The Brave and the Bold 50 (Oct.-Nov. 1963) began the team-up tradition that would culminate in turning the title into a long-running “Batman and Friends” book.
The art by George Roussos exploited little of the visual appeal that we might have expected in a teaming of the Martian Manhunter and Green Arrow, and Roussos seemed intent on undermining the action at every turn. I’d say either of the characters’ regular artists — Joe Certa or Lee Elias — might have done a better job with the story.
But the idea of teaming and spotlighting two superheroes was a good one, and a logical extension of successful Silver Age team titles like Justice League of America, World’s Finest and Fantastic Four.
In fact, this first team-up was a sort of low-rent version of World’s Finest. Instead of Superman and Batman, we got two back-of-the-book characters who were often compared to them.
The resemblance to the successful World’s Finest formula was probably deliberate, according to Michael Uslan and Robert Klein, writing in the Brave and the Bold Team-Up Archive Edition.
“With his red-clad sidekick, Arrow Car and Arrow Cave, wealthy playboy Oliver (Green Arrow) Queen was certainly at the time being presented as an imitation Batman,” Uslan and Klein observed, “And what superhero was most akin to Superman? But for the fact that his weakness was fire and not kryptonite, the Manhunter from Mars best qualifies. More likely, this was a way to promote the Martian Manhunter, who would soon gain his very own cover-featured series beginning in House of Mystery 143.”
In the Brave and Bold story, the Manhunter and Green Arrow defeat their enemy, Vulkor, with a trick used more than once by Superman and Batman — switching their identities to gain an element of surprise.
Bob Haney’s plot featured an attack on Earth by J’onn J’onzz’ fellow Martians — the same story idea that Bruce Timm used as the springboard for the excellent Justice League animated series in 2001.
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| DC comics on sale in August 1963 |
Bruce Kanin wrote: I had mixed feelings when they stopped the random team-ups and went to having Batman team up with another (super)hero. What I mean is that, Batman teaming up with others is a terrific idea, but I missed the random ones, too. They probably couldn't afford to have two books.
ReplyDeleteYears later, via DC Comics Presents, Superman teamed up with another (super)hero. Many of those stories were good, although the B&B Batman team-ups were a bit grittier and better drawn.
One of my favorite B&B "random" team-ups was Atom & Flash!
Joe Gall wrote: I was so excited when this issue came out so I bought it immediately. And then I looked inside and was appalled at the art. Oh, nice shout out to our JLA series.
ReplyDeleteCheryl Spoehr wrote: While I wasn't overwhelmed with this issue,I sure loved the idea of a "second World's Finest team"...but it was not to be. Although the "New team of Martian Manhunter and Green Arrow" was mentioned often in Justice League,that was just an excuse to get rid of both characters. JLA was changing,becoming both more like Marvel's The Avengers,and it was relying more on hot shot heroes Superman and Batman for appeal. Soon,the Batman tv show would force a CONSTANT presence of Batman onto both JLA and B&B,to their mutual detriment. Or at least that is how I see it... ...
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