If you’ve always loved Batman and had an interest in his source material, but never known where to start, you’re in luck. It’s a new era for Batman, as the title has been renewed with a new series, starting with #1 this month. Eisner-winning Matt Fraction is teaming up with Summer of Superman artist Jorge Jimenez to breathe life into this new run on the character. The first issue was released two weeks ago, with generally positive reviews. This story picks up on Batman a while after Alfred’s death (Batman vol.3 #77), and features Waylon Jones/Killer Croc as a main villain. This storyline is the perfect time to start reading as it’s in the middle of Batman’s career. You may need some prior knowledge, but you can understand just as much as a newcomer.
The story kicks off with a demoted Commissioner Gordon working as a beat cop in Coventry, Gotham City, when he sees a meat van attacked by Killer Croc, and promptly contacts his bat-eared backup. Batman then cuts his meeting with Dr. Anna Zeller short, leaving Arkham Towers to beat Vandal Savage’s GCPD in the race for capturing Waylon. Without spoiling the ending, this issue alone displays a lot of emotional symbolism, with an overall motif of change. It shows that Batman understands the nuance of being a fearful, dark hero, but a hero nonetheless. Additionally, this book introduces a few new features for Batman. Matt Fraction’s writing is very cohesive and works well especially when interwoven with Jorge Jimenez’ new designs. The story features something to entice Batman fans of every kind, and it’s only the beginning. Personally, Batman is the highlight of this particular issue. His shift in perspective is amazing to see, and it seems to be reassuring for a lot of DC fans.
If you want to get into more Batman comics after reading this, I recommend Batman: War on Crime and Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. Both are critically acclaimed standalone books and are very easy to get into. And there are plenty of DC books that you can pick up and read, just to get into the universe. The best place to search for books featuring characters you like would be Fandom websites. This book is rated teen, and truly is great for anyone ages 13 and over. Be sure to read the next issue, where I’ll be reviewing Ultimate Wolverine, an ongoing series by Marvel Comics.
