Liam Sharp (w) & (a)
Brave & the Bold was a series published by DC Comics that is mostly remembered for it's team-ups with Batman being the lead character for most issues and in which he met so many other denizens of the DC Universe including those from from other times and other planets. It was a great title from the days when a comic contained one complete story.
Sadly those days are long gone and today's comics are geared to be at least six issue story arcs so they can be collected in book form for the wider market. This has it's ups and downs as it makes comic collecting more difficult for the casual reader meaning less sales and many opting to wait for the trade collections.
In the past I have usually collected comics in the traditional format only buying collections when there are back issues I missed, can't find, are too expensive or are in a special format. Nowadays with my local comic shop no longer doing new comics I have moved over to buying collections via Amazon as they are cheaper and I don't pay delivery either.
The original six-issue mini series was originally published whilst I was languishing paralysed in hospital for some eight months following my aneurysm so comics were the last thing on my mind so I missed this series and wasn't even aware of it's existence until I noticed it whilst looking for something to read.
The story brings together two of the great icons of the DC Universe into a murder mystery that takes place in a dimension similar yet different to Themyscira as it is walled in and nearly entirely cut off from the outside world. It is the home of the Celtic or Irish Gods and faerie folk.
As Diana and her lover (Steve Trevor) lay in bed relaxing away from humanity in Antarctic where they believe a peaceful escape can be found an ancient entity known as Cernunnos Cernach appears and asks for the help of the Princess in brokering a peace in Tir Na Nog. Of course Diana agrees.
Meanwhile in Gotham City...
Something is amiss in the Irish Quarter and Bruce is unsure of what to make of it. People seem slow and distracted as if in a dream. Is this the work of the Scarecrow or something more sinister. Batman goes to investigate and finds himself caught in a world of apparitions and has to be pulled out by following Alfred's instructions.
It's magic. Bruce muses, a science of sorts he does not understand.
Meanwhile Diana arrives in Tir Na Nog to find that one of the rival Kings, Elatha has been murdered seemingly by a young boy who his Guards are intent on executing however not all is as it seems. Using her lasso Wonder Woman finds the accused innocent but in this realm it is not believed.
Diana needs a detective. The best...and that would be the Batman.
This is a story set in a magical realm where all is not quite s it seems but the Bat is not easily fooled and with the Princess in toe is determined not only to solve the murder but find out the connection with what is happening in Gotham.
And just what is that hobo doing in Gotham City....
A terrific story written by Liam Sharp who also provides superbly detailed artwork bringing the world of Tir Na Nog to life. My sole criticism is that this really would have benefited from the larger Deluxe format that DC sometime use.
Still widely available so..
Rating: 5 Stars (Highly Recommended)
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