Aparo, Jim - Brave and the Bold, issue 142, cover (July 1978)
Artist: Jim Aparo (All)
22 Comments - 3,030 Views - 4 Likes
Artwork Details
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DescriptionBrave and the Bold. Bob Haney & Jim Aparo. Batman vs. Aquaman. A villain called Mr. Big.They all came together in the July 1978 story, ‘The Enigma of the Death-Ship!’ in B&TB #142. This one came closer to the end of the Haney & Aparo run on B&TB. They collaborated on 53 total issues from issue 98 [November 1971 – Haney writes, Aparo pencils the interiors and Nick Cardy provided the cover] to issue 157 [December 1979 – Haney writes, Aparo pencils & inks everything including the cover]. Their full body of work would encompass issues 98, 100-102, 104-136, 138-145, 148-152, 154-155 and 157. An amazing 53 issues of great storytelling featuring team-ups with Green Arrow (6 times), the Metal Men (4 times), Wonder Woman, Mister Miracle, Black Canary, Green Lantern, Metamorpho, the Atom, Sgt. Rock, Aquaman and Wildcat (3 times each), Plastic Man, the Joker, the Flash, Teen Titans, the Phantom Stranger, Deadman and Kamandi (twice each) and Robin, the Demon, the Spectre, Man-Bat, Swamp Thing, Two-Face, Richard Dragon, Hawkman and the Creeper (once each.) I was nine when I picked up this issue – and I would read it countless times until it’s cover fell off the book. The cover was special - the usual ‘and’ in the title was crossed out and replaced by a ‘vs.’ – but how was it possible that two great superheroes could share featured billing yet be at odds with one another? Of course, only when both heroes are trying to do what they perceive to be is the right thing. In this case, Batman is seeking the logbook of a sunken freighter to uncover evidence of a drug kingpin’s (‘Mr. Big’) identity, but Aquaman inexplicably wants the logbook to remain hidden. Batman believes the logbook will give him a clue as to the true identity of Mr. Big. In the end it all becomes clear - Aquaman is concerned that the freighter’s logbook will show that it was negligence on the part of his adopted father, lighthouse keeper Arthur Curry, which caused the freighter to sink. But, Batman succeeds in reaching the logbook and reassures Aquaman that the sinking of the ship was not his father’s fault; it was instead the fault of the notorious Mr. Big, the same Mr. Big who he now knows the identity of…but does not reveal in this issue! The Haney & Aparo run on B&TB occurred in the power-curve of my Batman fixation as a youngster – and I remember enjoying the many characters flowing through book and the smart & interesting stories. There is all sorts of unusual and goofy twists & turns – and even a little meta-fiction for kicks [issue 124, featuring Batman and Sgt. Rock, has a cover depicting Jim Aparo sitting over an unfinished cover for the issue and a terrorist from a group called The Thousand pointing a gun at him and saying – ‘Finish the cover, Aparo! Rock kills Batman…or I kill you!’] All in all, a great run from creators who helped define Batman in the 1970’s. Social/Sharing |
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Comments on this Artwork
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Lloyd White 
Member Since 2007
Posted on 9/3/2013
I read this one 'til the cover fell off as well---congratulations on one of Aparo's very best!
Will K
Member Since 2006
1 - Posted on 9/3/2013
Bob Haney was one of the few at DC that wrote engrossing (not just entertaining) stories that fit within one issue. And Jim Aparo was his perfect compliment in storytelling, pacing and drama. I love this story.
Ron S
Member Since 2007
1 - Posted on 9/3/2013
What, no Phantom Stranger?? You've got the other two characters are identified with Aparo. It's just a great example. Congrats!!
Will K
Member Since 2006
1 - Posted on 9/3/2013
Ron S wrote:
What, no Phantom Stranger?? You've got the other two characters are identified with Aparo. It's just a great example. Congrats!!There's always the Spectre...
John Cogan
Member Since 2004
1 - Posted on 9/3/2013
One of the best and a very memorable cover by Aparo. Big Congrats on bringing this one home.
Gal Schwartz
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 9/3/2013
The two characters Aparo drew best on a single vintage cover ?!? It's as good as it gets ! Congrats !
Mark Geier
Member Since 2013
1 - Posted on 9/3/2013
Such a great cover, and with 2 of the characters he's known for. Congrats, that's a great addition!
GianCarlo Nardini
Member Since 2004
1 - Posted on 9/4/2013
What an incredible combination of arms and legs. The more you look at it, the more it seems that there are six arms and Aquaman is trying to mate with Bruce!
Steve Day Vich
Member Since 2007
1 - Posted on 9/4/2013
GianCarlo Nardini wrote:
What an incredible combination of arms and legs. The more you look at it, the more it seems that there are six arms and Aquaman is trying to mate with Bruce!GianCarlo, as always, I couldn't of said it any better.
Patrick Brooks
Member Since 2008
1 - Posted on 9/4/2013
I remember this cover vividly when I was a kid. One of my absolute favorites from Aparo. So nice. Congrats and thanks for sharing.
Alex B
Member Since 2008
1 - Posted on 9/19/2013
Congrats for this "breathtaking" piece ;-) A perfect Aparo cover !
Jeffrey Wedding
Member Since 2009
1 - Posted on 7/29/2022
Someone just mentioned this cover in a chat today, and here it is on CAF. Fantastic!
Bill J
Member Since 2009
1 - Posted on 9/20/2023
Awesome Jim Aparo Brave and the Bold cover! I've long been an admirer of Aparo's work. When it comes to Batman art from the '70s, no one did it better than Aparo! He had such a distinctive style with his long, lean bodies and a strong sense of how to convey action. This is a terrific example of his work on B&B! I love the way he draws Aquaman putting a headlock on Batman while divers with harpoon guns approach! A classic Bronze Age cover!
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