The Brave and the Bold | |
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![]() 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 2000 (vol. 3) April 2007 – August 2010 |
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 | List
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Penciller(s) | List
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Inker(s) | List
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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 a comic book series published by the comic book publishing company DC Comics as an ongoing series from 1955 to 1983. It was followed by a reprint miniseries in 1988, two original miniseries in 1991 and 1999, and was revived as an ongoing anthology title in 2007 and 2023. The focus of the series has varied over time, and it sometimes featured team-ups of characters from across the DC Universe. From 1965-1983, starting with issue #74, it was exclusively a Batman team-up book.
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. [2] 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. [3] 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. [4] [5]
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 (February–March 1960), and after two further appearances in the title received its own series. [6]
Issues #45 through #49 (Dec. 1962/Jan. 1963 through Aug./Sept. 1963) 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". [7] Ten years later, in 1973, Strange Sports Stories was resurrected as a DC Comics title in its own right, but it lasted only six issues. [8]
The series was changed yet again with issue #50 as a team-up title between established characters. [9] Starting with issue #59 The Brave and the Bold began to frequently feature a Batman team-up. [10] This was due to the popularity of the Batman television series. [11] From issue #74 to the end of its run, The Brave and the Bold was exclusively a Batman team-up title.
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. [12] 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. [13]
Metamorpho was created by Haney and artist Ramona Fradon in The Brave and the Bold #57 (December 1964–January 1965). [14]
The title was the first to feature Neal Adams' version of Batman, [15] generating fan interest that led to Adams' style defining the modern Batman image to this day. [16] In addition, Adams updated Green Arrow's visual appearance by designing a new costume for the character in issue #85 (August–September 1969). [17] 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. [18] 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. [19] Issues #112 (April - May 1974) to #117 (Feb.-March 1975) of the series were in the 100 Page Super Spectacular format. [20]
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. [21] The Tresser character was created by Burkett in 1979, and named for an actor with whom Burkett was rooming in New Hampshire. [22]
Alan Brennert wrote four issues of The Brave and the Bold featuring Batman teaming with the Creeper, Hawk and Dove, [23] the Robin of Earth-Two, [24] [25] and the Catwoman. [26]
The title's final issue featured a team-up of the Batmen of Earth-One and Earth-Two [19] 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. [27]
Issue # | Character | Notes |
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1–24 | Golden Gladiator, Viking Prince, Silent Knight, and Robin Hood | Steady rotation of two or three of these characters per issue. |
25–27 | Suicide Squad | First appearance of the Suicide Squad. |
28–30 | Justice League of America | First appearance of the Justice League of America. |
31–33 | Cave Carson | First appearance of Cave Carson. |
34–36 | Hawkman & Hawkgirl | First Silver Age appearance of Hawkman and Hawkgirl. |
37–39 | Suicide Squad | |
40–41 | Cave Carson | |
42–44 | Hawkman and Hawkgirl | |
45–49 | Strange Sports Stories | |
50 | Green Arrow and Martian Manhunter | First team-up issue of the series. |
51 | Aquaman and Hawkman | |
52 | Sgt. Rock, Johnny Cloud, and Haunted Tank | |
53 | The Atom and the Flash | |
