DCU Comic Book Reviews

The Brave And The Bold #29

Lost Stories Of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

January 2010

Written by J. Michael Straczynski

Pencils by Jesus Saiz

Inks by Jesus Saiz

Cover by Jesus Saiz

Synopsis

As a child, Batman recalls how his father would let him stay up late at night to watch horror movies, including Frankenstein.  Batman recalls a story in which a tailor’s dummy, similar to Frankenstein, was brought to life in the 60s.  Its name was Brother Power the Geek.  Now, it has emerged in Gotham City.  Batman confronts it.  However, he realizes that he can’t do much for Brother Power, who walks around the streets in a daze.  Over time, Brother Power patrols the streets, occasionally helping out people.  Meanwhile, Batman discovers Brother Power emerged from a tailor shop that caught fire.  Other buildings in the area had recently burned down.  So, Batman sets up a security system to catch the arsonist.  It works.  Caught in the fire are a young couple and their family.  Batman rushes to save them.  Brother Power helps, as well, but catches fire.  There, he dies, but will one day be reborn.

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

“Sometimes I get so caught up in the world of mega-crime and super-powered nutbars…”

I am amazed that Straczynski can tackle so many ideas within a 22-page comic.  This both a compliment and a criticism of this issue.  There is a lot going on, but the plot is thin.  In contrast, the story is very dense and detailed, with a lot of ideas filling the edges of the narrative to the point where it might be too much.  Credit must go to Straczynski, who handles the story and manages to craft an issue that comes together to create a good reading experience.  I liked the issue and was pleased with it, but after I read it again and worked on the synopsis, getting deeper into the themes and ideas that make up the story, I don’t think Straczynski successfully pulls off everything he wants to do.  There are some ideas that either fall flat (the comparison of the main characters as monsters) or come across as a little heavy handed (the change in society since the 60s).  Part of the problem is that among the ideas that Straczynski wants to get across, he also needs to inform the reader of the history of Brother Power.  Straczynski does a good job with the myriad exposition, but it is still a good part of the story.  In fact, much of the issue is narration from Batman as he tells us what is going on.  It is less narrative story and more of a character telling us a story, if you can understand the difference.  Ultimately, this was a good issue, but it doesn’t quite come together in way that does his ideas any justice. 

I love the meta-textual comment about characters returning from the dead.  Straczynski was talking about movie monsters (how many Frankenstein movies have there been) in relation to Brother Power coming back, but it also works for comic book characters.  Like Bruce Wayne who was “killed” and will soon be returning to life.

Comic Connection

Brother Power the Geek first appeared in, what else, Brother Power the Geek, issue #1 (October 1968).  It lasted two issues.  There was also a one-shot in 1993, published via the Vertigo line of comics.

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