BRAVE AND THE BOLD #42 ART by JOE KUBERT!

Original artwork for Brave and the Bold #42 (DC, 1962) by the Hawkman artist par excellence, Joe Kubert himself (pencils and inks). From the three chapter saga entitled, "The Menace of the Dragonfly Raiders," written by one of the greatest and most prolific comic book writers of them all, Gardner Fox. From the climatic chapter of this tale, this page is quite special indeed since it features the flashback to the very first day in which Katar Hol met his partner and soon wife-to-be, Shayera Thal as well as the very first case in which the Winged Wonders teamed-up with one another. It was love at first sight for Hawkman as he and Hawkgirl flew into the cascading waterfall known as the Veil of Valmoora, to confront and apprehend the Rainbow Robbers, who were waiting in ambush. Fox's script is very cleaver and revealing as Hawkman's affection for his new partner is evident with his first order to her, "Keep behind me! I don't want anything to happen to you!" Hawkgirl, with her pride hurt and wanting to show her meddle is quite curt in her response, "I didn't come here to be protected!"

Hawkgirl's defiance and inexperience nearly cases the Winged Wonders to be killed, but Hawkman nudges them out of the line of fire as they get the drop on the Rainbow Robbers and win the day. And, instead of a strict admonishment of Hawkgirl due to her clumsy blunder that could have cost both their lives, Hawkman actually praises his new green partner as she, guilt stricken, wonders if she should actually tell him the truth. Great battle action sublimely accented with warm compassion and genuine affection as only a skilled scribe as Fox could present.

Ever since reading a reprint of Brave and the Bold #34 (DC, 1961) as a boy, this key issue remains my second favorite Silver-Age comic book of all time (behind Silver Surfer #3). Nearly 20 years ago, I purchased a good page from BB #34 from Bechara Maalouf that I enjoyed for several years. That page was good, but just not THE PAGE that I was really seeking, so I sold it back to him a few years later. Ever since selling that page, I have been anxiously searching for the RIGHT Kubert Hawkman page to come to market - one that showcased Hawkman and Hawkgirl with excellent images of both heroes, with some battle action and dramatic close-ups being an added bonus. When this piece surfaced, I knew I had found it with ALL the desired elements present to make this collector a very happy boy.

For me, Kubert's Hawkman and Hawkgirl early adventures in the Brave and the Bold #34-36 and #42-44 represent one of the pinnacle achievements from the famed Silver-Age of Comic Books with Kubert being the apex quintessential Hawkman artist, beyond peer.

Enjoy!