Holy criminology, Batman! comics and constructions of crime and justice -- "Crime doesn't pay": a brief history of crime and justice themes in comic books -- The world is shifting: terrorism, xenophobia, and comic books after 9/11 -- A better tomorrow: apocalypse, utopia, and the crime problem -- Villains: criminal behavior and the embodiment of evil -- Deathworthiness: paths to justice -- "Take down the bad guys, save the girl": gender and sexual orientation in the fight against evil -- "Aren't there any brown people in this world?" reading for race and ethnicity -- Apocalyptic incapacitation: understanding punishment -- Conclusion: Ultimate justice -- Appendix: sample and methodology.