NEMESIS 6: B&B #171

Brave and the Bold #171 (February 1981)

cover: Jim Aparo (signed)

title: "Double or Nothing!"

writer: Cary Burkett

art: Dan Spiegle

letterer: John Costanza
colorist: Gene D'Angelo

editor: Paul Levitz

Synopsis: 

Nemesis' current target is MC Curtis, head of west coast operations for "the Council." Nemesis has  disguised himself as a different gambler at Curtis' Las Vegas casino every night for a week, using one of his own electronic over-ride devices in his cuff-links to out-cheat the rigged roulette table every time. He has been a big winner, hoping to get Curtis himself to investigate the situation.

Tonight, too, he cashes in his winnings and this time he is definitely followed. In his cab he switches disguises and manages to elude the tail, much to the shock of the driver.

Safely back at his hotel, Nemesis recalls that after he and Batman took down the Head of the Council (last issue our time) he told Marjorie Marshall, who was like a mother to him, that his work had to go on.

So, intent on his mission, Nemesis shows up at Curtis' casino again the next night in another disguise. Tonight he notices that Curtis himself is finally on the scene. He also notices a beautiful blonde in a large fur coat. As he moves to confront Curtis, the blonde confronts Curtis first. He is just as surprised as anyone when she reveals that she has a suicide bomb strapped to her dress and intends to kill him.

Nemesis acts fast, dashing forward to cut the belt holding the bomb off her, then tossing the bomb into a non populated area of the casino.

Curtis' goons then strike back, blasting at him and at her, too. Nemesis drags the woman out with him but in the melee she knocks the gas cylinder in his collar, evaporating his face mask. He is also shot in the shoulder by Curtis' men!

Nemesis and the woman hide in the parking lot, where she tells him that her name is Valerie Foxworth. She tells Nemesis that her father gambled away his life's savings at Curtis' crooked casino, then committed suicide. So she wants revenge, and is willing to kill herself to get it! As she makes a tourniquet from his jacket for Nemesis' wound, Curtis and his men find them hiding behind a parked car.

To Be Continued!!

Commentary: 

With the conclusion of Nemesis' first major arc last issue, I was curious about what direction the series would go. Of course, now that he has taken care of "the Head," Nemesis is now gunning for the members of The Council. So this series should have plenty of more action and adventure in store for it....assuming Nemesis survives THIS encounter with Curtis!

A big event this time out is the inclusion of a (gasp!) woman. In the five previous stories there has only been one woman featured, and that was Old Widow Marshall. With the introduction of Valerie, I'm hoping something close to a group of "supporting characters" might be on the horizon for Nemesis. Again, if she manages to survive this encounter! Next maybe we'll get some people of color in this universe.

The art is good, as always. I absolutely love how artist Dan Spiegle can make each character look different, even if/when they are actually Nemesis in disguise! And you gotta love how Nemesis lounges around his room with his shirt off. I wonder if writer Cary Burkett wrote it that way, or if Spiegle just decided to draw him that way. Is there some reason why the gas canister can't be sitting on an undershirt? Methinks not...

I like that Nemesis has a new mission. I like how he suddenly has to re-configure after his mission is blown (literally). And I like how he is now in hot water. Be back next time to see how he gets out of it!

Nemesis Fact File:  

• This is the debut of Valerie Foxworth, who would end up being a supporting character through the rest of the Nemesis series. 
• This is the first time that a Nemesis plan goes awry to the extent that he has to ignore it. 
• This is also the first time that Nemesis is shot during one of his missions. 
• The team-up in this issue is between Batman and Scalphunter, his debut and single appearance in these pages. "A Cannon For Batman!" is by Gerry Conway and Jose-Luis Garcia-Lopez (Praise Be His Name). Batman visits the Civil War era and meets Ke-Woh-No-Tay in one of the most beautiful yet odd team-ups of all time. It's been reprinted in King Tut's Tomb TPB and Tales of the Batman: Gerry Conway Vol. 1 if you want to track it down on higher quality paper.  
• There was one letter printed in The Brave & The Bold #176 mentioning the Nemesis series. "McIntosh" Mark Amundsen of Staten Island was glad to see that the Nemesis series was continuing, even after the death of The Head. So say we all, McIntosh! 

This story has not yet been reprinted. Therefore, I gladly reproduce the eight-page story here it its entirety, exactly as it appeared in its comic-book form.
Please do not allow it to fall into the hand of the Council!

NEMESIS created by Cary Burkett and Dan Spiegle