54 | Kid Flash, Aqualad, and Robin | First appearance of the then-unnamed Teen Titans. |
55 | The Metal Men and the Atom | |
56 | The Flash and Martian Manhunter | |
57–58 | Metamorpho | First appearance of Metamorpho the Element Man. |
59 | Batman and Green Lantern | |
60 | Teen Titans | First appearance of Wonder Girl. |
61–62 | Starman and Black Canary | |
63 | Supergirl and Wonder Woman | |
64 | Batman and Eclipso | Billed as "Batman Versus Eclipso" due to the hero/villain status of Eclipso at the time. |
65 | The Flash and the Doom Patrol | |
66 | Metamorpho and the Metal Men | |
67 | Batman and the Flash | |
68 | Batman and Metamorpho | Batman becomes a Bat-Hulk for a time in this issue. |
69 | Batman and Green Lantern | |
70 | Batman and Hawkman | |
71 | Batman and Green Arrow | |
72 | The Spectre and the Flash | |
73 | Aquaman and the Atom | First appearance of Vulko. |
74 | The Metal Men | First issue with Batman as the recurring headliner character, teaming with the co-star(s) listed. |
75 | The Spectre | |
76 | Plastic Man | First Silver Age appearance of Plastic Man. |
77 | The Atom | |
78 | Wonder Woman and Batgirl | First appearance of Copperhead. |
79 | Deadman | First issue drawn by Neal Adams. |
80 | The Creeper | First appearance of Hellgrammite. |
81 | The Flash | |
82 | Aquaman | |
83 | Teen Titans | |
84 | Sgt. Rock | |
85 | Green Arrow | First appearance of Green Arrow in his redesigned look. |
86 | Deadman | |
87 | Wonder Woman | |
88 | Wildcat | First Silver/Bronze Age appearance of Wildcat. |
89 | The Phantom Stranger | |
90 | Adam Strange | |
91 | Black Canary | |
92 | The Bat-Squad | First (and to date, only) appearance of the Bat-Squad. |
93 | The House of Mystery | |
94 | Teen Titans | |
95 | Plastic Man | Cover advertises co-star as a surprise. |
96 | Sgt. Rock | |
97 | Wildcat | |
98 | The Phantom Stranger | First issue drawn by Jim Aparo, who would become main artist. |
99 | The Flash | |
100 | Robin, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, and Black Canary | |
101 | Metamorpho | |
102 | Teen Titans | |
103 | The Metal Men | |
104 | Deadman | |
105 | Wonder Woman | |
106 | Green Arrow | |
107 | Black Canary | |
108 | Sgt. Rock | |
109 | The Demon Etrigan | |
110 | Wildcat | |
111 | The Joker | Like the earlier Eclipso "team-up," it became adversarial. |
112 | Mister Miracle | First of a series of DC 100 Page Super Spectacular issues (mostly reprints with one new lead story). |
113 | The Metal Men | |
114 | Aquaman | |
115 | The Atom | |
116 | The Spectre | |
117 | Sgt. Rock | Last of the Super Spectacular reprint issues. |
118 | Wildcat | Cover states "Co-Starring the Joker." |
119 | Man-Bat | |
120 | Kamandi | |
121 | The Metal Men | |
122 | Swamp Thing | |
123 | Plastic Man and Metamorpho | |
124 | Sgt. Rock | |
125 | The Flash | |
126 | Aquaman | |
127 | Wildcat | |
128 | Mister Miracle | |
129–130 | Green Arrow | "Co-Starring the Atom, the Joker, & Two-Face." Two-Face had previously encountered Green Arrow in #106. |
131 | Wonder Woman | Versus Catwoman. |
132 | Richard Dragon | First issue of the series with the classic "bullet" DC logo. |
133 | Deadman | |
134 | Green Lantern | |
135 | The Metal Men | |
136 | Green Arrow and the Metal Men | Follow-up to the previous issue. |
137 | The Demon Etrigan | |
138 | Mister Miracle | |
139 | Hawkman | |
140 | Wonder Woman | |
141 | Black Canary | Also featuring the Joker. |
142 | Aquaman | |
143 | The Creeper | Two-issue Human Target backup feature begins. |
144 | Green Arrow | |
145 | The Phantom Stranger | |
146 | The Unknown Soldier | |
147 | Supergirl | |
148 | Plastic Man | |
149 | Teen Titans | |
150 | Superman | Cover advertises co-star as a surprise. |
151 | The Flash | |
152 | The Atom | |
153 | Red Tornado | |
154 | Metamorpho | |
155 | Green Lantern | |
156 | Doctor Fate | |
157 | Kamandi | |
158 | Wonder Woman | |
159 | Ra's al Ghul | |
160 | Supergirl | |
161 | Adam Strange | |
162 | Sgt. Rock | |
163 | Black Lightning | |
164 | Hawkman | |
165 | Man-Bat | |
