When I first began doing these blog posts looking back at comics I bought 50 years ago, I was only doing them every other month so I missed some stuff I bought back when I was a kid and would've liked to write about.
So I'm going to go back more than 50 years to post about certain books I overlooked in previous posts.
Starting with Brave & The Bold#124 from October 1975, "Small War of the Super Rifles" by writer Bob Haney, artist Jim Aparo and editor Murray Boltinioff.
The issue co-stars Batman and Sgt. Rock.... along with writer Bob Haney, artist Jim Aparo and editor Murray Boltinoff.
Say what now?
Brave & The Bold#124 is one really weird comic.
And it starts right on the cover.
A hooded gunman threatens Jim Aparo to draw Batman and Sgt. Rock getting killed?
What's that all about?
Let's find out.
When trying to track down a group of terrorists call The Thousand, Batman finds that they are using a new kind of high power automatic rifle.
The Batman's investigation of The Thousand crosses paths with Sgt. Rock who is also on their trail. Seems the terrorists got their hads on the M-76, a top secret super rifle developed by the U.S. military.
Some background: Sgt. Rock was the premier star of DC's war comics. Along with the Unknown Soldier, the Haunted Tank, the Losers and others, Sgt. Rock and his combat happy joes of Easy Company fought Nazis in World War II.
Rock and Easy Company were part of G.I. Robot's back story the DC animated series, Creature Commandos.
Just as Marvel's Nick Fury went from WWII Nazi bashing to modern day Commie crushing super spy, DC tried to transform Sgt. Rock into a modern day spy guy.
While Batman and Sgt. Rock ponder their next move, let's check in with another of this issue's guest stars...
Artist Jim Aparo?
Jim Aparo manages to escape from the terrorists. He checks in with writer Bob Haney and editor Murray Boltinoff who feed him the script.
Jim Aparo hides out in a friend's lighthouse to continue drawing the story to keep Batman & Rock on the trail of the Thousand and out of danger.
The Thousand are hot on Jim Aparo's trail. And now Bob and Murray are in danger.
Who knew making comics books was such dangerous work?
Meanwhile Batman and Sgt. Rock continue their quest to stop the Thousand and recover the stolen super rifles, unaware of the omniscient pencil of fate that guides them on their way.
And RESULT! Batman and Rock defeat the terrorists.
And save Jim Aparo's life who in turn assures them of their victory as he finishes drawing their story.
OK, did any of THAT make sense?
So are Batman and Sgt. Rock merely pawns to the machinations of Bob Hanety, Jim Aparo and Murray Boltinoff?
What about the Thousand? How are they able to act independly of these artistic creators?
Are Bob, Jim and Murray... gods?
Am I thinking about this too much?
There are NO such answers to be found in whatever Bob Haney was writing in Brave & The Bold#124. Which was par for the course of Haney who never let a silly little thing like logic get in the way of an idea.
The plot machination of Bob, Jim and Murray actively guiding our heroes is such utter nonsense. But it does elevate a somewhat pedestrian tale of Batman & <insert guest star> fighting a <insert criminal organization>.
Which is why Brave & The Bold#124 is a weird but fondly recalled comic book memory.
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| Self caricature of Jim Aparo |
Next week, Comic Book Retro 50 journeys back to June 1976.
What comic books did a young Dave-El purchase that month?
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