Batman: Universe is a book that I’m surprised it’s taken me this long to read. I remember being thrilled to discover that DC would be publishing the 100-page Walmart giants, and that a new serialized story would appear in each of them. But, other priorities won, and I wasn’t able to pick up any giant…

Batman: Universe began as one of the best Batman comics of the year: a no-holds-barred, rip-roaring adventure serial that approached its conflicts with a wink and a smile.  Rather than painting Batman as a gruff, dour creature of the night, Brian Michael Bendis and Nick Derington gave us a Batman who was more adventurer than…

You'd be forgiven for thinking that an issue of Batman: Universe that featured Nightwing would be my favorite installment of the series.  I mean, I thought it would be too.  It's Dick, back in costume!  Fighting alongside Bruce!  The Dynamic Duo, together again, trading pithy barbs while they punch ninjas!  What could go wrong? Well,…

Batman: Universe began as a crazy crime caper, which in turn led to forays into Gorilla City and Thanagar, and now finds Batman and Green Lantern in the old west, trading barbs with Jonah Hex.  It's an exercise in escalating zaniness, and I absolutely adore it. I can also understand why it's not everyone's cup…

Danger Excitement Thrilling escapes You can practically hear the announcer of an old movie serial narrating the events of Batman: Universe as you’re reading it.  This book is just pure, unadulterated adventure from cover to cover, and each chapter escalates the insanity set forth by the last. Want proof?  In this issue, Batman encounters a…

So far in Batman: Universe, we've seen the Dark Knight (or, rather, the Caped Crusader, as he's more swashbuckling adventurer than grim avenger of the night as presented here) fight a crapload of Riddlers over a Fabergé egg, meet the descendant of a cowboy, beat up Deathstroke, and be polite to a citizen on a…

There's just something about a good old rollicking adventure.  That's part of the appeal of movies like The Treasure of the Sierra Madre or Raiders of the Lost Ark, with their high-stakes chases, exotic locations, stalwart heroes, and conniving villains.  Rather than trying to say something about the human condition or exploring the psyche of…