@IAMSCF
The title alone should get you to buy this. We have a unique crossover here; where we usually get a bit of what happens when world’s collide in an intercompany crossover like this is — the usual shenanigans like a misunderstanding, a fight, maybe some villain swapping, then a proper team up then resolution. Instead, what we have here is a Freaky Friday Type Switcharoo! How will The lost heroes of Spiral City adjust to Metropolis? How will Batman and Superman deal with being trapped on “The Farm”? Who’s behind this, and why?
Hmm? What’s that? You know who the Justice League are but you don’t know who or what Black Hammer is? You haven’t been keeping up with Jeff Lemire & Dean Ormston’s award winning series at Dark Horse?
Whhhaaaaat?!? It’s cool. I’ll wait here until you do.
Done? Good, yeah? Toldja.
With more questions than answers presented here — but with great writing by Jeff Lemire and fantastic art by Michael Walsh — that makes up the lack of familiarity some folks who aren’t hip to the Black Hammer gang. This has just begun and it’s already gotten good. From Dark Horse Comics and DC Comics! 4.5/5 Bibles Bay-Bay!
-Sean Farrell
Sina Grace brings us a timely tale of a young girl who moves across the country for a boy, only to have it all fall apart on day one. This story has a fun twist, though. Daphne starts her story by being berated by her best friend, moving in with a terrible roommate and getting dumped by the boy she moved for. On her way back from her now ex-boyfriends place she wanders into a house that is residence to a slew of ghosts. It is a nice set up for what looks to be a nice, uplifting tale, and I absolutely love Siobhan Keenan‘s art style. It gives me very Steven Universe vibes. If you’re looking for a break from the super heroes, and want something a little more coming of age with a touch of supernatural, I think this will be a great series for you. 3.5/5 Bibles.
-Jimmy Cupps
@RobBex2
Sometimes, a reader needs to keep their expectations a little low; you can build something up in your head so much that it’s easy to get a little let down.
That is the case with Batman: Universe.
I loved Brian Michael Bendis’ run on Daredevil; in fact, he is the reason I read the man without fear for over a decade. So when I saw that he was doing Batman, I got so excited, and he had Nick Derington doing the artwork, FUGHETABOUTIT! I was good to go! So I pick up the issue, I jump into the book and I, well, I liked it. Someone has spooked the Riddler and has given Batman this riddle… “when is the Riddler not the Riddler”. I don’t know why I’m not more excited. I absolutely adore Bendis and he gets the dialogue right, so I’ll be picking up issue 2. Maybe it’s just such a slow burn, so we’ll see how issue 2 goes.
That all being said, if I were to give this book a grade based on the art it would be a 10 out of 5. Darington trades in Doom Patrol for Batman and the first time we see Batman is an absolute work of art. It is bold, crisp, clean, epic, dynamic and I want the original art. It is almost like Darington was born to draw Batman and brings this book up a full point. Batman: Universe issue 1 is fun, but I might hold off for the trade to be released. 3.5/5 Bataranged Bibles.
-Robert Bexar