The Brave & The Bold #233 - Batman and the Ray - homage to Captain America #306

Latest Golden Age Team-Up Project commission - The Brave & The Bold issue #233, teaming Batman with the Ray, adapted from the Paul Neary cover to Captain America #306, as reimagined by Bambos Georgiou.

1943 - and even in a world at war, criminal activity continues with no regard for the conflict raging across the globe. Case in point: a daring break-in at the Bureau Of Engraving & Printing in Washington DC results in the theft of the plates for the $100 bill, and a potential disaster - if the thieves can produce forged notes in high enough quantities, the economy of the United States could be undermined, and the ability of the Government to fight the war could be gravely damaged!

With the FBI stymied, the Government calls in Batman - and the Gotham Guardian flies to the nation's capital to help. Investigating some subtle clues, Batman determines that the most likely candidate for masterminding and carrying out the theft is Starman's old foe the Mist, using his inviso-solution to enable he and his gang to enter the top-security building undetected, linger until the early hours, and steal the previous printing plates while alertness levels are at their lowest.

With Starman busy (in his secret identity of Ted Knight, working on the Manhattan Project), Batman calls in aid from a Washington-based hero - the Ray - knowing that Happy Terrill's light-based powers may prove invaluable. Together, the two heroes follow up leads with the Washington underworld, and a tip-off points them towards a cemetery where the Mist is rumoured to have a secret hide-out...

Arriving in the dead of night, the Ray's light powers are able to illuminate otherwise-invisible footprints made several hours earlier, which lead to an apparently-sealed crypt - and Batman's lock-picking skills are quickly able to gain them entry. Once inside, the two heroes confront the Mist's gang, who rapidly ingest new doses of the inviso-solution, and fade from sight - but as Batman had predicted, the Ray's powers are able to cast a glare so powerful that it means even the invisible criminals can be seen (once Batman dons a pair of goggles adapted from those worn by Dr Mid-Nite to ensure that he isn't blinded by his teammate's powers). The two heroes make short work of the invisible criminals - but the printing plates are nowhere to be found!

Batman's own tracking skills come to the fore, following a nearly-undetectable trail of dislodged objects, broken twigs and squashed grass, until he and Happy Terrill trap the still-unseen from of the Mist in a corner of the cemetery. The Ray's ultra-powerful light burst is then sufficient to expose the invisible criminal, trying to flee with the printing plates in his possession, but a gas-bomb hurled by Batman is enough to leave the villain choking, and a final one-two punch from the Gotham Guardian knowck him unconscious!

With the precious plates securely in their possession, the two heroes return them to the authorities, handing over the Mist and his accomplices to the FBI to serve their inevitable sentences. America's economy is safe once again - and the US can continue to battle the Axis menace!

Next issue - Batman joins forces one of his JSA team-mates!