The Brave And The Bold #164

The Brave And The Bold #164

(April, 1980)

"The Mystery Of The Mobile Museum!"

Cover by Jim Aparo, Tatjana Wood

Artist: José Luis García-López

Inks: Steven Mitchell

Colors: Adrienne Roy

Writer: J.M. DeMatteis

Letters: Ben Oda

Batman and Hawkman are collaborating in the transfer of two Eldritch statues from the Gotham Metropolitan Museum to the Midway City Museum, but things soon get out of control when the Dark Knight Detective and Museum Curator Shiera Hall (Hawkgirl) are attacked by a mysterious force.

To the amazement of everyone present, the Midway City Museum itself starts levitating, and quickly ascends leaving Earth's atmosphere. While Hawkman tries to penetrate the force field surrounding the museum, Batman is protecting himself and the unconscious Shiera from the harsh space environment and the attack by the exhibit pieces that have suddenly come to life.

The mysterious force that possessed the museum suddenly takes over Shiera, and as she grabs the Eldritch statues and departs, the building is returned to the ground and its proper place in Midway City. Batman cautions Hawkman from going after his wife, as this could potentially harm her, but the Winged Wonder ignores his friend's warnings and leaves on pursuit.

After a brief confrontation in mid-air, Shiera regains control of her mind and body, and she and Hawkman reconvene with Batman, who suspects that the force may not be malicious after all.

Almost in response, the mysterious energy manifests itself in front of the three heroes, and explains it belongs to an ancient raced called the Ma-Prusha. The Eldritch statues are in reality two deities adored by the Ma-Prusha, that, after a natural disaster ended up on Earth by chance. The energy being's mission is to retrieve the deities and return them home.

Batman and Hawkman offer their help carrying the statues through a cosmic wormhole, and after an agonizing trek that almost costs them their sanity, the two heroes successfully return the gods to their homeworld. Grateful for their assistance, the Ma-Prusha allow the heroes to go back to Earth, where Shiera awaits them with open arms.