Fun for the whole family
As far as first issues go, it doesn't get much better than this. To kickstart the 2007 relaunch of DC's popular Brave and the Bold title, Mark Waid sends Batman and Green Lantern on the trail of an intergalactic murder mystery. Like any good team-up book, the interaction between the two main characters is at the heart of the story and Waid really nails the dynamic between Hal and Bruce. Unlike other writers who choose to put the two heroes at odds, Waid keeps the world's greatest detective and the power ring-slinger on friendly terms and highlights their different personalities through solid characterization rather than agressive bickering. Waid captures the voice of both characters perfectly. Batman's brief and focused while Hal is wise-cracking and taking more risks.The contrast between the two heroes shines near the middle of the story when they go investigate a casino in their civilian identities and spend some time gambling.
The whole issue has a very fun "retro, classic DC" feel to it that is made all that much better by great artwork from the legendary George Perez. Perez draws the hell out of this book and makes his heroes look nothing short of iconic. The opening fight scene is a lot of fun and makes brilliant use of the Batcave's contents. The old-school, kid-friendly tone of the issue a is welcome change of pace from the more grim and gritty stuff DC has been doing in recent years.
Unlike previous Brave and the Bold volumes, Mark Waid doesn't seem to be going for "done in one" stories, but this is hardly a problem here as the storyline is intriguing enough to last for multiple issues and showcase different team-ups. Looking forward to reading more from this series.
