DC Super Heroes United: Batman Hush

Today's review is of the 2025 release, DC Super Heroes United: Batman Hush. For 1-5 players, it takes 30 minutes.

Overview

In this cooperative game, you and your friends each take a role of a hero and work together to defeat a villain. You'll have to act fast, though . . . once the master plan deck runs out, you lose! Do you have what it takes?

This game is in the Marvel United line and follows identical rules. Setup is simple: 

- lay out six locations in a circle and put the thugs/civilian tokens on each as indicated

- choose a villain and put their corresponding cards at each location and shuffle/ready their master plan deck

- each player chooses a hero and takes their figure and corresponding deck of 12 cards, shuffling and drawing three.

- the villain and hero figures are place on locations opposite each other and play begins

game in progress; image from here

Gameplay is also straightforward.

- The villain always goes first: draw the top card of their master plan deck and place it face up in the story line (a circle that goes around the outside of the play area; it is omitted from the image above). Do what it states (generally moving the villain, potentially activating its special ability, and placing thugs or civilians on the spots indicated). Then each hero goes in clockwise order. 

- On each hero turn, the player draws a card, plays one in the story line, then uses the abilities on it and the immediately-preceding hero card (from the hero played the turn prior). Abilities are move, star, punch, and wild, and enable the players to complete missions (by rescuing civilians, beating thugs, or completing the stated goal of the villain card at their location). 

- After 2-3 hero turns (depending on if the villain is 'under pressure' or not), the villain goes again. Play continues in this fashion until the game end.

- Once enough missions have been completed, the villain can be damaged (through punches). Drop their health to zero before the master plan deck is empty and you win! Otherwise . . . game over.

Review

Five years ago, my family was introduced to Marvel United. We greatly enjoy that (and its many expansions), and were delighted to hear that they released a DC equivalent. Playing this new version was as good as expected—the same great mechanics, flavor, and tension (it seems games always come down to the very last card, or near enough, of the master plan deck). Another winner in this line.

Rating: A

Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

The Foot Clan is in Gotham, stealing experimental tech. Shredder is with them . . and he has a partner. If they have their way, the city will fall and evil will last forever. Batman is on the case, but he'll need help. Maybe some teenagers with ninja skills. Turtle mutants.

I expect any 'cross-IP' offering to be a money grab and thus had low expectations for this 2019 movie. I was wrong; I loved it. The plot is predictable ("the worlds of Batman and TMNT collide; chaos ensues"), the message minimal (but solid), but where this film shines is the humor—it was hilarious. We laughed out loud through the whole film. There are a few instances of language or scary images, but this is a winner, best enjoyed by those familiar with both franchises.

Rating: A

DC Deck-Building Game: Rivals—Batman vs. Joker

Today's review is of the 2014 release, DC Deck-Building Game: Rivals—Batman vs. Joker. For 2 players, it takes 30 minutes.

Overview

This release is in the DC Deck-Building Game family, which has had many releases (I list those here). Since I reviewed the core game previously, see that post for a game overview. In short, this is a deck-building game where you start with a deck of 10 cards, drawing 5 and playing them to generate power. This allows you to buy cards to add to your deck, which grows more powerful over time as discarded cards get shuffled to form a new deck.

game contents; image from here

This variant is a rivals game, meaning it is two-player only and there are no common super-villains to attack. Instead, you attack each other! You each have three versions of your character (Batman or Joker), each with increasingly powerful defense and abilities. On your turn, rather than purchasing cards, you can announce a confrontation and try to generate more power than your opponent's defense. If you do, you win that card and the next is revealed. The first to knock out their opponent's level 3 character (or who has the most victory points when the lineup deck is empty) is the winner! 

Review

My son owns most of this game's expansions, giving me a chance to sample the variation across them. I like the main concept of this one, and the overall play holds true to the core game. As one of the game's earlier releases, there isn't as much interaction on non-confrontation turns (meaning attack or defense cards that can disrupt your opponent). Later releases improve on that facet. That aside, I enjoyed this.

