Batman and Mera: The Brave And Bold That Never Was

I love Back Issue magazine and I pore over each new issue as soon as I get my hands on it. One of my favorite issues of BI was #7 (December 2004), a super teams theme issue that featured a wonderful article on The Brave and The Bold by BI editor Michael Eury. Page 16 featured a sidebar by Paul Levitz who wrote: “Here’s a nugget: In checking my records from my run as editor, I note there was one unpublished Bob Haney B&B script, a Batman and Mera story, probably written around 1979. I doubt if a copy survives anywhere, and it was never drawn, but it’s worth mentioning as a back issue that never was …” As a kid I just loved B&B. It was my second favorite series – my fav’ if Aquaman wasn’t being published that month! In 1979, I was 12 and I would have eagerly gobbled up a team-up between the Brave Dark Knight Detective and the Bold Queen of Atlantis! Unfortunately, as Mr. Levitz notes no Batman / Mera issue of B&B was ever published. But ever since I read that brief paragraph, I’ve been obsessed with The Brave and The Bold That Never Was. What was the story? Who was the villain? How did Batman and Mera find themselves working together? Where the heck was Aquaman?!?!? Last year I decided to turn that obsession into my new commission theme. I have been commissioning pieces featuring my boy Aquaman for a few years now and this was a chance to revisit some of my favorite artists with all new cockamamie requests. So, without further ado: Batman and Mera, The Brave And The Bold That Never Was!