Batman, Vol. 1: Daylight

Batman (2025)

by Matt Fraction, Jorge Jiménez (Artist)

The superstar team of writer Matt Fraction and artist Jorge Jiménez relaunch Batman for the current era, with a fresh take on the Caped Crusader and a perfect jumping-on point for fans!

It’s a new day in Gotham! For only the fourth time, DC is relaunching its flagship Batman series starting with issue #1—and this collection includes the first six issues of the must-read, superhero-forward take from writer Matt Fraction and artist Jorge Jiménez.

This new era celebrates the Caped Crusader in every iteration of his 85-plus year history and promises something for every Batman fan, including a new blue-and-grey costume, a new Batmobile, and new villains and allies—along with plenty of classic ones too.

Similar to Fraction’s beloved and influential run on Marvel’s Hawkeye, this Batman series features self-contained stories that progressively build out a larger narrative. Each installment is a new adventure and a new challenge for Fraction and Jiménez to put in front of the Caped Crusader, as they show all of the reasons why Batman is the coolest character in comic books.

This volume collects Batman #1-6.

Genres: Comics, Batman, Graphic Novels, Dc Comics, Superheroes, Graphic Novels Comics, Comic Book

184 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 2, 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

[Molly™☺ · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's just something about this run that Batman has been missing for a while now. It is charming, engaging, and a visual treat. There's no excess convolution to confuse the reader, and, at least so far, it has avoided being roped into unnecessary tie-ins. The only real shame is that the single issue storytelling seems to be redundant now, with more focus on overall arcs than shorts. However, Batman is now accessible again, and that's a huge win for DC who are currently struggling to create anything new or special outside of the Absolute universe.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read a new Batman book since Snyder's New 52 run so I was a little in the dark on a few things, like Vandal Savage being Gotham's commissioner, but I liked this quite a bit. It didn't feel like it was trying to a be a blockbuster big event, even though it's probably headed that way. I like when Batman is outgunned and it even fixed the multiple Robin problem for a bit. Bruce's new potential love interest having ***spoiler*** floating in a bacta tank or whatever in Arkham Asylum in the last panel was super cool.

[Sean Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, back-to-basics(ish) approach. Looking forward to more (that's NOT what she said).

[Rory Wilding · Rating 4 out of 5]

With DC has been on a roll in recent years with the number of quality titles under its belt, we have seen The Dark Knight Detective particularly has been doing well for himself. From limited series like Batman & Robin: Year One and Dark Patterns, to the ongoing Absolute Batman, these titles showcase how diverse a character Batman is, where he can be dark and radical, but also be funny and empathetic, the latter of which is very apparent in Matt Fraction and Jorge Jiménez’s ongoing run on DC’s flagship Batman title.

Although there is a continuation of some of the ideas that were introduced in his Sex Criminals collaborator Chip Zdarsky’s time on Batman, Fraction is very much putting his own stamp on Bruce Wayne and his world, and you can see that from the first issue, showing Gotham City bathed in daylight and Batman rocking the blue suit, which we haven’t seen in a long time. While you see Batman kicking ass when beating up a street gang as well as showing his new gadgets and Batmobile, when he actually confronts a mutated Killer Croc who went through a rampage, he resolves the situation not through violence, but through a friendly conversation.

Considering the main theme of James Gunn’s Superman movie is “empathy as punk rock”, you can see that here with Batman stepping out of the shadows, even if the rest of the world is out to get him. Speaking of family, as well as seeing the dynamic Bruce has with his sons Tim and Damian, each with their own relationship with the cape, you also have the return of his trusted butler Alfred, albeit a holographic version who gives Batman emotional support and witty remarks.

Meanwhile, the rest of Gotham City is out to get Batman and his family, including not just his rogues gallery, but Vandal Savage who uses his power as the police commissioner to bring fear to the city. While you can see Fraction taking influence from what Frank Miller did for Batman during the eighties, being socially relevant with themes of police brutality and corporate corruption, the tone is not far off from the writer did during his seminal Hawkeye run, from the lighter tone to the episodic nature.

Despite an ongoing narrative, each issue functions almost as its own storyline with Batman facing off against villains, old and new, whilst his alter ego develops new relationships along the way. In fact, the newest characters leave the biggest impression, from the sharp-witted Dr Zeller who is more than a romantic interest, to the mysterious Minotaur who takes organised crime to a new level in Gotham. As much I am excited to see where Fraction goes with this narrative, you can see the limitations of the book’s episodic structure, in how one-off conflicts like the Riddler and Huge Strange’s Monster Men get resolved so quickly.