Rating: B+

Batman, Volume 10: Epilogue

In Batman: Epilogue, we get a variety of stand-alone stories that wrap up the larger story arc that was itself part of the "New 52" series. These tales are largely reflective, looking at the nature of Batman, Gotham, and Bruce Wayne. One looks forward to a dystopian future where cloning plays a major role.

This conclusion was decent, if not as cohesive as I'd like. Actually, that's true of all ten volumes in this series—a number of interesting story lines that don't always tie together in ways I could see. (Perhaps I was supposed to read parallel "New 52" titles to get a fuller picture? I'm not sure.) The first few volumes, focusing on Court of Owls, was the highlight for me.

Rating: B

Batman, Volume 9: Bloom

Shortly after Superheavy . . .

Bloom is proving too much for James Gordon's Batman. And everyone else, too. Bruce Wayne has survived but has no memory of his former life (and no desire to return to it). But when all else fails, he may have no choice . . . 

This one was a mixed bag. Bloom is an interesting supervillain. Bruce Wayne's return was okay, even if that was predictable (and the means to bring it about far-fetched). Overall it feels this story arc is rollicking from one heavy event to the next, from Riddler to Joker to Bloom. The intensity remains high and I'm wondering where this is all going. 

Rating: B+

Batman, Volume 8: Superheavy

Shortly after Joker's endgame . . . 

Batman is missing and presumed dead. Commissioner Gordon agrees to take up the mantle, operating within the existing city police structure rather than as a mercenary. As he learns the role, he squares off against the latest supervillain . . . Bloom has been preying on Gotham's underworld, giving people temporary surges of power that always end poorly. His goal is unclear, but his power is undeniable . . . and without the real Batman around, what hope does Gotham have?

This is an interesting twist to Batman's story . . . parts were rushed, but it was solid overall. Ending on a cliffhanger, I look forward to see where it goes.

Rating: A-

Batman, Volume 7: Endgame

The Joker is back, and he's not fooling around. Well, he is, but this time it's different. He is intent on a final showdown with Batman, and wants to see him fall for good. When the Clown Prince spreads gas over Gotham, turning even allies against Batman, Bruce realizes now is the time to pull no punches. But this time, even his best may not be enough . . .

This is a decent story told too quickly. There are cool plot points, and familiar storytelling boundaries are crossed, signaling that this is indeed different. But it's too rushed. Still, I am intrigued at what comes next.

Rating: B

Batman, Volume 6: Graveyard Shift

Batman Volume 6 collects standalone tales from various story arcs in the series so far, from 'zero year' to 'Batman Eternal'. Here, Bats will take on an 'improved' Clayface, an ancient and sinister enemy in Arkham, a serial killer, and the Red Hood Gang. He'll even take on a sidekick—Bluebird. 

As this was a collection of individual stories, it is hard to give an overall rating. I enjoyed each tale for what it was, though their disparate nature (and my general unfamiliarity with the myriad story arcs they reference) made it hard to follow in places. Still, not bad.

Rating: B+

Batman, Volume 5: Zero Year—Dark City

Dr. Death terrorizes Gotham, but he is not Batman's biggest problem . . . for The Riddler is winning. He has the city under dark and under his control, and Batman, Jim Gordon, and Lucius Fox keep coming up empty in their attempts to stop him. Time is running short, with military jets inbound, so riddle me this, Batman—can you save Gotham this time?

This continues the 'zero year' story arc, looking at the origin and early years of Batman. It does a good job, and explores more of Bruce Wayne than prior tales.

Rating: A-

Batman, Volume 4: Zero Year—Secret City

The Red Hood gang owns Gotham, committing random crimes with no purpose or pattern. People who once flocked to the city for the hope it offered now live in fear.

