Classic Comic Compendium: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD

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It’s weird thinking that it’s almost been ten years since DC’s Rebirth initiative, reshuffling the continuity to a version that incorporated the post-Crisis world back into what was rebooted in the New 52. That latter event also coming up now on 15 years. I’ll probably revisit both over the course of next year, but for now I wanted to focus on what spun out of Wonder Woman. As part of Rebirth, the relaunched Wonder Woman title was helmed by Greg Rucka, Liam Sharp, and Nicola Scott. The two artists alternated issues between time periods, Sharp in the present, Scott in the past. I don’t think it’s controversial to say it was one of the best comics in the re-reboot.

But Rebirth is more of a Spring thing, and the weather here now is cold. Time to sit by the fire and reminisce maybe about lost things. Or fables of things that never were but might have been. Lore and legends. Of magic. And that’s what Sharp worked out of his time on Wonder Woman, moving on to craft his own timeless tale.

“It is widely known that if you wish to make the gods laugh…make a plan!”

The Brave and The Bold: Batman and Wonder Woman by Sharp, Romulo Fajardo Jr., and A Larger World’s Troy Peteri is at first a murder mystery. Bringing two of DC’s modern pantheon into a world populated by the gods and monsters of Irish and Celtic mythology. Wonder Woman and Batman are tasked by Cernunnos to solve the murder of the king, Elatha, and ease the tension between the conflicted factions of fairie folk. Only to discover something much deeper.

It’s fascinating how Sharp weaves the fables and legends of Celtic mythology into the story, from the characters and setting of Tir Na Nog to the tapestry of paintings meant to keep the stories alive to the people trapped in the fabled lands. It’s an interesting way to present more of the backstory and exposition in a natural, entertaining way. There’s a fatalism, and a sadness, of the people that they’re almost becoming echoes of what they used to be when humans still believed and loved them.

And the art is drop dead gorgeous. Over the past ten years, Sharp’s artwork has been on a completely different level. He was always good, now he’s transcendent. Wonder Woman. The Green Lantern. Starhenge. Batman: Reptilian. Savage Sword of Conan. Just incredible work. The detail, character designs, page designs and layouts, pacing, and overall storytelling are amazing. Here we get sheer beauty on the pages, befitting a magical, mythical world.

Coupled with the sublime colour work of Romulo Fajardo Jr. here. And a few unique dialogue fonts from Troy Peteri, one which gives an important clue as to the nature of one of the characters. That latter bit being something I feel makes this mystery more compelling. The story does indeed leave clues throughout as to what is going on, such that you don’t feel cheated with the reveal. And encourages you to read it again with newfound context.

“…what other destiny could there be for us? A gradual decline toward complete forgetfulness, lost in a morass of moldering grandeur, clinging to tired dreams of forgotten conquest and former glory? Freedom, maybe? Or one last, great battle?”

The Brave and The Bold: Batman and Wonder Woman by Sharp, Fajardo, and Peteri is rich in storytelling and myth-making. It blends the old and new in inventive, beautiful, and haunting ways that will enthrall you while you read, paying rich homage to the folklore. It’s the perfect thing to read curled up next to a fireplace on a cold winter night.

Maybe keep a bit of iron nearby though in case something comes through.