Batman: Universe #1
| Writer | Brian Michael Bendis |
| Artist | Nick Derington |
| Cover Price | $4.99 |
Available to comics shops for the first time! Following the theft of a priceless Fabergé egg, the Riddler leads the Dark Knight on a wild hunt after its true owner: Jinny Hex, descendant of Jonah Hex! Guest-starring Deathstroke, Green Arrow and dozens of Riddler look-alikes in stories by Brian Michael Bendis with art by Nick Derington, originally published in BATMAN GIANT #3 and #4!
CRITIC REVIEWS
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10
AIPT - Nathan Simmons
Jul 10, 2019This first issue kicks off an intriguing mystery involving some of Batman's greatest foes. It's also the perfect issue to grab for someone who needs a gateway into Batman without tons of backstory. Read Full Review
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10
Dark Knight News - Steve J Ray
Jul 10, 2019I'm having so much fun. Batman Universe #1 feels like an antidote after reading and reviewing super heavy (yet brilliant) darker, edgier comics. Priceless artefacts, sassy teenagers, assassins and a truly Arrowing lead into issue #2, what more can a comics fan ask for? Read Full Review
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10
Batman-News - Jay Yaws
Jul 10, 2019A grand entertainment of the best sort, Batman: Universe is off to an incredibly strong start. This book is so much fun that I re-read it several times, I got so caught up in the action, and I don't know that there's any better endorsement than that. Bendis' plotting is strong and paced marvelously, with some snappy dialogue and genuinely funny gags. Then there's Nick Derington and Dave Stewart's brilliant visuals that could practically sell the book itself. This reminds me of Indiana Jones in everything but the details: it has memorable characters, a sharp script, big, swashbuckling adventure, and a propulsive sense of forward momentum. It's as fun a comic as you're likely to find, and I can't wait for the next chapter. Read Full Review
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10
But Why Tho? - Lizzy Garcia
Jul 10, 2019Overall, Batman: Universe #1is an absolute delight. The story is hilarious and has a lot of heart. It is a great read for any Batman fan no matter how many comics you have picked up previously. I am happy to see these previously Walmart exclusive books hitting comic stores, allowing more readers to enjoy them. Read Full Review
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10
ComicBook.com - Chase Magnett
Jul 10, 2019Batman Universe isn't about some grandiose philosophy or intense personal statement here"although the character's history still holds meaning"this series is about telling the best Batman story imaginable, and that's exactly what it is doing. Read Full Review
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10
Comics: The Gathering - Olivier Roth
Jul 10, 2019I can’t recommend this issue enough. Read Full Review
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10
Newsarama - Justin Partridge
Jul 11, 2019Don't let the "grocery store comics" reputation of this issue's first run fool you, Batman Universe #1 is the real deal. Read Full Review
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10
You Don't Read Comics - Rick Lopez
Jul 16, 2019As the Walmart Giants continue to come out each month, readers can expect a lot from this series as well as the multitude of other once exclusive stories to the retail behemoth. Brian Michael Bendis and Nick Derrington deliver a fun story for all ages as Batman takes on an actual detective role to uncover the truth. Whether within the specials themselves or in the lovely single issue format, this series is not one to miss. Read Full Review
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10
Nerdly - Dean Fuller
Jul 18, 2019The best Batman interpretation I have read for some time. Loved it. Read Full Review
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9.5
Multiversity Comics - Jonathan O'Neal
Jul 12, 2019"Batman Universe" #1 may not be new for some who got their hands on those "100-Page GIANTS!," but for those that didn't it should feel like a breath of fresh air wafting through the city streets of Gotham. Read Full Review
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9.0
Geek Dad - Ray Goldfield
Jul 10, 2019From the opening pages, as Batman argues with Alfred from inside the Batmobile as we see the city as Batman does, it delivers on a visual level like few Batman comics do. Read Full Review
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8.7
Major Spoilers - Stacy Baugher
Jul 10, 2019Save your 100 page issues, pick this one up and pass it around to friends, this is a great beginning to a great Batman story. Read Full Review
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8.6
Outright Geekery - Antonio Pedro
Jul 11, 2019Borrowing a few of the Bendis-isms, Batman Universe #1 is fun, exciting, entertaining and has great artwork. It's hardly essential, but if you've got some cash to spare and want to read a fun Batman story, there are worse places to look. Read Full Review
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8.5
411Mania - Steve Gustafson
Jul 25, 2019Yes, Batman: Universe #1 is a reprint that was originally published in the Walmart exclusives Batman Giant #3 and #4 but it reads so much better combined and on its own. Read Full Review
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8.2
Comic Watch - Cody White
Jul 16, 2019Batman Universe #1delivers the Walmart Exclusive story to the direct market, giving readers a small taste of what a Bendis Batman could be. Read Full Review
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8.0
Comic Spectrum - Bob Bretall
Jul 10, 2019My quibble over the pricing of this series aside, it really is a great story (5/5 - 1 point for predatory marketing). A good story for new readers, but given that this will run 6 issues and it's reprints anyway, it might be a good idea to skip six $4.99 issues that will cost ~$30 and just get the collected edition when it comes out. I suspect it will be fairly easy to get the collection at a price less than $30. Read Full Review
