Batman, Vol. 2: Blood & Money

Batman (2025)

by Matt Fraction, Jorge Jiménez (Artist), Ryan Sook (Artist)

Eisner Award–winning writer Matt Fraction and superstar artist Jorge Jiménez deliver the next chapter in DC’s bold new era of Batman!

Gotham’s criminal underbelly has been transformed from unruly chaos into a labyrinth of mutual profit by the Torus. At the center of it all, the Minotaur oversees everything with a ruthless fist. But tracking down Gotham’s newest criminal mastermind is the least of Batman’s worries: Word has come from Arkham Towers that the Joker wants to talk.

Meanwhile, Police Commissioner Vandal Savage approaches the recently elected Mayor Pamela Isley with a new plan to rid Gotham’s streets of the caped crusaders for good. The war between GCPD and the Bat-Family heats up...and not everyone will walk away free.

Batman Vol. 2: Blood & Money collects Batman #7-12.

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Graphic Novels, Graphic Novels Comics, Batman

184 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication December 1, 2026

About the author

"How he got started in comics: In 1983, when Fraction was 7 years old and growing up in Kansas City, Mo., he became fascinated by the U.S. invasion of Grenada and created his own newspaper to explain the event. "I've always been story-driven, telling stories with pictures and words," he said.

Education and first job: Fraction never graduated from college. He stopped half a semester short of an art degree at Kansas City Art Institute in Missouri in 1998 to take a job as a Web designer and managing editor of a magazine about Internet culture.

"My mother was not happy about that," he said.

But that gig led Fraction and his co-workers to split off and launch MK12, a boutique graphic design and production firm in Kansas City that created the opening credits for the James Bond film "Quantum of Solace."

Big break: While writing and directing live-action shoots at MK12, Fraction spent his spare time writing comics and pitching his books each year to publishers at Comic-Con. Two books sold: "The Last of the Independents," published in 2003 by AiT/Planet Lar, and "Casanova," published in 2006 by Image Comics.

Fraction traveled extensively on commercial shoots. Then his wife got pregnant. So Fraction did what any rational man in his position would do -- he quit his job at MK12 to pursue his dream of becoming a full-time comic book writer.

Say what? "It was terrifying," said Fraction, who now lives in Portland, Ore. "I was married. We had a house. We had a baby coming. And I just quit my job."

Marvel hired Fraction in June 2006, thanks largely to the success of his other two comics. "I got very lucky," he half-joked. "If it hadn't worked out, I would have had to move back in with my parents.

- 2009. Alex Pham. Los Angeles Times.

Reviews

[Vinayak · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume felt a lot more like table-setting than payoffs — aside from the Joker moment in the first issue, most of this is Fraction and Jiménez moving pieces into place. Barbara getting sent to jail and Alfred's replacement showing up in the final issue are the big hooks, but neither really lands yet.

Definitely a slow burn compared to the last volume, but I like where it's headed. With Bad Seeds crossing over right after this, it feels like this arc was building toward something bigger rather than trying to stand on its own. Worth reading if you're already invested in this era of Batman — just don't expect a self-contained arc here.

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of tablesetting here along with a lot of revelations. The return of the Joker is pretty damn cool, especially that final page. Wonder when he's going to get unleashed again? Vandal Savage has it out for the Bats, declaring war on them. The setup here has me really curious about that new Barbara Gordon series. Then there's Verity Pennyworth. What now! I want to know more about this. Anyway, I'm here for this run. BTW, Jorge Jimenez and Ryan Sook are welcome to draw all my comics.

[Corinna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like where Fraction is taking this. It’s different from a traditional comic book arc, but Fraction has always been creative with how he structures his comic runs, so I’m choosing to trust. There are so many pieces on the board right now and more keep getting added (which can make it difficult to follow, especially reading on a month by month basis) but I trust that Fraction has a plan which will culminate into something really cool.

[Aidan]

Still pretty great up until the last issue, which felt like the first chapter that didn’t tell its own story and instead just moved things along/set up elements in the larger arcs. The Alfred niece hasn’t added anything yet either.

The stuff with Joker was amazing. Impossibly, Fraction and Jimenez found a new way to make the Joker unsettling.

[Keegan Schueler · Rating 4 out of 5]

As much as I enjoyed this volume it was a big step down from volume one. Issue 7 is definitely the highlight and while there are a lot of awesome moments nothing quite feels super memorable. The art is great with Jimenez as always and still excited for future of this run.

[Joel Jorden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Feels like a transition volume, that doesn't really stand well on its own but is still enjoyable. Barbara Gordon's fate and the introduction of a new Pennyworth both set up interesting narratives to be followed up on...

[Kurt Lorenz]

7, ☆☆☆☆☆
8, ☆☆☆☆

[Joey Santiago · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this in single issues, good run

[viola · Rating 1 out of 5]

bruce’s relationship with damian is so mischaracterized. character development all out the window.

[Paul Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally finished issue 12. Lots of set ups over the issues but Fraction’s storytelling and the artwork is masterful. Really enjoying where this goes next.

[Sarmad]

Blue & Grey supremacy

[Lina · Rating 4 out of 5]

apoutchou joker

[sam banach · Rating 4 out of 5]

so fucking good holy shit.

[Belfry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

[Raya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read these as singles, really good book.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read as single issues