166 | Black Canary | First appearance of Nemesis in the backup feature that continued in every issue after unless otherwise noted. |
167 | Blackhawk | |
168 | Green Arrow | |
169 | Zatanna | |
170 | Nemesis | No backup feature as Batman and Nemesis meet face-to-face. |
171 | Scalphunter | |
172 | Firestorm | |
173 | Guardians of the Universe | |
174 | Green Lantern | Follow-up to the previous issue. |
175 | Lois Lane | |
176 | Swamp Thing | |
177 | Elongated Man | |
178 | The Creeper | |
179 | Legion of Super-Heroes | No Nemesis backup. |
180 | The Spectre | |
181 | Hawk and Dove | |
182 | Robin (Earth-Two) | Also featuring Starman. |
183 | The Riddler | |
184 | Huntress | |
185 | Green Arrow | |
186 | Hawkman | |
187 | The Metal Men | Final appearance (death) of Nameless. |
188–189 | Rose and Thorn | |
190 | Adam Strange | |
191 | The Joker | Also featuring the Penguin |
192 | Superboy | Final issue featuring the Nemesis backup feature. |
193 | Nemesis | Final appearance of Nemesis within the series. |
194 | The Flash | |
195 | I…Vampire | |
196 | Ragman | |
197 | Catwoman | Both the Batman and Catwoman in this issue are the Earth-Two versions. |
198 | Karate Kid | |
199 | The Spectre | |
200 | Batman (Earth-Two) | Final issue. Ended to make way for Batman and the Outsiders with the same creative team. Two backup features are included: one of Bat-Mite complaining to editor Len Wein and the other a preview of the Outsiders. First appearances of Halo, Geo-Force, Katana, and the Outsiders. |
In December 1991 - June 1992, The Brave and the Bold returned as a six-issue miniseries featuring Green Arrow, the Question, and the Butcher. [28] The miniseries was written by Mike Grell and Mike Baron.
A six-issue miniseries was published from October 1999 - March 2000 starring the Flash and Green Lantern titled Flash and Green Lantern: The Brave and the Bold. [29] This miniseries 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), [30] 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.
DC resurrected the Brave and the Bold title as another ongoing series in April 2007. [31] 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 16 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 the Geek; Aquaman and Etrigan the Demon; and Barbara Gordon, Wonder Woman, and Zatanna, which served as a companion piece to Alan Moore's Batman: The Killing Joke graphic novel.
DC published a 22 issue comic book adaptation of the animated series Batman: The Brave and the Bold from 2009 [32] -2010. [33] In 2010 it was followed by a 16 issue series titled All New Batman: The Brave and the Bold [34] .
In 2018, DC released a limited series starring Batman and Wonder Woman.
In October 2020, DC released an 80-Page Giant called The Doomed and the Damned.
In May 2023, DC Comics released a fourth volume of the anthology series in entitled Batman: The Brave and the Bold, as a part of the "Dawn of DC" initiative. The series includes stories centered around Batman and other Gotham City-based characters, in addition other DC Universe superheroes. The first issue is 64-pages and features four stories by creators including Tom King, Mitch Gerads, Guillem March, Gabriel Hardman, Dan Mora, and Rob Williams. [35]
The series won Alley Awards in 1962 for "Best Single Comic Book Cover" (#42 by Joe Kubert), [70] in 1965 for "Best Comic Book Cover" (#61 by Murphy Anderson), [71] and in 1968 for "Best Full-Length Story" ("Track of the Hook" in #79 by Bob Haney and Neal Adams). [72] 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. [73]
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".
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.
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. [74] The tone of the series is markedly lighter than the previous Batman: The Animated Series and The Batman .
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.
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).
Artist Neal Adams started a long association with Batman, applying his modern style to the tales.
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.