I Am Batman #1

I am in for the long haul. I can ping pong back and forth from Bruce's brooding to Jace's optimism. The great thing is that DC has provided an African-American hero with a vision of hope! I like that and I hope you will too! Read Full Review

I Am Batman #1is an extremely thought-provoking and exceptionally beautiful comic that should be on every reader's radar. From #DCComics #JohnRidley #OliverCoipel @sinccolor @troy_peteri Read Full Review

Ridley adds another entertaining and thought provoking chapter to the adventures of Jace Fox. I really appreciate how Ridley chooses to use Gotham City as a reflection of our current society. Read Full Review

I Am Batman #1 is hard-hitting, offering a different kind of Batman that has the rogue DNA of Collateral or a John Woo action-adventure. Read Full Review

The catch to ensure a lengthy run will be establishing Jace on his own and rarely settling into familiar Batman tropes. With this first issue, Jaces journey seems in excellent hands. Read Full Review

With I Am Batman #1, John Ridley continues to build on the solid start from last issue. So far, this series is living up to all the hype. Jace Fox is a fascinating character and I look forward to seeing how he evolves, as Ridley tells his story. Read Full Review

With 'Fear State' in full swing, the new Batman is put through a baptism of fire, making his presence known in a really tight and character/Gotham-focused first issue. Every Jace Fox putting so far has been brought to life by truly solid artistic teams and this issue is no different, as the team delivers a gorgeous depiction of Gotham city and the new Batman in action. Read Full Review

I Am Batman #1 is as solid as it's expected to be. The issue is a fantastic start to the series that plants a flag as to what this Batman is going to be like and how he'll be different. There's a tone and style to the narrative and visuals that makes the series stand out on its own as opposed to an extension of the rest of the Bat-titles. This is an issue to pick up and series to keep an eye on, especially if all of the issues are going to be this good. Read Full Review

Overall, Ridley's main strength has always been character work, and that continues here. But this series has a lot to balance, taking place in the middle of Fear State and covering a lot of subplots. I'm not sure it has as clear a focus for Jace as the two previous minis yet. Read Full Review

I Am Batman #1 continues John Ridley's take on the Batman mythos introducing new challenges for Jace Fox's Dark Knight. With the next issue poised to introduce a new take on one of Batman's foes, it looks as though Ridley, Copiel, and Sinclair will be sticking around for a while in this new version of Gotham City. Read Full Review

This new Batman is a fantastic reframing of a protector of Gotham City, one that comes not from the ivory tower but rather the corners of the city that people would rather forget. Read Full Review

John Ridley's I Am Batman #1 is a strong first issue. Coipel and Sinclair's artwork propel Jace Fox and his version of Gotham. Readers that do not care or do not try to fit it into continuity will discover a satisfyingly new approach to this hero. Read Full Review

A new Batman in a new world makes for an interesting take, and Ridley's deeply nuanced script works well with the complex art of Coipel. Batman is dead. Long live Batman! Read Full Review

I'm not sure there's ever been a higher volume of Batman content in comics than right now " probably hyperbolic, but it feels especially difficult when you're on a team that has to review it all. As such,I Am Batman needs to do a good job of convincing you to buythisbook over others. It does this by introducing a Batman who feels like he speaks for the people, more than he speaks for himself " and personally, I'm going to keep reading. But a story lives and dies by its art" so let's see if this holds true come next month. Read Full Review

While I would have liked Jace's first outing as his Batman to be a little more interesting, this is a decent first step in getting people on the Jace train and while I don't think that our Next Batman was really all that interesting with how he wanted to handle things here, the cliffhanger was definitely something that will bring me back, not to mention that I really enjoyed the art throughout. Read Full Review

