The late, great Denny O’Neil once said, while paraphrasing Rudyard Kipling, “there are nine and sixty ways of constructing a Batman story. And every single one of them is right.” Certainly there have been a variety of takes on the Dark Knight over the past century. From Adam West’s satirical Bright Knight, to Frank Miller’s angry old man, very few creators have mismanaged the character completely. Unfortunately, I fear Matt Fraction must be added to that short yet ignoble list.
A new day is dawning as Batman #1 opens, with Police Commissioner Vandal Savage declaring war on the city’s vigilantes. Jim Gordon has returned to his roots as a blue-clad beat cop. And Killer Croc, who has regressed into childhood as his condition worsened, is on the loose in Gotham City.
(Image Source: DC / Jorge Jimenez)
This last point is the only one that concerns Batman, however, or the action of this issue. He is intent upon recapturing Croc before he hurts someone else. Never mind that Croc’s doctor thinks he’s more of a danger to himself than others in his current innocent state.
Matt Fraction misses the point of Batman’s character
(Image Source: DC / Jorge Jiménez)
There has been considerable debate over the years as to whether Batman is as crazy as the villains he fights. Certainly a well-adjusted person wouldn’t dress like a bat and invest billions of dollars in wonderful toys to beat up muggers. Matt Fraction seems to be building to an examination of this point, depicting a Batman who holds imaginary conversations with the deceased Alfred Pennyworth. Ignoring that this sort of analysis has been done to death, Fraction’s take on the Dark Knight lacks the heart that defines the hero.
As Mark Waid noted in Kingdom Come, Batman is, at his essence, “someone who doesn’t want to see anybody die.” And yet, as some put the “Super” before the “Man” in handling the Superman, Fraction’s treatment is more “dark” than “knight.” This is not a Batman you could see holding the hand of a young girl so she is not alone when she dies. This is a Batman who ignores the advice of experts and refuses to consider handling Killer Croc with compassion. And that, to my mind, is no Batman at all.
(Image Source: DC / Jorge Jimenez)
The artwork is this issue’s one saving grace. Jorge Jimenez has been drawing Batman for a while now, and is an old hand at these characters. The action is solidly depicted throughout. Unfortunately, the beauty of the art cannot disguise how ugly the story is.
Maybe there are some who still like to see Batman written as a cynical, jaded loner. They may find something to enjoy in this new series. As far as I’m concerned, they can have it.
Grade: 4/10
Batman #1 arrives in comic shops everywhere on September 6, 2025.