tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post5205627770800481455..comments2024-03-19T10:41:35.976-05:00Comments on Bronze Age Babies: That Zany Bob Haney: The Brave and the Bold 102Doughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04248324005584963229noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-14922388643594169752020-10-02T14:06:56.316-05:002020-10-02T14:06:56.316-05:00I wonder if Barclayville was ever mentioned in a B...I wonder if Barclayville was ever mentioned in a Batman comic before or since? Probably not. Hard to believe Batman had not set foot in a ghetto section of Gotham City for years. Not like him. But this story has some echoes of exactly what is going on today, with Batman telling the police who come barging in to Barclayville to grab the Aquarians, "But you never checked it out--just came in here like it was D-Day and they were the enemy! ... you can bet your badges Commissioner Gordon's due for a hot lecture from yours truly about police methods in Barclayville!"Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01291645975861786201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-156460552978438562012-04-27T00:28:15.831-05:002012-04-27T00:28:15.831-05:00This issue had a lot going for it in my eyes, that...This issue had a lot going for it in my eyes, that hasn't been diminished by the passage of time.<br /><br />First off, though....Batman walks through the city in broad daylight...I don't get the problem with this. If he only came out at night, it'd be easy to be a criminal in Gotham - just operate during daylight hours! If it looks silly, well, the idea of a guy going around in a bat-themed long-underwear outfit is silly enough in reality; I'd have thought you either accept the idea whole, or don't bother with it in the first place.<br /><br />Now, for all its so-called Haney zaniness, this story has a lot of positive themes in it: community involvement in public affairs, concern about the legalities of vigilantism (which, without his badge is what Batman is), youth involvement in urban conservation (come on, that Wonder Girl has an interest in interior decor is a pretty minor quibble) - but most of all, the idea that issues can be addressed and hopefully resolved through civil disobedience, as opposed to fists and bat-gadgets...a fairly radical concept in a superhero book, you'd have to admit!<br /><br />For all his involvement, Batman's part boiled down to disarming Whitey...while the Aquarians, the local citizenry, managed to peacefully take matters into their own hands (and only came to blows defensively, and won).<br /><br />I can see from th4 othr responses that I'm very likely in the minority, but, well, I guess it's variety that keeps the world going around.<br /><br />(And I do look forward to more analyses of Haney/Aparo issues)B Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18016629838915185467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-32356432628187318322012-04-26T23:16:30.721-05:002012-04-26T23:16:30.721-05:00Hey, I think the Frank Robbins & Bob Brown duo...Hey, I think the Frank Robbins & Bob Brown duo is way overdue for reappraisal. I see insults heaved their way and can't help but wonder if the writers of said insults have even read those comics. The comics are great! In fact, I'll take those over O'Neil/Adams every time.<br /><br />Jim Aparo I slways enjoyed on Brave & Bold with Bob Haney, and on Batman & Outsiders with Mike Barr. He drew a great Metamorpho and Black Lightning! I'm still waiting on that TwoMorrows biography of the late, great Jim Aparo. <br /><br />I love Bob Haney too. That story where Hawk & Dove were grown up was really great. As for "continuity"...blech, it's used as handcuffs on creativity far too often just to appease a tiny clique of fans who want all the pieces to fit together even though they never have and never will. Consistency is where it's at!<br /><br />--Matt alias AnonymousAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-82713842748503382112012-04-26T20:46:22.931-05:002012-04-26T20:46:22.931-05:00Over time, Aparo's Batman has become my favori...Over time, Aparo's Batman has become my favorite, especially when he inked his own pencils. Even as a kid reading B&B (and World's Finest), I could pick out a Bob Haney story. Pretty offbeat stuff most of the time.<br /><br />DarpyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-36271087936120882952012-04-26T17:22:38.717-05:002012-04-26T17:22:38.717-05:00I love the Aparo hardcover as well! For me, it ha...I love the Aparo hardcover as well! For me, it has a couple more short-comings, though. The issues of Detective Comics that Jim drew should have been in this first volume, along with any of his cover art that featured Batman. Then it could have been the start of a truly definitive, chronological reprinting of Aparo's amazing work. If they include the 'Tec stuff in a future volume, they better reprint the entire "Bat-Murderer" story, even though Ernie Chan drew the last two chapters!Frank C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03434421103081936576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-67627281627606939052012-04-26T15:38:06.780-05:002012-04-26T15:38:06.780-05:00I was never the biggest Aparo fan. His 80s art doe...I was never the biggest Aparo fan. His 80s art doesn't really work for me. His stuff in the early to mid 70s was really good though and definitely worth owning even if the stories aren't up to snuff. I have almost all of the Adventure Comics Spectre stories that he did.<br /><br />Doug, you're right: It is amazing how well Aparo's and Adams' work flow together. I never thought of them as having the same style, but the effect here is kind of seemless. The inking, perhaps?<br /><br />As far as Haney goes, yeah, his plots were often kooky (not to mention throwing continuity to the wind) but I have to say I admire the way the way he commits himself to his improbable premises. Haney was crazy but he wasn't a hack and I'll take unpredictability over predictability anytime.Inkstained Wretchnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-1274883848043214642012-04-26T14:08:05.298-05:002012-04-26T14:08:05.298-05:00Not to get technical, but plenty of cities have Sh...Not to get technical, but plenty of cities have Sheriffs. My city has one, they mainly manage jails, bailiffs work for the City Sheriff. Even New York has a Sheriff:<br /><br />http://www.nyc.gov/html/dof/html/services/services_enforcement.shtml<br /><br />But yeah, I don't think City Sheriffs would "deputize" anyone like they do in this story. But we are talking about a city that only exists in the DC Universe, so Haney could say that. <br /><br />I'm guessing Haney's knowledge of the justice system came from old movies.J.A. Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15800901321134394272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-43639052170495350112012-04-26T13:11:44.399-05:002012-04-26T13:11:44.399-05:00I love this art by Aparo, and the comparison with ...I love this art by Aparo, and the comparison with Adams is fascinating. Aparo certainly can hold his own against Adams in this era, and perhaps surpasses him. <br /><br />I prefer Haney's writing in this stretch of B+B to just about any comic ever--and that's not nostalgia talking, as I read these stories for the first time about 4 years ago when the Showcase volume came out. Batman walking down the street in daytime, commenting on the pretty girls--yes!! Haney is a breath of fresh air, and there's a driving quality to his dialogue and writing that keeps the quirkiness in check. Blazes!! Batman is fiery but not grim.<br /><br />I also like the social commentary, and again Aparo's gritty art and Haney's sharp dialogue propel things along, so it doesn't get overly sentimental as perhaps the GL/GA series did. I wish they had done a few more issues like this, but I love the rest from #98 to about 130. I was too young to know the difference between 1968 and '72, so to me it's all the hippie era.<br /><br />The coloring here looks not bad, but as I said before I prefer the B+W version for Aparo. He really puts in a lot of detail and shading and texturing that perfectly balances out in B+W. While I generally like the bright colors of comics in that era, Aparo is one of the few who could benefit from a really excellent modern colorist, who could catch the realism and subtleties in his work. A more muted palette would work better.<br /><br />Thanks for the review! Please do more B+B, even if we disagree!Garettnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-7676278558722918622012-04-26T13:07:25.707-05:002012-04-26T13:07:25.707-05:00AFAIK, "sheriffs operate in the counties, not...AFAIK, "sheriffs operate in the counties, not the cities" everywhere IRL. But that's a common mistake in fiction, and writers more conscientious than Haney have made it. Even serious "adult" Westerns (Gunsmoke, Bonanza, and Have Gun, Will Travel) sometimes had episodes that mentioned the "town sheriff" or "sheriff of the town." And in some Andy Griffith Show episodes, the mayor seemed to think he was the sheriff's boss.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-63374815292829221762012-04-26T12:49:51.966-05:002012-04-26T12:49:51.966-05:00Blazes! It's Bob Haney! Looks he's been wa...Blazes! It's Bob Haney! Looks he's been watching the Mod Squad again. I have to say, I agree with every single criticism on Haney's writing here. He excelled at goofy dialogue and insane plot twists. Still, he was really good at telling a fast-paced story with twists and turns that swept you up in it's momentum. You just had to check your head at the door sometimes.<br /><br />I do think that Aparo's art contributed a lot to making Haney's stories flow better. I remember reading this issue as a kid, and Aparo's art actually sold me on that ludicrous panel with Batman walking down the street in broad daylight. Actually, Adams & Cardy worked well with Haney as well. Ever check out any of the older ones with Bob Brown's art? Not so good.<br /><br />David_B, the B & B issues I would recommend are 106-116. That's the high point of the series. Most of them are 100-page super spectaculars too. 111, 113, 115, and 116 are particularly good. But keep in mind, they're still firmly in the Zaney-Haney-verse. <br /><br />James ChattertonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-76135478753699795172012-04-26T09:58:38.715-05:002012-04-26T09:58:38.715-05:00The art is clear and functional and helps tell the...The art is clear and functional and helps tell the story...BUT, why is everyone also speaking in character...Where's Bendis when you need him!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-89226791174869079992012-04-26T09:28:44.200-05:002012-04-26T09:28:44.200-05:00Batman should have just beat the poop out of those...Batman should have just beat the poop out of those hippies and let the bulldozers raze that heckhole to the ground. Batman's gone soft! And why isn't the Joker there to murder someone and permanently paralyze a second-tier hero like Kid Flash? What kind of story is this?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5293155946761960913.post-71873974987850007502012-04-26T07:48:10.266-05:002012-04-26T07:48:10.266-05:00One comment I made yesterday referred to how my vi...One comment I made yesterday referred to how my vintage comic expenditures have gone up since visiting BAB; likewise, it's informed reviews have saved me a good chunk as well. My humble thanks to all, especially Doug and Karen.<br /><br />A big Silver Age Titans fan, I picked up both BB 83 and 94 for their covers and some good Adams/Cardy art. I like Aparo in small doses, but his art gets tiring quickly. I had plans to track this issue down, but I knew a lot of B&B stories seemed hit/miss around this period.<br /><br />The Titans shown here are simply cover eye-candy.. You can almost here the planning discussion, 'Hey, urban plight? Teens..? Just throw the Titans at them, they brighten up the cover, and kids still like seeing Batman and Robin together, like in the old days.' It was probably a ploy to help the ailing Titans title as well to stave off cancellation.<br /><br />Like in B&B 94, it was Bats squaring off with the topical hippy movement; at least then you had Lilith playing a more key role in tracking down a city bomb in midst a wonky tear-jerker story. B&B 83 probably comes off the best of the Batman-Titans trio, being more a Bruce Wayne story with Titans involved because of Robin's wranglings with a plotting 'new ward' at Wayne Manor (and not to forget, gorgeous Adams art..)<br /><br />But as mentioned in this review, you could have simply thrown Aquaman or Green Arrow in there and there wouldn't have made much difference. Great review, all.david_bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00218727673816200051noreply@blogger.com