The Brave and the Bold #1
Writer: Mark Waid
Artists: George Perez & Bob Wiacek
This was a fun book. An old fashioned superhero romp. At first I was not going to pick this up, but as time went on, I said, how can I not? It's George Perez, it's got to be good! Boy was I right. Perez's art-style may be as modern or slick as current artists, but the man can tell a story and frame an action scene. Mark Waid is not one of my favorite writers, but if he can keep each issue of Brave & Bold as fun as this one, he may soon be. The idea of this book is that is a journry through the DCU with a rotating cast. For this arc, it looks to be Green Lantern. Here he teams up with Batman, next issue Supergirl, and who knows after that. At some point it may switch off to another character who was last teamed with Jordan. Hopefully we'll see more than the standard Big Gun team-ups, which was used to launch the book, team-ups with a big character through an wacky adventure with oh, Ambush Bug? That would be a romp. You get the idea. Smaller characters can be explored through these team-ups and maybe get readers to latch on to them and pick-up the books they are featured in. I'm calling for a Blue Beetle team-up. That book needs more attention, but back to the issue...
A murdered man is found in space, and Hal Jordan takes the case to Batman, the premier detective in the DCU for help. The two investigate and get attacked in the Batcave, and travel to Las Vegas. Batman in Vegas? No. Bruce Wayne in Vegas. Let's hear the collective, ahhhhhh.... In a really cool scene we have Bruce pimping the waitresses to get special treatment, and Hal Jordan playing Blackjack so recklessly that he schools Bruce in the game. It was this moment that made the book for me. Both of our heroes bonding out of costume, how often do you see that in super-hero books? Get this book for that moment alone. The way Perez draws the end of the scene is great. Hint, watch Hal's chip count. It's actions like these whether planned by the writer or artist that make comics worth reading, just a little something extra to re-enforce the characterizations. Bully for Mark Waid and George Perez, let's keep it up fellas! A+
Now this is what a superhero team up book should be. Someone needs to put Green Arrow in this book.
Brent, you hit the nail on the head. By far this was my favorite comic this week. The very first three pages had me hooked.
And people say I am nuts for liking Waid's Legion of Super-Heroes, he writes good stuff people, in fact I can't remember anything he's written that's been bad. This issue was good, oh and by the by, there WILL be a Blue Beetle/Batman team-up down the road among others.
I love all the talk about wishing they would use smaller role heroes when it's been known for some time that the 3rd issue will be Blue Beetle & Batman. C'mon guys, check the covers sometime...
Oh I see Nick pointed it out, well at least someone knew...