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Batman: Off-World
Batman: Off-World (Batman: Off-World
A threat from beyond the stars has marched into Gotham!Batman, new to the crime-fighting lifestyle, must face off against this interstellar threat. During this battle Batman thinks “what other threats could be looming in the deep reaches of space”? This question sends the Dark Knight on a quest through the deep reaches of space, facing off against cosmic villains. Throughout this crusade he’ll team up with deadly mercenaries and truly learn what it means to be a hero of the universe in a unique and brutal tale.Collecting OFF-WORLD #1-6.
Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2025
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About the author
Jason Aaron
2,359 books1,679 followersJason Aaron grew up in a small town in Alabama. His cousin, Gustav Hasford, who wrote the semi-autobiographical novel The Short-Timers, on which the feature film Full Metal Jacket was based, was a large influence on Aaron. Aaron decided he wanted to write comics as a child, and though his father was skeptical when Aaron informed him of this aspiration, his mother took Aaron to drug stores, where he would purchase books from spinner racks, some of which he still owns today.
Aaron's career in comics began in 2001 when he won a Marvel Comics talent search contest with an eight-page Wolverine back-up story script. The story, which was published in Wolverine #175 (June 2002), gave him the opportunity to pitch subsequent ideas to editors.
In 2006, Aaron made a blind submission to DC/Vertigo, who published his first major work, the Vietnam War story The Other Side which was nominated for an Eisner Award for Best Miniseries, and which Aaron regards as the "second time" he broke into the industry.
Following this, Vertigo asked him to pitch other ideas, which led to the series Scalped, a creator-owned series set on the fictional Prairie Rose Indian Reservation and published by DC/Vertigo.
In 2007, Aaron wrote Ripclaw: Pilot Season for Top Cow Productions. Later that year, Marvel editor Axel Alonso, who was impressed by The Other Side and Scalped, hired Aaron to write issues of Wolverine, Black Panther and eventually, an extended run on Ghost Rider that began in April 2008. His continued work on Black Panther also included a tie-in to the company-wide crossover storyline along with a "Secret Invasion" with David Lapham in 2009.
In January 2008, he signed an exclusive contract with Marvel, though it would not affect his work on Scalped. Later that July, he wrote the Penguin issue of The Joker's Asylum.
After a 4-issue stint on Wolverine in 2007, Aaron returned to the character with the ongoing series Wolverine: Weapon X, launched to coincide with the feature film X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Aaron commented, "With Wolverine: Weapon X we'll be trying to mix things up like that from arc to arc, so the first arc is a typical sort of black ops story but the second arc will jump right into the middle of a completely different genre," In 2010, the series was relaunched once again as simply Wolverine. He followed this with his current run on Thor: God of Thunder.
Aaron's career in comics began in 2001 when he won a Marvel Comics talent search contest with an eight-page Wolverine back-up story script. The story, which was published in Wolverine #175 (June 2002), gave him the opportunity to pitch subsequent ideas to editors.
In 2006, Aaron made a blind submission to DC/Vertigo, who published his first major work, the Vietnam War story The Other Side which was nominated for an Eisner Award for Best Miniseries, and which Aaron regards as the "second time" he broke into the industry.
Following this, Vertigo asked him to pitch other ideas, which led to the series Scalped, a creator-owned series set on the fictional Prairie Rose Indian Reservation and published by DC/Vertigo.
In 2007, Aaron wrote Ripclaw: Pilot Season for Top Cow Productions. Later that year, Marvel editor Axel Alonso, who was impressed by The Other Side and Scalped, hired Aaron to write issues of Wolverine, Black Panther and eventually, an extended run on Ghost Rider that began in April 2008. His continued work on Black Panther also included a tie-in to the company-wide crossover storyline along with a "Secret Invasion" with David Lapham in 2009.
In January 2008, he signed an exclusive contract with Marvel, though it would not affect his work on Scalped. Later that July, he wrote the Penguin issue of The Joker's Asylum.
After a 4-issue stint on Wolverine in 2007, Aaron returned to the character with the ongoing series Wolverine: Weapon X, launched to coincide with the feature film X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Aaron commented, "With Wolverine: Weapon X we'll be trying to mix things up like that from arc to arc, so the first arc is a typical sort of black ops story but the second arc will jump right into the middle of a completely different genre," In 2010, the series was relaunched once again as simply Wolverine. He followed this with his current run on Thor: God of Thunder.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
February 28, 2025
A space opera Batman story that sees Bruce traversing the Slag Galaxy in the hopes of taking down the Blackksun Mining Company. The world manages to feel vast and lived in within the limited issues that Aaron is given to develop the story, but it would have been nice to get more details on the other species and their cultures and lives. Whilst Bruce is surrounded by the unfamiliar, it never feels detached from being a Batman story, and the new faces that support the titular man slot perfectly into their roles. A nice breath of fresh air that is a treat for those who are looking for stories outside of Gotham. Batman: Off-World is a gamble that pays off.
actual rating: 3.5 stars
actual rating: 3.5 stars
August 17, 2025
A rookie Batman in deep space. It really shouldn’t work. It really did. SO much fun.
April 10, 2025
Batman can't keep it in his pants. Even in space.
