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Batman: Universe (2019) #1-6
Batman Universe
In this all-new original story written by Brian Michael Bendis, Batman is pushed to his limit as he sets off in search of an item with the potential to destroy the universe as we know it! Batman isn't the only one looking for this item though. It's a race to the finish line with the fate of the universe hanging in the balance!
The Riddler has stolen a priceless jeweled egg, and Batman is on his trail, chasing him from Gotham to Gorilla City and points beyond. But when Batman catches up with the crook, he realizes something is wrong with his old foe. The egg is possessed of some strange power that is scrambling Riddler's brain. The clue to what this is may lie in who hired Riddler to steal the egg: Vandal Savage. What does the immortal mastermind want with it? Batman's quest is like a tour of the DC Universe, spanning space and even time. Guest stars include Green Lantern, Green Arrow, Deathstroke, Jonah Hex and more!
Brian Michael Bendis (Action Comics, Young Justice, Pearl) and Nick Derington (Doom Patrol) weave a tale that leads the Dark Knight on a wild-goose chase across the DC Universe, tracking down a mysterious artifact that contains the literal key to humanity's survival!
This collects Batman: Universe #1-6.
The Riddler has stolen a priceless jeweled egg, and Batman is on his trail, chasing him from Gotham to Gorilla City and points beyond. But when Batman catches up with the crook, he realizes something is wrong with his old foe. The egg is possessed of some strange power that is scrambling Riddler's brain. The clue to what this is may lie in who hired Riddler to steal the egg: Vandal Savage. What does the immortal mastermind want with it? Batman's quest is like a tour of the DC Universe, spanning space and even time. Guest stars include Green Lantern, Green Arrow, Deathstroke, Jonah Hex and more!
Brian Michael Bendis (Action Comics, Young Justice, Pearl) and Nick Derington (Doom Patrol) weave a tale that leads the Dark Knight on a wild-goose chase across the DC Universe, tracking down a mysterious artifact that contains the literal key to humanity's survival!
This collects Batman: Universe #1-6.
176 pages, Hardcover
First published March 24, 2020
27 people are currently reading
567 people want to read
About the author
Brian Michael Bendis
4,417 books2,569 followersA comic book writer and erstwhile artist. He has won critical acclaim (including five Eisner Awards) and is one of the most successful writers working in mainstream comics. For over eight years Bendis’s books have consistently sat in the top five best sellers on the nationwide comic and graphic novel sales charts.
Though he started as a writer and artist of independent noir fiction series, he shot to stardom as a writer of Marvel Comics' superhero books, particularly Ultimate Spider-Man.
Bendis first entered the comic world with the "Jinx" line of crime comics in 1995. This line has spawned the graphic novels Goldfish, Fire, Jinx, Torso (with Marc Andreyko), and Total Sell Out. Bendis is writing the film version of Jinx for Universal Pictures with Oscar-winner Charlize Theron attached to star and produce.
Bendis’s other projects include the Harvey, Eisner, and Eagle Award-nominated Powers (with Michael Avon Oeming) originally from Image Comics, now published by Marvel's new creator-owned imprint Icon Comics, and the Hollywood tell-all Fortune and Glory from Oni Press, both of which received an "A" from Entertainment Weekly.
Bendis is one of the premiere architects of Marvel's "Ultimate" line: comics specifically created for the new generation of comic readers. He has written every issue of Ultimate Spider-Man since its best-selling launch, and has also written for Ultimate Fantastic Four and Ultimate X-Men, as well as every issue of Ultimate Marvel Team-Up, Ultimate Origin and Ultimate Six.
Brian is currently helming a renaissance for Marvel’s AVENGERS franchise by writing both New Avengers and Mighty Avengers along with the successful ‘event’ projects House Of M, Secret War, and this summer’s Secret Invasion.
He has also previously done work on Daredevil, Alias, and The Pulse.
Though he started as a writer and artist of independent noir fiction series, he shot to stardom as a writer of Marvel Comics' superhero books, particularly Ultimate Spider-Man.
Bendis first entered the comic world with the "Jinx" line of crime comics in 1995. This line has spawned the graphic novels Goldfish, Fire, Jinx, Torso (with Marc Andreyko), and Total Sell Out. Bendis is writing the film version of Jinx for Universal Pictures with Oscar-winner Charlize Theron attached to star and produce.
Bendis’s other projects include the Harvey, Eisner, and Eagle Award-nominated Powers (with Michael Avon Oeming) originally from Image Comics, now published by Marvel's new creator-owned imprint Icon Comics, and the Hollywood tell-all Fortune and Glory from Oni Press, both of which received an "A" from Entertainment Weekly.
Bendis is one of the premiere architects of Marvel's "Ultimate" line: comics specifically created for the new generation of comic readers. He has written every issue of Ultimate Spider-Man since its best-selling launch, and has also written for Ultimate Fantastic Four and Ultimate X-Men, as well as every issue of Ultimate Marvel Team-Up, Ultimate Origin and Ultimate Six.
Brian is currently helming a renaissance for Marvel’s AVENGERS franchise by writing both New Avengers and Mighty Avengers along with the successful ‘event’ projects House Of M, Secret War, and this summer’s Secret Invasion.
He has also previously done work on Daredevil, Alias, and The Pulse.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 245 reviews
June 20, 2020
We need more comics like this!
I wasn't sure I wanted to read another Batman story, and I really wasn't all that sure I was going to like Bendis' take on him. And I don't even know why, because I usually like Bendis' comics.
Wait. Let me rephrase: I usually like the 1st volume or so of Bendis' comics. He seems (as of recent years) to lose interest in titles kind of quickly, and the later volumes end up seeming a bit phoned in. <--I've got no empirical proof. It's just this almost subconscious reaction I have when I see his name pop up in my feed.
I shouldn't have worried. This is one of the best self-contained Batman stories I've read in a very long time. It's set outside of whateverthehell is happening right now in the DC universe.
Let me say that again.
It is set outside of any events happening in the DC universe/multiverse.
That means this is one of those unicorn comics that ANYONE can pick up and read.
And that's what I meant when I said we need more comics like this.
I get asked quite a bit to recommend graphic novels that don't require a masters' degree in Comixology to understand. And to be honest, there aren't that many.
But this?
Yup. Just plop down and read it.
It's Batman & friends.
And it could really be a story from any time past or present.
Bonus: It doesn't take itself too seriously.
Which is, frankly, a nice change for Batman.
That's not to say this is Adam West-level silly, but there is a good dose of humor sprinkled into the dialogue.
This panel with Batman dying in Crime Alley is probably my favorite.
The gist is that Batman starts out chasing the Riddler and uncovers spoilery things that could potentially change everything in the universe. <--unless he saves the day.
Because this is a Batman comic and that's the shit he does.
I loved this thing.
The team-ups were awesome, the plot was great, the art was perfect, and the dialogue was fun.
Highly Recommended!
I wasn't sure I wanted to read another Batman story, and I really wasn't all that sure I was going to like Bendis' take on him. And I don't even know why, because I usually like Bendis' comics.
Wait. Let me rephrase: I usually like the 1st volume or so of Bendis' comics. He seems (as of recent years) to lose interest in titles kind of quickly, and the later volumes end up seeming a bit phoned in. <--I've got no empirical proof. It's just this almost subconscious reaction I have when I see his name pop up in my feed.
I shouldn't have worried. This is one of the best self-contained Batman stories I've read in a very long time. It's set outside of whateverthehell is happening right now in the DC universe.
Let me say that again.
It is set outside of any events happening in the DC universe/multiverse.
That means this is one of those unicorn comics that ANYONE can pick up and read.
And that's what I meant when I said we need more comics like this.
I get asked quite a bit to recommend graphic novels that don't require a masters' degree in Comixology to understand. And to be honest, there aren't that many.
But this?
Yup. Just plop down and read it.
It's Batman & friends.
And it could really be a story from any time past or present.
Bonus: It doesn't take itself too seriously.
Which is, frankly, a nice change for Batman.
That's not to say this is Adam West-level silly, but there is a good dose of humor sprinkled into the dialogue.
This panel with Batman dying in Crime Alley is probably my favorite.
The gist is that Batman starts out chasing the Riddler and uncovers spoilery things that could potentially change everything in the universe. <--unless he saves the day.
Because this is a Batman comic and that's the shit he does.
I loved this thing.
The team-ups were awesome, the plot was great, the art was perfect, and the dialogue was fun.
Highly Recommended!
April 10, 2020
This was incredibly fun. It's basically Bendis's take on The Brave and the Bold with Batman chasing a macguffin across time and space. Nick Derington's art looks like Mike Allred and Jeff Smith had a baby. It's great and fits the fun tone Bendis has set. One of the best books Bendis has written since moving over to DC.
May 13, 2021
4.5 stars
"And of the seventeen dinner guests you have waiting for you here in stately Wayne Manor there is one lovely woman named Lorelai who is both age- and intellectually-appropriate for you." -- Alfred the butler
"There's nothing I can do about that now, Alfred. Serve the appetizer." -- Bruce 'Batman' Wayne
Did you ever have a bad day at work and something came along to help lessen that 'blah' feeling and lift your spirits? In this instance for me that would be Batman: Universe, which - despite that very generic-sounding title - was a colorful and lively adventure story. Taking a break from putting the brooding 'dark' in The Dark Knight, this jaunt has Gotham City's dedicated crimefighter on a mission to reclaim a Faberge Egg (stolen by The Riddler from the city's museum) that contains a mysterious and otherworldly source of power. Unusual for a Batman tale, the sequence of events involves a bit of time travel (which can be an overused trope, but it's handled well here) and some interplanetary hopping. Fortunately, our title character is provided skillful assistance at various moments by allies Green Arrow, Jonah Hex, Green Lantern, and Nightwing. There was a fair amount of well-written humorous bantering, some big action scenes recalling the POW! / BLAM! moments of the 60's live-action TV series, and an illustration style that was nicely reminiscent of the late, great Darwin Cooke (known for his outstandingly unique work with DC's Silver Age characters). The ending may not have quite lived up to the rest of the book but, like life itself, it was really about the journey, not about reaching the destination. This upbeat narrative would make for a great animated film.
"And of the seventeen dinner guests you have waiting for you here in stately Wayne Manor there is one lovely woman named Lorelai who is both age- and intellectually-appropriate for you." -- Alfred the butler
"There's nothing I can do about that now, Alfred. Serve the appetizer." -- Bruce 'Batman' Wayne
Did you ever have a bad day at work and something came along to help lessen that 'blah' feeling and lift your spirits? In this instance for me that would be Batman: Universe, which - despite that very generic-sounding title - was a colorful and lively adventure story. Taking a break from putting the brooding 'dark' in The Dark Knight, this jaunt has Gotham City's dedicated crimefighter on a mission to reclaim a Faberge Egg (stolen by The Riddler from the city's museum) that contains a mysterious and otherworldly source of power. Unusual for a Batman tale, the sequence of events involves a bit of time travel (which can be an overused trope, but it's handled well here) and some interplanetary hopping. Fortunately, our title character is provided skillful assistance at various moments by allies Green Arrow, Jonah Hex, Green Lantern, and Nightwing. There was a fair amount of well-written humorous bantering, some big action scenes recalling the POW! / BLAM! moments of the 60's live-action TV series, and an illustration style that was nicely reminiscent of the late, great Darwin Cooke (known for his outstandingly unique work with DC's Silver Age characters). The ending may not have quite lived up to the rest of the book but, like life itself, it was really about the journey, not about reaching the destination. This upbeat narrative would make for a great animated film.
August 22, 2020
Batman and a villain are chasing after a magic egg across space and time - who gonna git it first?!
So Bendis’ first Batman book is kinda crap unfortunately. It’s a simple chase story that’s never very interesting and serves as an excuse for Bendis to do a sort of unofficial tour of parts of the DC Universe (hence the subtitle).
Watch Batman run through: Gorilla City, Thanagar, Dinosaur Island, and the Old West (it sounds like I’m listing theme park attractions!) while he cosplays in Thanagarian battle armour and as a cowboy! In addition to the exotic locations, Batman encounters a myriad of characters like the Riddler, Deathstroke, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Cyborg, Jonah Hex, Nightwing, and the Green Lantern Corps.
All of the above reads like the filler it is - it’s just background stuff forced into the foreground because there’s nothing to the main story. The paper-thin story isn’t exciting to read and ended in the same way the story had been up to that point: consequence-free and safely within the realm of the status quo. It’s a very boring read.
Bendis’ Batman is far too chatty, even discounting the soliloquoy-esque plot summary pages at the start of each issue (really getting to hate those), which only underlines the goofy tone of the book. He writes a good Nightwing though which makes sense because Dick Grayson is the chatty/jokey one, not Bruce Wayne.
Nick Derington’s art is fine in general but it’s not anything I’m crazy about. I liked how he drew group fight scenes like the Riddlers stuff at the start and the Batman/Nightwing team-up though I really hated his polygon-y Batmobile - so ugly!
Too much fan service and too shallow a story, it might be a good one for kids but Batman: Universe didn’t do much for me.
So Bendis’ first Batman book is kinda crap unfortunately. It’s a simple chase story that’s never very interesting and serves as an excuse for Bendis to do a sort of unofficial tour of parts of the DC Universe (hence the subtitle).
Watch Batman run through: Gorilla City, Thanagar, Dinosaur Island, and the Old West (it sounds like I’m listing theme park attractions!) while he cosplays in Thanagarian battle armour and as a cowboy! In addition to the exotic locations, Batman encounters a myriad of characters like the Riddler, Deathstroke, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Cyborg, Jonah Hex, Nightwing, and the Green Lantern Corps.
All of the above reads like the filler it is - it’s just background stuff forced into the foreground because there’s nothing to the main story. The paper-thin story isn’t exciting to read and ended in the same way the story had been up to that point: consequence-free and safely within the realm of the status quo. It’s a very boring read.
Bendis’ Batman is far too chatty, even discounting the soliloquoy-esque plot summary pages at the start of each issue (really getting to hate those), which only underlines the goofy tone of the book. He writes a good Nightwing though which makes sense because Dick Grayson is the chatty/jokey one, not Bruce Wayne.
Nick Derington’s art is fine in general but it’s not anything I’m crazy about. I liked how he drew group fight scenes like the Riddlers stuff at the start and the Batman/Nightwing team-up though I really hated his polygon-y Batmobile - so ugly!
Too much fan service and too shallow a story, it might be a good one for kids but Batman: Universe didn’t do much for me.
August 11, 2020
Let’s just get this out of the way: Bendis clearly had leftover jokes from his year and years of writing Spider-Man and was desperate to use them, so he turned the world’s greatest detective into comedy’s lamest defective (hey-oh!) at points throughout this story.
That said, this is just good fun. Bendis hasn’t lost his touch when it comes to mixing big, crazy events with quiet moments of entertaining, rat-a-tat dialogue, and Derington’s art is an absolute delight. There are a couple of splash pages and sequences that made my jaw drop.
Well worth a read if you want some slam-bang Batman craziness without getting bogged down in a bunch of head-scratching continuity.
That said, this is just good fun. Bendis hasn’t lost his touch when it comes to mixing big, crazy events with quiet moments of entertaining, rat-a-tat dialogue, and Derington’s art is an absolute delight. There are a couple of splash pages and sequences that made my jaw drop.
Well worth a read if you want some slam-bang Batman craziness without getting bogged down in a bunch of head-scratching continuity.
July 29, 2020
When a Faberge Egg is stolen from the Gotham City museum, Batman is on the case, a case that will take him across time, space, death, and reality...
I'm not normally a modern Batman guy and I'm not a Bendis fan either but the premise of this one sounded interesting and Nick Derington's art is great so I gave it a shot. There will be a couple spoilers so read at your own risk.
The story itself feels like a bunch of Bob Haney Brave and the Bold issues strung together. Batman teams up with a variety of guest stars on the trail of the McGuffin, in this case, whatever is inside that damn Faberge Egg once owned by Jonah Hex. Things escalate to a ridiculous level and everything is kosher again by the end of the story. It's really hard not spoiling great whacks of this.
Bendis weaves a surprisingly fast paced tale here. It does not feel like three issues of story fed through a taffy puller like Infamous Iron Man did to me. This one was balls to the wall all the time. It was also extremely accessible. I didn't feel the burden of decades of continuity on my back as I read it and was able to enjoy myself quite a bit.
And now we come to the turd in the punch bowl. Bendis cannot get out of his own way with the quips. I get that his writing is rooted in detective fiction but the constant back and forth banter cuts the legs out from under any sense of urgency or jeopardy the book may have had. SPOILER should not be making jokes with Batman while trying to kill him! And nothing deflates an impending nerd boner like making a quip right after the most majestic part of the book!
I was somewhat familiar with Nick Derington's art before this but this is where I became a Derington fan. His art has that minimalist yet modern feel I can't get enough of, like Alex Toth's modern equivalent. He attempts some daring things with his page designs and is able to stick the landing on most of them. Top notch art.
Despite it's flaws, Batman: Universe is a fast-paced, fun Batman outing. I'd read another Bendis-Derington Batman book. Four out of five Faberge Eggs.
I'm not normally a modern Batman guy and I'm not a Bendis fan either but the premise of this one sounded interesting and Nick Derington's art is great so I gave it a shot. There will be a couple spoilers so read at your own risk.
The story itself feels like a bunch of Bob Haney Brave and the Bold issues strung together. Batman teams up with a variety of guest stars on the trail of the McGuffin, in this case, whatever is inside that damn Faberge Egg once owned by Jonah Hex. Things escalate to a ridiculous level and everything is kosher again by the end of the story. It's really hard not spoiling great whacks of this.
Bendis weaves a surprisingly fast paced tale here. It does not feel like three issues of story fed through a taffy puller like Infamous Iron Man did to me. This one was balls to the wall all the time. It was also extremely accessible. I didn't feel the burden of decades of continuity on my back as I read it and was able to enjoy myself quite a bit.
And now we come to the turd in the punch bowl. Bendis cannot get out of his own way with the quips. I get that his writing is rooted in detective fiction but the constant back and forth banter cuts the legs out from under any sense of urgency or jeopardy the book may have had. SPOILER should not be making jokes with Batman while trying to kill him! And nothing deflates an impending nerd boner like making a quip right after the most majestic part of the book!
I was somewhat familiar with Nick Derington's art before this but this is where I became a Derington fan. His art has that minimalist yet modern feel I can't get enough of, like Alex Toth's modern equivalent. He attempts some daring things with his page designs and is able to stick the landing on most of them. Top notch art.
Despite it's flaws, Batman: Universe is a fast-paced, fun Batman outing. I'd read another Bendis-Derington Batman book. Four out of five Faberge Eggs.
December 7, 2019
YES. This is great. This is a Batman book, but in practice Bendis gets to play with a huge part of the DC universe here, from Green Lantern to Jonah Hex to Vandal Savage, and it’s just enormous amounts of fun. This has got to be the best thing he wrote at DC so far, and that’s saying something. And Nick Derington’s art is an absolute delight that radiates the joy and excitement of the story. This is the kind of DC book I’ve always wanted to read. Adding to my Bendis wishlist: a Green Lantern (possibly teamed with Green Arrow) book drawn by Derington. Come on, it needs to happen.
April 7, 2020
This was one of the best Batman books in forever.
See the thing is, this is light hearted, fun, and has Bruce being AMAZING for once.
No but really, this sounds simple enough. Bruce finds a egg, something is in it, and it has magical powers. So on this mission he teams up with Green Arrow, Green Lantern, and Nightwing. He travels through time, into space, underground, and more. This is really a universe adventure and it's SO GODDAMN FUN.
Brian Michael Bendis is firing on all cylinders here with letting this be super fun. Bruce has been writing in a way of being compassionate to his friends and co-workers fighting crime while also being badass. This book has so many great inside jokes, with a lot of throwbacks, and plenty of amazing action. Oh the art, man oh man, it's SO damn good. Well worth reading for the art alone, but the story rocks too.
I can keep going on and on but honestly, just read this book. Well worth every single penny. A 5 out of 5.
See the thing is, this is light hearted, fun, and has Bruce being AMAZING for once.
No but really, this sounds simple enough. Bruce finds a egg, something is in it, and it has magical powers. So on this mission he teams up with Green Arrow, Green Lantern, and Nightwing. He travels through time, into space, underground, and more. This is really a universe adventure and it's SO GODDAMN FUN.
Brian Michael Bendis is firing on all cylinders here with letting this be super fun. Bruce has been writing in a way of being compassionate to his friends and co-workers fighting crime while also being badass. This book has so many great inside jokes, with a lot of throwbacks, and plenty of amazing action. Oh the art, man oh man, it's SO damn good. Well worth reading for the art alone, but the story rocks too.
I can keep going on and on but honestly, just read this book. Well worth every single penny. A 5 out of 5.
March 5, 2022
This was so fun omg!
I loved this one! Its pretty much Batman after a faberge egg which Vandal savage also wants and well its Batman vs him across time and space and we see Bruce going after riddler first, then teaming with Green Arrow and then the thing with Hal as they travel to Dinosaur island then in the past to team up with Jonax hex and also Batman goes to Thanagar and Gorilla city which was crazy and fun and his battle with Savage there was so good omg! Plus his team-up with Hal is one of my faves here! (Hal is my fav so :) ) and well then finally in the present its Bruce vs Savage and maybe a certain unique ring and the secrets of the faberge egg are revealed here!
Its a roller coaster of fun ride and we need more comics like this and its so fun, Bruce on fun adventures teaming with the DCU characters and I love Dragotta's art here, its so good and unique and really makes for a terrific read. It compliments Bendis zany dialogues and hilarious moments and yep its very light-hearted and I will recommend it to anybody who just wants to have a fun evening read!
I loved this one! Its pretty much Batman after a faberge egg which Vandal savage also wants and well its Batman vs him across time and space and we see Bruce going after riddler first, then teaming with Green Arrow and then the thing with Hal as they travel to Dinosaur island then in the past to team up with Jonax hex and also Batman goes to Thanagar and Gorilla city which was crazy and fun and his battle with Savage there was so good omg! Plus his team-up with Hal is one of my faves here! (Hal is my fav so :) ) and well then finally in the present its Bruce vs Savage and maybe a certain unique ring and the secrets of the faberge egg are revealed here!
Its a roller coaster of fun ride and we need more comics like this and its so fun, Bruce on fun adventures teaming with the DCU characters and I love Dragotta's art here, its so good and unique and really makes for a terrific read. It compliments Bendis zany dialogues and hilarious moments and yep its very light-hearted and I will recommend it to anybody who just wants to have a fun evening read!
March 14, 2020
You know Bendis is doing something right when I wanted to read this more as the issues came out then the main Batman book. In fact, after reading Tom King's Superman: Up in the Sky, can the two of them just switch places in the books they write? This books was really good and was a fun globetrotting adventure with Batman. Art was very cartoony which worked for the vibe of this book very well. Highly recommend to Batman fans!
July 25, 2021
For the most part, I tend to like Bendis. He does entertaining action and his humor works well for many comics from Spiderman to Avengers. Is that particular style suitable for Batman? Well when I saw this hanging out at the comic store, I had to get it to find out.
The result is this rather odd volume. The humor gives this a feel of the era of more campy Batman comics. It starts off as a Riddler story. Batman must stop the Riddler, but finds there is more to this than a standard Riddler heist.
This is where the story really gets out there. With a cast of characters ranging from Vandal Savage to Jonah Hex and in locales as strange as Dinosaur Island and Gorilla City. There's even a power ring and the GLC involved. All in a Batman story that starts with the Riddler.
While not great, it is certainly an ambitious story. The more humorous style was interesting in a one shot but doubt would be appropriate for a long run. The art is pretty cool. I liked the style and it works well with this story.
Finally, I just have to point out the immense stupidity of the conversation Batman has with Jonah Hex's inbred great-granddaughter, the imbecile mechanic in the po-dunk town. This fool actually says she has a Fabergé Egg and it was valued at $15 million but she gave it away since she couldn't find anyone to pay $15 Million. Meanwhile, Batman who as Bruce Wayne should know better, just sits there like a lump. Ummmm first of all there are only 57 surviving Fabergé eggs. Thus, technically, they are priceless. Second of all, of COURSE you're not going to find anyone with that kind of money in the middle of po-dunk ville. But, if you weren't such an idiot, you'd have placed it with Sotheby's International who would have sold it, after verifying it. BTW the last Fabergé egg at auction? It sold for $33 million. Just saying. Stupidity in writing ought to be pointed out.
The result is this rather odd volume. The humor gives this a feel of the era of more campy Batman comics. It starts off as a Riddler story. Batman must stop the Riddler, but finds there is more to this than a standard Riddler heist.
This is where the story really gets out there. With a cast of characters ranging from Vandal Savage to Jonah Hex and in locales as strange as Dinosaur Island and Gorilla City. There's even a power ring and the GLC involved. All in a Batman story that starts with the Riddler.
While not great, it is certainly an ambitious story. The more humorous style was interesting in a one shot but doubt would be appropriate for a long run. The art is pretty cool. I liked the style and it works well with this story.
Finally, I just have to point out the immense stupidity of the conversation Batman has with Jonah Hex's inbred great-granddaughter, the imbecile mechanic in the po-dunk town. This fool actually says she has a Fabergé Egg and it was valued at $15 million but she gave it away since she couldn't find anyone to pay $15 Million. Meanwhile, Batman who as Bruce Wayne should know better, just sits there like a lump. Ummmm first of all there are only 57 surviving Fabergé eggs. Thus, technically, they are priceless. Second of all, of COURSE you're not going to find anyone with that kind of money in the middle of po-dunk ville. But, if you weren't such an idiot, you'd have placed it with Sotheby's International who would have sold it, after verifying it. BTW the last Fabergé egg at auction? It sold for $33 million. Just saying. Stupidity in writing ought to be pointed out.
April 30, 2020
I'm about the same age as Brian Michael Bendis, and this project seems to invoke the Batman team-ups from The Brave and the Bold that we probably both enjoyed as kids. The plot functions only as an excuse for Batman to wander around the DC Universe in time and space so he can cross paths with a bunch of favorite and obscure characters and locales. Pure nostalgia. Pure indulgence. Pure fun.
October 10, 2020
You can find my review on my blog by clicking here.
Batman hasn’t always been the darkest and more broody superhero of all time. Although he’s taken much more seriously nowadays, he was once a caped crusader who delivered campy humour alongside his trusted sidekick. But, sometimes, if you look in the right places, you’ll find that some creators have offered the world an interesting balance of comedy romps and detective stories (see Batman: The Brave and the Bold). Writer Brian Michael Bendis (Superman, Young Justice, Pearl) and artist Nick Derington (Doom Patrol) teamed up to deliver a quirky and adventurous odyssey with Batman throughout the DC Universe. Collecting all six issues of this limited mini-series, this graphic novel sends Batman on an adventure through time and space to retrieve a mysterious yet powerful object before it falls in the wrong hands.
What is Batman: Universe about? The story focuses on The Riddler’s latest crime as he orchestrates a theft to bamboozle Batman and get away with a priceless jeweled Fabergé egg. As Batman tracks down his eternal archnemesis, he discovers that the egg possesses strange powers that meddle with one’s mind and realize that it might also be the source of great danger if he doesn’t stop The Riddler from giving it to the person who hired him in the first place. As he embarks on this journey to reacquire the egg, he finds himself teaming up with fellow heroes, from Green Arrow to Green Lantern, while also encountering unlikely villains.
I thought writer Brian Michael Bendis had an interesting idea within the palm of his hands with this story, especially when it was the first time since his arrival at DC Comics that he has complete control over Batman for his own self-contained story outside what’s going on canonically. Although it is fun, sending the Dark Knight on a relatively standard mystery, with a twist that will have him go through various eclectic worlds within the DC Universe, it turned out a bit zany, unexpectedly delving into some of Green Lantern’s lore for a science-fiction surprise for fans as well. What really kept me at a distance throughout this story is the dialogue, which unfortunately turned out to be the weakest element of writer Brian Michael Bendis’ story. More often than not, I was unmoved by the jokes tossed around, often repeated throughout the story too. I simply couldn’t get behind the banter between the heroes and the villains, as it felt like there were joking at themselves, ridiculing their existence in the process.
On the upside, it was Nick Derington’s artwork that made this a lot more tolerable, giving the story a cartoon-like quality that screamed fun and thrilling. The character designs also retained the iconic designs often imagined for these various heroes. While some characters are less known to the general population, there’s enough information drawn into this story to know what and who they are. It was also clear that the creative team behind this graphic novel had fun playing around with Batman’s gadgets and vehicular arsenal; the creative designs made sure to emphasize Batman’s versatility too. Dawning a relatively vivid and brighter colour tone to the story, it was clear that the abundant comic relief was meant to feel integral to the story, despite it not being my cup of tea.
Batman: Universe is an entertaining but not particularly impressive wild-goose chase across the DC Universe.
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
September 20, 2020
SUPER FAST REVIEW:
So at first I was liking this... a lot.
It has a lot of fun, exciting superhero action. The interaction between characters is pretty well done. There’s also more suspense than I typically expect.
Unfortunately the story was just average IMO but then goes off the rails, slightly out of nowhere. It’s like we all of a sudden get in this time travel-y, part-Green Lantern tale but without particularly great execution. Also, the dialogue isn’t great (then again since when was dialogue ever Bendis’ strong-suit?).
So yeah, it is fun nonetheless. Hell, I even thought about maybe giving this a 4-star rating but the story just goes from okay to batshit crazy (see what I did there?) without very good execution, so I’m going with a more-positive-than-usual 3.
3/5
So at first I was liking this... a lot.
It has a lot of fun, exciting superhero action. The interaction between characters is pretty well done. There’s also more suspense than I typically expect.
Unfortunately the story was just average IMO but then goes off the rails, slightly out of nowhere. It’s like we all of a sudden get in this time travel-y, part-Green Lantern tale but without particularly great execution. Also, the dialogue isn’t great (then again since when was dialogue ever Bendis’ strong-suit?).
So yeah, it is fun nonetheless. Hell, I even thought about maybe giving this a 4-star rating but the story just goes from okay to batshit crazy (see what I did there?) without very good execution, so I’m going with a more-positive-than-usual 3.
3/5
April 23, 2021
Brian Bendis is known for his grim and gritty crime noir tales, and his acclaimed run in Daredevil was along that vein. He had been a fixture in Marvel for so long that it feels so wrong to read any of his current DC work. This reader breaks that embargo with his work on a character that is ostensibly the best fit for him, Batman.
Bendis subverts expectation on Batman and gives us a sci-fi detective story that is surprisingly light hearted. The use of so many dialogue boxes has turned his Batman story into the chatty partner of a buddy adventure and somehow, it feels just right. This is certainly a departure from the current darker take on Batman by other writers and hearkens back to prime Grant Morrison run on the Caped Crusader.
Batman: Universe is appropriately named as the story brings Batman across the breadth of the DC Universe. This is right, for Batman belongs at the heart of DC stories, and not just sequestered in his fiefdom of gloomy Gotham. That there are stories where Batman can be the "fun guy" and not just be Gotham's brooding prince gives this book a special place in the Batman bibliography.
Bendis subverts expectation on Batman and gives us a sci-fi detective story that is surprisingly light hearted. The use of so many dialogue boxes has turned his Batman story into the chatty partner of a buddy adventure and somehow, it feels just right. This is certainly a departure from the current darker take on Batman by other writers and hearkens back to prime Grant Morrison run on the Caped Crusader.
Batman: Universe is appropriately named as the story brings Batman across the breadth of the DC Universe. This is right, for Batman belongs at the heart of DC stories, and not just sequestered in his fiefdom of gloomy Gotham. That there are stories where Batman can be the "fun guy" and not just be Gotham's brooding prince gives this book a special place in the Batman bibliography.
December 6, 2019
A pretty fun book! Feels a bit 'Brave and the Bold' at times since there's a lot of teaming up and it takes Batman outside his usual toy box. But it works! Not sure if I'd like a take like this on Batman for an ongoing when Bendis eventually gets a Bat book but for now this is a good addition to his and Batman's catalogue
March 29, 2020
*read for YA Reading Challenge 2020*
Brian Michael Bendis took this opportunity to get his hands on as many DC characters as possible. I didn't hate it. The conversational dialogue didn't always feel true to form for most Bat-books I've read, but it was what I would have expected from BMB.
This was a fairly trippy adventure and I can appreciate coming in to a Batman story and wanted to try something big and different. It's fun, doesn't take itself deadly seriously, and is really well paced.
Totally worth picking up.
Brian Michael Bendis took this opportunity to get his hands on as many DC characters as possible. I didn't hate it. The conversational dialogue didn't always feel true to form for most Bat-books I've read, but it was what I would have expected from BMB.
This was a fairly trippy adventure and I can appreciate coming in to a Batman story and wanted to try something big and different. It's fun, doesn't take itself deadly seriously, and is really well paced.
Totally worth picking up.
June 21, 2020
This is like what a "The Brave and the Bold: The Movie" would be like. Batman teams up with various DC characters to track down a Macguffin that is messing with time and space.
The best part about this book is how funny it is. Batman has a really great rapport with all of the characters he teams up with, and they even have an ongoing (and longtime coming, if you ask me) joke about how Batman looks like he is talking to himself when talking to Alfred via communicator.
The best part about this book is how funny it is. Batman has a really great rapport with all of the characters he teams up with, and they even have an ongoing (and longtime coming, if you ask me) joke about how Batman looks like he is talking to himself when talking to Alfred via communicator.
January 23, 2022
75% | B+ | Great
"Uh, did I miss a Bat-family newsletter?"
A self contained adventure with near flawless execution, this story is one heck of a good time. There are jokes and witty banter galore, most of which are absolute hits and got genuine laughs out of me. There are a lot of DC characters who make an appearance, but the best has to be Hal Jordan; his dynamic with Bruce, his one-liners, everything. The art is gorgeous and reminiscent of classic comics whilst also being modern at the same time. It also really fits with Bendis' writing style. Overall, a joy to read and something I can recommend to any fan of Batman and DC comics in general.
"Uh, did I miss a Bat-family newsletter?"
After the Riddler gets his hands on an ancient egg belonging to Jonah Hex, Batman travels across the world to get it from him. However, when it lands in the hands of Vandal Savage, Batman finds himself going through time and across the universe to stop the immortal from obtaining whatever power lies within the egg
A self contained adventure with near flawless execution, this story is one heck of a good time. There are jokes and witty banter galore, most of which are absolute hits and got genuine laughs out of me. There are a lot of DC characters who make an appearance, but the best has to be Hal Jordan; his dynamic with Bruce, his one-liners, everything. The art is gorgeous and reminiscent of classic comics whilst also being modern at the same time. It also really fits with Bendis' writing style. Overall, a joy to read and something I can recommend to any fan of Batman and DC comics in general.
December 4, 2019
Maybe Bendis' writing is growing on me. He does give the reader an entertaining, but not a great story. A caper tale with Vandal Savage as the villain? Well, its been awhile since Batman has been in a caper story in his regualr series (i.e. Detective and Batman).
June 10, 2020
During his last few years at Marvel, Brian Michael Bendis, who started off great with Daredevil and Alias, was somewhat slumming it in his writing and when he decides to switch publishers with DC, there is a whole treasure full of characters that could reignite his writing skills. Although he ended up writing the main Superman title and Action Comics, there was a common theory that Bendis would write Batman, which seems an ideal fit. Well, we finally got Bendis writing the Dark Knight, just not in the way you think.
Originally published as a Walmart-exclusive series titled Batman Giant, Universe opens with a theft conducted by the Riddler who steals a Fabergé egg. Afterwards, Batman embarks on an adventure that not only takes him across the globe, but also other planets and even through time as he teams up with other superheroes to take on the real threat that is the immortal Vandal Savage.
Although Bendis was originally known for writing crime stories in comics, which he also applied to his excellent Daredevil run with artist Alex Maleev, you think he would do a similar thing with Batman. Instead, what we got is something more of a colourful Silver Age outing, in which Batman is less Dark Knight and more as the World’s Greatest Detective, who can pair up with Green Arrow and Green Lantern, whilst visiting other worlds like Gorilla City or Thanagar; all of which occurs in this six-issue narrative.
A lot happens in this comic and don’t expect a deep character piece about our eponymous hero and Bendis’ as-always-extensive dialogue is characters bouncing back and forth. Even Batman has a sense of humour, which can be a step too far, but it does establish a more light-hearted tone, compared to the recent Batman comics. Given this is a sci-fi-orientated superhero comic in the vein of what Bendis has been doing on Superman and Legion of Super-Heroes, the writer is clearly having fun in exploring other aspects of the DC Universe and not taking it too seriously.
Considering the amount of content within each issue, the credit goes to Doom Patrol artist Nick Derington who draws it all with such detail. Along with colourist Dave Stewart, Derington’s art is so vibrant and adds a refreshing spin on known DC locations, such as the Batmobile being used as a Batcave VR simulation, while Batman gets armoured up like in an Iron Man movie. Transitioning one environment to the next as Batman pairs up with other heroes, Derington puts a unique spin on every action set-piece, whether it is panel layouts or collage imagery.
I may prefer the dark psychology of my favourite superhero of all time, but there is plenty of room for light-hearted adventuring, which is exactly what Bendis and Derington deliver here.
Originally published as a Walmart-exclusive series titled Batman Giant, Universe opens with a theft conducted by the Riddler who steals a Fabergé egg. Afterwards, Batman embarks on an adventure that not only takes him across the globe, but also other planets and even through time as he teams up with other superheroes to take on the real threat that is the immortal Vandal Savage.
Although Bendis was originally known for writing crime stories in comics, which he also applied to his excellent Daredevil run with artist Alex Maleev, you think he would do a similar thing with Batman. Instead, what we got is something more of a colourful Silver Age outing, in which Batman is less Dark Knight and more as the World’s Greatest Detective, who can pair up with Green Arrow and Green Lantern, whilst visiting other worlds like Gorilla City or Thanagar; all of which occurs in this six-issue narrative.
