NEMESIS 2: B&B #167

Brave and the Bold #167 (Oct 1980)

cover: Jim Aparo (signed)

title: "A Name Writ In Blood!"

writer: Cary Burkett

art: Dan Spiegle

letterer: John Costanza
colorist: Adrienne Roy

editor: Paul Levitz

Synopsis: 

Tom Tresser in his NYC apartment has made himself a statue of Blind Justice, a replica of the statue he gave Marjorie Marshall (last issue). Tom remembers how Marjorie's husband, Ben Marshall, was his father's best friend. As kids he and his brother Craig idolized him as a special agent of an unnamed federal bureau of investigation.

A few years later, their father dies, so Ben and Marjorie take them under their wing. Tom doesn't mention the Marshalls adopting them, so it's assumed that Tom is Craig's legal guardian by this point. Tom is drawn older than Craig here, but they both want to head to "the bureau."

Flash forward a few years. They both train, and Craig becomes a field agent. Tom, however, is asked to join the Special Equipment section. Tom creates miniaturized transmitter bugs, and also disguise plastics and an instant dissolving agent for super-fast disguise changes. And he works on hyper-toxin "freeze" bullets that immobilize but don't kill.

At the same time that Tom is being successful with his inventions, Tom notices that Craig is becoming more and more introverted. Tom, fatefully, ignores this change in his younger brother....

Soon after, at a special ceremony where Ben is to be named the new full-time directory of the bureau, Craig arrives crazed. He suddenly shoots and kills Ben. Another agent quickly kills Craig.

After Ben's funeral, the talk begins among agents that Tom may also be dangerous because he is "the assassin's brother." Later, at Craig's funeral, Tom is the only mourner.

Tom decides to destroy all records of his existence, hoping to fade away. However, he happens to hear Marjorie make a speech asking for people to work for justice rather than create a memorial for her dead husband.

Tom takes this to heart. Tom decides to work to preserve Ben's ideal by becoming someone outside "the system," to deliver just punishments for crimes....to evoke Justice and Retribution to evil ones....as Nemesis!

Commentary: 

This is the first time we learn who and what Tom Tresser is, in a story that will be referenced atleast twice more during this series. Although the death of the father and the absence of the mother is typical "deserted super-hero" trope, the brothers both vowing to serve Justice is a nice hook. And then when Craig somehow goes "bad" and murders their father figure....sure, it's a bit of a stereotype but I challenge you to read page six and not be moved by the stoic figure of Tom cradling Ben as his brother lies dead just a few feet away.

Cary Burkett is responsible for the plot, and Dan Spiegle does the art. If I am remembering correctly, they worked on every episode story in the series except for the full-length team-ups with Batman, which were drawn by Jim Aparo. Burkett as the creator knows these characters, and Spiegle as the draftsman draws everyone as if they were different people. I especially liked how Tom and Craig looked young in the early bits of the story, and then gradually "aged" during the story. That's skill.

I remember a lot of the Nemesis stories fondly, but this one is my current favorite. If you come across this issue in a bin somewhere, I heartily recommend you picking it up. And the lead team-up features wonderful Dave Cockrum art, so you get two great stories!  

Nemesis Fact File:  

• Tom and Craig's father's name was Chet. No mention of their mother is made. 
• The team-up in this issue is between Batman and The Blackhawks. "Ice Station Alpha"! by Marv Wolfman, Dave Cockrum, and Dan Adkins. Dave Cockrum clearly has a love for the Blackhawks, and it shows on almost every page. The story, however, is forgettable.  
• There was one letter printed in The Brave & The Bold #172 mentioning the Nemesis series. With this letter, John Zuber of Athens, GA became the first fan to comment on Nemesis in print. Here it is:  

This story has not yet been reprinted. Therefore, I happily reproduce the eight-page story here in its entirety. Please do not let it fall into the hands of criminals!

NEMESIS created by Cary Burkett and Dan Spiegle