Solid start. Beautiful art. The story doesn't give us a whole lot in terms of direction as there really isn't a villain present. It'll likely be a commentary on the current militarization of the police and extra-policing forces that have been deployed. Poignant. I'm for it. What really catches with this issue though is the levity. Batman needs that every once in a while. The color palette is used very well. It was amazing seeing Batman be an actual hero to civilians, and how the little girl lit up when she saw him before engaging Croc. Fraction is solid and I expect good things. more

Not a great issue. Some good art with a mediocre script.

Mediocre final issue of a long story. This just isn’t one of the better current Batman stories.
Check out the other Batman and Robin series by Waid and Dark Patterns by Watters for great Batman stories. Money better spent.

It's scary how drawn out this story was. It was a nothing story with no impact whatsoever. So small, in fact, that Johnson tied it up in a half of an issue. It had me saying, "That's it?" This started out really good and then dragged, and dragged, and dragged, until it went from a boulder to a pebble. The only parts of this story were good were Damien trying to figure out who he was going to be. Let's hope he can write a shorter more coherent story. Batman should not be dealing with the supernatural. Give him a traditional detective story please.

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Too early to say anything definitive. But I have worries. One of the reasons Robin was created was to give Batman someone to talk to. Now Bats has an AI holographic Alfred. That doesn’t strike me as mentally healthy, especially considering the fact that there are 174,964 Bat family members Bruce can talk with.

This better not be another arc where Bats learns the value of family. Just saying. Gordon is now a beat cop again. I don’t think you can go from commissioner to beat cop. Wouldn’t he just retire. A beat cop that’s well into his 50s is just a bridge too far for me. Your mileage may vary.

Bats spends most of his time tracking down a child-like Killer Croc, who is regressing because he’s is molting or something. It involves dinosaurs and new Batcave trophies, which always struck me as something serial killers do on Dexter.

Bat has new tech, which strikes me as Iron Man, not Batman. There is no detective work and Vandal Savage is creating a goon squad outside regular police channels. Didn’t Tynion already do that?

This seems like more of the same to me. Batman is stuck in a holding pattern, where he keeps getting redone but it keeps getting rebooted to a tired status quo that leaves out charm, fun, and originality. Don’t have high hopes.

Or I could be wrong. more

Loving the art from the off. Very vibrant. Pops, if you will. Nice to open a new run with a beloved character from the off and tapping in to precious nostalgia. I am enjoying beat cop Gordon!

Things escalate very quickly and some kind of creature is terrorizing Gotham (how original! I jest).

This Batman doesn't suffer fools . Our first central mystery appears to relate to Killer Kroc. As part of his investigation, Batman gets the scrip on Waylon's recent circumstances from Dr Zeller. A cure for his condition has been found.

Very intriguing! She seems like an interesting new character. She speaks warmly of Croc in a way that counld be construed as romantic. I feel like this is a ruse. I think we'll be seeing more of Dr Zeller.

I like how the equipment Batman is using is Telegraphed. The gear he uses will give us window into the kind of Batman that Fraction intends this to be. I hope this is a continual feature of this run.

He zips through Gotham using a Bat-wing. A sign a flys past reads - "Gotham City - you don't have to be crazy to live here but it helps!"

A nice bit humour, it did make me chuckle. Various TV bits are show beautifully evoking Frank Miller's Gotham.

TV adverts promoting safety armour for normal civilians. GNN news conveying civilian panic. Talk show hosts complaining about unregulated dojos. New casters not buying stats that crime is down, taking pops at sedantry Commissionar Vandal Savage refusing to comment. This is a Gotham in the full swing of chaos. Fraction sets the scene for what is to come - and that's just the intro.

Batman has a very sweet interaction with Killer Croc, I found it very touching .For just a moment, they are just two damaged kids, dropping their guards to find some connection, commonality and ultimately supporting each other. This move from Bruce actually quells Croc's fury, resolving the entire situation. What's more is the scene is in full view of Croc's doctors. A fascinating approach from Bruce. I loved this. Also, AI Alfred is a nice touch. Being able to see Alfred and Bruce interactions is a big plus for this series. The fact that it's only a facsimile of Alfred only adds to the sadness of his loss. This seems to suggest that this Batman will be facing emotional demons head on. Fraction is the kind of writer that should be able to provide such much needed depth to mainline Batman. It has felt very shallow for a long time. There is enough encouraging elements here for me to get excited. Let's go.
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It seems that ever since Grant Morrison and Scott Snyder finished their Batman runs, every writer starts off strong but in the end falls flat. Tom King's run started off strong with his first arcs (The I am Trilogy) but then falls flat at City of Bane. I am one of the minority who personally enjoys James Tynion IV's Batman run, but I think it is very shallow. Joshua Williamson's filler run was not that bad, but it was forgettable. Chip Zdarsky starts off really strong with Failsafe, and while I did enjoy Dark Prisons ending (as that was Chip Zdarsky's true resolution), DC forced him to pad out and it ended flat post Absolute Power. I can tell that Zdarsky told everything he wanted about Zur-En-Arrh and wrapped up everything, but didn't know what to do with Vandal Savage.

My point being is that I was nervous coming into this run, but now I'm excited, and I pray that Matt Fraction run stays consistent. Jorge Jiminez is the definitive Batman artist of the 2020s, and it's like his work keeps on getting better and better. I Love how vibrant and pop this initial issue looks compared to James Tynion IV and Chip Zdarsky. It's very bright and colorful, I like Batman's new suit, and it is so nice to have a blue and gray suit instead of the black and gray suit. This is the exception where the trunks works.

I love AI Alfred, I like how this run really emphasizes Bruce's technology. I like how Matt Fraction doesn't want to deconstruct or break down Batman, but just make him have fun adventures. I like how Bruce talks to Killer Croc and opens up his trauma. I even like how Batman uses technology to solve mystery, similar to Christian Bale's Batman. Overall, while this debut issue isn't as action packed compared to Scott Snyder, Tom King, Joshua Williamson, and Chip Zdarsky. But after seeing Batman getting beat down and question his motivations..... it's nice to see Batman be hopeful for once. more

Great start. The whole croc interaction I thought was nice. Alfred(which I guess is AI even tho I can’t see where that’s said) obviously isn’t as good as the real thing but I’ll take what I can get. Gordon going back to being a cop is a solid move, despite I can’t see Vandal letting him come back at all. And of course the art is 10/10.

The whole run has been very consistently around an 8 for me. Not my favorite issue but the required issue for the finale. Looking forward to a shorter story arc next.

Overall a solid anniversary issue.
The Watters story was very 90s Batman. Which isn’t a bad thing.

Close to perfect first issue.

It’s ok

Not a good script. Some very good panels. Artist has potential.

It’s like a totally different Dan Wattsrs is writing this versis nightwing. They should give this Dan Watters the Detective Comics titles.

Best Batman book out right now and prob the best since Snyder run started. Dan really captures the feeling of Gotham in all these issues. This one especially felt like a classic.

Amazing Batman title,I think one of the best in recent times.

The art is just not a good fit for the story being told.
And I just don’t like the art.

Interesting new developments. It’s starting to feel like a Hickman book.

It’s a sold issue.definitely adds to the mystery of it.

Loved it.

The Waid magic is unending. May this run last forever.

Better than issue 7 but not as good as issue 8.

I liked it much more than prior issue.

Should win the Eisner.

This is an artist showcase series. Nothing more. After 8 issues if you asked me to explain the story to you I would not be able to.

Good to see Shade.

It’s flawed but enjoyable.

Best or second best issue of the run so far.