Brave and the Bold: Batman and Wonder Woman (Comics) | Review

Team-up books live or die on chemistry. Throw two heroes together and you get filler. The Brave and the Bold: Batman and Wonder Woman understands this. Writer/artist Liam Sharp (Aliens: Fast Track to Heaven, Batman: Reptilian) crafts a murder mystery where Batman's skills and Diana's diplomatic grace are essential for survival.

This 2018 six-issue miniseries drops Batman into Irish mythology, a realm where logic bends and magic rules. No forensics. No Batcomputer analysis. Just ancient feuds, godlike beings and a conspiracy threatening to tear open the barrier between worlds.

What this makes clear is Batman works best when stripped of his usual advantages. Diana thrives in Tir Na Nog because she understands divine machinations. Bruce struggles because his tools are useless against enchantments. Watching him adapt where deduction won't solve the case creates tension Batman stories never attempt.

The story opens in Tir Na Nog, the mythical Irish land of eternal youth. Two ancient races– the Tuatha De Danann and the Fomorians– have coexisted in tense imprisonment for centuries. Cernunnos desperately tries maintaining peace but hatred runs deep and war seems inevitable.

Meanwhile, residents of Gotham's Irish Quarter fall into trances, paralyzed by visions of monstrous creatures. Batman investigates but even he isn't immune– the Dark Knight barely escapes with his sanity intact. These aren't hallucinations. Something from Tir Na Nog is bleeding into Gotham and Bruce can't explain it.

Cernunnos interrupts Diana and Steve Trevor's Antarctic getaway, begging for help. When Diana arrives in Tir Na Nog, King Elatha of the Fomorians lies dead. Captain Furf demands execution of the accused. Diana intervenes, insisting on proper investigation.

She realizes this isn't just murder– it's an assassination designed to ignite war. One problem: investigating gods requires more than Amazon strength. She needs a detective. Batman arrives in Tir Na Nog wearing a fur-collared cloak that somehow makes him look more intimidating. He immediately starts analyzing the crime scene.

The investigation uncovers uncomfortable truths. King McCool and Captain Furf both harbor ambitions beyond peacekeeping. These aren't heroes and villains but political figures who might exploit crisis. Batman and Wonder Woman explore Tir Na Nog, investigating leads.

During the journey, Bruce shares a story about an Irish nanny who told him Celtic folklore as a child. That memory becomes crucial– faerie folk follow rules and understanding those rules gives Batman the edge he needs. Diana watches him adapt in real-time, impressed by his flexibility despite operating in unfamiliar territory.

The twist lands hard: Cernunnos himself is the target. King Elatha's murder was meant to distract from a conspiracy– someone wants the barrier between worlds to collapse. Ancient horrors will flood Earth. Gotham's Irish Quarter experiences the first breaches.

The culprit is revealed as a faction within the Danann who believe imprisonment in Tir Na Nog is intolerable and unjust. They're willing to destroy the entire realm and invade Earth rather than continue existing in isolation. It's terrorism born from desperation and Sharp doesn't paint them as purely evil– just desperate and dangerous.

The climax involves Batman and Wonder Woman defending Cernunnos while the two faerie races clash in full battle. Cernunnos is killed during the conflict, sacrificing himself to maintain the barrier. His death devastates Diana, who sees in him the same desire for peace.

The series concludes with Cernunnos reborn as a horned child, a symbol of renewal matching Celtic mythology's cyclical nature. Batman returns to Gotham, having gained respect for threats beyond his usual scope. Diana remains behind briefly, ensuring Tir Na Nog stabilizes. Their partnership deepened through mutual respect.

The Brave and the Bold exists as a standalone story within DC continuity, set during the Rebirth era. This feels like a spiritual continuation of Sharp's previous Wonder Woman work. It doesn't connect to future storylines, making it perfect for readers wanting complete narrative.

Liam Sharp's artwork is the series' defining feature. His panels resemble illuminated manuscripts– dense with detail, layered with Celtic knotwork and textured like ancient tapestries. Every page demands attention. Tir Na Nog looks like it's existed for millennia because Sharp renders decay and erosion on surfaces.

His character designs blend superhero aesthetics with mythological grandeur. Wonder Woman's armor incorporates Celtic patterns. Batman's fur-collared cloak transforms him into a medieval warrior. The faerie folk have cultural specificity rooted in actual Irish mythology.

Colorist Romulo Fajardo Jr. deserves equal praise. He uses watercolor techniques for flashback sequences, creating distinction between past and present. Tir Na Nog is rendered in earthy tones– greens, browns, golds. Gotham's Irish Quarter uses muted blues. When magic appears, Fajardo shifts to luminescent purples and blues.

Sharp's panel layouts evoke medieval manuscripts. Borders incorporate knotwork patterns. Page designs use irregular shapes that guide the eye. It's ambitious and overwhelming at times but that's intentional. This isn't meant to be consumed quickly– it's meant to be studied.

The Brave and the Bold succeeds as both superhero story and mythological epic. Sharp respects Celtic folklore without treating it as window dressing. Batman and Wonder Woman aren't tourists– they're participants who respect the culture they're navigating. That authenticity elevates the series beyond typical crossover fare.

Should you read this? Absolutely, if you want Batman challenged by problems his usual methods can't solve. Diana's role as peacekeeper emphasizes diplomacy over fists. The murder mystery gives both heroes agency. Grab the collected edition– worth experiencing complete.

For readers unfamiliar with Irish mythology, Sharp provides enough context without info-dumping. You'll likely research Finn McCool, the Tuatha De Danann and Tir Na Nog afterward. For mythology enthusiasts, Sharp's faithfulness to source material will be appreciated. He doesn't sanitize or simplify– he adapts respectfully.

This is the rare team-up book that justifies its premise. Batman and Wonder Woman work together because the story demands both skill sets, not because editorial mandated crossover. Their chemistry develops naturally through shared adversity. Neither overshadows the other.

The Brave and the Bold: Batman and Wonder Woman is collected in trade paperback and hardcover editions, bringing together all six issues of the 2018 limited series. For digital readers, the series is fully available on Amazon Kindle, ComiXology and DC Universe Infinite.