October 21, 2025
Wow! Didn't know this was going to be so good! 4.4 🌟
Read
September 4, 2025Still just starting out, Batman gets his arse handed to him by a Gotham mobster's alien goon – so Bruce buys a spaceship, travels to said alien's home, and learns how to beat up everything that lives there. The story is fully aware that this leaves Gotham unprotected, Batman having not yet begun gathering his 682 sidekicks, but that combination of utter determination and absolute fuckwittedness has long been key to the character, hasn't it? And let's not think too hard about how much of the learning involves Batman getting beaten up first, incurring lovingly catalogued injuries which, given he is supposedly a biological human and not bloody Wolverine, should surely have seen him crippled for life at least once per issue, not gritting his teeth and bouncing back to win the next bout. Things get even sillier once mission creep sets in and he decides to free the entire Slag Galaxy* from the evil extractive capitalists who terrorise it, begging the question of what the hell he thinks he's playing at once he returns to Earth and leaves similar though less cinematic systems of oppression there broadly intact. Still, for all that it makes not a lick of sense, I'd rather have this macho, maximalist Batman than the joyless brooding of recent big-screen incarnations**, and if the aliens mostly lean generic, Punch Bot is a delight. There does, though, remain a sneaking suspicion that just as Geoff Johns' DC career largely consists of going through Alan Moore's bins, what Aaron has done here is basically to get six issues out of the implications of one page of Grant Morrison: "Alfred, I'm opening the sci-fi closet. Don't tell my friends in the GCPD about this."
Edited to add: obviously, Batman's prohibition on killing has always been asinine, and becomes more so at this scale, where at one stage more than the entire population of Earth dies as collateral damage. But combining his silly little rules with the mostly unfamiliar aliens here makes me realise the biggest, funniest missed opportunity of established DC space lore – send him up against Daxamites. An entire planet of Superman, except they're vulnerable to lead, which means they tend not to bother Earth given our most common weapons... which Bruce refuses to use.
*The name is one of many reasons I found myself picturing this Batman as played by Jason Statham.
**Lego Batman, as always, honourably excepted.
Edited to add: obviously, Batman's prohibition on killing has always been asinine, and becomes more so at this scale, where at one stage more than the entire population of Earth dies as collateral damage. But combining his silly little rules with the mostly unfamiliar aliens here makes me realise the biggest, funniest missed opportunity of established DC space lore – send him up against Daxamites. An entire planet of Superman, except they're vulnerable to lead, which means they tend not to bother Earth given our most common weapons... which Bruce refuses to use.
*The name is one of many reasons I found myself picturing this Batman as played by Jason Statham.
**Lego Batman, as always, honourably excepted.
June 13, 2025
I was both skeptical and hopeful going into this miniseries. Skeptical because "Batman in space" as a premise is more than a little odd when you stop and think about it. I'm far from the first person to observe that, as a member of the Justice League, Batman is regularly pulled away from the signature confines of Gotham to settings where he looks decidedly out of place, such as an alien planet, Atlantis, and the Sixth Dimension. Batman works best as a street-level hero.
At the same time, I was hopeful because Aaron was at the helm, and I've long been a fan of Mahnke's art. Aaron made quite the name for himself at Marvel, and now he was with their Distinguished Competitor, writing his first ever Batman story. Thing is though, I'd never read any of his superhero comics myself; only his original Image title Southern Bastards. At some point in my adult life, I flipped from being a lifelong Marvel kid to someone who reads far more DC titles than those by other publishers. But my wife and several podcast hosts I respect touted the glory of Aaron's long run on Thor and his earlier work on Wolverine and the X-Men. Getting him in the DC bullpen was like your favorite pro team getting an All-Star player you're right to get excited about but whose play you'd only seen highlights of or seen described in a sports report.
Having said all that, I greatly enjoyed this story. Before I had even finished the first issue, I felt comfortable with the set-up and internal rationale for this adventure. While a couple aspects of the central premise resemble that of Tom King's Superman: Up in the Sky, this is likely a coincidence. Aaron's work in these pages doesn't feel like it was cribbing from another recent DC series. The overall structure and pace of the story are excellent, as Aaron successfully demonstrates that this tale needed to cover 6 issues - no more, no less.
So if you're still reading this lengthy review, you should know that, not only do I think you should read Batman: Off-World, you should move it toward the front of your queue.
At the same time, I was hopeful because Aaron was at the helm, and I've long been a fan of Mahnke's art. Aaron made quite the name for himself at Marvel, and now he was with their Distinguished Competitor, writing his first ever Batman story. Thing is though, I'd never read any of his superhero comics myself; only his original Image title Southern Bastards. At some point in my adult life, I flipped from being a lifelong Marvel kid to someone who reads far more DC titles than those by other publishers. But my wife and several podcast hosts I respect touted the glory of Aaron's long run on Thor and his earlier work on Wolverine and the X-Men. Getting him in the DC bullpen was like your favorite pro team getting an All-Star player you're right to get excited about but whose play you'd only seen highlights of or seen described in a sports report.
Having said all that, I greatly enjoyed this story. Before I had even finished the first issue, I felt comfortable with the set-up and internal rationale for this adventure. While a couple aspects of the central premise resemble that of Tom King's Superman: Up in the Sky, this is likely a coincidence. Aaron's work in these pages doesn't feel like it was cribbing from another recent DC series. The overall structure and pace of the story are excellent, as Aaron successfully demonstrates that this tale needed to cover 6 issues - no more, no less.
So if you're still reading this lengthy review, you should know that, not only do I think you should read Batman: Off-World, you should move it toward the front of your queue.
May 19, 2025
Começando o review desta edição com uma "paninada": o miolo da edição traz o título Batman: Além do Mundo, enquanto na capa temos o nome Batman: Além do Universo. Deixando isso de lado, a qualidade da minissérie de estreia de Jason Aaron com o Homem-Morcego é bastante superior aos últimos trabalhos do escritor. Aaron estabelece um Batman em seus primeiros anos de combate ao crime em sua primeira viagem espacial, tendo de enfrentar uma raça de escravizadores de lutadores. Ao longo da história, Batman vai provar seu prepara a níveis cósmicos. De tão absurdo acaba ficando legal. Pois é, eu preciso dar o braço a torcer, finalmente achei a fodalização do Batman algo legal, mas principalmente por causa da interação dele com outros personagens como uma tamariana e um robô feito para apanhar. Os desenhos de Doug Mahnke, veterano da DC Comics desde os anos 2000 são um espetáculo a parte, principalmente no design de criaturas alienígenas. Apesar de ser mais uma história do Batman fodão e irretocável, dessa vez eu pude me divertir com esse fato, lembrando um Jason Aaron dos tempos em que trazia boas contribuições para os personagens que se aventurava.
June 6, 2025
2.5 stars
Batman: Off-World certainly tries something different, and that deserves a bit of credit as this time Bruce is 26 million light years away, facing an alien threat and the potential to do some good way out beyond our galaxy.
The art is solid throughout—clean linework, dynamic angles, and a color palette that leans into the interstellar setting without ever feeling too jarring. It’s slick, vibrant, and visually engaging, and that’s arguably the book’s strongest asset.
The concept itself—taking Batman off Earth for an intergalactic adventure—sounds like a bold leap for the Caped Crusader. It promises something fresh, taking him out of Gotham’s shadows and throwing him into alien territory. Unfortunately, that promise fizzles fast.
The story feels like a patchwork of Star Wars and every other space-faring comic you’ve read before, only with Batman awkwardly dropped into the mix. Instead of feeling innovative, it comes across more like a fan-fiction mashup. Alien sidekicks, blaster shootouts, ancient galactic threats—it’s all there, but nothing really lands. Bruce’s characterization doesn’t evolve, and the stakes feel weightless, which is ironic given the setting.
As a limited series, it fails to justify its own existence. There’s no real growth or insight into Batman’s psyche, and by the time it wraps up, you’re left wondering what the point was. It’s not awful—it’s just unremarkable as well as repetitive. A forgettable detour that looks good but doesn’t leave any lasting impact.
Like I said, Aaron’s idea was cool, and the great visuals made for some decent eye candy, but that’s doesn’t save it from being an undercooked narrative that leaves this off-world journey grounded in mediocrity.
Batman: Off-World certainly tries something different, and that deserves a bit of credit as this time Bruce is 26 million light years away, facing an alien threat and the potential to do some good way out beyond our galaxy.
The art is solid throughout—clean linework, dynamic angles, and a color palette that leans into the interstellar setting without ever feeling too jarring. It’s slick, vibrant, and visually engaging, and that’s arguably the book’s strongest asset.
The concept itself—taking Batman off Earth for an intergalactic adventure—sounds like a bold leap for the Caped Crusader. It promises something fresh, taking him out of Gotham’s shadows and throwing him into alien territory. Unfortunately, that promise fizzles fast.
The story feels like a patchwork of Star Wars and every other space-faring comic you’ve read before, only with Batman awkwardly dropped into the mix. Instead of feeling innovative, it comes across more like a fan-fiction mashup. Alien sidekicks, blaster shootouts, ancient galactic threats—it’s all there, but nothing really lands. Bruce’s characterization doesn’t evolve, and the stakes feel weightless, which is ironic given the setting.
As a limited series, it fails to justify its own existence. There’s no real growth or insight into Batman’s psyche, and by the time it wraps up, you’re left wondering what the point was. It’s not awful—it’s just unremarkable as well as repetitive. A forgettable detour that looks good but doesn’t leave any lasting impact.
Like I said, Aaron’s idea was cool, and the great visuals made for some decent eye candy, but that’s doesn’t save it from being an undercooked narrative that leaves this off-world journey grounded in mediocrity.
March 19, 2025
Absolutely epic.
Another great book that hasn’t reached the audience that it deserves because it’s been drowned out by the sheer volume of mediocre crap being published today and noise of the shill media promoting any old garbage that fits their agenda.
If this came out during any other era it would be viewed as a classic Bat-Man series
Another great book that hasn’t reached the audience that it deserves because it’s been drowned out by the sheer volume of mediocre crap being published today and noise of the shill media promoting any old garbage that fits their agenda.
If this came out during any other era it would be viewed as a classic Bat-Man series
August 16, 2025
On a scale of 1 - Buying an experimental spacecraft, flying it to a a far away galaxy overthrowing a regime and learning how to beat up multiple species of aliens cos you got jumped by one, how petty are you?
June 30, 2025
friendship ✔️ adventure ✔️ romance ✔️ animals ✔️ The Bat in space ✔️ Exemplary power ✔️
October 12, 2025
It wasn’t pretty but I got through it 🥴
Batman in space. It’s as fitting as Spider-Man in space.
There are a few elements I liked about this story:
- Ione as a character. Like father, like son. Now we know where Dick’s love for Thamaraneans comes from.
- The Thanagarian. A bounty hunter from … well, Thanagar. Aaron should have named this character differently…
- The concept of Batman learning how to beat aliens. Always training. Always learning.
That’s it. Everything didn’t quite make sense. It’s a decent, mindless read.
Batman in space. It’s as fitting as Spider-Man in space.
There are a few elements I liked about this story:
- Ione as a character. Like father, like son. Now we know where Dick’s love for Thamaraneans comes from.
