The Brave & The Bold #249 - Batman and the Crimson Avenger - homage to Marvel Team-Up #56

Latest Golden Age Team-Up Project commission - The Brave & The Bold issue #249, teaming Batman with the Crimson Avenger, adapted from John Romita Jr and Frank Giacoia's cover to Marvel Team-Up #56, as reimagined by Bambos Georgiou.

1948 - and Bruce Wayne, as one of the investors in the Globe-Leader newspaper, attends a board meeting to hear from the paper's publisher/editor, Lee Travis. A recent series of scoops by the Globe-Leader's journalists exposing links between crooked politicans and crime bosses has resulted in threats, both to the staff and to the paper itself, with the latest suggesting that this will be the last week in which the Globe-Leader will be seen on the streets. Almost unanimously, the paper's board vote to continue the journalistic crusade, and to seek protection from the police department - but Wayne also determines to take more direct action as Batman!

That night, Batman swings from a nearby building onto the roof of the Globe-Leader - and is surprised to find his fellow mystery-man the Crimson Avenger waiting for him. The two heroes compare notes, and agree that the mob bosses making the threats need to be taken down - and both have their suspicions that the corruption may well spread beyond the political arena and into the police force, so the promised protection may not be effective.

Batman and the Avenger start to investigate the paper's offices, only to hear the sound of the printing presses in the basement come to an ominous halt! Rushing to the lower floors, the heroes are confronted by the sight of the Icicle, using his ice-gun to freeze the presses and sabotage the production of the latest issue of the paper! Batman and the Avenger both swing down to confront the villain, only to be attacked by the Icicle's partner - the electrically-powered Deathbolt!

Stunned by Deathbolt's electrical blast, both heroes fall to the ground, and the Icicle encases their legs in a thick layer of ice, immobilising them. With the heroes helpless, the villains reveal that the mob bosses have paid them to make sure that the Globe-Leader is shut down for good - and the destruction of the printing presses will also wreck the paper's offices and put it out of business!

As the two villains return their attention to the printing presses, the Avenger is able to free one hand and grab for a tray of metal type, which he hurls at the Icicle - and Batman uses a miniature blowtorch from his utility belt to melt his way out of the ice which has held him prisoner, and tackles the frozen villain as the Icicle returns to deal with the Crimson Avenger, handing off the torch to his comrade who also frees himself!

As Batman spars with the Icicle, the now-freed Crimson Avenger launches himself at Deathbolt, and - because he isn't grounded - the electrical bolts the villain hurls are ineffective, and Deathbolt crashes to the floor as the Avenger tackles him. After a scuffle, both heroes regain their feet - as do both villains - and Batman and the Crimson Avenger find themselves caught between the Icicle and Deathbolt! When both villains attack simultaneously, the heroes leap out of the way, and the Icicle is incapacitated by Deathbolt's electrical assault just as Deathbolt is immobilised by the Icicle's ice-blast - and the two villains crash to the ground and are swiftly tied up by the heroes.

While Batman calls Commissioner Gordon to send trustworthy police to take the villains away, the Crimson Avenger turns his attention to the bigger issue - making sure that the damaged presses are still able to print tomorrow's edition of the Globe-Leader and continue the fight against crime!

Next time - issue #250!