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8.0
Newsarama - David Pepose
Jul 15, 2019Batman Universe #1 is an undeniably gorgeous book, whose incredible artwork far outweighs any wonkiness in its story structure. If you're looking for a fun action romp whose cameos represent the best of continuity rather than the restrictiveness of it " or you're just looking to see one of the definitive DC artists of the moments strut his stuff " you could do a whole lot worse than this. Read Full Review
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8.0
DC Comics News - Seth Singleton
Jul 15, 2019In conclusion, Batman Universe showcases the goldmine of stories that first appeared in the 80-page Walmart Giant books. It deserves to shine in its own book. Read Full Review
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7.8
Monkeys Fighting Robots - Jose "Jody" Cardona
Jul 11, 2019Bendis' Batman story is off to a decent start, despite a pointless hiccup. Read Full Review
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7.4
The Super Powered Fancast - Deron Generally
Jul 10, 2019Nick Deringtons art is fantastic. There is a point of view sequence in the beginning that is breathtaking and every page after that contains something special. Read Full Review
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6.5
GWW - Nick Friar
Jul 09, 2019Not a must-read, but a fun one if you're looking for something different and can't get caught up in the other, heavier Batman miniseries. Read Full Review
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6.0
Comic Crusaders - Johnny "The Machine" Hughes
Jul 10, 2019You don't last 80 years without enjoying different version of self. Batman is one of the greatest characters who has successfully charted the ever changing trends of expectations. Unfortunately, with Bendis involved, I expected more from this book, than something that feels watered down with little or no tie into current continuity. Granted, as this is essentially a reprint book, I understand that continuity would have been a hard thing to manage, yet manage it does with Jinny Hex. Batman Universe is a book that hardly whelms for me, but for others, especially younger readers, there will be more than enough to bring them into a lighter version of the Dark Knight, maybe a Twilight Knight? Read Full Review
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5.0
The Batman Universe - David Finn
Jul 10, 2019An underwhelming and lackluster entry in the Batman canon - is this really the best Bendis can do? Read Full Review
USER REVIEWS
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9.0
Artwork by Derington was great and Bendis' dialogue has a nice flow to it
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9.0
Batman's relentless pursuit of the Riddler across countries is done very well here and is a load of fun. Always great to see Deathstroke as well. The dialogue may be off in parts but it doesn't take away that this is a fresh story and not a throwaway retread.
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8.5
HINT HINT @DC editorial and staff. HINT HINT (you should swap King and Bendis books)
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8.5
This isn't your classic Batman, but Bendis gives his take on the Dark Knight a unique feel that is perfectly matched by Derington's art. The Riddler is one of Batman's greatest villains and Alfred had some hilarious lines
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8.0
Fun & Fresh
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8.0
It ended a bit abruptly it felt like, but I really dig the tone that skirts along campy and serious, as well as Nick Derington's fantastic art.
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8.0
A great entry point to the character, setting, and rogues gallery for Batman. The extra long format allowed for more of the story to be collected and established in one issue. Great Nick Derrington art is consistent throughout, but a character or two looked funny in the face. It's just his style. Downside is this is a 5 dollar comic, which will never attract a new reader for Batman. It's a dumbed down version of the character marketed to existing readers looking at the name Bendis as writer. And in that regard, there's nothing special about the story here that he's bright to the character. There's a few quips and background character comments, and there's a casual introduction of a new DC character. But otherwise it has all the hallmarks of more
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7.5
It was fine. Okay story, but I am not a big fan of Derington's art.
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7.5
Good story. Batman is chasing after the Riddler, because of a riddle he sent Batman. This isn't anything new, but the way it's written we get some fun interaction between Alfred& Batman. It's also nice to see Batman doing some detective work. It's also good to see Riddler getting a story.
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7.0
"Ma'am" Well, what do you know? BMB can write a fun Batman comic book too. The art is pretty good as well.
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4.0
"Deathstroke is a mercenary and assassin who uses ninety percent of his brain power." How sad for him, what happened to the other ten percent of his brain? Is it really right for Batman to be beating up on a man who has a verifiable brain injury?
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3.0
I don't know if I was in the wrong mood or something, but I found this very boring and sometimes a little confusing trying to follow Bendis' dialogue (which seems to be getting worse and worse as the years go on). I wasn't a fan of the art either. I almost fell asleep reading it because it was so uninteresting. I don't care about Jinny Hex either. She's just a Bendis caricature OC, one he's made plenty of times before. I wasn't expecting greatness from this, but I didn't expect something so goddamn boring.
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