REVIEW
In an entertainment industry dominated by superhero franchises and streaming services, one company has found a way to combine the two guaranteed money makers and turn the idea into something just short of greatness.

DC Universe is not the first streaming service to cater to fans of a particular genre. Shudder has been providing horror fans with original and acquired content for almost three years, but not even Marvel has attempted to cram their shows, movies, merchandise, news and community into one specific place.

While DC Universe does provide quality nostalgia, such as the 2003 “Teen Titans” series and an HD version of “Batman: The Animated Series,” there is little to be desired for casual fans, especially considering the price.
For as much as $7.99 a month or $74.99 a year, fans can have access to original shows, both animated and live action, and comics ranging from the early Golden Age of comics to the Modern or Bronze Age of DC.

Unfortunately, for those who may have pre-ordered or purchased DC Universe for the month of September to October, they might have been disappointed to see that “Titans,” the live action show headlining the service, will not be released on DC Universe until till Oct. 12.

It’s a bit frustrating that when promised exclusivity, fans were told that Titans will be streaming on Netflix internationally.

Fans can only hope that the other announced shows, such as the animated Harley Quinn show and the third season of the revived Young Justice cartoon will be worthwhile.

One of the best parts of the service is the character encyclopedias and selection. Simply by searching a character or clicking on the box picture on the home page, viewers can find all available movies, shows and few comics that the character appears in as well as an in-depth background and various origins.

The comic selection is full of a diverse variety, although a majority of the time they only offer the first few issues of a given series. Some series, like the popular 2014 series “Batman Eternal,” carry all 52 issues.

One of the best things about the comic reader is the quality pictures and panel by panel option which really focuses on the smaller details, giving the reader a much more immersive read. The comic reader is even designed to work on a TV.

When searching for comics, one can look by title, character name or story line. When a certain issue or comic is unavailable, the viewer is greeted with tiny white font that states that the full DC Comics digital library will be available for purchase in October. This makes for one of the most annoying features of the service. Since a specific date and price for the additional service hasn’t been revealed, one is left to pray that there will be no other surprise add-ons topped to the already specialty niche, pricey service.

The service promised a way to create a community, and they did deliver. On any comic, show or movie, fans can leave a comment and start a conversation. Also, the DC Universe has polls and fun questions for fans to discuss over and playfully debate.

Merchandise is also available for purchase. The prices vary from extremely overpriced to somewhat reasonable. An average phone case costs around $35 and heat transforming mugs are only $15. Exclusive decor, apparel, collectibles and accessories are available, and fans can search by character name, price or type of item.

While DC Universe may be the service that any hard-core comic and comic culture fan may have been hoping for, it lacks the interest or value that casual fans might desire.

Older viewers will find intrigue with comics from their childhood and older movies and classics, but with the overpriced cumulation of lackluster and limited content, viewers will definitely feel bits of disappointed at the service which could have revolution comics for years to come.