The Brave & the Bold #102
Published and © by DC, June-July 1972
Title: “The Commune of Defiance”
Synopsis: The Young Aquarians team with Batman and the Teen Titans to defend a neighborhood from the establishment and the mob.
Writer: Bob Haney
Pencilers: Jim Aparo and Neal Adams
Inkers: Aparo and Dick Giordano
Review: There’s nothing quite as awkward as middle-aged writers trying to sound hip – and nobody in comics tried quite as hard as Bob Haney. But, get by the painful dialogue, awkward youth-culture stereotypes and plot contrivances, this issue remains pretty groovy. (Plus, art from Bat-legends Jim Aparo AND Neal Adams!)
•••
Title: “The Robot-Maker Must Die”
Synopsis: Cliff Steele wakes to find his brain transplanted into a robot body – and goes on a rampage looking for revenge!
Writer: Arnold Drake
Penciler: Bruno Premiani
Review: Featuring material from Doom Patrol #100 and #105, this Silver Age reprint is a sci-fi ancestor to characters like RoboCop.
Grade (for the entire issue): B
Second opinion: Recommended by The Slings & Arrows Comic Guide (second edition), 2003.
Cool factor: Like many early ’70s DCs, the lead feature is very dated; this makes it both fun and interesting as a historical relic.
Notable: According to “The Brave and the Bold Mailbag” letters page, Neal Adams stepped in to draw half of the lead feature when Jim Aparo took ill. … The letters page also includes an LoC from future DC writer and production director Bob Rozakis.
Character quotable: “By the prophet cat’s beard, man. We’ve heard that jive before!” – Ben Ahmed, Young Aquarian
Editor’s note: This review was written Aug. 22, 2022.
