Batman is Back in His Superhero Bag and It’s About Time (Review)

DC’s Dark Knight steps into his next chapter with an all-new creative team at the helm, and there are certainly expectations regarding what that team can do with a character as iconic as Batman. That new era begins in Batman #1 from the talented team of Matt Fraction, Jorge Jimenez, Tomeu Morey, and Clayton Cowles, and while they do pick up the current status quo from the previous series, this run already feels like a breath of fresh air with a more superhero focus, and it looks like a million bucks to boot.

Fraction describes this series as a superhero forward take on the character, and it shows throughout the first issue. The crime-fighting hero of Gotham is back in the driver’s seat this time around, complete with slick gadgets, an even slicker car, and a brighter costume that pierces the murky skies of the city with ease.

Batman’s approach has changed as well, and yet part of the brilliance here is that Fraction still finds plenty of internal conflict and baggage worth exploring without bogging down the character and his world with the weight of it all. Past runs (great as they are mind you) lived in that space at times, but so far this adventure is balancing all of those various aspects quite nicely, all while adding its own textures and threads to the mix in unexpected ways.

Case in point, every single scene with Killer Croc brings out a different side of Bruce we simply don’t get to see all that often these days, but it’s deeper than that, as we also get to see the difference between what Bruce actually believes and what Batman presents to the public. While he might say that people never change out loud, there’s still a part of him that believes people geninuely can, even if there are caveatus attached.

While the writing deserves praise, so does the artwork, and at this point Jorge Jimenez is reaching that upper echolon of all-time Batman artists. His work on the Dark Knight is exceptional, but it’s actually his ability to bring Batman’s world to life that is perhaps most impressive. The city truly comes alive as Batman glides along the skyline and races across the rooftops, and the Batmobile has rarely looked this slick as it zooms through the city streets, in part thanks to the brilliant work of colorist Tomeu Morey and letterer Clayton Cowles.

Batman himself is no slouch either, and the choice to move to the more vivid blue and grey costume pays off big here as well. I’ve always been an avid fan of the blue and grey suit, but it’s unreal how much it pops off the page throughout the issue, and it also goes a long way in visually conveying the shift in tone for both the series and its main protagnist.

While the larger plot still has yet to unfold, the series has set a stellar foundation while also picking up the various pieces from previous runs. It’s certainly a visual tour de force, but it also presents a more reltable and vulnerable Batman without losing the hallmarks of the character, all wrapped up in an issue that serves as the perfect starting point for lapsed or new fans. Simply put, Batman #1 knocks it out of the park, and this era is off to a truly grand start.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Batman #1 is in comic stores now.

What did you think of this new era for Batman? Let us know in the comments!

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