Best of the Brave and the Bold Vol 1 3

"The Sleepwalker from the Sea": This story is reprinted from The Brave and the Bold #82.

"The Sleepwalker from the Sea"
Cover
Best of the Brave and the Bold Vol 1 #3
December, 1988
Executive Editor	Dick Giordano
Cover Artists	José Luis García-López
The Sleepwalker from the Sea
Writers	Bob Haney
Pencilers	Neal Adams
Inkers	Neal Adams
Editors	Murray Boltinoff
The Threat of the Phantom Vikings!
Writers	Robert Kanigher
Pencilers	Joe Kubert
Inkers	Joe Kubert
Editors	Robert Kanigher
The Sword of Attila!
Pencilers	Russ Heath
Inkers	Russ Heath
Editors	Robert Kanigher
The Battle of the Kites!
Writers	Bob Haney
Pencilers	Joe Kubert
Inkers	Joe Kubert
Editors	Robert Kanigher
Previous Issue	Best of the Brave and the Bold # 2
Next Issue	Best of the Brave and the Bold # 4

Best of the Brave and the Bold #3 is an issue of the series Best of the Brave and the Bold (Volume 1) with a cover date of December, 1988.

Synopsis for "The Sleepwalker from the Sea"

This story is reprinted from The Brave and the Bold #82.

While trying to stop a theft and murder by Gotham docks, Batman is mysteriously attacked by Aquaman. Suspicious of the Marius Enterprises company, Batman decides to investigate as Bruce Wayne, feigning an interest in donating money to the company's project to build a sea city. However, his knowledge of the goings on puts him at risk and company head Marius orders Aquaman to kill Wayne. Surviving the attempt and bringing Aquaman to Gotham PD headquarters, Batman helps Aquaman snap out of his hypnosis. Aquaman reveals that Marius is really his half-brother Ocean Master.

Together, Batman and Aquaman stop Ocean Master's plot to use the ocean city for hijacking. Although Batman and Aquaman stop the plan and capture all of Ocean Masters accomplices, the Ocean Master escapes with Aquaman trailing behind.

Appearing in "The Sleepwalker from the Sea"

Featured Characters:

• Batman
• Aquaman

Supporting Characters:

• Commissioner James Gordon
• Alfred Pennyworth

Antagonists:

• Ocean Master (Flashback and main story)
• Ailsa Dubois (Single appearance)

Other Characters:

• Otto Chernak (Single appearance; dies)
• Honor (Bruce Wayne's ex-date) (Single appearance)

Locations:

• Gotham City
  • Wayne Manor
  • Gotham City Police Headquarters
• Atlantic Ocean (Flashback only)

Items:

• Utility Belt
  

Synopsis for "The Threat of the Phantom Vikings!"

This story is reprinted from The Brave and the Bold #2.

Jon, the young man with no memory of his past, and who was given the name Viking Prince by his adopted fishing village home, leads the villagers in a session of swordplay. Chief Olaf compliments him on his skill, but Jon only wishes he could remember where he learned it from. Olaf's lovely daughter, Gunnda, asks him to teach her as well. She soon proves to be a fast learner, as Gunnda disarms Jon after only a few training lessons.

Meanwhile, away in his castle, the Earl Thorvald plans an attack on the village and the Viking Prince, whom Thorvald secretly knows to be the true heir to the throne. A ship is launched out towards the village. Dawn strikes by the time it is noticed by the villagers out on the sea horizon. Jon takes some men out in a small fishing boat out to investigate, and finds the ship to be completely abandoned. Thinking the ship to be cursed, he dives over the side and cuts the anchor, allowing the vessel to float back out to the sea. While underwater he notices round, open portholes lining the bottom of the ship. But a shark attacks before he can investigate further, so Jon must fight it off with his sword. Later that night, back on the mainland, the village is struck by burning arrows, setting many homes aflame! While the villagers quell the fires, Gunnda notices the ship has returned on the horizon. Jon once again takes a small boat of men out to investigate and, just as before, finds the ship's deck is abandoned. But this time during his search, he notices his footsteps on the wooden planks of the deck have an echo, as if it were hollow underneath. He finds a trapdoor and opens it, to see a hidden compartment that has been flooded with water, and filled with sharks like the one that attacked him. The men then report to him that the village is under attack! Jon figures out yhe attackers used the ship to sneak up on the village, and then they would open the underwater portholes and exit towards the beach unseen beneath the waves. Jon steers the ship towards the beach, though he knows not how the sailing skill came to him.

