SYNOPSIS: Zatanna and Bat-Mite’s unexpected history is revealed in a time-hopping feature story from Ty Templeton! Batman awakens to find himself with a tattoo…but why is it spreading? Find out in this thrilling final issue!
It’s the end of the road for The Brave and The Bold! Does it go out with a bang or a whimper?
Opening up the issue is a rather unorthodox story written and drawn by Ty Templeton, no stranger to bringing an animated Batman to comic pages.
“The Price” is a clever way to tell an origin story of Bat-Mite’s fandom of Batman and the secret role Zatanna may have played in it.
Cleverly told in reverse, a nice tip of the hat to how Zatanna casts spells, Templeton takes readers through several Bat eras, adapting his visuals to fit. What follows is a fun romp through DC history that has a touch of pathos as well, revealing the cost of magic.
Zatanna’s voice rings true as she narrates, adding just a touch of somberness to counteract the outrageousness of Bat-Mite’s antics. If you hear Paul Reubens’ voice as you read the Imp’s dialogue, I don’t blame you, I did, too. He looks straight out of the cartoon version of this title’s namesake, not the grittier take from “Batman: RIP”.
This was definitely a fun tour through the DCU (or is this the Timmverse?) with lots of winks and nods running in tandem with a meditation on responsibility and sacrifice. This was a job well done by Templeton!
The second and final Batman story in this issue, “The Tattoo”, was written and drawn once again by one person, Di Meo, who also provides the cover.
What starts with a puzzled Bruce Wayne waking up with a mysterious tattoo devolves into a tale of paranoia as more and more begin to spread across his body!
At first, I felt a bit critical of how Bruce shrugged off the first one. Why would he not be concerned that someone broke into his home with no evidence? Then I told myself to not rush to judgment and let the story play out. As things began to escalate it was clear I had jumped the gun.
Di Meo brings his dazzling art, complete with his trademark color palette. While we do get some stunning cityscapes and a haunting look at Wayne Manor, the best part of the visuals was the creativity of the tattoos and what they represented. They were both unique and fun, reflecting so much of the struggles Batman has had in his time under the cowl.
The resolution was apt. Alfred is always a welcome presence, one I always appreciate seeing in a book like this that is free from the restraints of continuity. Di Meo looks like he had fun bringing this tale to life!
And that’s all folks! Batman: The Brave and The Bold has reached its conclusion yet again. While I still haven’t gotten around to reading any of the non-Batman stories, what tales of the Dark Knight I did consume were usually good, if not excellent. This book started plagued with some scheduling issues, but told a lot of varied and fun stories, both as the main entree and in some Batman: Black & White backups. It was always a welcome glimpse into different creators and for that, it will be missed. – Javier E. Trujillo
