Batman and Swamp Thing

"Hour of the Beast"

This Bob Haney/Jim Aparo collaboration teams up Batman with Swamp Thing. And it’s one of the crummiest Haney tales for this title in some time. The story isn’t worth recapping other than to report that Batman and Swamp Thing fight a vaguely defined menace with no explanation for existing, never confront the actual bad guy responsible for the menace – who is never mentioned by name and has no rationale for having created the menace. And the heroes deal with another guy who is an adversary turned ally, but without the requisite build-up and drama to make me care about the guy’s change of heart. It’s a mess.

My love for the Whirly Bat is well known in these parts. As I’ve been reading the Brave & Bolds I’ve been wondering when the last appearance of this fine flying machine would be. This must have been it, because I don’t recall seeing it in any subsequent issues and because with a “splanng!” the Whirly Bat makes the ultimate sacrifice in this issue.

Story: Bob Haney
Art: Jim Aparo
18 pages