Jon and the others join in the defense of their homes, with Thorvald's men falling to the skills Jon has taught them. Soon, Jon spots the Earl himself and charges through to get to him. When he finally reaches Thorvald, they begin dueling with swords, though the mighty Earl seems flustered and untrained. Suddenly, the mask falls off and "Thorvald" turns out to be a mere stranger whom the Earl has paid to dress like him. The battle is won, but Jon is forlorn. He confides in Gunnda that he wishes he knew why Thorvald sought his destruction, and she replies that they will find out, someday.

Appearing in "The Threat of the Phantom Vikings!"

Featured Characters:

• Viking Prince

Supporting Characters:

• Gunnda

Antagonists:

• Thorvald

Other Characters:

• Captain Olaf

Locations:

• 10th Century
  • Norway

Vehicles:

• Viking Ship
  

Synopsis for "The Sword of Attila!"

This story is reprinted from The Brave and the Bold #2.

Marcus, the Golden Gladiator wins his freedom in the arena after defeating Cinna's hired warrior, Gorgo. Meanwhile, Attila the Hun and his army are advancing uncomfortably close to Rome. Cinna, always secretly plotting the Gladiator's demise, suggests the Emperor send out his best warrior, known to be Marcus, off to intercept the Huns and engage Attila in single combat. If Marcus could destroy the Attila's sword, which the Hun believed was magic and the key to his victories, it may lead to a sudden loss of morale.

Lucia, Cinna's niece, sneaks away to accompany her beloved Marcus, suited in her own armor to help him on his quest. Marcus is worried for her safety, naturally, but it is too late to turn back now, so together they travel onward. They are quickly made targets of the Hun's catapult weapons, and Marcus barely moves Lucia aside in time for a great fireball to land where they stood! Marcus charges the two Hun warriors, but is ambushed by the rest of Attila's army. A trap! He is taken back to the Hun camp, where he suddenly pulls loose from the soldiers grip and goads Attila into attacking him. Using the Hun leader's anger against him, Marcus manages to dodge Attila's swing and uses his arm bracelet to shatter the sword. The army is shocked at the scene, and soon after, they break into a riot. Lucia appears with horses, and Marcus leaps over the heads of the confused warriors and into the saddle. He and Lucia make their getaway back to Rome, with Attila's broken sword now in Marcus' possession.

The Emperor praises Marcus victory, while Cinna scowls in the background as Lucia and Marcus kiss.

Appearing in "The Sword of Attila!"

Featured Characters:

• Golden Gladiator

Supporting Characters:

• Lucia

Antagonists:

• Attila the Hun
• Cinna
• Gorgo (a gladiator) (Single appearance)

Other Characters:

• Unnamed Roman Emperor

Locations:

• Italy
  • Rome
    • Roman Colosseum

Items:

• Attila's Sword
  

Synopsis for "The Battle of the Kites!"

This story is reprinted from The Brave and the Bold #6.

The Sheriff of Nottingham lures Robin Hood into a trap using a trained boar, and brings him to Prince John's castle. Robin manages to escape, but notices King Richard's kerchief waving out of one of the towers, the prince has imprisoned his own brother inside his castle! Back at Sherwood Forest, Robin rallies his merry men to free Richard from his prison. Later that day, the castle troops are confounded by a series of kites being flown over the castle. Robin and his band are actually riding inside the kites, and Robin's able to fly over to King Richard in the tower and rescue him. They escape through a hail of arrows, and Richard is taken back to Sherwood, where together they can begin planning how to save England.

Appearing in "The Battle of the Kites!"

Featured Characters:

• Robin Hood

Supporting Characters:

• Merry Men
  • Friar Tuck
  • Will Scarlet
• King Richard

Antagonists:

• Prince John
• Sheriff of Nottingham

Other Characters:

• Old Thomas (Single appearance)
• a Boar

Locations:

• England (12th Century)
  • Sherwood Forest
  • Prince John's Castle

Items:

• Robin Hood's Bow and Arrow

Vehicles:

• None

See Also

• Cover gallery for the Best of the Brave and the Bold series