The Brave & the Bold #181
Published and © by DC, December 1981
Title: “Time, See What’s Become of Me …”
Synopsis: Batman teams with Dove to rescue Hawk, who is in trouble following the death of a drug dealer’s son.
Writer: Alan Brennert
Artist: Jim Aparo
Review: Alan Brennert pens a suitably subtle tale (well, as subtle as can be expected given the costumed superheroes and the deus ex machina device that gave Hawk and Dove their powers) that says goodbye to a pair of characters – and an entire decade. Jim Aparo provides excellent support on art.
•••
Title: “Heartbreak!”
Synopsis: Nemesis infiltrates the estate of a member of The Council in an effort to have a heart-stimulator device removed.
Writer: Cary Burkett
Artist: Dan Spiegle
Review: Nemesis continues to be an interesting concept that doesn’t quite work in execution. Dan Spiegle’s art is accomplished but dated.
Grade (for the entire issue): B+
Second opinion: Recommended by The Slings & Arrows Comic Guide (second edition), 2003.
Cool factor: Artistically, it’s great fun to see Jim Aparo playing in Steve Ditko’s toy box. Oh, and Batman riding around in the passenger seat of Hawk’s VW Bug. How could that not be cool?
Notable: Alan Brennert would go on to become an Emmy-winning writer for television.
Character quotable: “Now … does someone talk … or does the little lady get hurt?” – The Hawk, saint of a fella
Editor’s note: This review was originally published by Comics Bronze Age on Oct. 16, 2009.
