The Brave and the Bold #28 NFT Edition now available from DC3

DC Collectible Comics (DC3) continues to identify the greatest hits of landmark comics with the announcement that The Brave And The Bold #28, featuring the very first appearance of the Justice League, is the latest comic to be made available as an NFT issue. Joins the ranks of Superman #1, Detective cartoons #38, and Crisis on Infinite Earths #1, you now have the opportunity to own a share of unique digital editions of The Brave And The Bold #28 NFT. And once again, you can even choose the state of the cartoon as represented in the images.

When the issue came out in late 1959 (cover dated March 1960), it was the beginning of comics’ silver age. The end of the golden age of the mid-1950s had been a precarious time to be a superhero. DC only published three superheroes in their own titles; Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. The brave and the bold had been created as an anthology title featuring non-superhero characters like Robin Hood, but by #28 DC editor Julius Schwartz had asked writer Gardner Fox to revive the idea behind the Justice Society of America.

However, Schwartz disliked the association of social clubs with the term Society and preferred the word League which he felt young people would recognize from sports teams. The mission was to reintroduce superhero characters from the Golden Age onwards The brave and the bold #28 Schwartz and Fox had a masterful idea in the formation of this new team.

The idea was simply that this first published adventure of the team would not actually be their first adventure. So when the threat is established in the story, and a call to arms goes out to the team members, including Batman and Superman, they are shown as too busy to participate (Batman’s brief appearance is quite ironic considering the title eventually became exclusive to him from #59 ).

There is no who-in-who-out recruiting process, just straight into the action knowing that the big two are already signed up. That meant that Aquaman, The Flash (who already proved popular in Showcase title), Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and Martian Manhunter got a chance to shine. And shine they did, as a couple of issues later, The Justice League got their own adventure title, and the rest is history.

However, the “firsts” do not stop there. A hero can only prove his worth against a formidable villain, and in the case of Starro The Conqueror, that somewhat improbably has endured well into the last few DCU films. Based on the science fiction literature of Ray Cummings, Starro joins old monster-from-space sci-fi troopers employed by Alan Moore for Watchmen, but also, with his cloning and mind control abilities, proved to be an affective dramatic device for DC stories for decades to come.

Of course, if you really want to delve into obscure DC history, this issue features the first appearance of Lucas “Snapper” Carr. What do you mean, you’ve never heard of him? DC could never resist a sidekick, and for fifteen minutes of fame, Snapper was the JLA mascot.

Having previously illustrated romance and science fiction titles for DC, Mike Sekowsky was brought in to The brave and the bold #28 and once the JLA moved into its own series, he illustrated over sixty issues that saw the introduction of Hawkman, Green Arrow, and the Atom. It’s safe to say that he gave the title its basic look and tone. The now iconic cover was illustrated by Sekowsky and inked by Murphy Anderson.

Earlier in 2022 a CGC certified 9.6 copy of Brave and the Bold #28 was purchased for $750,000, which not only set a new record for the comic, but made it the best-selling Silver Age DC comic. DC3 NFT Editions offer you a share of the digital equivalent of a unique edition starting at just under ten dollars, but you can choose a condition for the digital image based on budget and preference. Limited to 4,000 units, go to nft.dcuniverse.com for availability.

Product details.

The Brave and the Bold (1961) #28

Date: Thursday 29 December 2022

Bat Cowl Holder Early Access: 6:30 AM – 7:30 AM PT

Public sale: at 09.00 PT

Comic Pack Reveal: 11 a.m. PT

Issue size: 4000*

Max purchase: 1 per account

Price: US$9.99

This week’s issue features the first appearance of The Justice League of America! When Starro the Conqueror arrives on Earth intent on enslaving humanity, it’s up to the world’s DC Super Heroes to team up and defeat the evil alien.

Images and press release courtesy of DC Entertainment