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I Am Batman #1 by John Ridley and Olivier Coipel brings Jace Fox into DC’s Infinite Frontier with a character-centric story that packs a punch.
Roughly a year ago, DC Comics announced it was publishing Future State, a line-wide event that explored the potential future of the DC Universe and the heroes that occupy it. Of these, Future State: The Next Batman stood out as an immediate success. Now, the Batman of the future finally dons the cowl as part of DC’s Infinite Frontier with the release of I Am Batman #1. Written by John Ridley with art by Olivier Coipel, the character-centric issue showcases Jace Fox’s first night of crimefighting as the Dark Knight. It is a strong start for what looks to be a promising series, ensuring that Jace will have a bright future.
I Am Batman #1 opens with Jace Fox fumbling through the test facility of “The Clade of Chiroptera.” After the destruction of the Bat-armor, Jace dons his costume and leaves for Gotham City. He starts small and confronts a group of vandals, before stopping a hit and run. Meanwhile, the police are called to Alleytown for a mask sighting, when they are attacked by a group of armed criminals. As Jace arrives on the scene, he finds himself caught between the police and the criminals, with nobody on his side. Just when things can’t get any worse for the new hero, the death of a familiar vigilante signals the start of an entirely new mystery.
Academy Award-winning writer John Ridley continues to explore the adventures of the Next Batman with I Am Batman #1. Ridley endears Jace with a unique perspective that stands out from other members of the Bat-family. Jace is a child of wealth and holds that against himself, as it has afforded him certain privileges that others cannot afford. This characterization makes him more than just “black Batman” and adds a lot of nuance to Jace’s journey as a hero. Beyond that, the plot for I Am Batman is very straightforward, as Jace adjusts to putting on a costume for the first time. This is very much an instance of walking-before-running, though the issue’s ending does tease that the pace will be picking up soon.
Fan-favorite artist Olivier Coipel makes his Batman debut in I Am Batman #1. Coipel delivers incredible work. Everything from Jace’s headquarters to the streets of Gotham looks amazing, with strong layouts and engaging characters standing out as true highlights. Coipel inks his own work on this issue, using an organic and sometimes rough style that compliments the urban environment. This is then enhanced by the colors of Alex Sinclair. Sinclair is often associated with his collaborations with Jim Lee on Hush and All-Star Batman & Robin, so he’s well versed in Gotham’s dark, decrepit colors. He provides a lot of atmosphere through his work and brings the city to life. While the cast of characters in this issue is fairly tight, the thought of Coipel and Sinclair featuring Jace’s mentor Katana or Batman himself in future issues is very enticing.
Ever since his introduction in Future State, fans have been clamoring to see more of Jace Fox as Batman. After setting the stage in The Next Batman: Second Son, this series serves as a proper introduction to Jace’s exploits in the cape and cowl. As such, it is great to see that this is such a great introduction to the character for new readers. The plot touches upon the current Fear State status quo but explores its own story too. Jace is still learning how to be his version of Batman and hasn’t even figured out Bruce Wayne’s true identity, which should help make his growth and journey fulfilling for anybody checking him out for the first time.
Overall, I Am Batman #1 is an engaging read that successfully introduces the Next Batman to DC’s Infinite Frontier. John Ridely’s script makes Jace Fox an engaging lead, while the beautiful art by Olivier Coipel and Alex Sinclair makes the story easy on the eyes. For readers yearning for a new perspective on Gotham City’s criminals and the vigilantes who fight against them, this is a must-read. The Next Batman is here and he’s making an impact.
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