DC comics released a New Batman title this August-September 2025. Writen by Matt Fraction, with art by Jorge Jimenez and colors by Tomeu Morey, this new title (and renumbering, it seems). The 'why' isn't clear, but since it is a Batman title - an new number one is supposed to be a mielstone issue. Soooo... as I have been cole=lecting comics these days in digital format, I took exception to this one and reserves a copy of issue one. How was it?
Spoilers come, of course. First of all, a new number one represents (as I mentioned earlier) a milestone. So how did this one fare? For starters, a little clearification to the path this title will take. Matt has decided (for now, anyway) that this Batman will represent self-contained stories per issue. Sure, there will be underlying arcs happening in the background like Commisioner Jim Gordon has been demoted to beat cop Gordon, and we know he was Commisioner, because his new partner is still making a mistake reffering to him as Commisioner - though she corrects herself, and says she still has some getting used to with his new role. So obviously, I missed something - why was he demoted? and who took his palce as Police Commisioner to Gotham City? Well here' comes surprise number two... Vandal Savage is the new Commisioner - yes, that Vandal Savage. How and why? Dunno. Is this something that happened before? Its not as if I follow the Bat titles diligently, so something might have happened in between the isseus I had last read, to this new one.
One other difference? Apparently, Alfred Pennyworth is alive and well! I mean, wasn't he killed by Bane? So this makes me worried that this title might be an alternate reality? Hope not - so I hope there is a reason why Alfred is still around. Also, the HQ they show isn't the Batcave - but apparently something that carries Pennyworth's property? Apparently, not only back, but he is helping keep the hereos operating on a day-to-day basis. I mean, he always did - but not in a "I'm financially supporting the operations manner."
Then there's the return of Red Robin, Tim Drake. He's been gone for a long time, and amongst all teh Robins, he's seen considered the smartest of them all - smart as in a cerebreal way. See, here's anothe things I obviously missed. I thought he went away, to find himself with his girlfriens, Stephanie Brown. Has something happened that I have not been aware of? I hope these are somehow addressed (if they have not been. I mean, he may be a fan or writer's favorite, but lioke Alfred being present, I hope there is an explanation forthcoming. Villains? For starters, we have Killer Croc - though nto the same as before, and it is nice to see Batman resorting to the usual- based on his history with Croc... but willing to listen to the Doctor caring for Croc. Then, fo course, there is Police Commisioner Savage, who just declares war on Bats and his group after Red Robin survives an encounter with overzealous cops. (this is issue 2 stuff already by the way). So the story seems to be going inan interesting angle - as for art, Jorge Jimenez' is a good enough artist - slightly cartoonish though, but nott too - so that it becomes distracting. At least the art is clean, and the story flows smoothly.
Will i continue gollecting this? Will see. As I said, its been months since I colected comics. I left a few titles and story arcs hanging. Might wait for compiled versions. so I need not get the latest issue every month - I no longer have that passion (or obsession) to want an updates story as they come out. I'm past that - thank God, too.
One other difference? Apparently, Alfred Pennyworth is alive and well! I mean, wasn't he killed by Bane? So this makes me worried that this title might be an alternate reality? Hope not - so I hope there is a reason why Alfred is still around. Also, the HQ they show isn't the Batcave - but apparently something that carries Pennyworth's property? Apparently, not only back, but he is helping keep the hereos operating on a day-to-day basis. I mean, he always did - but not in a "I'm financially supporting the operations manner."
Then there's the return of Red Robin, Tim Drake. He's been gone for a long time, and amongst all teh Robins, he's seen considered the smartest of them all - smart as in a cerebreal way. See, here's anothe things I obviously missed. I thought he went away, to find himself with his girlfriens, Stephanie Brown. Has something happened that I have not been aware of? I hope these are somehow addressed (if they have not been. I mean, he may be a fan or writer's favorite, but lioke Alfred being present, I hope there is an explanation forthcoming. Villains? For starters, we have Killer Croc - though nto the same as before, and it is nice to see Batman resorting to the usual- based on his history with Croc... but willing to listen to the Doctor caring for Croc. Then, fo course, there is Police Commisioner Savage, who just declares war on Bats and his group after Red Robin survives an encounter with overzealous cops. (this is issue 2 stuff already by the way). So the story seems to be going inan interesting angle - as for art, Jorge Jimenez' is a good enough artist - slightly cartoonish though, but nott too - so that it becomes distracting. At least the art is clean, and the story flows smoothly.
Will i continue gollecting this? Will see. As I said, its been months since I colected comics. I left a few titles and story arcs hanging. Might wait for compiled versions. so I need not get the latest issue every month - I no longer have that passion (or obsession) to want an updates story as they come out. I'm past that - thank God, too.
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