Fraction throws a lot in these six issues, which is why you get one of the best artists working at DC on this book. Although you instantly recognise his art-style and having previous experience of drawing Batman in earlier runs, Jiménez adapts to the ideas that a particular writer has towards the Caped Crusader. With more emphasis on gadgets, which opens the door for inventive set-pieces, and along with Tomeu Morey’s brighter colour aesthetic, there is a vibrancy to how Jiménez draws the diverse streets of Gotham, which can be summed up in the fifth issue where Batman is nowhere to be seen but Bruce has the most thrilling date night with Zeller.

As Fraction and Jiménez’s run serves as a relaunch for the main Batman title, even DC issuing a new #1, this is an exciting start for anyone wanting to read Batman’s comic adventures that are fun and kinetic, without having to go dark and serious for once.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the first time in...ever, I think? I've stopped reading the Batman series monthly - I read the first four issues of this trade in singles before, and coming to re-read them now alongside the other two, I can see why.

There's just something off about the stories. They feel only vaguely connected, with plot points brought up and dropped at strange times. The Crown of Storms becomes a thing in issue 3, then gets ignored almost entirely in issue 4. Tim Drake shows up in 2 issues then decides to randomly quit being Robin after one bad fight. Some new villain named the Minotaur is also here, but mostly just pontificates and shoots a penguin.

I get that Fraction might be building to something bigger. But it all feels so disconnected that I found it really hard to get engaged. At the very least, he's continuing with the current status quo of Vandal Savage as Police Commissioner and Jim Gordon as a beat cop.

The saving grace here is the artwork, which is truly phenomenal, but then Jorge Jimenez has been the regular artist on Batman on and off for years at this point, and the guy's just a powerhouse. These six issues look amazing, from the smaller panels to the big double page splashes that each issue has as a title page.

Just...weird. I feel like this SHOULD be good? But it just doesn't hit for me.

[Murphy C · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ✨️, actually. I am SO HAPPY that the main Batman title has returned to a pre-New 52 level of quality!

[Vinayak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Batman by Matt Fraction Vol. 1 — 4.5/5 ⭐

Matt Fraction’s Batman is the best Batman I’ve read since pre-2020, and it’s not particularly close. What makes this run special is that Fraction understands something a lot of modern writers forget — Batman’s greatest superpower isn’t the gadgets or the fear, it’s the hope. The opening issue with Killer Croc is a masterclass in this: Batman as a true detective, not just of crime scenes but of people, genuinely believing there’s still something worth saving in a man most would write off. It reminds me of the best Harvey Dent stories, where Batman refuses to give up on Two-Face no matter how many times Gotham tells him to. That’s the Batman I want to read.

The first few issues are largely standalone but the back half builds an overarching mystery that escalates with each ending — Fraction clearly has a longer game in mind. The Joker reveal at the close of Vol 1 is genuinely unsettling, and while the volume break feels like an awkward trade collection cut rather than a natural story pause, it speaks to how invested you are that it’s frustrating rather than alienating.

The art deserves mention too — it carries a slightly surreal, indie energy that separates this visually from mainline Batman and suits the tone perfectly.

[Ismail Ebrahim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in single issues. While I liked the art, I felt the story fell a bit flat. I didn’t feel the excitement I usually feel with other Batman runs. Barring a few small things, I don’t think it’s trying to push the envelope and do something daring. This feels quite safe. It’s not good or bad, just something in between.

[Luca Mendes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great

[Josh Jablonski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really fun run. The little explainers of the Bat-tech were cool and the cliffhanger after #6 makes me excited to read even more.

[Bertazzo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fraction proves that it is possible to do a likable Batman without wearing the formula out.

[Person Michaels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid 7/10. This is the start of the current mainline DC Batman run written by Matt Fraction, apparently coming off the heels of a disastrous era from the former legend Jeph Loeb. It’s also the fourth #1 relaunch for the Batman series in its entire history since 1940, which comes with the implication that it should feel like a truly fresh reset for the character. This obviously struck me, a longtime Batman fan but someone who’s never read his mainline comics with regularity, as a perfect jumping on point.

I was immediately engaged by these first 6 issues, and felt that the pacing (deftly blending an episodic “villain of the issue” structure with more long-form, serialized storytelling) was generally up my alley. You won’t get much beyond setup in these issues, but it’s an intentional, thought out build. The individual character interactions are honestly a joy to read (when they’re not just a bit too cheesy for my taste). It also has earned the #1 branding in my opinion. You’re being thrown into a universe with nearly a century’s worth of history, and Fraction isn’t exactly holding your hand. This is a fully established Batman with a vast supporting cast. Fortunately, Fraction has genuinely new things to say with many of these characters (offering subtle reinterpretations while not going as far as something like the Absolute Universe), and presents their ongoing arcs in ways that will be easy to follow for anyone with even cursory Batman knowledge. It was a delight to see not one, but two brand new villains—The Minotaur and Lady Death Man, the latter of whom needs to workshop her name—introduced into the Gotham rogues gallery. Fraction’s shown real confidence in his vision for the series so far, and it’s elevated by Jorge Jiménez’s sharp, cinematic art style.

The characterization of Bruce himself is probably the portion of the series I struggled with the hardest. It’s a far quippier, “happy” Batman than I generally prefer. By the end of the volume, though, I warmed up to him. I think it demonstrates Fraction’s willingness to show true growth for the character. He’s not resetting him back to zero for the sake of audience familiarity, but actually taking into account a figure who’s had decades worth of experiences, and established a tumultuous but still loving family for himself. Very excited to keep going.

[Justin Partridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Master Bruce. What if this Dr. Zeller is correct…?

Some creatures DO, in fact, change.

What if some eternal CYCLE has begun within him again and - -

- - even if only for THIS moment - -

- - he’s become something like a CHILD?

A child alone…

…in a violent, TERRIBLE world he cannot understand…DROWNING in fear.

If it’s as you say, and no one ever really changes, Master Bruce…

…then surely YOU know how that feels.”

Shocking, I know, but I really loved My Favorite Comic Book Writer Ever taking on The World’s Most Famous Comic Book Character.

And I think even beyond it looking phenomenal and it providing a pretty clean in-road to Bat titles, it’s actually like…really funny? And incisive. And reads a lot cooler and interesting than these can usually run.

Doubly so that Fraction and company make this very much a Bat Family title instead of just Another Story About Bruce Starting Over. Fraction’s Bruce has this really fun droll, exasperated but proud dad energy and pairing that against a wonderful Tim Drake (my favorite Robin) and a conversely demonically dumb Damian, all while the creative team is adding a lot of new elements and characters to the overall tapestry of Gotham. It’s really wonderful stuff. And better still, makes me curious as to where else it goes after this introduction arc of fantastic one-and-done adventures.

And those adventures are very engaging! They all function awesomely as single comics but also contribute really well to one another as a whole, building out all the new real estate and gadgets and co-stars we are going to be dealing with in the first batch. Kudos to Matt for remembering Anarky exists and writing a tremendously petulant Hugo Strange.

I’m sure this all sounds like a waffle and I’ll admit to a certain amount of bias. I don’t know that I don’t like much, if any, Matt Fraction comics. But at the same time, I never thought something like this could exist and would expect even less for it to be actually really good so I’m just in a state of marvel tbh (heh).

It’s pretty neat seeing Batman smile again.

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you ever find yourself ending up writing a run on Batman, there are a few questions you should ask yourself:
1) who is Batman?
2) what is Batman?
3) why is Batman?
Answering these will give you a Batman who has clear motivations and scars but stays true to his character. Always. And Matt Fraction delivers on this. Issue #1 is one of my favourite single issues of all time as it shows a more blurred line between Batman and Bruce Wayne, still mourning the death of Alfred and becoming an empty nester as all his Batkids fly the nest - or perhaps cave? He’s tender and kind to Killer Croc rather than resorting to a good old fashioned beat-‘em-up and this sets the tone for what Fraction wants to deliver across his run. Something different, something new.
Later on, I gotta say as well I love the look of Gotham City. The neon lights, the fast streets, it feels modern and fresh as well. And it feels home to the cast of gangs that have overtaken the old-fashioned gangs of Gotham; the days of Carmine Falcone and Sal Maroni are long gone. This is Gotham in the 21st Century.
The new love interest for Batman provides more fresh storytelling, and we really bring it back down to a bare bones roster of characters which allows for a greater focus on Bruce Wayne’s character and relationships with those around him, like Tim Drake and Damian.
And to top of the fresh cast of characters we also have a brand new villain who feels menacing - anyone who has Vandal Savage already in their back pocket is a formidable foe. It’s small things like that that make Fraction’s first six issues on Batman feel crafted, thought out and leading to something of actual stakes and entertainment. It perfectly gets you excited for the future of the series as well as being the Perfect jumping on point for any new readers - I have not read any of Chip Zdarsky or James Tynion IV Batman yet but I could easily pick this up and start reading this one.
Long may it continue.

[Shaun Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Batman Vol. 1 Daylight collects issues 1-6 of the DC Comics series written by Matt Fraction, art by Jorge Jiménez, and colors by Tomeu Morey.

In a new era of Batman, the Caped Crusader is being hit from multiple fronts by old foes who don’t quite seem themselves, increasingly violent attacks from small gangs, a hostile police force directed by Commissioner Vandal Savage, and a new mysterious mastermind who has united Gotham’s criminal underworld.

New costume. New Batmobile. New gadgets. New characters. New. New. New. For all this ‘new’ marketing this books feels like it’s firmly set in a world we already know by heart. I’m sure the story will lead to some new twists and turns, but so far it’s just a greatest hits of any creative relaunch and nothing that challenges the status quo for this title to be a #1 relaunch of one of pop culture’s most well known characters. The book is solid, don’t get me wrong, I just feel this should have continued the previous volumes numbering because it didn’t set itself apart as other relaunches have had. The element that I enjoyed the most is the new character of Dr. Annika Zeller and I’m very curious to see what directions her character goes.

The art is worth the purchase alone - Jorge’s work is extremely fun as always. He draws an incredibly fluid book that brings an energy that is hard to rival and is bright to vibrant life with Morey’s colors.

[Kadi P · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Everything old is new again…”

This was fresh and fun yet reminiscent of some Batman story that surely already exists out there.

The concept of identity is one they’ve explored in Batman stories quite often, although maybe not through the medium of this weird headgear. So this felt like familiar territory. However, Bruce’s characterisation was hard to gauge. His conversations with himself were same old, same old, but his immediate romance with the Doctor and harshness with Damian seemed out of character. Maybe that was the point to highlight how the stress was effecting him—if not then this seems like poor characterisation.

Despite this being vol 1 of a new run, this was not a great jumping on point. If you’ve been out of continuity for a while then a lot of things would throw you like Pennyworth and Wayne Manor being gone, Vandal Savage as Commissioner, and Tim and Bernard being an item. But if you’re fast on the uptake then it doesn’t detract from the story that much, the editorial side just doesn’t account for new readers.

Still, there were fun moments and the attention to technical details in the gadgets were great. The art was stellar (Jimenez always is) and the colours were epic (Morey is as reliable as always). The overall story was just a warm up, but certainly seems to be heading in a good direction.

So a great start to Fraction’s run, hopefully more good things to come as the storyline develops in vol 2…

[Tom Duffy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty fun! Fraction's take is Batman as a straight-up superhero. He cracks wise, he calls Killer Croc "buddy". He's not so much brooding as he is straight-faced. It makes for a warmer character and overall tone which is nice even if he doesn't always feel completely like "Batman". It's more refreshing than the overly edgy slog of "contingencies-for-his-contingencies" writing that he's mostly been handed in recent history and this run also makes for a brighter more colorful counterpoint to the top-notch heavier stuff in Dark Patterns. Jimenez has always done great work with Batman and this is some of his loosest, poppiest stuff yet. I don't really love the new bat logo and the bright blue against the gray doesn't always work for me but I appreciate the push for a lighter look. I'll keep up on this run going forward. It's a nice breezy superhero adventure comic and I've always got room for those.

[Mocassin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Très séduit par cette nouvelle proposition de Matt Fraction qui veut rompre avec la tonalité habituelle pour proposer quelque chose d'un peu plus coloré et fun, comme l'indique le nouveau costume de Batman.

La promesse de vente est un peu galvaudée : oui chaque numéro propose une aventure différente, mais chacun s'inscrit tout de même d'emblée dans un grand tout. Ce n'est absolument pas un défaut, au contraire, mais il faut le savoir.

Graphiquement on reste dans des territoires extrêmement bien connus avec Jorge Jiménez mais le bougre s'en sort toujours aussi bien et peut se permettre une palette plus colorée, ce qui est très agréable.

Bref, j'espère que ça restera sur cette lignée, ça fait longtemps que je n'ai pas suivi un titre Batman jusqu'au bout !

[Lucille]

Je suis un peu divisée
J’ai l’impression de ne rien lire de nouveau ici, l’histoire de Bruce qui tombe un peu sous le charme d’une scientifique sexy ça a pas déjà été fait récemment ??
Sinon en vrai j’ai aimé les thèmes engagés anti capitalisme, anti violence de flic etc et aussi l’importance donnée à Tim et Damian.
Mais c’était pas à la hauteur pour moi au final malheureusement

[Mike Jorgensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the first issue when it came out and thought, "meh." But I love fraction and Jimenez so I gave it a spin when the first collection was completed. This blew me away. Of course Jimenez's art is perfect. Fraction's writing is truly a batman for the 2020's. He is the enemy of the police force because he calls them out and holds them accountable for brutality. The writing is sharp and witty with lots of great banter. Having a title for each issue is great but gets into wonderful fourth wall quirkiness when the title ends up being part of the dialogue.

[☆ Savannah Moreau ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 🌟

Tim.. this isn't you.. come back.. 😭

Ngl, this irritated me at certain points, but it's mostly because of the 'mischaracterization' of someone.. 👀 but that was only at the end, so..

this art was gorgeous, though. Tim was drawn HELLA FINE in this one, and I'm not complaining 😏

NOT DAMIANS ACCEPTANCE LETTER IN THE TRASH SOMEONE SEDATE MEEEE

[Bradley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've been reading the flagship title for the last 20 years or so (although I skipped Hush 2), and for the first time ever, the writing feels like it's phoned in. I won't be reading volume 2 unless the reviews say that it's better than this one.

[Simon Bernard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matt Fraction et Jorge Jiménez font un duo incroyable avec ce comics. Ils arrivent à donner une nouvelle énergie au Chevalier Noir tout en gardant les bases, anciennes ou récentes. C'est un véritable retour aux sources pour les personnages de l'univers de Batman.
Les illustrations sont magnifiques.
Les personnages classiques comme nouveaux (on comprend direct le fin stratège qu'est le Minotaure, hâte de voir ce qu'il a prévu pour Gotham et ses habitants) sont très bien écrits.
C'est une belle porte d'entrée dans l'univers de Batman et dans les comics DC en général pour les personnes qui n'en lisent pas ou peu, mais également un très bon comics pour les fans.

[R.J. Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,7⭐️ Nice read. Getting exciting

[sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

surprised by how good this is

[Avery · Rating 5 out of 5]

they made Batman WOKE and a FEMINIST

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed Batman Vol. 1: Daylight. The story was engaging with strong character moments, and the art was excellent throughout—clean, dynamic, and atmospheric.
A very solid read. 👍

[MPM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Give Jimenez every accolade and fire Fraction into the sun for having Tim retire for bum ass Bernard

[Gary Sassaman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know a lot of you kids out there are all hepped up on Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta’s Absolute Batman, but that’s not my cup of tea. For my money—or tea leaves—Matt Fraction and Jorge Jimenez’s current run on the Caped Crusader’s “regular” title is the real deal and the one book that will get me to make the trek to my local comics shop when it comes out each month, even if it’s the only book I buy that week. The regular Batman title has had a trio of good writers since Snyder departed the book: James Tynion IV, followed by Chip Zdarsky, and now Fraction. To be honest, both Tynion and Zdarsky stayed a little too long on the title (but pound-for-pound, Zdarksy's first story arc/TPB collection, “Failsafe,” is one of my all-time favorite Bat-tales), but Fraction is operating on a whole different level, one not seen since Frank Miller 40 years ago. His writing is complicated, sophisticated, and even wry at times and perfectly complimented by Jimenez’s art (he’s been the one constant over all three previously mentioned writers, too). I love everything about this book, including Tomeu Morey’s color art. So go off into your little Absolute Universe and enjoy yourself. I’ll stay right here with MY Batman and be perfectly fine. You will too, if you decide to join me.

[Thomas Gagel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exactly what Batman should’ve been for years now.
Such a breath of life into the character.

Highlighting the hopeful over the dark is so affirming as a reader after years of every new run being another fall into darkness. I could read the scenes of him saving people all day.

Gadgets being back is so much fun too. This whole book is so much fun. The paneling really puts a smile on my face.

The voice for Damien is a little off to me. New writers please let go of Grant Morrison era Robin. Read anything from the last five or ten years.

This suit might be an all time favourite. Jorge really nails everything it’s supposed to represent. Morey’s blue colouring is gorgeous on the page.

Hope this run stays this good. Lotta hope for it