Main Feature Written by Alan Brennert. Main Feature Art by Jim Aparo & Carl Gafford.
“Nemesis” Back-Up Feature Written by Cary Burkett. “Nemesis” Back-Up Art by Dan Spiegle; John Costanza; & Carl Gafford.
Cover Art by Jim Aparo.
SUMMARY:
DC Comics released this 32-page issue for January 1982. The eighteen-page lead feature is entitled “Interlude on Earth-Two.” The Gotham City of both Earth-One and Earth-Two are plagued by an intense electrical storm. While Earth-Two’s Robin and Starman deduce the nefarious culprit’s identity behind the artificially-created storm on their world, Earth-One’s Batman is mysteriously drawn to a cemetery where the storm teleports him to Earth-Two.
Replacing the injured Starman, Batman soon joins Earth-Two’s Robin to go after a ghostly Hugo Strange. Joined by Earth-Two’s Batwoman (Kathy Kane) coming out of retirement, a mix of mutual resentment and ghostly déjà vu impacts Gotham’s heroic trio. While Robin & Batwoman still grieve their Batman’s death, his Earth-One counterpart experiences the reverse, as his Kathy Kane was tragically murdered months before.
Against Strange’s use of Starman’s stolen cosmic rod, Batman and his Earth-two partners must risk a fatal showdown inside the Batcave.
REVIEW:
Tag-teaming with artists at the top of their visual game, writer Alan Brennert delivers a top-caliber Bat-crossover. Effectively bridging subtle differences between Earth-One and Earth-Two’s Bat-counterparts, Brennert concocts a multi-layered team-up. Specifically, his storytelling is not some cardboard adventure, as readers can grasp this Robin’s misgivings, as well as Batman’s mutual discomfort — given the odd circumstances. More so, the poignant final stretch (including revelations of Strange’s fate since last facing Earth-Two’s Dynamic Duo) is well-played.
If anything, the haunting last page bringing Brennert’s plot full-circle is worth the price of admission to Bat-fans of either Earth. Along with its great Nemesis caper, The Brave and the Bold # 182 is a forty-year-old DC relic that only improves with age.
Note: Batman’s chastising of Earth-Two Robin is some unintentional foreshadowing of the ex-Boy Wonder’s fate come the end of 1985-86’s Crisis on Infinite Earths.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
The eight-page Nemesis serial is entitled “Enter … Greyfox.” The notorious assassin, Greyfox, and his associates bait Nemesis by pressuring Valerie’s assaulted brother to contact her in New York City. At New York’s JFK Airport, a disguised Nemesis realizes that Greyfox’s team is waiting in ambush. Overall, Cary Burkett’s scripting and solid visuals combine for some well-played suspense.
The last page is a typical letters-and-answers column, including correspondence from series writer Mike Barr.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8½ Stars
