The Brave and the Bold #136

The Brave and the Bold #136, published by DC Comics in 1977, arrived during a period when the series was firmly established as the primary showcase for DC's team-up formula. The issue was written by Bob Haney, the architect behind much of the title's identity, and features cover art and interior illustrations by Jim Aparo, an artist whose moody, atmospheric style became synonymous with the Batman stories that dominated the latter half of the series' run.

The story, titled 'The Corpse That Wouldn't Die,' pairs Batman with Deadman in a supernatural mystery that leans into the pulp-horror sensibilities of the era. The creative direction prioritized dynamic, high-stakes narratives that could introduce readers to disparate corners of the DC Universe within a single self-contained issue, a strategy that helped the title maintain a consistent following despite the shifting landscape of the comic book industry in the late 1970s.