Batman Universe #2: Why Did the Gorilla Cross the Road?

Maybe its that I’m starved for good Batman stories but it seems there is a quiet magic to the tale Bendis and Derrington have crafted in the pages of Batman Universe. This is a Batman that rings strikingly familiar to the long-winding mythos constructed over generations. Batman is in the field, doing detective work, encountering old allies and old foes, being what we’ve come to expect from Batman. The utility belt is in full effect adding an air of Batman ’66 to the mix with a Batman who is always prepared, even for mid-air shark attacks or telepathic gorillas.

As per usual, this book does have a tendency to be a little overly dialogued but not at the expense of a mostly natural flow in most cases. The heavier-than-usual exposition is certainly forgivable given the target audience of the original releases. What makes the book sing is the characterizations of classic characters. Ollie moves and sounds like Ollie, Alfred is pitch-perfect, and Bruce is a happy balance between driven yet not overly-dark as he has come to be written so frequently in the post-Crisis era.

Derrington continues to turn in excellent work. His art is highly stylized which may be a turn-off to some readers but his attention to detail, particularly when it comes to background work, is second to none. Likewise, the color and lettering work combine to make this one of the most enjoyable, if not the most enjoyable, Batman book on the shelves today.