The Brave and the Bold, Vol. 1 #141A

Pay Or Die

Regular Edition
Release: May 1978
Cover: May 1978

DC Comics
0709893044006

When a number of businessmen are killed in explosions, Batman investigates their respective backgrounds and learns that they were all heavy in debt with a loan shark by the name of Mr. Longreen. When a business partner of Dinah Lance is also murdered, she joins Batman's investigation as Black Canary.

Together, the heroes learn that Longreen could also be pronounced as Long Grin and they deduce that the Joker is the loan shark and the criminal responsible for the murders. In order to trap the crook, Batman and Black Canary convince Alfred to ask for money from Joker in order to learn how does the Joker manages to kill his victims.

Unfortunately, Alfred is drugged by the Joker with a chemical that explodes after a determined time, which is the way Joker has been killing his victims. Black Canary manages to track down the Joker's hideout, but she ends up captured, forcing Batman to act at the risk of losing Alfred.

Batman finds the Joker and saves Black Canary. While Joker admits his defeat, he laughs knowing that Alfred will die anyway. However, Batman has taken Alfred with him and he forces Joker to give Alfred some of his blood in order to nullify the effects of the explosive chemical. After a successful transfusion, Alfred feels much better, but he is not quite sure about having Joker's blood in his body.

Creators
Writer Bob Haney
Artist Jim Aparo
Cover Artist Jim Aparo
Penciller Jim Aparo
Inker Jim Aparo
Colorist Jerry Serpe
Letterer Jim Aparo
Editor Paul Levitz

Characters
Batman Bruce Wayne
Alfred Pennyworth
Commissioner Gordon James 'Jim' Gordon
Joker
Black Canary Dinah Lance

Details
Age Bronze Age
Format Comic
Genre Action | Adventure | Super-Heroes
No. of Pages 32
Country USA
Language English