The Brave and the Bold #104

This December 1972 team-up from DC's The Brave and the Bold pairs Batman with the spectral Deadman in a cover scene crackling with supernatural tension — Nick Cardy's artwork depicts a frantic Batman seized in Deadman's ghostly grip, pleading "Let go, you double-crossing ghost… or I'll be a dead man, too!" while a blonde woman levels a smoking pistol with a resounding "BLAM" in the background. The three-way danger makes for an irresistible setup, with Batman caught between an uneasy ally and a trigger-happy stranger. Bob Haney's writing and Jim Aparo's interior art bring their usual energy to "Second Chance for a Deadman?," a title that hints at high stakes for one of DC's most unusual heroes.