Toonstrack

Sep 14, 2021

If you like hard hitting action, neon lit gritty futurescapes, inner monologs with clear motivations, and gorgeous artwork to give life to it all, then there's very little not to like about this first issue. Batman is dead. Missing for years. The uniforms tasked with keeping the peace have become a hunting party out for vigilantes. Gotham remains as crime ridden as ever. So Jace Fox uses his tech, his skills and his motorcycle to take the fight to the streets. Like I said the art is flawless. Olivier Coipel is one of the best working right now and personally one of my favorites and hes in top form here. His understanding of what details to include and what to forgo and leave to the imagination is unmatched. Hos figures and faces are expressive and not as polished as others. The colors done by Sinclair compliment his art beautifully, giving the lineart and the city it depicts life. If you ever grew up in an urban setting, where the buildings are lit orange by the streetlights at night, you can really appreciate how good it is. He also handles the action exceptionally well, with a mix of great motion and strong money shots. The story it compliments is also rock solid, very simple and to the point but a great depiction of a vigilante getting his start and having one of his first nights out. The stinger at the end is interesting but not as good as the story that precedes it. Overall, there's little not to like about the book from a standpoint of actual storytelling. If you have an issue with this particular character taking over the mantle, I suggest you check out his origins before this, and if have the issue because you think "only Bruce Wayne can be Batman", well, Dick Grayson, Jean-Paul Valley, Terry McGinnis, and Jim Gordon would like a word. Give it a chance. Hes not the first and won't be the last. One flaw I'll give is that there's a lot of characterization for the protagonist that was done in other books so it may make it a bit harder to get with in this issue. This issue does a good job of filling in those blanks but its still to be noted. As an issue though? This is a great first. I really hope Coipel can get on board for more issues. His art is worth price of admission alone. more

UxasIs

Sep 23, 2021

Great start!

Stormwrath

Sep 14, 2021

Both the writing and the art is great, but Ridley struggles to bring excitement to the plot, after finishing his books im never excited to read the next issue, I hope this ll read better on trade

Psycamorean

Sep 27, 2021

I would respond to the multitude of idiots who decided to review this book to masturbate over their totally-not-reactionary takes that show, like all conservatives and alt-righters, they suck at media analysis. But... I don't fucking feel like it. I have too much to do. This is a good book that could be better with some tweaks to the dialogue and a faster pace.

Fracadactyl

Sep 15, 2021

Serves as a more streamlined setup compared to the #0 issue.

Screaming Enigma

Aug 29, 2023

I thought this was a pretty solid start to the series (if you don't count #0 as the start) and an improvement over Issue #0. Coipel's art is a huge step-up from Travel Foreman's art previously, which was one of my main issues with the #0. As for the writing, it's able to keep me interested in the story just enough to keep reading, even if this felt a little slow at times. All things considered, I still think this series has potential and I hope it's able to fully realize it sooner rather than later.

Mout

Sep 14, 2021

Some of the lines are unbelievable... Coipel is carrying this

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Mingthemerciless - Sep 14, 2021

Ridley's even stealing the "bruce Wayne is the mask" angle and having Tim Fox use it as if we ve never seen it before.

Mout - Sep 15, 2021

not very original

cincyfan

Sep 16, 2021

This wasn't really for me. It was decent and the art looked great but it didn't really do much for me. That being said I think it's a great idea and it gives a different type of batman based in the future for people looking for that and if that sounds like something you may be interested in then give this a read

egonnn244

Sep 27, 2021

"I've appropriated a mask" This book has me torn. On one hand, it bags on Batman for not doing enough, just like Son of Kal-El with Superman (now let's just get that Nubia book to bag on Wonder Woman and we'll have the trifecta of "new generation of heroes" craping all over the old ones) and has its hero take, or rather appropriate, the name/legend/legacy of Batman for his own ends. Even the secret identity is the same. On the other hand, kinda ironically, it presents a Batman story I'd rather read, than whatever Tynion or Tamaki has Batman doing now. Hey, maybe that was the pitch: "Let's make Batman poor and ineffective so the new guy, using Batman's name/brand and all, can look better"? Overall, the book is not bad in and of itself and has stellar art. As for the problems I mentioned above, I think they could be fixed in three, laughably easy steps. 1. Take the word Batman from the title of the book. Basically anything less egregious than "I Am Batman" will work. 2. Have the main character stop calling himself Batman immediately. 3. And take the Bat symbol of his chest. Following these three easy steps will ensure your book won't get an immediate pushback from long Batman fans or comic books in general. Of course, this way you're forfeiting the twitter clout for having black Batman, but I'm pretty sure out of these two groups, only one reads comic books. If you can't guess which one, then all hope for you is lost. more

Silver Rocket

Sep 14, 2021

Not good, not bad, middle of the road.

