DC Comics Unveils New Batman #1 with Fresh Costume

2025 is set to be a monumental year for DC's flagship Batman comic. The current run by Chip Zdarsky concluded with Batman #157, making way for the much-anticipated Hush 2 storyline by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee, which kicks off in March. Following Hush 2, DC will relaunch Batman with a fresh start, introducing a new #1 issue, a new writer, and an exciting new costume.

During the ComicsPro retailer event, it was announced that Matt Fraction, renowned for his work on Uncanny X-Men and The Invincible Iron Man, will take the helm as the new writer. Current Batman artist Jorge Jimenez will continue his artistic journey with the series, collaborating with Fraction to introduce a new costume and a revamped Batmobile. Batman will don a vintage-inspired blue and gray suit, moving away from the traditional black and gray. Check out the new Batsuit below:

“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Batman. It was the first comic I ever read,” shared Fraction. “Jorge and I have a very superhero-forward kind of take on Batman. We’ve got a new Batmobile, we’ve got a new costume, we’ve got new characters, and we’ve got a lot of old ones too—good and bad; all the stuff that makes Batman the coolest character in comics. We want to celebrate it all.”

The new Batman #1 is slated for release in September 2025.

In addition to the Batman news, DC unveiled further details about the future of the Superman line during ComicsPro, continuing their "Summer of Superman" event. Supergirl is set to receive her own new series and costume, designed by Stanley "Artgerm" Lau. Sophie Campbell, known for her work on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, will write and illustrate the series, which will see Kara return to Midvale.

“I came up in the comics industry doing mostly graphic novels that I wrote and drew myself, so doing the same with Supergirl feels like I’m returning to my storytelling roots,” said Campbell. “My main touchstones to Kara Zor-El were the stories and the wild costumes from the 70’s, the 1984 Supergirl movie, and The CW show, which I was a huge fan of. In creating this version of Supergirl, I’ll be drawing on some of those influences as the series unfolds.”

Supergirl #1 will hit the shelves on May 14.

Action Comics is also getting a fresh creative team, with Mark Waid, writer of Justice League Unlimited, teaming up with Resonant artist Skylar Patridge. The series will focus on Clark Kent's teenage years in Smallville, delving into his journey of mastering his powers as Superboy.

"I start the book with Clark as a 15-year-old boy, learning to be a superhero for the first time,” explained Waid. “What is that like, learning to use your powers at that age? What kind of challenges are you facing? Skylar and I are also bringing Smallville a little more up to date—it still has that rustic feel to it, but farms don’t look like that anymore."

Waid and Patridge's run begins with Action Comics #1087, set for release in June.

Finally, DC has announced that Krypto, the beloved canine sidekick, will star in his own five-issue miniseries, Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton, as part of the DC All In initiative. The series, written by Ryan North (Fantastic Four) and illustrated by Mike Norton (Revival), will explore Krypto's origin story in unprecedented detail.

“Krypto's origin has always been done at kind of a high level," noted North. "The little guy starts out on Krypton, ends up on Earth, and helps Superman fight crime. The chance to really define Krypto—to show what a little lost dog would go through if he landed all alone on a strange alien world named Earth—was really enticing. And I also fell in love with the idea of treating Krypto as the actual dog he is: he doesn't talk, and we don't cheat by reading his thoughts in balloons either. Mike Norton’s art captures exactly what needs to be ‘said’ in every scene.”

Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton #1 will be released on June 18.

At ComicsPro, it was also revealed that Marvel is relaunching Captain America this summer, with Chip Zdarsky writing and Valerio Schiti drawing the book. Additionally, don't miss our early look at Godzilla's new interconnected comic book universe.