Brave and the Bold #80

Brave and the Bold #80 (On Sale: August 27, 1968) has a wonderful cover by Neal Adams featuring Batman and The Creeper.

"And Hellgrammite is His Name" is by Bob Haney, Neal Adams and Dick Giordano. As a huge Creeper fan I was really jazzed to see this issue wherein the Creeper visits Gotham to enlist the aid of Batman in stopping a bug-like criminal called the Hellgrammite. Batman and Commissioner Gordon consider the Creeper to be a criminal and attempt to apprehend him. Batman eventually calls a truce and together the two heroes go after the Hellgrammite.

The crook has kidnapped various gang leaders and is attempting to transform them into super-strong bug creatures like himself. Creeper locates the crooks, and Batman helps free them from the transforming cocoons before the process can be completed.

The Creeper then calls out Hellgrammite in his identity of Jack Ryder. The villain is led into a trap where Batman and the Creeper defeat him. Commissioner Gordon then arrives on the scene to arrest the Creeper. However, the Creeper is already on his way out of Gotham. This story has been reprinted in Best of the Brave and the Bold #4, Batman Illustrated by Neal Adams Vol. 1 HC and Showcase Presents the Brave and the Bold Batman Team-Ups Vol. 1 TPB.

Edited by Murray Boltinoff.