- The Thanagarian. A bounty hunter from … well, Thanagar. Aaron should have named this character differently…
- The concept of Batman learning how to beat aliens. Always training. Always learning.
That’s it. Everything didn’t quite make sense. It’s a decent, mindless read.
August 13, 2025
In the most unconventional place that Batman has ever been — the Slag Galaxy is 26,000,000 light years away from Earth — Bruce Wayne is forced to ask himself what the Batman actually is. What the Batman means, especially to these aliens who don’t know of him the way that Gotham does. The answer he comes up with is inspiring, and desperately needed at a time when our own real world moral compass is broken and needs fixed as well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2025
I. Am. Punch-Bot.
I didn't like it at first but it kind of grew on me. Its very different from any Batman story you are used to. I liked all the sidekicks and the art. The art was great. It was a pretty fun ride. Would be cool to get a pocket universe where Batman is in space. I would read that all day.
I didn't like it at first but it kind of grew on me. Its very different from any Batman story you are used to. I liked all the sidekicks and the art. The art was great. It was a pretty fun ride. Would be cool to get a pocket universe where Batman is in space. I would read that all day.
May 7, 2025
Extremely cool, and Aaron nails this characterization of an early career Batman. I kinda wish we had more backstory for how Batman initially makes it to space though. Feels like this was initially an 8 issue story that got cut down to 6. But it’s still really goddamn cool and a definite must read for Batman fans looking for something different.
June 8, 2025
Historia trepidante de Batman, entre año 1 y año 2, con un Batman primerizo todavía y con muchas dudas, analizado perfectamente por Aaron, y con unos dibujos de Mahnke muuy buenos, en esta ópera espacial tan rara para tratar a Batman, y que no obstante lo consigue, con muchísima acción en cada número. Muy recomendable.
December 17, 2025
Das war richtig gut. Batman aus seiner gewohnten Umgebung zu nehmen und ihn unter Bedingungen wirken zu lassen, die ihm komplett fremd sind - alles packend erzählt und wunderschön bebildert. Hier hat das Autor-Zeichner-Gespann wirklich Großes abgeliefert.
November 20, 2025
Batman in Space. Gorgeous Doug Mahnke art, great writing by Jason Aaron. Read the whole thing in one go. Really enjoyable.
August 5, 2025
Setting aside the absurd premise, Batman: Off-World is a fantastic cosmic adventure for the Great Cowled One. The cold open finds Batman crash landing on an alien slaver ship with his sole purpose being: beat up the main slaver guy who is the same type of alien as an opponent who beat him up on Earth. Because then he'll know how to beat that type of alien. (Again: absurd!)
Okay, okay, past that, though, Batman meets a sassy ally/lover and a humorous robot companion. And he beats the guy... but discovers that there's more battles to fight in this corner of the universe, so he sticks around for better (and for worse). Batman's journey mostly features him brooding (he literally calls himself out on it in the book), punching, and getting absolutely walloped. But perhaps the best part of Off-World is that Batman is kind of a secondary character in the narrative. Like, he's the main thrust, but he's dragging along all these other interesting characters too.
Long story short: Off-World is a Batman book that fully fits with the guy's vibe while also venturing down amazingly fun new paths. I would definitely read more in this pocket universe.
Okay, okay, past that, though, Batman meets a sassy ally/lover and a humorous robot companion. And he beats the guy... but discovers that there's more battles to fight in this corner of the universe, so he sticks around for better (and for worse). Batman's journey mostly features him brooding (he literally calls himself out on it in the book), punching, and getting absolutely walloped. But perhaps the best part of Off-World is that Batman is kind of a secondary character in the narrative. Like, he's the main thrust, but he's dragging along all these other interesting characters too.
Long story short: Off-World is a Batman book that fully fits with the guy's vibe while also venturing down amazingly fun new paths. I would definitely read more in this pocket universe.
November 5, 2025
(6 October, 2025)
My suspension of disbelief strains with this 'early' Batman story. A young Bruce Wayne, with incomprehensible motivation, goes for a ride to train for some nebulous goal.
First thing that strikes the reader is a surprisingly buff Batman, reminiscent of a more mature Dark Knight, clearly not from 'Batman: Year Two'. Then there's the art: it's messy and overwrought - the colours, the details, everything, it's just too much. What I did like is Aaron's decision to write a Batman capable of change and growth.
Batman is a force for good, any good, anywhere. Here he is more a champion for the downtrodden than a crime fighter, as his target may or may not be the legitimate authority. This adventure is a tricky one to accept as is but it really is a fun ride. The fights with the two alien behemoths (of the same species) dovetail awkwardly into each other, it's just too contrived but it does conclude the tale in an almost satisfying way.
There's someone special here too: Ione, she's a beast. Cool, tough and complicated, there's much more to her than the few glimpses we're given. No simple partner of Batman's, she's his heir (in the Slag galaxy). I hope to see her again soon.
A final note, when Batman talks to Ione:
Another good Batman story that makes one think.
My suspension of disbelief strains with this 'early' Batman story. A young Bruce Wayne, with incomprehensible motivation, goes for a ride to train for some nebulous goal.
First thing that strikes the reader is a surprisingly buff Batman, reminiscent of a more mature Dark Knight, clearly not from 'Batman: Year Two'. Then there's the art: it's messy and overwrought - the colours, the details, everything, it's just too much. What I did like is Aaron's decision to write a Batman capable of change and growth.
Batman is a force for good, any good, anywhere. Here he is more a champion for the downtrodden than a crime fighter, as his target may or may not be the legitimate authority. This adventure is a tricky one to accept as is but it really is a fun ride. The fights with the two alien behemoths (of the same species) dovetail awkwardly into each other, it's just too contrived but it does conclude the tale in an almost satisfying way.
There's someone special here too: Ione, she's a beast. Cool, tough and complicated, there's much more to her than the few glimpses we're given. No simple partner of Batman's, she's his heir (in the Slag galaxy). I hope to see her again soon.
A final note, when Batman talks to Ione:
"You're right, I don't have the first clue about any of that.He might be right about the 'being Batman' part but the rest? So-called 'universals' are difficult to define, what is he trying to say? And who, or what, gives him the right to decide? Something many persons should ponder before imposing their cultures, their views and their opinions on others (but so few do).
And I'm not here to impose the laws and customs of my homeworld."
"But some things are universal. The Blakksuns are kidnapping orphans to keep worlds in subjugation.
If I walk away from that... then I have no right being Batman."
Another good Batman story that makes one think.
November 17, 2025
Reseña de lectura de recopilatorio "One-Shot" Batman Fuera de Órbita de Panini España, que recopila la serie de seis números.
Jason Aaron ha pisado firme en DC Cómics, trabajando en versiones alternas de sus dos personajes más importantes. Batman y Superman. Con Absolute Superman, se le permite redefinir los orígenes del hombre de acero, y con Batman Fuera de Órbita, meter algo de sensibilidad de la era de plata en un entorno del murciélago con el cual él creció leyendo.
Y es que contextualizado, Batman fuera de órbita podría ser ubicado tiempo después de Batman Año Uno de Miller (según el mismo Aaron) y tomando eso en cuenta, es ver a esa versión de Batman codearse connun mundobtotalmente ajeno a lo que el pensaba enfrentar en su cruzada, pero no tan diferente en cuanto a maldad.
Y es que la Galaxia Slag, lugar donde el murciélago es llevado por razones explicadas en el librp, no es tan diferente de la Gotham que conocemos, pero no es su Gotham, a la que él quiere regresar.
Batman es retratado como un personaje mentalmente enfocado, quizas de manera muy enfermiza, a su cruzada, pero que por este desvío, tendrá que ponerla a un lado para convertirse en el libertador de este nuevo mundo, de la única manera funcional en los cómics: a puño limpio.
Y esto lo hará para llegar a la cabeza del problema, el gran enemigo que Aaron tiene desde su tiempo en Thor y que ahora usa en DC: las megacorporaciones y la minería.
Sí al igual que Roxxon en Thor, Lazarus en Absolute Superman, aquí le cambiamos el nombre y el rostro y es el mismo arquetipo.
Pero al final aunque puede sentirse repetitivo para el que lo apaña, esto es solo una excusa para que la verdadera estrella del libro, el artista Doug Mankhe, nos regale unas ilustraciones de Batman en el espacio, dignas de una portada de disco de metal.
Este libro es una recomendación para aquellos que les guste ver reinterpretaciones del personaje con un toque más desubicado, o fanaticos de su excelente ilustrador. No pretende cambiar el canon del personaje, sólo una historia paralela para complacer a un autor que entra en este universo queriendo hacer algo "loco" en su primer intento.
Jason Aaron ha pisado firme en DC Cómics, trabajando en versiones alternas de sus dos personajes más importantes. Batman y Superman. Con Absolute Superman, se le permite redefinir los orígenes del hombre de acero, y con Batman Fuera de Órbita, meter algo de sensibilidad de la era de plata en un entorno del murciélago con el cual él creció leyendo.
Y es que contextualizado, Batman fuera de órbita podría ser ubicado tiempo después de Batman Año Uno de Miller (según el mismo Aaron) y tomando eso en cuenta, es ver a esa versión de Batman codearse connun mundobtotalmente ajeno a lo que el pensaba enfrentar en su cruzada, pero no tan diferente en cuanto a maldad.
Y es que la Galaxia Slag, lugar donde el murciélago es llevado por razones explicadas en el librp, no es tan diferente de la Gotham que conocemos, pero no es su Gotham, a la que él quiere regresar.
Batman es retratado como un personaje mentalmente enfocado, quizas de manera muy enfermiza, a su cruzada, pero que por este desvío, tendrá que ponerla a un lado para convertirse en el libertador de este nuevo mundo, de la única manera funcional en los cómics: a puño limpio.
Y esto lo hará para llegar a la cabeza del problema, el gran enemigo que Aaron tiene desde su tiempo en Thor y que ahora usa en DC: las megacorporaciones y la minería.
Sí al igual que Roxxon en Thor, Lazarus en Absolute Superman, aquí le cambiamos el nombre y el rostro y es el mismo arquetipo.
Pero al final aunque puede sentirse repetitivo para el que lo apaña, esto es solo una excusa para que la verdadera estrella del libro, el artista Doug Mankhe, nos regale unas ilustraciones de Batman en el espacio, dignas de una portada de disco de metal.
Este libro es una recomendación para aquellos que les guste ver reinterpretaciones del personaje con un toque más desubicado, o fanaticos de su excelente ilustrador. No pretende cambiar el canon del personaje, sólo una historia paralela para complacer a un autor que entra en este universo queriendo hacer algo "loco" en su primer intento.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2025
This review will point out the many times I have been wrong about this book.
1. Jason Aaron can't write superhero stories - I know Jason Aaron from reading the critically acclaimed series Scalped and Southern Bastards. When he did his run on Thor I was impressed. After that I picked up other of his superhero comics like The Avengers, Ghost Rider, Wolverine & The X-Men, and Doctor Strange. I was disappointed.
I was wrong.
"Batman: Off-World" is Batman at his gritty best and captures the true essence of Batman.
2. Batman in outer space will not work -
A fish out of water story involving Batman in outer space seemed so ridiculous to me.
I was wrong.
Jason Aaron is at his best writing dirt-gritty pulpy noir like stories and Batman: Off-World is no exception. The scenery may have shifted from Gotham to outer space but everything that we know and love about Batman is all there. In fact this book shows how much of a badass Batman truly is!
Boy, was I wrong about Jason Aaron!
The icing on the cake is the magnificent art work of Doug Mahnke who compliments Jason Aaron's writing style very well. You can almost sense the copper smell of blood and the charge of burnt ozone in the air.
There are two scenes in this book that made me clap and yell out "Holey Moley!".
I won't ruin it for you. Pick up the book and enjoy it for yourself.
Highly recommended!
1. Jason Aaron can't write superhero stories - I know Jason Aaron from reading the critically acclaimed series Scalped and Southern Bastards. When he did his run on Thor I was impressed. After that I picked up other of his superhero comics like The Avengers, Ghost Rider, Wolverine & The X-Men, and Doctor Strange. I was disappointed.
I was wrong.
"Batman: Off-World" is Batman at his gritty best and captures the true essence of Batman.
2. Batman in outer space will not work -
A fish out of water story involving Batman in outer space seemed so ridiculous to me.
I was wrong.
Jason Aaron is at his best writing dirt-gritty pulpy noir like stories and Batman: Off-World is no exception. The scenery may have shifted from Gotham to outer space but everything that we know and love about Batman is all there. In fact this book shows how much of a badass Batman truly is!
Boy, was I wrong about Jason Aaron!
The icing on the cake is the magnificent art work of Doug Mahnke who compliments Jason Aaron's writing style very well. You can almost sense the copper smell of blood and the charge of burnt ozone in the air.
There are two scenes in this book that made me clap and yell out "Holey Moley!".
I won't ruin it for you. Pick up the book and enjoy it for yourself.
Highly recommended!
April 13, 2025
A young Batman travels the stars to prepare for the universe's threats. I enjoyed the story, the art, and especially Batman's characterization. Maybe not quite up there with the best Batman stories of all time, but it is a really solid Batman story, and it bridges the gap between the standard street-level Gotham stories and how Batman is able to deal with the greater threats in Justice League stories.
And Punch Bot is great.
And Punch Bot is great.
Read
November 25, 2025Early career Batman goes to space to train how to fight aliens. So fucking cool. Just cool shit after cool shit. Illustrated by Doug Mahnke, the professor of bad ass shit. Batman and a hot alien lead a workers revolt. Bat space-suit. Batman fights the biggest wolf in a pack of space wolves and fights so hard that the space wolf respects him and they become friends and the wolf joins the workers revolt.
“You. The Alpha. Just you. THE FEAST ENDS HERE!”
“You. The Alpha. Just you. THE FEAST ENDS HERE!”
April 30, 2025
Deep space. A crew’s vessel is alerted to an alien intruder onboard. The alien is tricksy, zips around the spacecraft, picking off its crew one by one. The alien is called… Batman?
So here he is, at long last: Jason Aaron has written a Batman book! At least if you’re a fan of Aaron’s, as well as Batman, like me, then that’s pretty big because you’ve also been waiting years for this. What I don’t think anyone expected was Aaron’s first Batman book to be basically a Green Lantern comic with Batman in the lead and no magic ring-bearers in sight!
And yet… doing the unexpected, instead of another Batman/Joker thing, is kinda cool and Batman: Off-World is also fun at times and overall quite decent too.
The main question everyone’s going to have is: what the Batman Odyssey is Batman doing in deep space?! And there is a direct answer to that but I also noticed other things like the names of the characters - that Steppenwolf-lookalike on the cover is someone called Captain Syyn (there’s nothing New Gods here) and his boss, Lady Wrath, is one half of a space vampire duo called The Blakksun Twins, who run a space mining company that ostensibly deals in genocide!
Here’s a snippet of the dialogue Aaron writes for Batman:
“I was not raised in combat. I chose it. I wake every day still bleeding from the night’s battles… and I choose war. All over again.”
Batman’s companions on this adventure are a hot Tamaranian stormchaser (bounty hunter) called Ione, a giant barbed wolf, which is a giant wolf made of barbed metal, and Punch Bot, a robot that likes to get punched. There’s a Czarnian-looking Hawkman-esque character called The Thanagarian. And everyone is punching everyone, all. The. Time.
So what is Batman doing in space? It doesn’t matter. Jason Aaron is turning up the macho camp to RAW, going full-on WWE with this book. That’s all it is. In addition to throwing Batman into a Green Lantern-background Royal Rumble with a bunch of brawny aliens, let’s have classic rock album covers as walking characters with a story reminiscent of the spirit of death metal. I feel like Aaron shouldn’t have even bothered explaining why Batman was in space, or doubled-down on the silly.
Speaking of Green Lantern, Doug Mahnke is the perfect choice to draw this comic given that he is one of the best Green Lantern artists of all time and Batman: Off-World looks stunning because of his supreme talent and extensive experience of drawing very similar stories for years at DC.
I won’t say I wasn’t entertained - I’ve never read a Batman book like this, and I’ve read a lot of Batman - and there’s plenty to enjoy. The novelty of the premise, the over-the-top-ness of everything, the art, Punch Bot. But the story does get a bit repetitive after a couple of issues, like Aaron can’t quite get out of third gear. It’s just Batman punching an escalating succession of death metal caricatures and it never becomes anything else. Which is also true to the WWE-ness of it all, but also shows the limitations of that type of entertainment.
Batman: Off-World is both off its nut and a shallow adventure too. It’s not even attempting to be remotely deep but I prefer Batman stories to have more substance than this, so, while it’s not a bad comic, it’s a little boring in how relentlessly over-the-top it is. I grew out of wrestling years ago (it was called the WWF when I was a kid - that’s how long ago it was!) but if you’ve ever wanted to read a WWE-style Batman comic set in space, here it is - fill yer boots! Still, glad that Jason Aaron is at DC now and I’m looking forward to reading more of his work in the DCU.
So here he is, at long last: Jason Aaron has written a Batman book! At least if you’re a fan of Aaron’s, as well as Batman, like me, then that’s pretty big because you’ve also been waiting years for this. What I don’t think anyone expected was Aaron’s first Batman book to be basically a Green Lantern comic with Batman in the lead and no magic ring-bearers in sight!
And yet… doing the unexpected, instead of another Batman/Joker thing, is kinda cool and Batman: Off-World is also fun at times and overall quite decent too.
The main question everyone’s going to have is: what the Batman Odyssey is Batman doing in deep space?! And there is a direct answer to that but I also noticed other things like the names of the characters - that Steppenwolf-lookalike on the cover is someone called Captain Syyn (there’s nothing New Gods here) and his boss, Lady Wrath, is one half of a space vampire duo called The Blakksun Twins, who run a space mining company that ostensibly deals in genocide!
Here’s a snippet of the dialogue Aaron writes for Batman:
“I was not raised in combat. I chose it. I wake every day still bleeding from the night’s battles… and I choose war. All over again.”
Batman’s companions on this adventure are a hot Tamaranian stormchaser (bounty hunter) called Ione, a giant barbed wolf, which is a giant wolf made of barbed metal, and Punch Bot, a robot that likes to get punched. There’s a Czarnian-looking Hawkman-esque character called The Thanagarian. And everyone is punching everyone, all. The. Time.
So what is Batman doing in space? It doesn’t matter. Jason Aaron is turning up the macho camp to RAW, going full-on WWE with this book. That’s all it is. In addition to throwing Batman into a Green Lantern-background Royal Rumble with a bunch of brawny aliens, let’s have classic rock album covers as walking characters with a story reminiscent of the spirit of death metal. I feel like Aaron shouldn’t have even bothered explaining why Batman was in space, or doubled-down on the silly.
Speaking of Green Lantern, Doug Mahnke is the perfect choice to draw this comic given that he is one of the best Green Lantern artists of all time and Batman: Off-World looks stunning because of his supreme talent and extensive experience of drawing very similar stories for years at DC.
I won’t say I wasn’t entertained - I’ve never read a Batman book like this, and I’ve read a lot of Batman - and there’s plenty to enjoy. The novelty of the premise, the over-the-top-ness of everything, the art, Punch Bot. But the story does get a bit repetitive after a couple of issues, like Aaron can’t quite get out of third gear. It’s just Batman punching an escalating succession of death metal caricatures and it never becomes anything else. Which is also true to the WWE-ness of it all, but also shows the limitations of that type of entertainment.
Batman: Off-World is both off its nut and a shallow adventure too. It’s not even attempting to be remotely deep but I prefer Batman stories to have more substance than this, so, while it’s not a bad comic, it’s a little boring in how relentlessly over-the-top it is. I grew out of wrestling years ago (it was called the WWF when I was a kid - that’s how long ago it was!) but if you’ve ever wanted to read a WWE-style Batman comic set in space, here it is - fill yer boots! Still, glad that Jason Aaron is at DC now and I’m looking forward to reading more of his work in the DCU.
September 30, 2025
A Cosmic Trial of Will and Ego
Batman: Off-World launches the Dark Knight into a surreal, intergalactic gauntlet that’s equal parts pulp adventure and psychological crucible. The premise is wild: a younger Bruce Wayne, still sharpening his edge, is humiliated by a visiting alien warrior who thrashes him with ease on a rainy Gotham rooftop. But instead of retreating, Batman does what only Batman would do—he buys a spaceship and sets course for the alien’s home galaxy to train, fight, and ultimately prove he’s better.
That captures the obsessive drive at the heart of this story. It’s not about justice or duty—it’s about ego, grit, and the mythic hunger to overcome. Writer Jason Aaron taps into Batman’s primal core: the relentless need to dominate through preparation, intellect, and sheer willpower. Artist Doug Mahnke amplifies this with kinetic, brutal visuals that make every alien brawl feel like a cosmic rite of passage.
The narrative throws Bruce into a series of escalating trials: battling warlords, supernatural entities, and bizarre creatures across hostile worlds. One standout moment features a fight alongside—and against—a mechanical wolf on a dead moon, a clash that feels like a fever dream of sci-fi and folklore. He floats through space without a suit, romances a fierce alien warrior, and navigates interstellar politics with the same stoic intensity he brings to Gotham’s alleys. It’s absurd, yes—but it’s also exhilarating.
This isn’t detective noir or grounded realism. It’s John Carter of Mars meets The Dark Knight Returns, with a copious dash of Heavy Metal magazine. The story leans into its pulp roots with gusto, embracing the mythic absurdity of Batman as a lone human challenging the gods of other worlds.
