BRONZE AGE MINUTE: The Brave & the Bold #181

DC; December 1981
Cover by Jim Aparo

Title: “Time, See What’s Become of Me …”
Synopsis: Batman teams with Dove to rescue Hawk, who is in trouble following the death of a drug dealer’s son.

Writer: Alan Brennert
Penciler: Jim Aparo
Inker: Aparo

Review: Alan Brennert pens a suitably subtle tale (well, as subtle as can be expected given the costumed superheroes and the deus ex machina device that gave Hawk and Dove their powers) that says goodbye to a pair of characters – and an entire decade. Jim Aparo provides excellent support on art.

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Title: “Heartbreak!”
Synopsis: Nemesis infiltrates the estate of a member of The Council in an effort to have a heart-stimulator device removed.

Writer: Cary Burkett
Penciler: Dan Spiegle
Inker: Spiegle

Review: Nemesis continues to be an interesting concept that doesn’t quite work in execution. Dan Spiegle’s art is accomplished but dated.

Grade (for the whole issue): B+

Cool factor: Artistically, it’s great fun to see Jim Aparo playing in Steve Ditko’s toy box. Oh, and Batman riding around in the passenger seat of Hawk’s VW Bug. How could that not be cool?

Notable: Alan Brennert would go on to become an Emmy-winning writer for television.

Character quotable: “Now … does someone talk … or does the little lady get hurt?” – The Hawk, saint of a fella.

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