James Whitbrook, writing for io9, has the scoop, err, press release, on the latest happening with Batman comics.

A Batman #1 doesn’t come along very often. Well, unless you’ve been reading comics for the past 15 years, in which case, it’s come along a couple times already. Modern comic books! But even then, in what is about to be eight-and-a-half-decades of Batman that’s still not a lot of relaunches–and DC is going all-in to make this fourth one stand out.

Last night at ComicsPro DC confirmed that the fourth-ever relaunch of the primary, solo Batman book (there are of course, dozens upon dozens upon dozens of other Bat-titles, the publisher has printed in the last 80-odd years, but they don’t count here) will begin this fall, but which point Bruce Wayne will be well and truly into his 85th anniversary year. Batman kicked off in 1940, and would only be relaunched with a new #1 for the first time 71 years later with the dawn of the New 52 in 2011–and subsequently relaunched again for DC Rebirth in 2016, which will now give way to the newest relaunch in September 2025.

The new series will be penned by writer Matt Fraction, and feature art from Jorge Jiménez, as well as colors by Tomeu Morey and lettering by Clayton Cowles, who will usher in the new era with a new visual style for Bruce, the city he defends as the dark knight, and all those wonderful toys he gets to play with. While DC is currently staying quiet on its plans to revamp the designs of the Batmobile and Gotham City itself, the first preview for the series did confirm that Batman will get a new costume refresh: one that firmly brings back the iconic blue, grey, and yellow-accented colors of some of his classic suits, over a modernized design.

I like Fraction’s writing style. I wonder if it will flow more like his Hawkeye run or something else. Interesting that they are leaning into the blue. That at least feels more comic book-y.

In any case, I won’t be buying any copies. I might buy a trade paperback if it’s good, but even then… probably not.