Siskoid and Chris Franklin’s coverage of The Brave and the Bold continues with issue #68 (November 1966) by Bob Haney, Mike Sekowsky and Mike Esposito, starring Batman and Metamorpho! It’s “Alias the Bat-Hulk!”.
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I’m not even sure my beloved Bob Dylan himself could write the word “Metamorpho” into a song and make it sound catchy. Whoever wrote that earworm probably wrote TV jingles.
Speaking of talented Bobs, while Bob Smith was the perfect inker for Ramona Fradon, I think Charles Paris might have been an even better match. His smooth, clean ink line was so perfect for her pencils.
Speaking of Ramona Fradon, its a testament to her character that she went out of her way to give credit for Metamorpho’s creation to George Kashdan. GIVING credit to others is not something we often hear from comics creators.
In honor of Cindy’s bday, the day I am writing this, I am not going to be a pedantic nerd and point out that it was in JLA #42 that Metamorpho said no to the JLA, not in JLA #44 as Chris stated.
Great timing as I just recently started reading the Element Man’s origin and early adventures in DC FINEST METAMORPHO. How many times did he team up with Batman in B&B? Seems like half a dozen at least.
It’s four times, five if you count the Outsiders preview in issue #200.
You know, if you let Doomsday Clock’s nonsense about the Orb of Ra and super-soldier projects stand, you also have to lose one of the best scenes DC has ever published – the death of Element Girl in Sandman #20, where Death helps a distraught Urania literally pray to Ra to let her finally die. They’ve apparently meddled with that tale since then but if so it didn’t really stick, but it should be left well alone (even by Gaiman himself) and you really can’t make it work if Ra isn’t Ra.
The same story also goes a long way to explain why Rex just will not stay “dead” no matter what. If Urania couldn’t destroy herself after multiple attempts to do so, nothing short of a deity is going to bump off Rex either.
RIddler made part a of super formula? The riddler? I think they outsorced it doctor double X
Although there must be writers that think Riddler is WAY smarter than I do. One of the few things i’ve done with Meta AI is ask it write “Hulk vs Riddler. Ai thinks riddler can cure the hulk!
It’s a small thing, but thank you so much for mentioning the inconsistency in reversing/ignoring the stupid Doomsday Clock retcon for Metamorpho while failing to do so for Firestorm. I am SO annoyed that the unforgivable changes to Martin Stein’s character are still in current continuity. He’s simply no longer the character I once loved.
It did my heart good to hear the origin of the “does the guest star know Batman’s secret identity” segment. The Outsiders letters page controversy was epic, between the various writers outrage, and Barr’s growing impatience with it while not letting it go himself as he was also editor of the series and could have, oh I don’t know, stopped printing the letters just to respond to them! The future of social media played out month-by-month in those comics, and it was riveting!
It’s my first time reading this issue, and it’s a hoot! I can’t think what I would add, such a bizarre Marvel spoof-slash-movie promo. Oh, well I am glad that Stagg’s goons aren’t wearing white hoods like they do in the 80s. Yikes!
I agree the Batman/Hulk Amalgam was a missed opportunity, especially in light of their crossover comic. Plus civilian identity of Robert Bruce Banner-Wayne just rolls off the tongue. (Ok, maybe not.)
For a Metamorpho team-up, has he ever had a proper one with Firestorm? They have the similar powers, but one changes other things, and one changes himself. I tend towards “power swapping” stories, so imagine Ronnie getting Metamorphed, while Rex is merged with Prof Stein. Or! Stein is Metamorphed, leaving Ronnie being consulted by Rex but constantly arguing because they’re too much alike.
Going further afield, how about E-Man? That would have the added fun of Sapphire teaming up with Nova Kane.
For me I’m gonna go way out side the box .
And have Rex . Team up with the original three stooges. And Adam west . To fight Cesar Romero.who the joker has hit on the head and thinks he’s joker as well and has his own harley Quinn . While the real joker and Harley sit in prison and watch . There counter parts battle these strange heroes .
Maybe you could get a Weird Al version of that Metamorpho song. Team old Rex up with the Fantastic Four against Grodd and maybe Solomon Grundy about time Metamorpho and Ben Grimm compared notes.
A million points to this story for bringing back the Flying Batcave – did no one make a toy of this, Chris? Just imagine…
Mind blown moment – Metamorpho’s quadrants represent the four elements? Had anyone heard this previously? I still can’t see it.
Top episode!
Having just started a rewatch of the Adam West Burt Ward Batman show, I’m in the perfect mindset to really enjoy a wacky issue like this. Metamorpho is a character that I seem to enjoy no matter the type of story. Does anyone else think this story would be better if Scooby and the gang were somehow involved? Thanks for the entertaining episode.