The Brave & the Bold #104
Published and © by DC, November-December 1972
Title: “Second Chance for a Deadman?”
Synopsis: Batman enlists Deadman in an investigation of a criminal enterprise – but will a ghostly romance get in the way?
Writer: Bob Haney
Penciler: Jim Aparo
Review: The Brave & the Bold was a well-known commodity during the 1970s: Most issues feature a fun-but-not-always-logical Bob Haney script and some fantastic – and still underrated – Jim Aparo art. But this issue is a notch above. Aparo delivers per usual here but Haney surprises with a richly poignant Deadman tale. His script still doesn’t hold up to careful scrutiny – do they ever? – but it does manage to deliver some big feels. For a series known for fun-but-disposable team-ups, this issue levels up with some ghostly gravitas.
Grade: B+
Second opinion: “A rather unsettling love story.” – Jim Kingman, Hey, Kids! Comics! #1, March 1997
Cool factor: Props to Bob Haney for nailing it this issue (but Jim Aparo’s art is still the star of the show!)
Notable: The letters page includes LoCs from future comics pros Mark Gruenwald and Bob Rozakis.
Collector’s note: According to MyComicShop.com, there is a Mark Jewelers variant of this issue.
Character quotable: “In a flash, I’ll be in the flesh!” – Deadman, body hopper
Editor’s note: This review was written Aug. 11, 2023.