Bruce Wayne is back. Declared legally dead years ago, he tries to live secretly in the city as he thinks on his goals and purpose. But he cannot hide forever, and Batman will soon be born. Will he be enough to save the city?

This is yet another origin tale of sorts, with familiar themes, characters, and scenes (to include Axis Chemicals and flashbacks to training, echoing scenes from prior comics and movies). It highlights different aspects, though, which was refreshing and avoided it feeling stale.

Rating: A-

Batman, Volume 3: Death of the Family

He's back. After a year away from Gotham, The Joker has returned with a vengeance—and he is after Batman's 'family' (Alfred, Robin, Nightwing, etc.). The Clown Prince of Crime seems even more deranged than usual, determined to destroy everything the Dark Knight holds dear . . . will he succeed?

This was a good story, but it caught me off-guard; I thought this volume would conclude the Owls story line from last time. Instead, apparently that arc was done (for now) and the series shifted gears. That surprise aside, this was an intriguing (and occasionally gross) psychological tale about these archrivals, with a few twists to boot. 

Rating: A-

Batman, Volume 2: The City of Owls

Continuing from volume one . . .

The Court of Owls—the fabled secret society said to have ruled Gotham for decades—is real. Their assassins, called Talons, are everywhere. And their target is Bruce Wayne. Owls can feed on bats . . . but this is no ordinary creature of the night. Does Batman have what it takes?

This second volume continues the excellent story, with more enjoyable twists along the way. Collecting six issues, the first four were outstanding, with five and six being side stories that seemed like filler (unless they will play a role in the conclusion of the arc). But overall, highly recommended.

Rating: A

Batman, Volume 1: The Court of Owls

The Court of Owls is a well-known children's poem and old wives' tale in Gotham. The rhyme suggests that the real rulers of the city are these members of a secret organization . . . but Gotham is Batman's city. Or is it?

I quite enjoyed this mystery/adventure; it has familiar elements to Batman stories but intriguing twists as well. The story was great; the art was decent. I look forward to the next volume.

Rating: A

Batman: The Animated Series (Season 1)

Batman: The Animated Series follows the Caped Crusader as he seeks to bring justice to Gotham City. You'll see him fight foes familiar and foreign, included Joker, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, Clayface, Riddler, Penguin, the Mad Hatter, Mr. Freeze, and so on. Can Batman (and very occasionally Robin) save the day?

This series ran from 1992-1995 and is much loved, even decades later. It was influenced by the popular Tim Burton movies Batman and Batman Returns, borrowing some of the music and tone. The style pays homage to the 1940s, using a style combination of noir and art deco that the producers called "dark deco." And dark it was in theme, too, for a children's cartoon of the time. Re-watching these as an adult, I was impressed with the themes of some episodes, wrestling with things like pain (Mr. Freeze), mental illness (The Ventriloquist), yearning (Mad Hatter), and struggle for healing (Clayface).

Bizarrely, the episode count is lopsided. Season one ran for 65 episodes, followed by season two (20 episodes). Then there was a follow-on show called The New Batman Adventures (24 episodes). Making it more confusing, these two shows were bundled together and sold as a four-volume set (the first three are pictured above). Season one spanned volume one, volume two, and part of volume three. 

Overall, I really liked season one. Some episodes were 'filler' or 'chaff', but there were enough solid entries to merit watching the whole thing. I did notice some animation differences; apparently the studio contracted out to several places, and one in particular was eventually fired. That aside, I look forward to a much shorter season two; it took me six months go get through the first.

Rating: A

Birds of Prey

When the Joker breaks up with Harley Quinn, she struggles to find her purpose and (now-unprotected) way in a city where almost everyone hates her. But a new mission is on the horizon . . . Roman Sionis and his cronies are after a diamond, which (due to some bad choices) is in the stomach of a young girl. Harley tries to help her, but she can't do it alone—she'll need Huntress, Black Canary, and even a cop to help her. Together, can these Birds of Prey save the day?

