I Am Batman #4

This issue features some very exciting and well-done action scenes. The attention to detail in the illustrations, and vivid color palette, enhance the engagement of this visual story telling. I felt completely transported with the turn of each page. Read Full Review

I have to admit that I was somewhat cynical of a new Batman taking on the role of Gotham's Dark Knight – especially one who wasn't selected by Bruce Wayne or part of the Bat-Family's inner circle. John Ridley's story has convinced me that the idea can work. I look forward to seeing where the story's heading, and with I Am Batman #4, we can see the various plot points begin to coalesce. Read Full Review

I Am Batman has enough reasons to be optimistic about its future, but eventually it's going to need to start making good on its potential. Read Full Review

This issue has some very interesting things to say about the way mental health is dealt with in Gotham, and I'm hoping this subplot is followed up on a little down the line. We're still not at the point where I really know what the mission is for Jace as Batman, but it's a strong ensemble book right now. Read Full Review

I Am Batman #4 is another solid issue that has a surprising amount of follow up from Fear State. There's some major ramifications for Simon Saint and the Magistrate program that feel like they're major plot shifts. So much, it's surprising they're handled here instead of the main Batman series which has moved on from the storyline already. It's another example of this series being much more key to the future of Batman than anyone is giving it credit for and making it a series to continue to watch and read. Read Full Review

I Am Batman tackles a lot of relevant subject matter in a way that isn't sugarcoated but finds itself stuck in a middle ground between an event and its potential future. A solidly crafted book that needs to firmly stake its place within the greater Batman line of books. Read Full Review

The Magistrate was just the beginning!  Sadly, we see that there's something bigger than the Magistrate coming to Gotham and the rest of America, but it's just too bad that it feels just like the Magistrate with a new paint job. The art and character work continue to be top-notch, but I'm not entirely on board with the direction we're heading because it just feels a lot like a rerun.  Hopefully, I'm wrong. Read Full Review

There's some good characterization and some meaty themes being explored, but the comic is really struggling spinning threads from "Fear State" into something that fits this book. Read Full Review

I Am Batman #4 tackles the fallout from Fear State and how it affects the Fox family, but ultimately serves as little more than a setup for the series' next story arc. With said story arc taking Jace and his family to New York City, I hope a fresh start for the Fox family is also a second chance for the series to find its footing. Read Full Review

This particular issue seems like a cleanup of sorts from Magistrate to a segeway into a new/old threat of T.A.L.O>n " full funded by Lucius Fox. Jace deserves a better story than this. I am sure he has his own demons to conquer, but wouldn't a confrontation between him and one of Batman's Rogue's Gallery be interesting? Read Full Review

I am Batman #4's flaw lies with the inherent "angle" John Ridley has taken with Jace and his taking on the Batman mantle. It's hard for me to find a compelling hook beyond the somewhat unique backstory of the Fox family and their diverging opinions on masked vigilantes. Jace's relationship with Lucius is by far the most compelling dynamic in my opinion, but the series needs to find Jace a truly unique adversary and mission to take on if this book is to ever gain momentum. As it stands, Jace's mission feels like playing clean up for the fallout from the main Batman series. Read Full Review

Toonstrack

Dec 21, 2021

Great action and solid art from a series that is between than it has any right to be. While I didn't hate fear state in fact I quite enjoyed it, this book has handled the new players of the Magistrate arguably better than that arc did. Lots of intrigue, double crossing... reminds me of misson impossible, James bond type of stuff bt on a street level in one crime ridden city. Im excited to see where they go with this as the story continues. Also this is my 200th review! Pretty cool.

Screaming Enigma

Aug 30, 2023

I feel very similarly about this issue to how I felt with the previous. We get a killer cover from Gerardo Zaffino and a "fine" read inside. I thought this was a little more interesting than Issue 3, but it's not enough for me to bump my rating to a 7/10. I just hope that, with Fear State wrapping up, this title can get a little more focused and get back on track to the potential it was showing and capitalizing on with Issues #0-2.

Psycamorean

Jan 07, 2022

I swear that, like gun purchases, CBRU reviews need to come with background and mental health checks. It'd save so much trouble. This issue is fine. People need to learn not to get triggered.

Merlyn

Dec 14, 2021

Yeah, you have to be extremely dumb to buy the bullshit Ridley's selling here. Never mind the constant race-baiting and laughable attempts at hyping the faux Batman. To think that after FS and the Magistrate, the same strategy would work, just on a bigger level is downright retarded. This book is garbage.

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davepete - Dec 14, 2021

Not sure where you're from, Merlyn, but Americans don't use the R word anymore. It's ALWAYS offensive.

Merlyn - Dec 15, 2021

Don't care, I'll still use it.

Mingthemerciless - Dec 15, 2021

There some kind of manual or list I can reference for this months approved words?

SenpaifenixJäger - Dec 16, 2021

I have heard rumors where DC has realized that neither their FS nor their Batman-Tim Fox has worked. Batman-Bruce Wayne is irreplaceable, they said in the article. Apparently DC is thinking of reversing all this by generating an Elsword, it is no longer working. Maybe they will too with Tim's horrible story.

SenpaifenixJäger - Dec 16, 2021

Something that I give thanks is the output of the Red Hood series, because from being written with my feet to not being written and appearing in some non-canon numbers like UL or TFZ I can accept that all this garbage is canon.

Merlyn - Dec 16, 2021

@Meamor: I don't know you and you get block for lying like a bitch.

Merlyn - Dec 16, 2021

@Meamor: I see you've done the same with Psycamorean. You truly are a nutty one, aren't you?

Merlyn - Dec 16, 2021

And I will always use the "R" word because I'm a free man living in a free country and I don't care for totalitarianism where language is controlled by the main party.

Merlyn - Dec 16, 2021

@Fenix: Well, if they realized that, they would be fucking right, FS was a disaster and absolutely no one cares about Tim Fox. Bruce Wayne IS irreplaceable and even if he is to be replaced, there are a lot of better candidates than a nobody like Tim. My dream is to see Jason one day adopt the mantle in a very Superior Spider-Man kind of storyline. They should throw all this shit into an Elseworld.

Mingthemerciless - Dec 16, 2021

Fenix the last numbers I saw Tim Fox books were the only batman centric books that consistently fall out of the top 50 both regular and trades. The character isn't resonating with readers. So now DC is sending him to New York where he ll function essentially apart from the main books.

Mingthemerciless - Dec 16, 2021

I think uts a matter of time before Lucius Alfred and Gordon are back in familiar roles in the main books along with the Wayne fortune returned to Bruce. Williamson of course will have Bruce out of Gotham for a while. But yeah DC blinkrd..Ridley doesn't get the main book as 5G intended.

Mingthemerciless - Dec 16, 2021

Merlyn I've always wanted to see Tim Drake take over as Batman with a brutal Damian contesting it. Todd for me works better as punisher style thorn in Bruce's side.

Merlyn - Dec 16, 2021

Personally I don't see the appeal of Tim being Batman, Tim is very "safe" as a character, if someone is to wear that mantle, I'd like to see someone that challenges what Batman should be about, without completely changing or disrespecting the mantle. Jason, for me, falls in that category. He's been close enough to the Batman to know what the rules are but he has a different take on what keeping Gotham safe means. So that would put him in a pretty difficult situation.

Merlyn - Dec 16, 2021

And I don't see him as a thorn in Bruce's side, if anything he should be the guy Batman goes to for things that blur the line and Batman can't do. That's how Lobdell initially described their working relationship at the start of Rebirth but he kind of abandoned that along the way. Anyway, I don't think we'll see Jason as that anytime soon, DC will continue letting him and Nightwing strike out on their own and building their own mantles.

Merlyn - Dec 16, 2021

Which is fine, my problem is that they've tainted Nightwing with Taylor's stupidity and they've started to change things about Jason to be more politically and ideologically "correct".

Merlyn - Dec 16, 2021

@Fenix: I don't know if you've heard this but apparently CW is producing a show called Gotham Knights that might also include Jason. Problem is... it's produced by the same people that directed the Batwoman show and that was a total disaster so in a way I would be grateful if Jason would be kept as far as possible from those guys.

Mingthemerciless - Dec 16, 2021

What I think works with Tim Drake as Batman is hes just as good a detective as Bruce Wayne and the mission means the same to him. Damian on the other hand is Bruce's son by birth (albeit a genetically engineered one) and believes the mantle is his. It sets up a great tension.

Mingthemerciless - Dec 16, 2021

Jason Todd for me works better as an anti hero that's willing to use lethal methods to do what Bruce wont do to prosecute his mission. I'd like character to return to that rather than the watered down version right now.

SenpaifenixJäger

Dec 16, 2021

If the rumors are not true, it is possible that in 2022 we will be singing the swallows not only to this series, but to this horrible character who only generates more expenses than profits.

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Bats44121 - Dec 16, 2021

I haven't heard any rumors, but doubt that DC will not have Ridley continuing to lead this disaster for a while. It is a write-off for the Gotham Books editor team, while they actually make money with other books. Shame Luke Fox does not get storyline and heroic role as Batwing.

Bats44121 - Dec 16, 2021

Eventually they will spend less and less on the artists working on it in 2022.

Mingthemerciless - Dec 16, 2021

I think the problems are already there Bats. How many artists has the book had already? A recalibration to move the character to New York. They'll try to save it but the plan they had has totally changed. You can see it.

Bats44121

Dec 16, 2021

Just Ridiculous. Story lines by "How to Even Sell Less of Your Comic" by J. Ridley. A best-seller to DC Comics editors. John Ridley just simply won't accept it, that the Magistrate story line is played out. So he wants to plan for Lucius Fox to work with Victor Noonan to spread fascism beyond Gotham City to other cities more ready to submit. OK - go to NYC already. See how long the fascist story line sounds credible there. How many people were gunned down in Chicago last weekend? Over 30? How many children? There is a REAL storyline out there for Luke Fox as Batwing to tell real and meaningful stories in fighting crime and working for Justice. And with the Batwoman TV show including Batwing, this would really provide a positive com ics story line and IP to promote the character. But this Jace Fox hit-and-run and Magistrate story stuff by Ridley just gets more and more counterproductive and ridiculous all the time. more

S.J

Mar 21, 2022

No, you aren't Batman !