batman: assault on arkham is the first of the dc animated universe films to be set within the arkham universe established by the wbie video game series and it's quite the solid start (if others will indeed follow). putting "batman" at the beginning is a bit disingenuous, as the dark knight is a supporting player, but it's an acceptable marketing choice and it doesn't feel like a bait and switch because this is his setting, after all. the film takes the new 52-era suicide squad and puts them together for a break-in on arkham asylum on a forced mission for amanda waller. the voice cast is exceptional, with some of the animation usuals (kevin conroy, nolan north, cch pounder) and some of the video game regulars as well. the visuals are effective and the fight scenes solid; jay oliva and ethan spaulding's animation team find a good middle ground between the games and the animated universe. there are some problems, mostly in that the film is a little too packed with main characters and the fact that the final act seems largely tacked on to give batman something to do. but the characterizations are good and the story plays out well--warning parents, this isn't for kids--with a lot of humor and action. that's about all you want to ask of these films, and it delivers solidly enough.