Comic book titles getting rebooted with a new #1 is pretty much standard operating procedure these days.
So it should be no surprise that Batman relaunched with a new #1 with the new creative team of writer Matt Fraction and artist Jorge Jiminez.
Jiminez is not new to this title, pairing up with writer Chip Zdarsky during his run with on Batman.
But the art of Jorge Jiminez does seem new with a redesigned costume and a new dynamic style in his layouts. This may be an artist we've seen before but his art gives us a fresh look at Batman and Gotham City.
As for writer Matt Fraction, he picks up where Zdarsky left off with Vandal Savage still in charge of the Gotham City Police Department. Savage is employing TUCO: Tactical Urban Combat Officers, a private army to sublimate the police in tackling various super threats to Gotham. And Savage considers Batman and his associates among that number.
It's been a few years since writer Tom King killed off Alfred and damn if he isn't still dead. But Fraction brings him back as an AI generated hologram who can still zing Batman/Bruce Wayne with his classic wicked sardonic wit.
Matt Fraction introduces a new character, Dr. Zeller at Arkham Towers (not Asylum, another change that is still holding on). She was overseeing treatment for Waylon Jones, aka Killer Croc. Her patient has escaped Arkham and is on a rampage.
She is surprised as Wayon Jones was making excellent progress in his therapy.
Batman is NOT surprised because Killer Croc, like all his foes, will never change.
Batman confronts Killer Croc who is enraged because his head is filled with confusion and frustration. His reptile DNA has caused him to mutate, a painful process that causes him to lash out.
Yep, like adolesence.
So Batman stands down, takes off his mask so Bruce Wayne can sit with Waylon Jones to have a little chat about what it's like to feel afraid, to feel lost.
Awwww....
Calmed down, Waylon gently returns to Arkham with Dr. Zeller.
I really hope Dr. Zeller is as good as she appears to be. I do not want to see a sudden reveal that she's been evil all along.
Issue #2 finds Batman and the Tim Drake Robin in the crosshairs of TUCO with Savage declaring them the enemy of the GCPD. Things do not go well when TUCO captures Robin (temporarily. Tim Drake is too good to stay caught.) Batman shows up and gets shot in the head for his trouble.
Good thing that cowl is bullet proof.
There's a sweet flashback sequence of Bruce Wayne teaching Tim Drake how to drive stick with an old pick up truck because Tim wants to learn out to drive the Batmobile.
Which has 13 gears.
Robin: "What the hell do you need 13 gears for?"
Batman: "It means I have the coolest car in the world!"
I'm not sure we really needed a new issue #1 relaunch but I am enjoying the exciting direction that Matt Fraction and Jorge Jimenez is taking this series.
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