Relaunching Batman
In September of 2025, Matt Fraction took over as the writer for the main Batman title, with Jorge Jimenez remaining as the artist, Tomeu Morey on colors, and Clayton Cowles providing letters. This marked only the third time in the character’s long history that the mainline title has relaunched with a brand-new #1 issue. The first relaunch came in 2011 with the larger New 52 line-wide revamp. The second relaunch arrived in 2016 with the line-wide Rebirth initiative. This third iteration marks a new jumping-on point for readers, with Fraction looking to make his mark on the Caped Crusader.
Interestingly, the title has retained the art team of Jimenez and Morey since James Tynion IV took over writing duties way back in January of 2020. The pair have worked with three primary writers on the title: Tynion, Chip Zdarsky, and now Fraction. Though the art team has remained consistent, they’ve managed to reinvent their style and presentation in memorable ways. They continue to adjust and align with the overall tone and direction each new writer brings to the table. It’s worth noting that Jimenez and Morey are some of the best creators in the industry and if nothing else, the art in this book is worth the cover price alone.
Episodic Entries
Relaunching the main Batman title is a big deal. It’s a rare occurrence, and it’s meant to signal a major change for the book. We’re now six issues into this run, and the most palpable change to the title is the feeling of revitalization. It feels fresh, new, and enthusiastic. Fraction is laying the groundwork for a long run. There are pieces being arranged on a chessboard that have the implications of things to come, but in the meantime, each issue feels contained.
It’s this episodic nature that is the titles biggest strength thus far. Every issue is a valid jumping-on point, which is critical in an ongoing comic like Batman. New readers can’t feel intimidated by not starting from the first issue. That said, it’s continually building on itself. Characters are experiencing sincere arcs, plot points are established for a long-game, and there is a feeling of events building towards something. Crucially, though, it doesn’t feel like every issue is buckling under the weight of setting up the larger story.
Everything just works and flows naturally. It feels like a classic, serialized Batman comic. One of the things that most highlights this is a small emphasis the team has put on spotlighting the unique gadgets Batman utilizes in each issue. It’s a minor detail, but there’s always a little caption box and graphic that explains what tool Batman is using to get the job done. This just adds another layer to the book and makes it a fun read.
Feeling Fun
Batman is a serious book a lot of the time. He’s a serious character, often known for his grittiness and darker storytelling. This book definitely has its weighty themes and intense character moments, but as a general read, it feels joyful and fun. Reading every issue is a blast. It’s something to look forward to. It’s a new adventure where readers know they’ll get a relatively self-contained story, some progress on the longer narrative, fun character moments, and incredible art. It can’t be overstated how impactful that simple formula is.
It’ll be interesting to see how this run evolves as time goes on. At some point I’d expect a big, narratively dense arc or two that don’t follow the “villain/adventure of the week” tropes. How the book feels in those moments and where it goes from there will be a fascinating bridge to cross. For now, though, this book is flying high through the skyline of Gotham.
P.S.
The new Batsuit design is one of the best of all-time. He just looks perfect in the blue and gray.
