DC's New Batman Officially Suits Up To Fix Bruce Wayne's Mistakes
Warning: contains a preview for I Am Batman #1!
An upcoming comic series from DC features the newest Batman taking up the mantle to be the hero Gotham needs that Bruce Wayne couldn't be. I Am Batman #1 will be part of the building up of Jace Fox's adopted legacy as he tries to continue his family's at the same time. Like his predecessor, this Batman may find himself stretched thin.
Jace Fox is the son of Lucius Fox - one of Batman's closest allies. He first appeared in Batman #101 in 2020 and was shown taking up the Dark Knight's mantle in Future State: The Next Batman. Within Future State: Justice League he is said to have "truly saved Gotham," though how remains to be seen. Jace still has a lot to prove, but he's well on his way.
I Am Batman has the creative team of John Ridley, Olivier Coipel, Alex Sinclair, and Troy Peteri. Variant covers for this series are illustrated by Francesco Mattina, Greg Capullo, and Kael Ngu. An exclusive preview reveals Jace Fox's idea of what Batman should be. Bruce Wayne may have created the persona, but Gotham has room for more heroes - and some new approaches to saving the city. Check out the DC preview here:
This preview highlights the struggles that Jace faces when it comes to fulfilling legacies - both the one he was born into and the one he is forging for himself. He wants to be a Batman that people actually see, one that gives hope. However, during the day, he's having to show up at Foxtech and fill the dutiful son role to impress his father. While still having his family around sets Jace apart from Bruce immediately, it doesn't make his life any easier. In many ways, it even makes it harder since he has expectations from everyone that he feels obligated to try to reach. Yet he could excel at protecting them with the way he approaches his identity. Unlike the original Batman, this new Batman uses a cowl that completely covers his face, which he puts on here. He's also seen laying out and strapping on his gear - a major departure from the sorts of things that Bruce used to use.
Instead of a Batmobile, Jace uses a motorcycle. He focuses far more time on hiding his identity, equipping himself with several burner phones, a gas filter, and batons. He doesn't use any of the signature kinds of weaponry that Bruce used to carry around. This is one of the first major changes Jace has employed. He isn't going to hide behind tech. He's going to get up close and personal. Batman has disappeared, leading Gotham to need a new symbol.
Although Jace hasn't seen a lot of action yet, his approach in Future State reveals that he will be a very different Batman, reforming Gotham and its people step by step. He seeks help and actual justice for people in need, like young kids picked up by a gang and a couple who sought revenge - both of whom he treated differently than Bruce Wayne would have. Batman's fight was in the shadows and the underbelly of Gotham, against psychological terrors. Jace's version of Batman's fighting a broader spectrum of threats on Gotham's streets. He isn't the kind of hero who will keep to shadows, but one who will get his hands dirty to protect others and truly improve their lives. DC's next Batman has a long road ahead of him, but it's one he begins paving for himself in I Am Batman #1, available now.