Batman #1 is written by Matt Fraction and published by DC. Artwork is by Jorge Jiménez, colours by Tomeu Morey and letters by Clayton Cowles. Main cover art (left) is also by Jiménez.
Batman #1 is available from today, in print and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your digital copy from Amazon Comixology UK right here or pickup a hard copy from Forbidden Planet here.
Synopsis
A new day dawns for the Dark Knight Detective as Eisner Award-winning writer Matt Fraction (Hawkeye, Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen) joins forces with superstar artist Jorge Jiménez (Batman, Summer of Superman Special) for an unforgettable new era of Batman! The best superhero in comics gets a brand-new first issue to kick off this new era that will test Batman and Bruce Wayne like never before!
Review
Following a blockbuster run from Chip Zdarsky and the return of Hush, a brand new era for the Dark Knight begins in comic book stores today. With the connective tissue of fan-favourite artist Jorge Jiménez, writer Matt Fraction is taking Gotham in a bright new direction. Making the flagship Batman title a crowd-pleasing action adventure.
It’s early days but it feels like DC is working to create more of delineation between Tom King’s Detective Comics and this main Bat-book. Though there’s little overlap in storytelling. The two have struck a similar tone in recent months. Classically the two work better when Detective leans in to the noir roots of the character. Whilst Batman can explore the more fast-paced, energetic stories. If that is truly the case then Batman #1 is a strong argument for how best to do it. From the outset Fraction sets a strong tone for his run which feels like an exciting change of pace from Zdarsky’s serialised approach.
For those wondering, this isn’t a complete reset or a return to an earlier period in Bruce’s story. Batman #1 picks up after all of the events of Zdarsky’s run. Alfred is still dead though Fraction finds a neat way to bring him back in to the story. Other elements from the wider world also remain just as they were. It’s really the look – particularly Batman’s costume – and the story which has been creatively refreshed. As restarts go this is certainly one of the least jarring I can think of in recent years.
What’s immediately striking about Fraction’s approach to Batman is the levity. More of this book takes place in daylight than we’re used to. That puts the spotlight on Jiménez’s dynamic new costume. But it not so subtly hammers home the message that this is a new dawn for Dark Knight. Then there’s the approach to his vigilante antics. Rather than steeping the book in the moodiness and angst of recent portrayals. Fraction hones in on more fun aspects like his Bat-gadetry, instantly giving the book a more contemporary feel.
The renewed sense of energy is inescapable. Even Bruce himself seems to have shed the weight of recent stories from his shoulders. Though he acts alone for much of this issue, his interactions with other characters give a strong insight in to his state of mind. Unavoidably, this issue has to deal with setup. It is an issue #1 after all. But Fraction is able to leave the reader in a place where the direction of travel is clear. It’s no spoiler that Tim Drake’s Robin is joining Bruce on the cover of issue #2. So Fraction builds in to the end of this book a teaser which works well to build intrigue. But simultaneously it also gives a very teasing glimpse in to what the Bat-family dynamics may be like on this run.
Meanwhile Jorge Jiménez is proving himself the master of reinvention in 2025. He’s been working on Batman for a number of years now. Working with different writers with very different tones. But looking at 2025 alone there’s more than enough reason to see why Jiménez is at the top of his field. His work has taken on a new energy. We saw it in the Summer of Superman special. That book was so bright and full of life. Not that his work before wasn’t also brilliant. But his evolution has brought him to a point where Batman just looks flawless. As a Jiménez fan, as a DC fan, as a Batman fan. This is a very exciting time to be reading this book…
Verdict
Matt Fraction and Jorge Jiménez come roaring out of the gate with a Batman that feels creatively energised and refreshed. There’s a new dawn in Gotham City and I’m excited to see where it leads…
⭐⭐⭐⭐
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