Comics - The Brave and the Bold (1-5)

The Brave and the Bold (1-5)

-1-

As Hal Jordan and John Stewart fly through space, they split up so John can finish his patrol and Hal heads home. 145 miles above Earth, Hal finds a dead body. He immediately sends a message to Batman for his help. The victim appears to have died from a gunshot and his ring detects that no one has come or gone in that area of space since the victim died. Batman is able to correctly identify the victim's characteristic as he is currently looking at an identical body in the Batcave. It turns out that sixty-two similar corpses have been found at other places like Atlantis, the Daily Planet, and the Flash museum. It also seems that whatever happens to one body has similar effects on the others. Batman recognizes the casino logo on the victim's shirt and decides that he and Hal are taking a roadtrip to Vegas. Just then they are attacked by an alien being. As the beast is eventually defeated, two spectators appear to have wagered on who would be the one to defeat the beast.

As Bruce Wayne and Hal Jordan enter the casino, Bruce uses his charm and reputation to get information. They discover that the casino has recently had a new owner and that a murdered man was just found outside the front door.

Bruce and Hal make their way to the owner's office. Bruce discovers that the owner is Roulette, head of an underworld gambling syndicate. They change into their costumes as Roulette is trying to torch a book that won't burn. She is hysterical and determine to destroy it. She tells them that her boyfriend was trying to warn them. Aliens then arrive to take the book. They manage to save Roulette but the aliens also took the book. Roulette tells Batman that she knew they would lose to the Venturans. It was foretold in the book. The book turns out to be the Book of Destiny and that it contains ultimate knowledge.

-2-

As Hal Jordan and Supergirl fly through space, Kara is seemingly flirting with him. He keeps reminding himself, she's only seventeen. They are searching for the Book of Destiny that has been stolen. They arrive on the planet Ventura (which is basically one giant casino) as Batman follows a lead on Earth. It seems the planet has strict security measures and also don't like Green Lanterns' presence. Hal has to go undercover and wants Supergirl as backup.

On Earth, Batman and Blue Beetle are tracking down an alien assassin.

The thief will not have much time to use the Book before he is detected by security on Ventura. Supergirl continues with her flirting until Hal has to finally put his foot down. Supergirl appears hurt and takes off. Suddenly in the combat arena, she appears dressed as a little girl and is the challenger in the next fight. As Supergirl fights a huge creature with no problem, Hal checks out the wager data on that match. There is only one gambler betting on Supergirl because he "knows" the outcome. By the time Hal gets there, the gambler is already gone. Trying to make a get-away, he checks the book and sees himself get struck from behind. Another gambler liberates the book from him after he overheard Hal and Supergirl discussing it. It turns out this alien is in the Rannian Rebel Underground trying to get funds for the Rann-Thanagar War. He prepares to zeta-beam out of there so Hal and Supergirl have to take their fight to Rann. As Hal is "holding" the rebel, they beam out of there before Supergirl can grab hold of him. She is left there with no idea how to get to Rann or Earth. All the betters in the arena see her "S" logo and yell that she was a ringer in the fight. Things do not look too good for her.

-3-

It's Batman and Blue Beetle versus the Fatal Five in the team-up book to end all team-up books! Who's brought these Legion villains into the fray? The Lord of Time, who has pulled in assassins and villains from throughout the history of the DCU!

In the desert outside of El Paso, Texas, Batman and Blue Beetle are suddenly hit with a drastic change in weather. The temperature drops to twenty-five degrees fahrenheit below zero with extreme snow and wind. Blue Beetle blames himself for getting them into this situation. He begins arguing with his armor to get both of them out of there. With visibility reduced to nothing, Blue Beetle quickly loses site of Batman. With the wind, he can't even tell which way is up or down. Feeling the ground beneath him, he fires a big blast straight down, causing an avalanche. Flying around, he calls out to Batman. One of Batman's fists breaks the surface of the snow. As Beetle begins to dig him out, he asks Batman to "crack out the Bat-snowblower." The snow begins to melt and Batman is standing free. He didn't actually have a Bat-snowblower but a short-duration infrared ordnance from going against Mr. Freeze so often.

Blue Beetle warms up Batman with his armor and continues to apologize. Batman says it's okay. They were lucky that Batman was targeted and not Blue Beetle. The weapon that was fired at Batman alters probability to maximize the odds of a kill. Batman says he survived because it didn't take Blue Beetle's armor into account.

Blue Beetle tries tracking the energy signature of the weapon but his armor's tracking seems to be out of whack. He apologizes again saying he's not making excuses. Batman tells him to relax. Beetle is confused that Batman is being so nice to him.

Soon Batman tracks down an arms dealer that sells exotic weapons (that moved away from Gotham). As Batman tries to strong-arm him, Blue Beetle watches and comments to himself that he thinks he just peed himself seeing Batman in action. He then gets an idea as to where the weapon could be just as Batman threatens to start breaking some bones.

On Ventura, Supergirl is trying to get a ride to Raan. After Hal left, she has no idea how to get there or back to Earth. No one wants to help after she caused them all to lose money when they bet agaisnt her when she fought in the arena. When she mentions she can turn coal into diamonds, an alien says he knows of a "navigator" that can take her.

Lobo is seen bound in front of a firing squad. They shoot at him only to find that he is no longer there. Supergirl snatch him away at high speed. Lobo has no idea who she is until she flashes her S-symbol at him. It seems it is enough to buy her some credit for his help.