Merlyn

Sep 14, 2021

Wow, this one was bad. I mean, I expected that but I thought since they brought Coipel, Ridley would try something better but nope. Let's just see some lines here. "He can't see behind my mask. Or that I've appropriated a mask he helped create" YES, Ridley, thank you. This coming just after talking about sincerity is incredibly ironic but I loved it. At least deep down he knows he's doing it, he finally he admits this guy is a usurper and he's appropriating the Batman role that isn't his. I loved this. "And I'm planning to be around for a while" This one was for all the people who think the real Batman will come back soon, he won't and Ridley is making fun of all the fans that love Bruce. "Batman's dead it's like he never really existe d" "Batman wasn't real" "Batman wasn't there for the people" These are just several of his shitty takes on Batman. He also claims the police is no better than an occupying force. I mean, I can do this all day, to quote Cap. Honestly, Coipel deserves better but the writing was just too abysmal. I just can't understand why DC would take such a huge dump on their best character. more

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Mingthemerciless - Sep 14, 2021

No one is interesd in Usurper Batmans war on privilege or Ridleys hamfisted racial politics. No one reads Batman for that. If Tim Fox poor sales hold up he won't be around "for a while" in the books. I'm still thinking the end game is a CW show for Tim Fox while feature films remain Bruce. I never watch the CW shows so as long as Usurper is not in the main books I'm fine.

Bats44121 - Sep 15, 2021

Jace Fox and Ridley share a common theme of self-loathing in this series. Jace has self-loathing knowing that he is an unpunished hit-and-run killer, and wants to take his self-hate out on others. Ridley knows that he has been unable to come up with his own original character with a comics marketplace (not since New American in "The American Way" comics for WildStorm), and he writes "Batman" with the self-loathing that he has had to sink to being an usurper of someone else's character.

DVE - Sep 15, 2021

Jesus Christ you weird reactionaries

Mingthemerciless - Sep 15, 2021

Great observations Bats. Nothing about the character feels earned. He stumbles onto a satellite Batmab base coopts the fear and claims th is mantle for his war on privilege. His father has effectively stolen the Wayne fortune and company which the character also insinuates himself into while decrying the wealth. Funnily enough he speaks like this is the or 6 years in the future approaching Future State yet hes slated to again walk into the title after Bruce self exiles put of Gothsm next year.

Mingthemerciless - Sep 15, 2021

Sorry for the typos. Tim Fox just feels entitled to usurp whatever he wants from Batworld and I think that's why most fans haven't embraced the idea of him as Batman. Theres no nobility or compelling force to him. Hes just a knob that thinks he can take whatever he wants for his less than compelling war on privilege. This is what third series for him? Hes still not resonating with fans and I think that's why DC is keeping him with one foot in the elseworldy Future State.

Mingthemerciless - Sep 15, 2021

I dont know Merlyn...could DC be blinking with this character and keeping him in Future State for now? Perhaps they hope sales improve this series? Tamiki will be continuing the move towards Future State with Shadows of the Bat but Williamson seems to be working on a Batman Inc status when he takes over in 118.

Merlyn - Sep 15, 2021

reactionary= "I hate that you don't like what I like and even have the guts to critique it". @Ming: Neah, he'll be the Batman in the main DCU and for some time.

Bats44121 - Sep 15, 2021

Right, how dare we point out the King has no clothes. I mean, isn't it every day that costumed comic writers take a hit-and-run murderer and make him into a costumed hero? Clearly it must be something wrong with those of us who find that obscene.

DVE - Sep 15, 2021

Cool

Mingthemerciless - Sep 15, 2021

I'm starting to have my doubts Merlyn. It's entirely likely but the whole "Batman hasn't been seen in years thing is a status from Future State. Granted Ridleys writing has been pedestrian at best but that's quite a whopper DC editorial let go. Tamakis next arc pushes Tec towards future state but that would take it out of continuity by 5 or 6 years. I'm hoping you're wrong on this but you do tend to be right.

Mingthemerciless - Sep 15, 2021

Agreed Bats. Theres a lack of nobility to what's behind Tim Foxs war on privilege and how hes chosen to go about it. It speaks to Ridleys values too. I think most fans cant find a way to resonate with that and so after a few issues Tim Fox books fall out of the top 50 sellers.

Mingthemerciless - Sep 15, 2021

The sequence where Tim Fox uses urban hipster vernacular is just laughable. Yeah sure the kids will ask permission next time they spray paint a wall.

Toonstrack - Sep 16, 2021

"Urban hipster vernacular"? Uhhh no its a dialect my guy. No different than Remy Lebeau incorporating French or rogue calling people "sugah".

Mingthemerciless - Sep 16, 2021

No its urban hipster vernacular. For real...LOL.

Toonstrack - Sep 16, 2021

Please... don't embarrass yourself. Its called AAVE and trust me this comic is using a pacified version of it

SenpaifenixJäger - Sep 17, 2021

@Mingthemerciless It certainly is! somebody pass the patchouli

Toonstrack - Sep 17, 2021

@fenixalasnegras oh lookie here, a racial dogwhistle. Really classy. About what I'd expect from you honestly.

Merlyn - Sep 17, 2021

Where the hell did you see a racial dogwhistle? Are you out of your mind? Or is that just your modus operandi? Whenever you run out of arguments, you're like "Ha! Gotcha, you racist"? You did the same with me, so it's not looking to be a coincidence. Please reasess your methods or I'm going to have to ask you to stop commenting on my reviews if your only objective is to make people racists when they're not.

Toonstrack - Sep 17, 2021

Go look up what he referred to in context, and come back. Just because you tend to miss details and minutia in writing doesnt mean its not there. He made a deliberately obscure reference to a racial stereotype, because that's the kinds person he is. Isnt the first time either. Also I didn't do the same thing with you. Ive made implications that maybe your view on race issues is skewed but I've never called you a racist.. you've called plenty of books racist though, without merit.

Merlyn - Sep 17, 2021

No, there's a pattern here. You lose the argument (or don't actually have one in the first place) and then you jump right to "you're racist". You have to do better than that, sorry. Otherwise I don't really see the need to entertain conversations that don't actually go nowhere beyond flimsy accusations.

Toonstrack - Sep 17, 2021

What argument did I lose? I wasn't even initially talking to him, nor did he even respond to what I said. Neither party did. Twice now in this very comment thread I've advised folks go do some actual research and both times they dodge. Ironically you are choosing to make a simply accusation instead of seeing for yourself why his comment is a dogwhistle. The pattern you SHOULD be seeing is from his own past comments, which lend even more credence to my statement.

Merlyn - Sep 17, 2021

So you want to keep going this way. Ok, it's your choice. When the consequences come, it should be noted that I have warned you.

Toonstrack - Sep 17, 2021

You're literally not even attempting to respond to what I'm saying at this point lol. I might as well be posting anything else with how you are just flinging non sequiturs. Christ....

Mingthemerciless - Sep 17, 2021

You're sensitive little thing arent you Toony?

Mingthemerciless - Sep 17, 2021

And for real its urban hipster vernacular.

Mingthemerciless - Sep 17, 2021

Merlyn I think toony came looking for attention because his gushing review didnt get much love. Honestly I think Ridley could publish a mac n cheese recipe and toony would sing hosannas to it.

Mingthemerciless - Sep 17, 2021

By the way no one was putting any racial complexion on this awful book until Toonys senditivies were offended. Bless his heart.

Mingthemerciless - Sep 17, 2021

Fenix apparently patchouli is racist "dog whistle" now. So says racist dog whistle policeperson toony. N' est pas?

Toonstrack - Sep 17, 2021

No, its a dialect ming. Just because you weren't educated on that doesn't mean your word is law. I see you've been reduced to ad hominem and have no actual argument. Im more than willing to leave you to continue fellating yourself but I was hoping for more from someone who claims to know things. How many more individual thoughts did you come up with after these 5 barely coherent ones?

Mingthemerciless - Sep 17, 2021

You don't have arguments toony...you have hysterics. No one with a modicum of intelligence takes an individual like you seriously. Please let me know if I posted any dog whistle there. Oh and for real its urban hipster vernacular.

Toonstrack - Sep 17, 2021

My argument is that it isnt hipster anything because it isn't. Facts aren't hysterics. Any academia or institution that claims any modicum of intellect will tell you exactly what I'm telling you. The fact you cite intellect while disregarding this is proof of my claims, which by th way you still have failed to argue against. You are trying to avoid it and its so obvious. Please... stop embarrassing yourself. And I never accused you of dog whistling. Just felix who has scurried to his cave

SenpaifenixJäger - Sep 18, 2021

@Mingthemerciless What? Hahaha! How do he get to that definition?This happens when the person has not traveled and believes that the world is limited to five blocks from his house. And worst of all, he doesn't even investigate, he just spews whatever comes to mind in his haunting mind. Such incoherence made me laugh a lot, that is appreciated.

Toonstrack - Sep 18, 2021

Oh I investigated lmao. You aren't fooling anyone. Well... you're fooling some folks clearly. Haunting mind... I like the sound of that. I'll be stealing jt

SenpaifenixJäger - Sep 18, 2021

And on a note ,Toonstrack , there are people who have occupations, maybe you don't understand that the world revolves beyond comics. You know, school, work, friends. If you look out the window, you will see a real world outside, where normal people live and engage in various activities.

SenpaifenixJäger

Sep 15, 2021

This character is still a bad impostor with a great bet to fail, no matter how much magic they want or skills that come out of nowhere, this is not a bat and much less Batman, just a crutch to satisfy a few who are not even aware of the publisher .

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Mingthemerciless - Sep 16, 2021

Is Ridley writing this as current continuity or in Future State? Tamaki is working towards Future State in Tec. Williamson is to have Batman put Batman Inc back together when he takes over in 118. Fear State is current continuity and Batman leaves Gotham at the end of it. This is a mess.

SenpaifenixJäger - Sep 17, 2021

It's really sad, I don't want the publisher to disappear, I've tried to support with the comics that I buy, but I'm reaching the limit and feel I'm not the only one. My interest in this publisher is getting less and less. Why they didn't better generate a land where they would do these things and leave heroes like Batman-Bruce, Superman-Clark, WW-Diana alone instead of disappearing them, really the only thing left is the Nightwing fanfiction which is pretty bad for a young adult audience.

SenpaifenixJäger - Sep 17, 2021

Maybe Williams can do something about Batman, sometimes he does interesting things, other times he writes very youthful. Pfff I think that next year, if not before I will close the DC chapter due to so much mediocrity.

Mingthemerciless - Sep 17, 2021

Yeah I'm Williamson can lift the book and give the readers some decent stories. Tamaki and Ridley arent delivering.

Bats44121

Sep 15, 2021

"Who does the driver remind me of?" The "mask" that Jace Fox really wears has nothing to do with Batman. The "mask" that Jace Fox wears is one of pretending to be an honest and sincere person, who is an unpunished killer. A self-loathing hit-and-run killer wearing a Batman costume gets his own comic series as "I Am Batman." As he states in "I Am Batman," "If you can fake sincerity, you can win anyone over," and this is the point of Jace Fox's pretending to be Batman. But this "Batman" does not worry about law and justice, simply about whether "these folks cancel you for real" using their phones and social media. And regarding "sincerity" of this "Next Batman," the "disinformation" and "conspiracy theories" spread by "Seer" about ho w The Magistrate are "booted thugs" is true. In any U.S. city in any part of the country, the fact is that the citizenry would rise up and stop them. This is not the totalitarian nation that Ridley seeks to draw it as, and the people are not shackled to the fear that he and DC Comics would find an entertaining dystopia story. Fact is Jace Fox only wants people to look up to him, because he needs them to believe in HIM. Because Jace Fox knows in his heart that what he sees in the mirror is a killer. He claims that his father believes Jace has "forgiven" him. No, the truth is Jace knows who and what Jace is. But of course, none of this will get into the "I Am Batman" series. One reviewer wrote: "Jace isn’t the same jaded hero as Bruce Wayne and didn’t need a family tragedy to incentivize him to become the new Dark Knight." This is the same Jace Fox who praised his mentor, the costumed killer Katana, for killing "people who deserved it." (Second Son #11) No, Jace Fox is not "incentivized" by HIS "family tragedy," but rather the "family tragedy" that Tim "Jace" Fox committed on the innocent Hispanic Acevedo family, killing Enrique Acevedo and leaving him to die in the street. (Second Son #8-9) And using race to rationalize someone else family tragedy (Second Son 9):"There was a road rage incident in that neighborhood last week. White driver assaulted a black man. Tim didn't run--he was afraid to stop." (By Lucius Fox, and clearly a lie, as shown in Second Son #8-9). So as a reviewer of "I Am Batman" waves away the issue of "family tragedy" in this "better" Batman, they just ignore the blood on Jace Fox's hands. They won't mention the "family tragedy" that led to Edgar Acevedo about killer Jace Fox (the "Next Batman"): "I swear on my dad's grave you just bought yourself a world of hurt." (Second Son #11) more

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Toonstrack - Sep 16, 2021

You literally just listed aspects that added to this character and but listed them as negatives. Why?

Bats44121 - Sep 17, 2021

Toonstrack, you have a right to believe being a hit-and-run killer (SS #8-9), advocate of "right" to kill "people who deserved it" (SS #11), racist family advocacy (SS #8-9) as "aspects" "adding" to a character. That is your opinion. In my opinion, these all detract from a character. And they would detract from a character, if he found a GL ring, Starman cosmic rod, or costume of any other "costumed hero." Not just finding a Batman costume. But *ESPECIALLY* Batman, because of Batman's values.

Mingthemerciless - Sep 17, 2021

Lol...you broke Toony Bats.

Merlyn - Sep 17, 2021

When he's out of arguments, he just shuts up. Though you're lucky, Bats, he could always call you a racist and "win" the argument, that's how it always works for him and his ilk.

Bats44121 - Sep 18, 2021

Noticed on Twitter, "#BatmanDay" currently has about 133,000 Tweets. Of the 133,000 Tweets (at this moment), there are some for Jace Fox too. I could count them. There are 13. That is 13 out of 133,000 Tweets. DC Comics: I don't need to do the percentage for you, right?

Bats44121 - Sep 18, 2021

Once Comixology goes full-time on Amazon, the reviews won't be just the "professional reviewers" getting preview copies to give PR to DC Comics no matter what they point out. Once those DC Comics get on Amazon comments, you will see a completely different marketplace message.

Mingthemerciless - Sep 18, 2021

Great observations Bats. We ve gone over the various reason why Ridleys character isn't going over. The sales speak for themselves..with every Tim Fox book (including trades) the first few issues do well them they drop out of the too 50. By contrast every other bat bat centric book remains in the top 50. As we ve discussed Tim Fox is a poorly conceived character who's stories and mission are not appealing to the audience that buys the bat books. That may change with better writing and art.

Mingthemerciless - Sep 18, 2021

But as of right now Tim Fox appears to be "Batman" by DC edict alone. The fans arent buying it.

fearUhavemeisenough

Sep 15, 2021

This is the worst structured character in the comic industry, a vulgar murderer, a mediocre nonconformist who has been put in place to replace the most iconic character. Trash.

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Mingthemerciless - Sep 16, 2021

A character that stole the gear and identity of a man he doesn't like to fight some uninteresting war on privilege and turn Batman into Robin Hood. Worst structured is an understatement.

DarePool53

Sep 17, 2021

No, you are not.

Raging Rainbow

Sep 22, 2021

We're continuing the story of Jace Fox, the Not Batman of the Future State, as he takes on his actual suit and starts hitting the streets. In many different hilarious ways. https://youtu.be/-xiQTxUsZTU

S.J

Mar 21, 2022

No, you aren't Batman !