Brave and the Bold 10 with Superman, Silent Knight, Aquaman, and Teen Titans

The Brave and the Bold 10
  April 2008

"Megistusss!"


Cover: Perez and Smith
Storytellers: Mark Waid & George Perez
Inks: Bob Wiacek
Colors: Tom  Smith
Lettering: Rob Leigh
Editor: Joey Cavalieri
 Assistant Editor: Stephanie Buscema
Superman created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster
Aquaman created by Paul Norris
22 pages
$2.99
Story and art © DC Comics

Characters: Superman and Silent Knight / Brian Kent.  Aquaman and Teen Titans: Robin, Kid Flash, Aqualad, Wonder Girl.  Challengers: Ace Morgan, June Robbins, Rocky Davis, Red Ryan, Prof Haley.  The Warlock of Ys.  Sir Oswald Bane and villagers.  Mera.  Oceanus.  Metamorpho.  Cameos: JLA.

Synopsis: The mysterious Megistus pops up as a paper golem, tries to steal a sacred eye, and possesses a power-mad villain.  Challengers, Superman, and others thwart Megistus - for now.




Continuing from last issue (Brave and the Bold 9)...

In Challenger Mountain, the Book of Destiny (wrapped around the Warlock of Ys), rears as a terrifying paper-golem bellowing "Megistusss!"


Challengers vs Megistus as a Paper Golem


Ace is out cold.  June is being strangled.  Rocky asks, "What the heck are we looking at, Prof?"

"The Book of Destiny.  Everything past, present, and future - it's come alive!"

Rocky tries a punch.  "Ha!  Who says you can't fight history?"  Then, "You got any bright ideas?"  And reflects, "Lissen t' me.  Who 'm I talking to?"

Running, Prof yells into his headset for Red to fire up the Galloper.  And tells Rocky to make sure it follows.  "Covered!" Rocky gulps, as the golem pounds behind.


In the cockpit, Red takes a look.  "Yow!  Who let in Multi-Man?"

"Just fire the damned engines!"

Red argues, of course.  "It's not like starting a Volvo!  The turbines need alignment!  The preignition needs prep -"

"FIRE!"

VOOOOOM!


The Galloping Gizmo vs Megistus the Paper Golem


The paper-golem is blasted back to individual pages that flutter lightly to earth.  Lying in the center is The Warlock of Ys.  June was reading his story (Brave and Bold 9).


The Warlock of Ys revealed


At least they're learning something.  According to loose pages full of clues, Megistus was/is an ancient alchemist who's stealing people and things of great transformative power.  Prof adds, "As if the book has been subtly guiding us towards him and his goals."

Especially to one page that fell in his hand.  (We don't see it.)  The Challengers are shocked.  "If Megistus gets his hands on THAT... then it's game over!"

And the team blasts off in the Galloper.  "Go, go, go!"


As they fly, another page reveals the time Superman met the Silent Knight in the Middle Ages...

Superman, sword and S-shield in hand, challenges knights until the Silent Knight comes out to battle.  (As seen on the cover.)  Actually, he was sent by Merlin to enlist the SK to guide him through the Forest Perilous.  Magic restricts Supe's abilities.  They seek the Golden Eye of Effron before a rival magician can steal it for Megistus.  An ice dragon wears the eye in a frozen lake.  Superman is magically chilled, but heat-visions the SK, who slays the dragon.  Superman begins to fade out, but asks the boy's name, in case they meet again.  "Brian.  Brian Kent."


Another leaf, another story....

On the bottom of the Atlantic, back when Aquaman married Mera, Aqualad was thrilled his "best friends" came to the wedding.  The TTs are surprised, since they've only met, like, for one case.  Hurt, Aqualad swims off.  The TTs feel like jerks and follow.  (As seen on the cover.)

Ahead, Aqualad is ambushed by Oceanus (possessed by Megistus) for "postcognitive" abilities - the power to see the past - that Aqualad doesn't even know he has, but Megistus wants.  Aquaman and the TTs spoil the kidnapping.   But Oceanus pleads for help.  "I was under his power!"  So much that seeing awful red visions blows his brain.  He's dead.

Sobered, and prodded by Wonder Girl - "Hera!  Are all boys this dumb?" - the TTs start over as friends.


Challengers arrive at Edwards AF Base, wrecked


Back in the now...

The Challs land "at what used to be Edwards Air Force Base".  It's devastated.  Pilots are scattered like leaves, barely alive.

But Prof ducks into a locker room. "This makes no sense!"  Why trash the base "only to abandon the only thing he was after?" 

Green Lantern's power battery!  "A direct conduit to the most potent energy source in the universe."  Why leave it behind?

A face leers from the battery and bursts out!  "Who said he did?"  It's Metamorpho, possessed by Megistus!


Metamorpho possessed by Megistus!



Comments

It's wonderful how Waid and Pérez, as the Old Guard, are mining Silver Age stories to give us new ones.  And look at how stuffed the comic is with guest stars and villains!  God bless them!

More next issue...