Outside of La Dama's estate, the local crimelord, Blue Beetle and Batman look in. Blue Beetle mentions that she makes it a point not to become too big. She doesn't want "unwanted attention." Blue Beetle has had some run-ins with her and knows that she's gathered some magical artifacts. Inside, Neferto is inside trying to sell the Haruspex weapon to her. Suddenly the clock and television start acting up. A doorway opens up and the Lord of Time arrives. He claims to have traveled hundreds of centuries to claim the Haruspex as his own.

Despite being surrounded by a roomful of La Dama's armed guards, the Lord of Time is not concerned. He has brought along the Fatal Five, the scourge of the 31st Century. The Fatal Five consists of Mano, Persuader, Emerald Empress, Tharok, and Validus. Neferto is aiming the Haruspex when he is hit in the head by a Batarang. Blue Beetle enters claiming that Superman, Wonder Woman, and Green Lantern are behind them so they should all just give up.

Batman runs outside after La Dama and Neferto. The Lord of Time manages to get the Haruspex as Batman begins fighting him. La Dama targets Batman but he advises her against it. Killing him would make her known to the world and she wouldn't be able to keep her quiet crimelord ways.

The Fatal Five bring their fight outside. La Dama hits Tharok with the Haruspex and he is encased in some sort of insulation material. The Lord of Time is unconscious and the Fatal Five are stranded. The cyborg Tharok gets the Haruspex in sight and heads towards La Dama and Neferto. She targets him with the Haruspex when Batman jumps in. With both targeted, there is a big flash as the weapon is discharged. Blue Beetle gets to his feet looking for Batman. He is astonished when he sees a half Batman, half Tharok merged into one.

-4-

A couple of easy riders head out on the highway…get ready for the most unlikely team of all: Supergirl and Lobo!

Batman and Tharok, now merged into one being thanks to the Haruspex, stand motionless over La Dama as they adjust to their new circumstance. The Tharok side attacks her but Batman resists. Blue Beetle tries to restrain them and has his armor runs scans on them. The armor tells him that both beings are fully there even though only half of each is seen. Before he can learn more, the Fatal Five attack from behind. They demand the Haruspex weapon be turned over to them so they can get it to the Lord of Time. They begin to attack when the weapon isn’t handed over immediately, but, to everyone’s surprise, Validus attacks his own team. Batman explains to Blue Beetle that while he controls Tharok, he controls Validus. Tharok resists Batman’s control and while they have their mental struggle, Blue Beetle takes the Haruspex and tries to look for an “undo” button. Tharok/Batman comes from behind him and tries to take the weapon. Tharok is in control. Blue Beetle does the only thing he can think of and fires the weapon at them again, resulting in Tharok/Batman and the Haruspex weapon to disappear. Over his shoulder, La Dama congratulates him on killing Batman. 

Elsewhere in space, Supergirl and Lobo are having an arm wrestling match in the middle of a bar. Lobo wins and decides to buy drinks for everyone in the room. Supergirl tells him that it’s time to leave but he won’t listen. When one of the patrons takes him up on his offer for drinks, she punches him through a wall, discouraging anyone else from taking up her time. As she and Lobo walk out of the bar they find themselves transported to what looks like a hedge maze. Supergirl tries to get out but when she goes anywhere other than the path she gets transported right back. Lobo takes the lead and uses his tracking abilities to find a way out. When they make it out they are greeted by a man in purple robes. He says he’s the guardian of the Book of Destiny and he needs their help. He tells him the tale of what happened to the Book and they listen. He had once thought that the book contained all that had been or ever would be but one day he found a page that had four men who were not visible to him. Further study showed him that these men who “were not there” were changing things, rewriting reality, all throughout the book. He decided that these men who had caused the damage were the only ones who could fix it so he tried to get it to them. Without the Book the guardian seems to no longer be completely “there”, so he doesn’t remember how the men were supposed to fix it. He does remember though that him passing on the Book gave the Lords of Luck a chance to take it. Supergirl tells him that they did get the book and the guardian tells her that not only must she get it back, she must deliver it to the four men he was talking about. The bad news is, he doesn’t know who they are. The good news is, Batman and Hal Jordan do (or will). 

Supergirl gets Lobo to give he a ride to where they need to go and while they ride, she tries to convince him that she should read it. He says she shouldn’t but she still wants to. When they get to Rann and Lobo kicks her off his bike, she tells him that she let him with the arm wrestling match. He flies off frustrated and unbelieving and when Supergirl flies into Rann airspace, she’s shot at. She looks around to see why and finds Adam Strange and Hal Jordan fighting off hundreds of Thanagarians. 

In an unknown place, Batman/Tharox awakens. The bodies of the Fatal Five are around them and they seem to be in a room with some pretty advanced technology. Before they can really do anything, the Legion of Superheroes appears and tells them they’re on lockdown.

-5-

All roads lead back to Earth for the final showdown over the Book of Destiny, whose possessor will have the knowledge of all that has ever been or will be! Every guest star involved will have the opportunity to glance inside the book, including Batman, Green Lantern, Supergirl, Blue Beetle, Lobo and more! 

This issue takes place before the JLA/JSA Lightning Saga.

sendspace   -   1     2     3     4      5

Other Comics: