"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.
Fraction has been playing the long game on this run and issue #9 feels like the beginning of the payoff. Operation Peregrine is in full effect — Commissioner Vandal Savage backed by Mayor Isley sends his TUCO squads across Gotham to hunt the entire Bat-Family at once, and Fraction smartly doesn’t lean on the lone Batman trope here. Bruce rallies his people, makes his moves as a father and tactician, and the Bruce/Damian dynamic is genuinely touching amid all the chaos. Sook’s art keeps everything kinetic and purposeful — no wasted panels, just constant forward momentum. And that ending? Barbara’s new circumstances land like a gut punch and the implications are massive. Fraction warned people they’d lose their minds and he wasn’t wrong. Can’t wait to see where this goes. 4.5⭐️
This issue feels like the start of an event yet it isn't really being billed as such which fits this title's understated approach. It's not really about the hype but about the quality. It will be interesting to see if all the other Batbooks reflect the big changes here, as while "Poison Ivy" certainly is, I haven't seen it reflected in "Catwoman" or "Nightwing" (although I guess he's in Bludhaven). It's perhaps no coincidence that the characters with their own ongoing titles are conveniently missing in this issue, which is nice as it hopefully allows them to get some exposure.
The issue moves along quickly with a race against time to destroy all their safe houses before Savage and his "TUCA" agents find them. It suggests they aren't very good safe houses but I've possibly missed an issue explaining why they're so easy to find?
There's some excellent new Bat-gadgets and they are embraced in a way I haven't seen since the 60s TV show.
I also enjoyed the father-son chat in the issue that is cathartic after Bruce's somewhat harsh treatment of Damian a few issues ago. I didn't really get AI-fred, it feels a bit like Fraction wants Alfred back but isn't allowed. I won't judge too much as it may have been explained in an issue I missed but it feels disrespectful to reanimate a father figure as a chatbot.
Ryan Sook's art impressed a lot more this time around, it may be he's better with action but it felt more comfortable. Maybe just me getting used to the change, although I still think Jimenez is the only artist really doing justice to the new look Gotham. That or he's the one doing it wrong and everyone else is still mostly gothic enthused. Sook's final pages regarding the capture and arrest of a bat character were really effective.
Which brings me to one small complaint - don't treat the arrest of a Bat character as a mystery if you have a book coming out later in the month called "[name of the character] breakout".
This is another solid issue for this creative run. Despite it tying into other books and starting what feels like the foreseeable future, it still has a done in one story. Fraction is showing that you can have tension, action and fun in a monthly book.
Overall impression = 4/5 Writing = 4/5 Art = 4/5
Will I read the next issue? Yes, it feels like life is about to get very difficult for Bruce and his allies.
Wait for the trade collection? This is an old school monthly read and it's really starting to feel like it's genuinely reverberating through all the Bat titles so it's even more a monthly read if following any of the other Bat-adjacent books.
Did I need to read previous issues/series? the previous issue would help but this still works fine if it's your first issue as everything you need to know is summarised.
Will I read previous issues I still need to read the first 5 issues which may help with some of the character dynamics now the story appears to be bigger than just Batman.
The issue itself is good barring some frankly absurd character moments. In no comic in the world should Batman, the character who is so traumatized by death he refuses to kill people like the Joker, say the words "I don't miss you at all, Penniworth, and I'm glad you're dead." in any context at all, no matter if it's a joke or serious or wether he means it or not. I preferrede the previous, much more stylized artstyle personally, but the artist does well. Like I said this is an otherwise high 4 star issue, but I can't get over that line at all.
I knew it was coming and it still almost had me in tears. We don’t talk enough about how much the operations of Batman and the whole family/organization owe to Barbara Gordon Oracle. She’s one of my favorite characters in all of fiction and I’m so excited for her series. I appreciate this moment between Bruce and Damian after Damian has really been the punching bag of this series so far. I understand that the team was probably limited in what batfam characters they had access to for this, but for a mission this important and large I don’t think Stephanie and Duke in the field was enough. I know Tim is sitting this one out. I assume Nightwing is busy in the two books where he’s a lead but that’s never stopped him before, especially when he’s arguably been busier in his own title and Titans than this and still appeared in Batman? He appears for less in Detective Comics (and also literally this week in Batgirl) all the time. I assume characters like Red Hood and Huntress were off limits because of their current standing but was there really nobody else you could pull in to emphasize the stakes? Batwing? Bluebird? Are there other plans for Jean Paul Valley Azrael too? With just Steph and Duke doing the bulk of the work, I don’t think it really conveyed how high the stakes are meant to be.
okay, this was definitely one of my favorite issues so far!!!
i can’t even deny that i get way more excited when other superheroes show up, and the batfamily showing up here was literally everything to me.
i was already smiling at everyone’s appearance, but the biggest highlight has to be tim (my bisexual pride) with bernard 🤕 seriously, they’re so cute.
and the scene of bruce apologizing to damian got to me a little because we all know he’s far from perfect, the classic “world’s okayest father,” but seeing him acknowledge his mistakes and actually try to be present despite everything that comes with being batman is really special. i can only imagine how much that means to his kids too, it just warms my heart <3
once again, i really loved this one, worth every page!!
Ok, that was crazy, honestly one of the most memorable Batman issues in a while, and Matt Fraction is creating one of the biggest runs on the character since Scott Snyder. Definitely worth picking up.
Sure this is basically a back door for the new Barbara Gordon miniseries coming out, but I like how this story has finally reached a point where it feels like the bat family vs Commissioner Savage is truly a war in the streets of Gotham. Plus it was nice to see this series take such a big swing when it comes to Barbara Gordon, I just hope it has a payoff going somewhere instead of just a jump forward and then an immediate jump back. We get into this issue and everything is immediately off the chain as Savage has ordered a full blown raid in the streets involving his TACO (tactical urban combat officers) forces to go after every suspected bunker and hideout the bat “crime” family has stashed throughout the city. The bat family doesn’t have much time and they are definitely going to loose some things, so after some convos off panel between Bruce and Barbara…it’s time to change tactics as they ask the bat family to trust the process. I’m sure this probably takes place around the time of Dick’s supernatural business in Bludhaven or he would be here to, but it’s all hands on deck as Duke, Damian, and Batman are set to hit the streets, with Barbara running over watch and Damian on standby for backup, as they go to each bunker to collect certain items to minimize their stuff from falling into the hands of the GCPD. If they get cornered with anything their order is to use their burn bags to destroy it, and once they have recovered their objectives they are to trip the counter measures to destroy the bunkers and get out. Anything they can get will be delivered to Father Michael Lane aka Azrael as his order will temporarily house their stuff.
Sounds like a pretty crash and burn plan, but not everyone is in the best place right now as Damian clearly doesn’t like his backup duty position, especially after his recent screw up, and Bruce still can’t help but talk to a version of Alfred manifesting in his head instead of any real person. I cannot wait for the issue where this poor mental state finally comes crashing down on Bruce. But for now, Alfred points out that Damian made a mistake and then in his anger Bruce made a mistake and he now needs to show Damian they can both learn from it…batman may be infallible but Bruce is still a father and he is not. So with this advice in mind to nut up and be a father, Bruce informs Damian they are swapping missions. Instead he will be acting as backup while Damian takes on his mission. No need to check his work, Bruce trusts him and will see him when this is all over.
And now it’s time to get into the real heart pounding war zone action of the Gotham streets as Steph and Duke are sent all over town by Oracle to try and beat the cops to their bunkers. Hilariously we get a short Tim interlude as he is enjoying a date night with Bernard, only glancing at the lights and sirens filling the streets before returning to the dinner table…enjoy it while it lasts, lol. The worst part of all of this is that they finally drag Duke away from the day duty where we never get to see him, and he can’t even use his powers to disable the trucks chasing him because it would give Savage and excuse to call for a federal response. Instead Batman comes on for backup and deploys the hidden bat-bollards, the metal spikes that shoot out of the ground to stop trucks, which have apparently been hidden all over the city just on case they need to stop trucks fast, lol. Honestly love that idea as insane as it is, but they will more than likely be ripped up now that Savage knows about them. Throughout all of this we see Damian slipping through crawl spaces planting devices in unknown locations. As Steph gets to bunker 8, she is shocked to find the entire place has been cleared out…turns out a trap was placed for them and she needs to get out quickly. The TACO forces are closing in on her and batman is too far away for batman to get there for backup…so Oracle decides it’s time for her other plan and batman agrees. She then turns off her scrambler, removing all the encryption and exposing her location to all of the GCPD. Vandal immediately orders all units to converge on her locator as the rest of the bat family are spared as the forces are diverted and eventually Barbara Gordon is taken in.
As the night comes to an end, Batman joins Robin on a hill as batman assures him to trust the plan after what went down and tells him that he is sorry he isn’t the father Damian deserve but he is trying to learn because he is all that matters. I’m honestly surprised that Damian was so happy to have this reassignment or that batman assigned himself this role in the first place, as it turns out Damian has spent the entire issue playing bombs throughout the infrastructure of Wayne Manor. Tbh, I thought it was already destroyed and that’s why they were always in Pennyworth manor…so what’s the deal? Since they are destroying it now, who’s the current owner? That legit made no sense to me, but the news barely reported on it in light of the GCPD apprehension of one of Batman’s associates. Everyone watches as the cops perp walk and drag out a beaten and bloody Barbara Gordon in front of everyone. At the moment they have nothing on her other than being apprehended in the process of destroying evidence in a secret base, so luckily it seems they don’t know who she really is. But now we are about to find her on the inside of the prison industrial complex…have fun! We all know if she really wanted out, they wouldn’t have even gotten the chance to put her in cuffs.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Possibly one of my favorite issues of this run yet. The tension, the stakes, the character work, all of it combines to make for a compelling story from beginning to end.
Fraction's writing is perhaps the sharpest it's been this run, as he balances a wide cast pushed to its limits. Everyone feels like they get their moment to shine as well, with no Batfam member feeling too heavily favored over the others.
Sook steps into the role of guest artist beautifully here as well. Though it may not pop off the page in more quiet moments as much as Jorge Jimenez's work, Sook handles action in a way that feels appropriately dynamic. He's particularly creative when playing with light, resulting in some panels worth lingering on.
Most notably, this issue disrupts the status quo in a big way. Without spoiling, we'll likely feel the aftershocks of its ending for quite some time. I greatly look forward to how it affects this comic moving forward, as well as how it might branch out into other adjacent stories.
Batman 9: me ha gustado mucho la forma de retratar a Bárbara como Oracle y como se inicia aquí el mini de Bárbara Breakout. Todo forma parte del plan de Batman y de ella. Esa frase de Habéis tardado mucho lo deja entrever. Muy bonita la relación Bruce-Damian, sobre todo lo que él le dice a a Damian en su última viñeta. y lo que Bruce dice a la no es cierto: él extraña a Alfred. Él era su conciencia, y por eso ha necesitado recuperarlo. él no se alegra de que esté muerto. Y al final sigue su consejo. Mat está humanizando a Wayne. Y me gusta que haya mucha presencia de la Batfamilia
But I just don't get why they show Tim Drake. His scenes took me out of the story. His panels were pointless. Leave the character to his one-dimension self. He has nothing to offer other than just being the "different" Robin now. And blowing up Wayne Manor? Why? Already took his money, Alfred, his pets, his Batcave, etc. Idk. I may be in the minority but these drastic changes are just too much.
a wise man once said "Back in the game, baby" although its a set up for a new game, which im not mad at one bit because i was on the fence of picking up the Barbra Gordon mini series but it looks like im absolutely picking it up now. Some good action, fast paced story and exciting result let's see how our dear Oracle holds up in lock up.
Why did Bruce think it was necessary to take out a whole person (originally himself) to set bombs in his own house? Couldn't that have been done before the mission? It's batman, isn't his house rigged with explosives at all times just in case?
He's such a cunt to Damien, but letting him blow up the house was some way to giving him what he deserves.
"Don't have time to deal with teenage mood swings tonight, Alfred." "Especially while managing so many of your own...""Your deficiencies as a parent are not his fault.""nut up buttercup"
"I'm sorry I destroyed everything"
Not telling Tim feels like he's punishing him
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Operation Peregrine was soooooooo cool to see play out. I’m ngl tho, THAT line that Bruce said to Alfred really caught me off guard though, and it felt very out of character even if it was a joke🤨, cool art too.
A really good setup for the Barbara series about to start. This issue did a good job of making the Bat family feel vunerable while also being one step ahead. Fraction is laying the groundwork for something special here.
Love this storyline.Batman and family on the run. Still hard to believe that Savage is the Police Commissioner. But then again Lex was elected President. Keep going Matt, these stories are well written!
Vandal Savage and the GCPD's all-out war on Batman and his allies have their first casualties. Losing Oracle is going to hurt, since she has been online support behind the Batman family. The Wayne Manor is going to sting, but without Alfred, that mansion has been less of a home.
A really fun, action-packed Bat family issue. Sook is a good fill-in for Jiménez, taking a lot of the same care to really build a realistic, lived-in Gotham.