Told through Harley Quinn's snarky viewpoint, this movie had some potential but didn't quite deliver. There are flashes of greatness here in dialogue, characters, message, and sets, but the goodness is overshadowed by the typical pitfalls: overly fast development, plot leaps, and so on. I couldn't quite buy Huntress; she seemed more like an angsty teen in need of therapy than a polished assassin. The others were better, though I thought the child would have more of a role. And the assembly of the team was way too rushed. This is a short film, so they could have added some content to improve in these areas. Ultimately, the message seems to be a line Quinn delivers near the end: "you made me want to be a less terrible person." And that's not bad, though it's also clear Quinn still wants to be bad. Just not *so* bad. Meh. It's better than both Suicide Squads (films with similar tone), surprisingly, but not what it could be.

Rating: C+

DC Deck-Building Game

Today's review is of the 2012 game, DC Deck-Building Game. For 2-5 players, it takes 45 minutes.

Overview

You are a superhero, intent on taking down super-villains. But your foes (other players) are too . . .

can you have the most victory points at the end of the game?

This deck-building game works like most in this genre. You start with a deck of 10 cards, drawing 5 to form your hand. The cards grant power (and sometimes other abilities), enabling you to buy cards from the central row ("lineup"): heroes, equipment, locations, superpowers, even villains. You will buy cards from the lineup, replenishing that from the main deck, each turn. Cards you buy, plus any in your hand or played to the table that turn, go into your discard pile. Then draw 5 cards to prepare for your next turn, shuffling your discard pile to form a new deck as needed. Play passes clockwise.

Setting up the game; image from here

You can also use power to fight super-villains. (The game comes with 12 but recommends you play with 8, placed in a stack next to the lineup.) If your power on a given turn equals or exceeds the super-villain on the top of the stack, you defeat them, putting them in your discard pile (yes, this means you can use them on a later turn). Once all super-villains have been defeated, each player tallies their victory points (printed on each card) to determine the victor.

Finally, you each have a unique superhero that grants specific abilities. Batman, shown below, grants +1 power for each Equipment you play during your turn. So the player with Batman will want to buy as much equipment from the lineup as possible during the game.

Review

I really like this game. It is easy to learn and fun to play. The thing that threw me was being able to buy villains from the lineup and use them in your deck—that felt weird (though understandable to more fully represent the DC universe). The other odd element was having multiple copies of cards in the main deck: multiple heroes (like Robin), villains (like Scarecrow), or equipment (like the Batmobile). From a gameplay perspective, that made sense, as it gave multiple players a chance to pick up key cards. From a thematic standpoint, it was strange, and it limited the characters in the game (my boys and I would have loved to see more heroes and villains from the Batman universe). Those quibbles aside, though, this is a winner.

Rating: A-

Batman & Robin

Shortly after Robin joined Batman in Batman Forever . . .

Mr. Freeze, victim of an accident that requires he wear a suit keeping him at sub-zero temperature, keeps his wife cryogenically frozen until he can find a cure for her MacGregor's Syndrome. As he does, though, he (for whatever reason) goes on a rampage through Gotham.

Pamela Isley, devoted scientific researcher and plant lover, is transformed into Poison Ivy after a fight in her lab. She makes her way to Gotham, also to wreak destruction and plan for the plant kingdom to take over. Helping her is Bane, a super-soldier created by a fellow scientist, whose strength (when supplemented by a special serum) is beyond equal.

Batman and Robin team up to fight these new menaces even as they face a fight at home: Alfred is dying of the same disease affecting Freeze's wife. Two heroes may not be enough this time . . . but Batgirl is on the way.

Like Batman Forever, I found this 1997 movie terrible. The focus is on action (and cheesy at that); there is no character development, poor dialogue, and bad characterizations (Ivy walks around blowing her pheromones on people; Bane is a Frankenstein's monster-type who spends the whole film grunting). There are glimmers of possibility here, exploring Freeze's love for his wife and Batman's for Alfred as both struggle with sick family. But neither are done well, and so this was an opportunity lost. 

The Batman series was put on hiatus after this, and didn't come back until 2005's Batman Begins reboot. That film is worth watching. This one isn't, though I hasten to add that my kids liked it better than I did (giving it a B average). 

Rating: D

Batman Returns

Today's review is of the 1992 film, Batman Returns. A few years after Batman . . . 

Gotham's leading citizen and business owner Max Shreck is not the upstanding citizen he appears to be. Intent on control and wealth, he plots his next move to secure a large contract for his pet project . . .

Shreck's secretary, Selina Kyle, can't catch a break. But things might be falling into place for her . . . 

Oswald Cobblepot was born with hideous mutations. Thrown into the sewers as a baby, he survived and was raised by penguins. As an adult, he seeks revenge . . .

Bruce Wayne defends the good as Batman defends Gotham, but can either persona prove a match for these foes?

The second (and final) Tim Burton contribution to the Batman mythos was controversial. Like the first, I enjoyed the tone, sets, and music. There was a mix of dark and silly. There was some outstanding dialogue and characters, too, though the film also featured some cheesy lines. Penguin and Catwoman were tormented characters well worth exploring. These things said, the movie fell flat on a few fronts:

- parts were too dark or innuendo-laced

- the film tried to do too much. It didn't explore Catwoman or Penguin enough, rushing development and skipping over plot elements. The climax felt especially clipped and bizarre.

- the Penguin seemed a little too much like the Joker from the first film. 

There was some good here (especially in view of the two movies that would follow), but not quite as good as the first.

Rating: B-

Batman

Today's review is of the 1989 movie, Batman.

Mob boss Carl Grissom runs Gotham, and the city is in disarray. Attorney General Harvey Dent frantically tries to pin Grissom down, but crime runs rampant. But hope is growing: a mysterious 'Batman' prowls the streets, striking fears into the hearts of criminals. But when Grissom's second-in-command is transformed into the Joker by a tragic accident and starts poisoning the city, people are smiling for a different reason—and not a good one. Will this new menace prove too much for the Bat?

This Tim Burton movie was a hit. It was certainly a product of its time—some corny dialogue and action/effects haven't aged well—but great acting (Michael Keeton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger) and a solid story make up for it. There are a handful of memorable lines, the music is great, and I enjoyed the 'atmosphere' of the film (which includes the set design). Nicholson's Joker is dark yet funny, a sort of hybrid between the campy TV show and the darker interpretations that would hit the screen in the 2000s. Overall, I enjoyed the re-watch more than I thought I would, and the kids liked it, too.

Rating: B+

Batman Arkham: Ra's Al Ghul

Ra's Al Ghul collects 9 comic book issues about this Batman villain told over the decades ('70s, '80s, '00s, '10s). From his first appearance in 1971 to present, we see snippets of Ra's as he squares off against "the Detective," often with his beautiful daughter Talia by his side. Deducing Bat's identity from the start, Ra's respects him even though they are (usually) on opposite sides. He has no powers save resources and near-immortality due to rejuvenating dips in his 'Lazarus pit.' Known as the Demon's Head, his goal is simple: remake the world, correcting the failings of man through annihilation and societal rebirth. And, often, only Batman stands in his way.

As with the other Arkham collections (see the main Batman page), I really like the concept of this series- seeing how both villains (and art, and storytelling) have evolved over the decades is fun and interesting. Ra's is a latecomer to Batman, appearing 30 years after many of the other iconic villains. And, unlike the others, he never goes to Arkham Asylum (as far as I know). He generally operates in more exotic climes, well away from Gotham. His stories and schemes are elaborate if common in goal, involving layers of plans that span centuries.  My only dig is that only snippets of story arcs are presented here, meaning you generally don't get the full picture of any one story. I suspect it was a nice representative sample, but more closure from story to story (or at least a page of backstory introducing each) would have been nice.

Rating: B