I AM BATMAN #1 REVIEW - WHY DID JACE FOX BECOME BATMAN?
ireviewcomics.substack.com
Writer: John Ridley | Artist: Oliver Coipel | Variant Cover: Gabriele Dell Otto | Publisher: DC Comics
After reading “I Am Batman #0. I didn’t have much hope for a series featuring the character. While this issue is a major improvement from the previous issue, I still have some concerns about this character.
“I Am Batman” is set at the of DC’s Future State era. This issue takes place early in Jace’s journey and its clear he’s trying to establish himself as a different type of Batman.
Jace see’s Bruce as a hero of the elite, white collar class of Gotham. Although this is a historically inaccurate take on Bruce Wayne/Batman’s motivations and actions throughout his history, this is Jace’s perspective on Batman. His goal is to become a “Batman” of the poor and voiceless. To this point, Jace’s Batman makes it a point to be seen during his patrols of Gotham so that the community knows that this Batman is real.
The sub-plot of the issue involves Detectives Chubb & Whitaker of the GCPD. Their story runs parallel to Jace. They aren’t fans of The Magistrate (Future State) or Masked vigilantes. They get word that a “Mask” is operating in Gotham and make the determination that the vigilante is better off with them than the Magistrate. Jace and Whitaker are being setup as wildcard characters supporting characters sort of like Sam and Twitch in the Spawn Comics. They are authentic characters and feel like police officers doing the best they can under the circumstances instead of complete assholes. This is refreshing in the current political climate.
I don’t have any problem with “I Am Batman” #1. Oliver Coipel’s art is gorgeous for the most part although Detective Chubb looks different in every panel’s she’s rendered. Jace’s Bat-suit looks amazing and regardless of how you feel about this take on Batman this suit is dope and looks appropriately powerful.
The only issue I have with the comic is Jace and his Motivation to be Batman. As mentioned above. The character’s perspective on Bruce is his own (and possibly Ridley’s). Jace’s outlook on Batman is negative. Batman is also one of the most wanted characters in the Future State landscape. His reappearance would be the same as if Yoda/Obi Wan suddenly appeared after Order 66 in the Star Wars Universe. Vader and The Inquisitors would be on their asses immediately.
This calls into question why Jace is taking on this Mantle at all and not simply using the technology available to set up another masked Identity. If Gotham has a negative view on Batman, It stands to reason that a new character could have the same impact without all of the negative baggage and attention that Batman would draw. This was also a concern in I Am Batman #0, and it seems that the creative team may be blowing past an obvious logic flaw in this origin story.
It’s hinted all over these two issues that Jace wants to carve out his own identity independently from Bruce and his father, Lucius Fox. It’s hard to understand why this individual would take a mantle largely influenced by both of those men.
This is a personal gripe, but I won’t hold it against the series at this point. John Ridley has crafted one of the better 1st issues I’ve read this year. It’s a lot of fun and there are some solid action sequences throughout the issue. The identity question is just an inconsistency that may derail the series if we don’t get a better explanation as the story develops.
IN SHORT: I Am Batman #1 does its job in presenting a story that’s familiar while being its own thing, great start!
Thank you for reading I Review Comics . This post is public so feel free to share it.
I AM BATMAN #1 REVIEW - WHY DID JACE FOX BECOME BATMAN?
I AM BATMAN #1 REVIEW - WHY DID JACE FOX BECOME BATMAN?
I AM BATMAN #1 REVIEW - WHY DID JACE FOX BECOME BATMAN?
Writer: John Ridley | Artist: Oliver Coipel | Variant Cover: Gabriele Dell Otto | Publisher: DC Comics
After reading “I Am Batman #0. I didn’t have much hope for a series featuring the character. While this issue is a major improvement from the previous issue, I still have some concerns about this character.
“I Am Batman” is set at the of DC’s Future State era. This issue takes place early in Jace’s journey and its clear he’s trying to establish himself as a different type of Batman.
Jace see’s Bruce as a hero of the elite, white collar class of Gotham. Although this is a historically inaccurate take on Bruce Wayne/Batman’s motivations and actions throughout his history, this is Jace’s perspective on Batman. His goal is to become a “Batman” of the poor and voiceless. To this point, Jace’s Batman makes it a point to be seen during his patrols of Gotham so that the community knows that this Batman is real.
The sub-plot of the issue involves Detectives Chubb & Whitaker of the GCPD. Their story runs parallel to Jace. They aren’t fans of The Magistrate (Future State) or Masked vigilantes. They get word that a “Mask” is operating in Gotham and make the determination that the vigilante is better off with them than the Magistrate. Jace and Whitaker are being setup as wildcard characters supporting characters sort of like Sam and Twitch in the Spawn Comics. They are authentic characters and feel like police officers doing the best they can under the circumstances instead of complete assholes. This is refreshing in the current political climate.
I don’t have any problem with “I Am Batman” #1. Oliver Coipel’s art is gorgeous for the most part although Detective Chubb looks different in every panel’s she’s rendered. Jace’s Bat-suit looks amazing and regardless of how you feel about this take on Batman this suit is dope and looks appropriately powerful.
The only issue I have with the comic is Jace and his Motivation to be Batman. As mentioned above. The character’s perspective on Bruce is his own (and possibly Ridley’s). Jace’s outlook on Batman is negative. Batman is also one of the most wanted characters in the Future State landscape. His reappearance would be the same as if Yoda/Obi Wan suddenly appeared after Order 66 in the Star Wars Universe. Vader and The Inquisitors would be on their asses immediately.
This calls into question why Jace is taking on this Mantle at all and not simply using the technology available to set up another masked Identity. If Gotham has a negative view on Batman, It stands to reason that a new character could have the same impact without all of the negative baggage and attention that Batman would draw. This was also a concern in I Am Batman #0, and it seems that the creative team may be blowing past an obvious logic flaw in this origin story.
It’s hinted all over these two issues that Jace wants to carve out his own identity independently from Bruce and his father, Lucius Fox. It’s hard to understand why this individual would take a mantle largely influenced by both of those men.
This is a personal gripe, but I won’t hold it against the series at this point. John Ridley has crafted one of the better 1st issues I’ve read this year. It’s a lot of fun and there are some solid action sequences throughout the issue. The identity question is just an inconsistency that may derail the series if we don’t get a better explanation as the story develops.
IN SHORT: I Am Batman #1 does its job in presenting a story that’s familiar while being its own thing, great start!
Thank you for reading I Review Comics . This post is public so feel free to share it.
Share