A lot happens in this comic and don’t expect a deep character piece about our eponymous hero and Bendis’ as-always-extensive dialogue is characters bouncing back and forth. Even Batman has a sense of humour, which can be a step too far, but it does establish a more light-hearted tone, compared to the recent Batman comics. Given this is a sci-fi-orientated superhero comic in the vein of what Bendis has been doing on Superman and Legion of Super-Heroes, the writer is clearly having fun in exploring other aspects of the DC Universe and not taking it too seriously.
Considering the amount of content within each issue, the credit goes to Doom Patrol artist Nick Derington who draws it all with such detail. Along with colourist Dave Stewart, Derington’s art is so vibrant and adds a refreshing spin on known DC locations, such as the Batmobile being used as a Batcave VR simulation, while Batman gets armoured up like in an Iron Man movie. Transitioning one environment to the next as Batman pairs up with other heroes, Derington puts a unique spin on every action set-piece, whether it is panel layouts or collage imagery.
I may prefer the dark psychology of my favourite superhero of all time, but there is plenty of room for light-hearted adventuring, which is exactly what Bendis and Derington deliver here.
January 18, 2022
Most of Bendis’ DC work has been pretty shit and I have despised most of it, but this was an absolute pleasure to read. Riddler steals an egg and then teams up with Vandal Savage to do evil shit, while Batman teams up with Green Lantern and Jonah Hex to stop said evil shit. Easy story, with some fun payoffs later. Great art with fantastic dialogue by Bendis makes this is one of the most fun Batman books I’ve read. Not Reptilian fun, but still pretty damn fun.
June 21, 2020
Easily the best Batman story I've read in years and years. No, it's the best Batman story I've read in decades. This is an instant classic. It is super-hero perfection. Loved every panel. Batman Universe is a sublime experience.
July 6, 2020
2 things made me really like this:
1) it's a stand alone. Meaning, you don't have to know what's happened in the DC Universe for the past 70 years to understand it
2) it has dinosaurs! I love dinosaurs, and apparently so does Batman!
This was a fun read that was a bit all over the place, but it fit together. I wish DC and Marvel would do more of these stand alones.
2020 challenge: a book with a robot, cyborg, or AI character (Cyborg is in it briefly and then there's an AI character)
1) it's a stand alone. Meaning, you don't have to know what's happened in the DC Universe for the past 70 years to understand it
2) it has dinosaurs! I love dinosaurs, and apparently so does Batman!
This was a fun read that was a bit all over the place, but it fit together. I wish DC and Marvel would do more of these stand alones.
2020 challenge: a book with a robot, cyborg, or AI character (Cyborg is in it briefly and then there's an AI character)
April 16, 2020
Nejlepší věc, kterou jsem od Bendise v posledních letech četl. Odlehčená verze Batman pátrá po tajemném vajíčku a neustále střídá prostředí a spojence.
April 3, 2022
A fun read that has some lightness in it from the old comics. Some famous cameos and other interesting tidbits.
MY GRADE: B to B plus.
MY GRADE: B to B plus.
October 22, 2020
I'm not a fan of Bendis and was happy to see him leave Marvel. I picked this up more out of curiosity.
It's sort of an all-ages/YA version of Batman. Not even as grim as the Animated Series, but certainly not the 60's Batman. He talks a lot more and even jokes a little.
But typical Bendis, he writes multiple issues, stretching a basic concept out. He constantly throws things in to keep you on your toes, even if they don't really serve the story. Some of his back and forth dialogue is there too.
Ultimately the plot revolves around something completely out of the ordinary, for better or worse. To me it's just a technique to keep the reader wondering the whole story, trying to figure it out, but once you find out, you never would have guessed it. Once again with his books, it's mildly entertaining while I'm reading it, but afterwards, I feel empty.
I did like the art and "Alfred's" banter with Bruce was excellent.
It's sort of an all-ages/YA version of Batman. Not even as grim as the Animated Series, but certainly not the 60's Batman. He talks a lot more and even jokes a little.
But typical Bendis, he writes multiple issues, stretching a basic concept out. He constantly throws things in to keep you on your toes, even if they don't really serve the story. Some of his back and forth dialogue is there too.
Ultimately the plot revolves around something completely out of the ordinary, for better or worse. To me it's just a technique to keep the reader wondering the whole story, trying to figure it out, but once you find out, you never would have guessed it. Once again with his books, it's mildly entertaining while I'm reading it, but afterwards, I feel empty.
I did like the art and "Alfred's" banter with Bruce was excellent.
February 10, 2021
Now this was great! So fun and adventurous!! Loved all the characters that made an appearance and loved all the banter between said characters. Awesome concept and great execution. Bendis has a winner here. Batman is after a stolen fabergè egg. He realizes something is off with it and the crazy adventures begins from there. This story takes Batman all over the globe, time and the universe. I had an amazing time reading this. Plus Derington kills it on the artwork. If you haven’t read this one, I highly recommended you do.
December 10, 2019
Brian Michael Bendis writes a fun little diversion from the mainline Batman book. I really like Nick Derington’s art, but having seen what he can do in Doom Patrol, it’s hard not to feel like he’s hampered by a much “straighter” story. Bendis and Derington seem like they can do this stuff in their sleep, and even though this is a mostly forgettable caper, it’s far, far better than most.
[Read in single issues]
[Read in single issues]
September 8, 2020
Not the Batman I was expecting, but I don’t mind it too much. I loved Bendis at Marvel and this is the best thing I’ve read from him at DC, so I’ll take what I can get. He really leaned hard into comedy and it was kind of cheesy at times, but it was fun. Loved the artwork most of all though, to be honest.
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