The only drawback? The release schedule. The series suffered massive delays, with months between issues and over a year before the final chapter arrived. That fractured momentum dulled the emotional arc and made it harder to stay invested. And the unresolved romance was disappointing.
Still, Batman: Off-World is a recommended read for fans who enjoy seeing Bruce Wayne pushed to mythic extremes. It’s a cosmic ego trip, a survival saga, and a testament to Batman’s unyielding will. Not typical Batman—but unmistakably him.
Batman: Off-World launches the Dark Knight into a surreal, intergalactic gauntlet that’s equal parts pulp adventure and psychological crucible. The premise is wild: a younger Bruce Wayne, still sharpening his edge, is humiliated by a visiting alien warrior who thrashes him with ease on a rainy Gotham rooftop. But instead of retreating, Batman does what only Batman would do—he buys a spaceship and sets course for the alien’s home galaxy to train, fight, and ultimately prove he’s better.
“He didn’t just lose a fight—he launched himself across galaxies to win it back.”
That captures the obsessive drive at the heart of this story. It’s not about justice or duty—it’s about ego, grit, and the mythic hunger to overcome. Writer Jason Aaron taps into Batman’s primal core: the relentless need to dominate through preparation, intellect, and sheer willpower. Artist Doug Mahnke amplifies this with kinetic, brutal visuals that make every alien brawl feel like a cosmic rite of passage.
The narrative throws Bruce into a series of escalating trials: battling warlords, supernatural entities, and bizarre creatures across hostile worlds. One standout moment features a fight alongside—and against—a mechanical wolf on a dead moon, a clash that feels like a fever dream of sci-fi and folklore. He floats through space without a suit, romances a fierce alien warrior, and navigates interstellar politics with the same stoic intensity he brings to Gotham’s alleys. It’s absurd, yes—but it’s also exhilarating.
This isn’t detective noir or grounded realism. It’s John Carter of Mars meets The Dark Knight Returns, with a copious dash of Heavy Metal magazine. The story leans into its pulp roots with gusto, embracing the mythic absurdity of Batman as a lone human challenging the gods of other worlds.
The only drawback? The release schedule. The series suffered massive delays, with months between issues and over a year before the final chapter arrived. That fractured momentum dulled the emotional arc and made it harder to stay invested. And the unresolved romance was disappointing.
Still, Batman: Off-World is a recommended read for fans who enjoy seeing Bruce Wayne pushed to mythic extremes. It’s a cosmic ego trip, a survival saga, and a testament to Batman’s unyielding will. Not typical Batman—but unmistakably him.
June 24, 2025
Jason Aaron and Doug Mahnke send the Dark Knight to space in their miniseries Batman: Off-World. A typical rooftop clash in Gotham goes awry when a mob boss introduces a ringer - an alien. The red-skinned behemoth from light years away manages to beat Batman, leaving the hero broken in a dumpster. Determined to learn how to beat his new adversary, Batman launches himself headlong into the alien’s Slag Galaxy to learn new ways of war. Aided by a defective punching robot and a disgraced bounty hunter, the so-called “Bat-Man” storms into the heart of an interstellar conflict. What began as a quest of vengeance turns into a revolution, as the bat symbol inspires worlds to rise against the despotic Blakksun twins. Jason Aaron impossibly makes a book about Batman in space engaging. Aaron capably strips the character down to his core as an agent of justice, and then lets the Bat loose on alien species of all kinds. The strengths include the cast of characters - allies and enemies alike - which quickly display entertaining personalities that fit with the DC mythos. Aaron’s plot, though it may lean heavily on the unbeatable trope of the Dark Knight, manages to offer enough fun twists and turns to remain likable. The gritty art chores from Doug Mahnke is eclectic; the rugged alien species, cluttered warships, and overall dirty feel perfectly captures this new aspect of the DC Universe. Batman: Off-World may seem spacey, but it is a grounded reminder reminder of how much fun comic books can be.
July 7, 2025
The story launches into action and doesn’t slow down as Batman takes to the stars. In an unfamiliar situation and out of his depth, Batman has to start all over, training to take on the Blackksun Mining Company. A lot of the story runs on “rule of cool” logic and there is something really satisfying about seeing Batman take his symbol to the stars and bringing terror to alien criminals. This is still a Batman story even if it is set in space and Jason Aaron understands what makes the character work.
August 14, 2025
Basically it is Planet Hulk Batman. Mileage will vary depending on how rad and/or metal you find the story.
For a book that bills itself as the now third or fourth version of Year Two of Batman, I never really buy it as that. Other than the few times that Batman references that he has been only doing this for a year, you never really get the sense that he is still green. If it wasn't for those references, Off-World could easily be slotted in to just about any point in Batman's history.
For a book that bills itself as the now third or fourth version of Year Two of Batman, I never really buy it as that. Other than the few times that Batman references that he has been only doing this for a year, you never really get the sense that he is still green. If it wasn't for those references, Off-World could easily be slotted in to just about any point in Batman's history.
Want to read
May 30, 2025***WHO SUCKED ME IN?***
Willow Talks Books on YouTube in their 'All the books I read in May' video published on 30 mei 2025
''a fun sci-fi adventure.'' I think Batman stories that are standalones are my sweet point when it comes to Batman.
Willow Talks Books on YouTube in their 'All the books I read in May' video published on 30 mei 2025
''a fun sci-fi adventure.'' I think Batman stories that are standalones are my sweet point when it comes to Batman.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews