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Batman: Bad Seeds - Sunrise (2026-) #1 (Batman: Bad Seeds - Sunrise
At sunset, Poison Ivy unleashed an attack that transformed Gotham City into a prehistoric nightmare. If she isn’t stopped by the first light of dawn, the city will be lost forever…along with all who dwell there. With the clock ticking, Batman and his allies will put it all on the line to save the day before everything changes forever at sunrise. The superstar creative team of Matt Fraction, G. Willow Wilson, Giuseppe Camuncoli, and Cliff Rathburn proudly presents the Earth-shattering conclusion to Bad Seeds in an oversize special that shows the only thing more impossible to survive than this night in Gotham…is the day.
Kindle Edition
Published October 28, 2026
About the author
Matt Fraction
1,195 books1,911 followers"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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 30, 2026
This event was fantastic! The end did not disappoint!
Also, Thanks Croc....
Also, Thanks Croc....
November 2, 2026
“And that’s what enrages Savage the most. Not that he’s lost control of the city but how’s its people—it’s indefatigable, undeniable—unbreakable people—simply refuse to bow to his will. In his darkest moments, he even suspects…some of them may actually enjoy it.”
Wow that legit has me tearing up, the central thesis of this book focusing around Gotham being a city and people that endure is so beautiful. It really puts everything we see from this city into one perfect ball which shapes into its heart. But that certainly was the end, I am truly hopeful that some of the other series will continue to explore the fallout of this event as there is still so much to unpack, especially when it comes to Ivy and her family and her connection to Harley and the green, but as far as events go that was a really solid conclusion and it certainly got me. We jump into this issue with a quick look into everything that has led up to this moment trailing from the last few pages of poison ivy #49. Prehistoric plants have taken over the city and will grow even further when the sun rises, the leadership of the city has evacuated, savage and his airships spew poison overhead with the knowledge it will kill all plants and thousands of citizens…but he doesn’t care as this is the moment where he kills mayor Isley. He doesn’t think or care about people like Gordon, Espinoza, or Catwoman caring about the innocents. He doesn’t think about those lucky enough to escape and those who couldn’t make it out with those who stayed behind to help assisting them at every turn. All he does is rage at the people who continue to fight instead of bowing to his will all while a cryokinectic pulse erupts from the center of the city. It is genuinely beautiful seeing this bright blue dome right in the middle of Gotham as we get vivid descriptions of its freezing temperatures causing flash freezing and pressure drops that causes a vacuum of cold to rush through the streets as an ice age returns to Gotham. It destroys all airborne chemicals, like the herbicide set to kill Ivy, as all plant life dies on contact and even causes frostbite to those caught in the blast. But no one dies.
But that death total may soon change with the way Ivy is looking at vandal…but first Ivy wakes up to find the world frozen in more ways than the ice allows, as the parliament approach her as a vision happening outside of time in between her heartbeats. They mention how much she has failed now that her plan to hand over Gotham has been stopped, but this was not her fault and instead turns the blame to the parliament for being more concerned with their schemes vs what is best for the world. But they still see Ivy as so much lesser than, a simple meat creature who they were right to withdraw power from. Ivy begins to revert back to her old power hungry ways as she applies and begs for her powers back, but the parliament simply tells Ivy she is on her own as they walk out of her life an time resumes with Savage kicking Ivy in the gut. All across the city events are moving as Janet leaves city hall regretting every decision to stand beside Ivy up to this point…only to find a group of GCPD officers waiting to take her into custody. Savage is furious that the flash freeze rendered his Ivycide useless but if she won’t die but it then he rolls up his sleeves to do it the old fashioned way. We are going back to the Stone Age folks with a down and dirty tussle in ice as savage punches Ivy and she lunges at him and causes him to slip on the ground as she threatens the TUCOs with threats she can’t keep to grow nightshade in their lungs if they don’t stay back. Vandal asks her to spare his men and ask what happened to their friendship, but they were never friends they just had the same enemies and Ivy is prepared to send savage back to the ice age where he belongs. Savage grabs a chunk of the ice nearby to make a makeshift blade, I can’t help but feel this caveman is back in his element, as he gets it ever closer to Ivy’s face…only for a batarang to whip through and destroy it.
I love Batman’s entrance here as not only is it low key, but Ivy is also hurled away by a cable as we get a small infographic on the cable specs…it’s just so batman. Vandal gets up and rallies his TUCOs to go anger the bat. Ivy is furious as she thought she had Savage, with batman pointing out she very much didn’t she they have to go before he gets up here…unfortunately her rage is still peaked and she decides to take a frozen lamp to Batman’s face. As savage approaches the building he realizes something. He picks up the nearest very scared TUCO and smells the tank on his back as he realizes all of the poison inside is still active even if the gas to disperse it is inert. So all they have to do is bust the tanks. Savage decides to do this in the most brutal way possibly by physically picking up his men and throwing them around. One goes right into the apartment where batman and ivy are as the tank shatters against the wall with the TUCO still attached as it fills the room. Downstairs Vandal is picking up two more of his men as he slams their tanks together and chucks them through the wall into the room. Savage then barges in, his face filled with fury as he fights back the effects of the poison himself while pinning batman to the ground. It’s a brutal sight as he throws out descriptions of enjoyment as batman feels like a worm under his feet. This is only alleviated by Ivy jumping on savage’s back and digging into his face, one of her hands getting right into his eye. Batman had just enough time to pull out his bat-breather so he can work in these conditions as he throws out numerous batarangs to get the toxins out of the building.
Down below the other TUCOs refuse to move in as they focus instead on the crowd forming around the building demanding to see savage and asking questions about who is in charge. Gordon and Espinoza arrive right as things are about to turn into a massacre, and there is a moment here I adore as Jim puts himself between the civilians and the TUCOs and takes charge himself…even pointing out that if the TUCOs want authority they better uncover their face and put their name on it. Needless to say Jim takes charge and calms them all down as he asks for more time to figure out who to put at the head of this. But that figurehead stumbles out of the building as Savage stands bloody and missing an eye as he declares batman and Ivy are dead, alongside 5 other TUCOs they killed, and that he is now in charge by his own authority. Fortunately batman and Ivy are not dead but Ivy is ready to die to face justice for this disaster…but batman assures her she will be facing justice, but it is never too late for anyone in Gotham. Batman takes his breather and puts it around Ivy as he rushes out of the building right behind savage as all of the reporters in the city turn their cameras to him. Ivy weakly claims she will kill batman for this, but she really won’t get the chance today as he rushes her over to an ambulance and claims she is under arrest after she gets medical attention. Savage is furious, but in the most brutal moment in this book we see the sewer grate behind him explode as Waylon leaps on top of him claiming revenge for Ivy, for Gotham, and for everything. Waylon claws into Savage and drags him back into the sewer before batman could stop him…only for batman to get down there to find only Savage’s body left. Waylon with reasons that remain his own…took the head with him.
We have now reached the epilogue part of the story where we finally get a moment to reflect on everything that has happened as daylight washes over the city. Will the people who left Gotham ever find their way back? Can we properly care for the people forced to stay and face unknown poisons? As the Gotham Balladeer so elegantly puts it:
“We already know the answer to most of these questions, of course. It’s us. Same as always: there’s just us…what befalls Gotham befalls all of us. And no matter what…Gotham endures.”
The final page of this book is so striking, the city completely terraformed and ripped apart, a far cry from the vibrant city the start of Fraction’s batman run showed us as emergency crews and first responders get to work. We get small teases about what is to come, how Savage, knocking away in the morgue, will no doubt return and how Steph, recovering in the hospital under a fake name, is doing just fine. Gordon and Espinoza are reassigned to the worst precinct but just like all good people in Gotham they carry on. I’m not 100% sure what the tease with Tim a Duke talking about ninjas is an about but we still endure. Honestly though if that convo was about the rival dojos plot Tim discovered on that mini story in the streets of Gotham special…please drop it, that is the least interesting thing ever, lol. Nonetheless, fantastic issue.
Wow that legit has me tearing up, the central thesis of this book focusing around Gotham being a city and people that endure is so beautiful. It really puts everything we see from this city into one perfect ball which shapes into its heart. But that certainly was the end, I am truly hopeful that some of the other series will continue to explore the fallout of this event as there is still so much to unpack, especially when it comes to Ivy and her family and her connection to Harley and the green, but as far as events go that was a really solid conclusion and it certainly got me. We jump into this issue with a quick look into everything that has led up to this moment trailing from the last few pages of poison ivy #49. Prehistoric plants have taken over the city and will grow even further when the sun rises, the leadership of the city has evacuated, savage and his airships spew poison overhead with the knowledge it will kill all plants and thousands of citizens…but he doesn’t care as this is the moment where he kills mayor Isley. He doesn’t think or care about people like Gordon, Espinoza, or Catwoman caring about the innocents. He doesn’t think about those lucky enough to escape and those who couldn’t make it out with those who stayed behind to help assisting them at every turn. All he does is rage at the people who continue to fight instead of bowing to his will all while a cryokinectic pulse erupts from the center of the city. It is genuinely beautiful seeing this bright blue dome right in the middle of Gotham as we get vivid descriptions of its freezing temperatures causing flash freezing and pressure drops that causes a vacuum of cold to rush through the streets as an ice age returns to Gotham. It destroys all airborne chemicals, like the herbicide set to kill Ivy, as all plant life dies on contact and even causes frostbite to those caught in the blast. But no one dies.
But that death total may soon change with the way Ivy is looking at vandal…but first Ivy wakes up to find the world frozen in more ways than the ice allows, as the parliament approach her as a vision happening outside of time in between her heartbeats. They mention how much she has failed now that her plan to hand over Gotham has been stopped, but this was not her fault and instead turns the blame to the parliament for being more concerned with their schemes vs what is best for the world. But they still see Ivy as so much lesser than, a simple meat creature who they were right to withdraw power from. Ivy begins to revert back to her old power hungry ways as she applies and begs for her powers back, but the parliament simply tells Ivy she is on her own as they walk out of her life an time resumes with Savage kicking Ivy in the gut. All across the city events are moving as Janet leaves city hall regretting every decision to stand beside Ivy up to this point…only to find a group of GCPD officers waiting to take her into custody. Savage is furious that the flash freeze rendered his Ivycide useless but if she won’t die but it then he rolls up his sleeves to do it the old fashioned way. We are going back to the Stone Age folks with a down and dirty tussle in ice as savage punches Ivy and she lunges at him and causes him to slip on the ground as she threatens the TUCOs with threats she can’t keep to grow nightshade in their lungs if they don’t stay back. Vandal asks her to spare his men and ask what happened to their friendship, but they were never friends they just had the same enemies and Ivy is prepared to send savage back to the ice age where he belongs. Savage grabs a chunk of the ice nearby to make a makeshift blade, I can’t help but feel this caveman is back in his element, as he gets it ever closer to Ivy’s face…only for a batarang to whip through and destroy it.
I love Batman’s entrance here as not only is it low key, but Ivy is also hurled away by a cable as we get a small infographic on the cable specs…it’s just so batman. Vandal gets up and rallies his TUCOs to go anger the bat. Ivy is furious as she thought she had Savage, with batman pointing out she very much didn’t she they have to go before he gets up here…unfortunately her rage is still peaked and she decides to take a frozen lamp to Batman’s face. As savage approaches the building he realizes something. He picks up the nearest very scared TUCO and smells the tank on his back as he realizes all of the poison inside is still active even if the gas to disperse it is inert. So all they have to do is bust the tanks. Savage decides to do this in the most brutal way possibly by physically picking up his men and throwing them around. One goes right into the apartment where batman and ivy are as the tank shatters against the wall with the TUCO still attached as it fills the room. Downstairs Vandal is picking up two more of his men as he slams their tanks together and chucks them through the wall into the room. Savage then barges in, his face filled with fury as he fights back the effects of the poison himself while pinning batman to the ground. It’s a brutal sight as he throws out descriptions of enjoyment as batman feels like a worm under his feet. This is only alleviated by Ivy jumping on savage’s back and digging into his face, one of her hands getting right into his eye. Batman had just enough time to pull out his bat-breather so he can work in these conditions as he throws out numerous batarangs to get the toxins out of the building.
Down below the other TUCOs refuse to move in as they focus instead on the crowd forming around the building demanding to see savage and asking questions about who is in charge. Gordon and Espinoza arrive right as things are about to turn into a massacre, and there is a moment here I adore as Jim puts himself between the civilians and the TUCOs and takes charge himself…even pointing out that if the TUCOs want authority they better uncover their face and put their name on it. Needless to say Jim takes charge and calms them all down as he asks for more time to figure out who to put at the head of this. But that figurehead stumbles out of the building as Savage stands bloody and missing an eye as he declares batman and Ivy are dead, alongside 5 other TUCOs they killed, and that he is now in charge by his own authority. Fortunately batman and Ivy are not dead but Ivy is ready to die to face justice for this disaster…but batman assures her she will be facing justice, but it is never too late for anyone in Gotham. Batman takes his breather and puts it around Ivy as he rushes out of the building right behind savage as all of the reporters in the city turn their cameras to him. Ivy weakly claims she will kill batman for this, but she really won’t get the chance today as he rushes her over to an ambulance and claims she is under arrest after she gets medical attention. Savage is furious, but in the most brutal moment in this book we see the sewer grate behind him explode as Waylon leaps on top of him claiming revenge for Ivy, for Gotham, and for everything. Waylon claws into Savage and drags him back into the sewer before batman could stop him…only for batman to get down there to find only Savage’s body left. Waylon with reasons that remain his own…took the head with him.
We have now reached the epilogue part of the story where we finally get a moment to reflect on everything that has happened as daylight washes over the city. Will the people who left Gotham ever find their way back? Can we properly care for the people forced to stay and face unknown poisons? As the Gotham Balladeer so elegantly puts it:
“We already know the answer to most of these questions, of course. It’s us. Same as always: there’s just us…what befalls Gotham befalls all of us. And no matter what…Gotham endures.”
The final page of this book is so striking, the city completely terraformed and ripped apart, a far cry from the vibrant city the start of Fraction’s batman run showed us as emergency crews and first responders get to work. We get small teases about what is to come, how Savage, knocking away in the morgue, will no doubt return and how Steph, recovering in the hospital under a fake name, is doing just fine. Gordon and Espinoza are reassigned to the worst precinct but just like all good people in Gotham they carry on. I’m not 100% sure what the tease with Tim a Duke talking about ninjas is an about but we still endure. Honestly though if that convo was about the rival dojos plot Tim discovered on that mini story in the streets of Gotham special…please drop it, that is the least interesting thing ever, lol. Nonetheless, fantastic issue.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2026
Great ending to Bad Seeds! It tied up all of the intertwined storylines from it’s related comics and one offs really nicely! I’m a little Vandal Savaged out though so i wish his death was more permanent (i know that’s a lot to ask for in comics lol) but i hope we move on to different stories and don’t see him again for a while. This is such a good characterization of Gotham, probably my favorite nuance of Fraction’s Batman. Shout out to Killer Croc, i was fed up with his shit too lol
November 4, 2026
I like to see the stories of the everyday citizens foregrounded, and Fraction does that quite well, though the newspaper editorial was just a bit too purple for my tastes. I normally like Camonculi on art, but everyone was looking a bit bug-eyed for some reason. The final sequence was quite inspiring though.
October 30, 2026
I know it's too much to hope that Waylon ate Vandal's head...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 31, 2026
A solid conclusion and Waylon comes through clutch. Several of the Bat Family characters are in a compelling place to pick up after this event. I am excited to see how things play out now.
October 31, 2026
Waylon being the hero of the event. While I'm not a big fan of events in general, this one actually produced a lot of very good issues, so was overall pretty good.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews