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thejumpingbean14's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
vernip's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Lotsa fun as Batman tracks a Macguffin across time & space while trying to keep ahead of an old foe and accidentally roping in allies & friends.
What was fascinating is that OF COURSE a popular character can be interpreted as differently as the author wants, and with a multifaceted character like Batman, the direction the author took this time was wildly different. Sure his tough, brooding persona is still there, but there is a bit more tactful diplomacy, respect, and dare I say, levity in this portrayal of the Dark Knight Detective.
The reveal of the Macguffin itself was simultaneously shocking AND ridiculous, and because Status Quo is king, things are back to normal at the end as if it were never on Earth to begin with.
Still a fun time tho!
What was fascinating is that OF COURSE a popular character can be interpreted as differently as the author wants, and with a multifaceted character like Batman, the direction the author took this time was wildly different. Sure his tough, brooding persona is still there, but there is a bit more tactful diplomacy, respect, and dare I say, levity in this portrayal of the Dark Knight Detective.
The reveal of the Macguffin itself was simultaneously shocking AND ridiculous, and because Status Quo is king, things are back to normal at the end as if it were never on Earth to begin with.
Still a fun time tho!
lisa13omodei's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty fun. The art was the best part about it, imo
ferzemkhan's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
daileyxplanet's review against another edition
4.0
Batman Universe is kind of a perfect first DC Comic. The story isn't terribly deep, but it takes a tour around the DC Universe and shows the reader less familiar locales like Thanagar versus Krypton
The book is broken up in multiple parts due to being serialized in the Walmart Exclusive Batman Giant.
At first I wondered why they wasted Bendis on such a book, but then I realized this is possibly the most exposure any writer or artist could ever get in this day and age!
Read via Hoopla.
The book is broken up in multiple parts due to being serialized in the Walmart Exclusive Batman Giant.
At first I wondered why they wasted Bendis on such a book, but then I realized this is possibly the most exposure any writer or artist could ever get in this day and age!
Read via Hoopla.
mattaukamp's review against another edition
3.0
Its been a decade since Bendis' heyday and I've long since grown tired of his dialogue. Unfortunately. Every character speaks with the exact same voice and rhythm. It's especially jarring when that character is Batman, whose voice is so singular.
Regardless, Nick Derington's art is stunning and Bendis' story gives him a lot to do. It's not a great Batman story. It's not a great story of any kind - rote dialogue, poor characterizations, zero subtext, middling plot. BUT it was a fun kitschy, colorful super-hero comic book to read with a lot of cute cameos and interesting settings.
Regardless, Nick Derington's art is stunning and Bendis' story gives him a lot to do. It's not a great Batman story. It's not a great story of any kind - rote dialogue, poor characterizations, zero subtext, middling plot. BUT it was a fun kitschy, colorful super-hero comic book to read with a lot of cute cameos and interesting settings.
daveburton's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
A fun, simple and funny Batman romp
asti_64's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
dantastic's review against another edition
4.0
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.
davidchanza's review against another edition
4.0
Muy buena historia. 100% super héroes donde Batman va recorriendo diferentes espacios en el tiempo acompañado de alguno de los personajes míticos de DC.
La historia está muy chula, pero si que es cierto que le falta un poco de la oscuridad propia de Batman de otras historias, aún así, dibujo muy molón y momentos muy tremendos.
La historia está muy chula, pero si que es cierto que le falta un poco de la oscuridad propia de Batman de otras historias, aún así, dibujo muy molón y momentos muy tremendos.