the Joker and the Atom; Hal Jordan and Doctor Fate; Batman and Brother Power; Aquaman and Etrigan; and Barbara Gordon, Wonder Woman, and Zatanna, which served as a companion piece to Alan Moore's Batman: The Killing Joke graphic novel.

Collection editions

Awards

The series won Alley Awards in 1962 for "Best Single Comic Book Cover" (#42 by Joe Kubert),[58] in 1965 for "Best Comic Book Cover" (#61 by Murphy Anderson),[59] and in 1968 for "Best Full-Length Story" ("Track of the Hook" in #79 by Bob Haney and Neal Adams).[60] Issue #28 of the third series (the Flash and Blackhawk team-up) was nominated for an Eisner Award for "Best Single Issue (Or One-Shot)" in 2010.[61]

In other media

The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure

An episode of The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure was titled "The Brain, the Brave and the Bold," in which Aquaman battles a supervillain named the "Brain."

Justice League

The Brave and the Bold was used as the title for a two-part episode of the first season of Justice League. The title refers to the Flash (Wally West) and Green Lantern (John Stewart) characters in connection to the second mini-series featuring Barry Allen and Hal Jordan in the roles.

Batman: The Brave and the Bold

An animated series based on the Brave and the Bold concept aired from November 14, 2008, to November 18, 2011. The series features Batman teaming with various characters of the DC Universe, much like the first volume of the ongoing series.[62] The tone of the series is markedly lighter than the previous Batman: The Animated Series and The Batman.

Major characters who appeared in the series include:

Heroes

Adam Strange, Aquaman, the Atom, Batman, Bat-Mite, Black Canary, Black Lightning, Blue Beetle, Booster Gold, the Bronze Tiger, Captain Marvel, Deadman, Doctor Fate, Fire, Firestorm, the Flash, Green Arrow, the Green Lantern Corps, Guy Gardner, Hal Jordan, the Hawk and Dove, Hawkman, the Huntress, Jay Garrick, Jonah Hex, Kamandi, Katana, Metamorpho, OMAC, Plastic Man, the Question, Red Tornado, Vixen, Wildcat, Wonder Woman, and Superman.

Villains

Black Adam, Black Manta, Calendar Man, Cavalier, Clock King, Despero, the Gentleman Ghost, Gorilla Grodd, the Joker, Kanjar Ro, Kite Man, Equinox, Major Disaster, Morgaine Le Fey, the Music Meister, Ocean Master, Shrapnel, the Sportsmaster, the Terrible Trio, the Weeper, and Zebra-Man.

Arrow

The eighth episode of Arrow's third season is titled "The Brave and the Bold". The episode is a crossover with The Flash and features a team-up of the title characters of both series.

References

  1. ↑ The Brave and the Bold at the Grand Comics Database
  2. ↑ Irvine, Alex; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1950s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 95. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. In "The Three Waves of Doom", a story that filled The Brave and the Bold #25, writer Robert Kanigher and artist Ross Andru introduced the Suicide Squad, a band of World War II-era military misfits.
  3. ↑ McAvennie, Michael "1960s" in Dolan, p. 102: "DC's...renaissance soared to new heights with the return of Hawkman and Hawkgirl. Writer Gardner Fox and artist Joe Kubert...ushered in a pair of Winged Wonders that, costumes aside, were radically different from their Golden Age predecessors."
  4. ↑ Daniels, Les (1995). "The Silver Age Applying a Fine Shine". DC Comics: Sixty Years of the World's Favorite Comic Book Heroes. New York, New York: Bulfinch Press. p. 130. ISBN 0-8212-2076-4. Hawkman took a little longer to get off the ground. He showed up initially in The Brave and the Bold #34 (February/March 1961), but had to wait three years for Hawkman #1 (April–May 1964).
  5. ↑ McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 99: "Editor Julius Schwartz had repopulated the [superhero] subculture by revitalizing Golden Age icons like Green Lantern and the Flash..He recruited writer Gardner Fox and artist Mike Sekowsky, and together they came up with the Justice League of America, a modern version of the legendary Justice Society of America from the 1940s."
  6. ↑ Strange Sports Stories at the Grand Comics Database
  7. ↑ McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 115: "By issue #50, The Brave and the Bold developed into the ultimate team-up book. The Brave and the Bold #59 added one final element to the team-up theme, when writer Bob Haney and artist Ramona Fradon partnered Batman with Green Lantern."
  8. ↑ McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 111: "They were never given a team name when scribe Bob Haney and artist Bruno Premiani spun them against Mister Twister. However, this first team-up of Robin, Kid Flash, and Aqualad came to be classically regarded as the inaugural story of the Teen Titans."
  9. ↑ McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 115: "Writer Bob Haney and artist Nick Cardy added another member to the ranks of the newly formed Teen Titans: Wonder Girl."
  10. ↑ McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 114: "Scribe Bob Haney and artist Ramona Fradon were truly in their element...Haney and Fradon's collaborative chemistry resulted in [Rex] Mason becoming Metamorpho."
  11. ↑ Haney, Bob (w), Adams, Neal (p), Adams, Neal (i). "The Track of the Hook" The Brave and the Bold 79 (August–September 1968)
  12. ↑ Forbeck, Matt; Dougall, Alastair, ed. (2014). "1960s". Batman: A Visual History. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 98. ISBN 978-1465424563. Artist Neal Adams started a long association with Batman, applying his modern style to the tales.
  13. ↑ McAvennie "1960s" in Dolan, p. 134: "Artist Neal Adams targeted the Emerald Archer for a radical redesign that ultimately evolved past the surface level...the most significant aspect of this issue was Adams' depiction of Oliver Queen's alter ego. He had rendered a modern-day Robin Hood, complete with goatee and mustache, plus threads that were more befitting an ace archer."
  14. ↑ Eury, Michael (August 2013). "The Batman of Earth-B: The Caped Crusader's Bravest and Boldest Writer, Bob Haney". Back Issue!. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing (66): 2–5.
  15. 1 2 Eury, Michael (December 2013). "The Brave and the Bold". Back Issue!. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing (69): 25–29.
  16. ↑ Eury, Michael (July 2015). "A Look at DC's Super Specs". Back Issue!. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing (81): 23.
  17. ↑ Trumbull, John (May 2013). "Nemesis Balancing the Scales". Back Issue!. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing (64): 69–75.
  18. ↑ Isaacs, Deanna (December 23, 2004). "Nemesis vs. Politics as Usual - Gadfly, former actor, and superhero model Tom Tresser is back, calling on the creative class to claim their piece of the pie.". Chicago, Illinois: Chicago Reader. Archived from the original on January 22, 2012. Retrieved January 22, 2012. Tom Tresser, the square-jawed, blond comic-book hero, was created in 1979, when Tom Tresser, the meeker, balder actor, was working at the Merrimack Valley Theatre in Manchester, New Hampshire, and rooming with writer Cary Burkett. Burkett got an assignment from DC Comics to create a new character and came up with Nemesis, a master of martial arts and disguise, who needed a daytime alias. Burkett's Tom Tresser became a mild-mannered, Shakespeare-quoting former FBI agent.
  19. ↑ Kelly, Rob (October 2015). "The Alan Brennert Interview". Back Issue!. Raleigh, North Carolina: TwoMorrows Publishing (84): 53.
  20. ↑ Manning, Matthew K. "1980s" in Dougall, p. 140: "Alan Brennert and artist Jim Aparo pulled out all the stops to please fans of the Golden Age in this memorable tale."
  21. ↑ Smith, Colin (January 10, 2012). "On Alan Brennert and Jim Aparo’s Batman story, 'Interlude on Earth-Two'". Sequart Organization. Archived from the original on March 22, 2015.
  22. ↑ Manning "1980s" in Dougall, p. 144: "The romance between the Earth-Two Batman and Catwoman was examined in this tale by writer Alan Brennert and penciller Joe Staton."
  23. ↑ Manning, Matthew K. "1980s" in Dolan, p. 202 "Despite being the final issue of this particular series, the book wasn't closed on Batman's team-ups. Although Batman was through working with partners, it was time to think bigger, and in a special sixteen-page preview insert written by Barr and with art by Jim Aparo, the Outsiders debuted. A super-hero team of Batman's own creation, the Outsiders would soon star alongside Batman in the new monthly series Batman and the Outsiders."
  24. ↑ The Brave and the Bold vol. 2 at the Grand Comics Database
  25. ↑ Flash and Green Lantern: The Brave and the Bold at the Grand Comics Database
  26. ↑ The Brave and the Bold Annual at the Grand Comics Database
  27. ↑ Cowsill, Alan "2000s" in Dolan, p. 329 "Writer Mark Waid and artist George Pérez teamed up to relaunch one of DC's best-loved titles, The Brave and the Bold."
  28. ↑ "The Viking Prince by Joe Kubert". DC Comics. Archived from the original on November 11, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  29. ↑ "Showcase Presents: Justice League of America Volume 1". DC Comics. Archived from the original on September 16, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  30. ↑ "Showcase Presents: Hawkman Volume 1". DC Comics. Archived from the original on November 25, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  31. ↑ "Showcase Presents: Hawkman Volume 2". DC Comics. Archived from the original on November 6, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  32. ↑ "Showcase Presents: Green Arrow Volume 1". DC Comics. Archived from the original on October 3, 2015. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
  33. ↑ "The Brave and the Bold Team-Up Archives Volume 1". DC Comics. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  34. ↑ "Showcase Presents: Aquaman Volume 2". DC Comics. Archived from the original on November 16, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  35. ↑ "Showcase Presents: Aquaman Volume 3". DC Comics. Archived from the original on November 22, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  36. ↑ "Showcase Presents: Haunted Tank Volume 1". DC Comics. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  37. ↑ "Showcase Presents: The Teen Titans Volume 1". DC Comics. Archived from the original on November 22, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  38. ↑ "Showcase Presents: The Teen Titans Volume 2". DC Comics. Archived from the original on October 3, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  39. ↑ "Showcase Presents: Metal Men Volume 1". DC Comics. Archived from the original on November 6, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  40. ↑ "Showcase Presents: Metal Men Volume 2". DC Comics. Archived from the original on November 16, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  41. ↑ "Showcase Presents: Metamorpho Volume 1". DC Comics. Archived from the original on November 7, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  42. ↑ "Showcase Presents: The Brave and the Bold – The Batman Team-Ups Volume 1". DC Comics. Archived from the original on October 3, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  43. ↑ "Showcase Presents: The Brave and the Bold – The Batman Team-Ups Volume 2". DC Comics. Archived from the original on September 11, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  44. ↑ "Showcase Presents: The Brave and the Bold – The Batman Team-Ups Volume 3". DC Comics. Archived from the original on November 11, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  45. ↑ "Black Canary Archives Volume 1". DC Comics. Archived from the original on November 22, 2015. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
  46. ↑ "Showcase Presents: The Spectre Volume 1". DC Comics. Archived from the original on August 18, 2012. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
  47. ↑ "Legends of the Dark Knight: Jim Aparo Volume 1". DC Comics. Archived from the original on May 12, 2012. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  48. ↑ "Legends of the Dark Knight: Jim Aparo Volume 2". DC Comics. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  49. ↑ "Tales of the Batman: Don Newton". DC Comics. Archived from the original on October 13, 2012. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  50. ↑ "Showcase Presents: Batman and the Outsiders Volume 1". DC Comics. Archived from the original on November 22, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  51. ↑ "The Brave and the Bold Volume 1: The Lords of Luck". DC Comics. Archived from the original on January 4, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  52. ↑ "The Brave and the Bold Volume 2: The Book of Destiny". DC Comics. Archived from the original on January 4, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  53. ↑ "The Brave and the Bold Volume 3: Demons and Dragons". DC Comics. Archived from the original on April 24, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  54. ↑ "The Brave and the Bold Volume 4: Without Sin". DC Comics. Archived from the original on December 4, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  55. ↑ "The Brave and the Bold Volume 5: Milestone". DC Comics. Archived from the original on December 4, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  56. ↑ "Team-Ups of the Brave and the Bold". DC Comics. Archived from the original on November 22, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  57. ↑ "Booster Gold: Volume 4: Day of Death". DC Comics. Archived from the original on September 16, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  58. ↑ "1962 Alley Awards". Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015.
  59. ↑ "1965 Alley Awards". Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015.
  60. ↑ "1968 Alley Awards". Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015.
  61. ↑ Parkin, JK (April 8, 2010). "Asterios Polyp, Urasawa, Irredeemable, Unwritten top the 2010 Eisner nominations". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on September 9, 2015.
  62. ↑ "Backstage - Interviews - Press Q&A". Worldsfinestonline.com. n.d. Archived from the original on December 1, 2008.
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