In this review of Batman #15, Bruce decides to fake his assassination to deal with the six assassins trying to kill him, and reaches out to some interesting allies to do so…
Batman #15 main cover by Jorge Jiménez (DC Comics)
BATMAN #15
Written by MATT FRACTION
Art and Main Cover: JORGE JIMÉNEZ
Variant Covers: JIM CHEUNG, DUSTIN NGUYEN, BECKY CLOONAN, DAVID AJA, JORGE JIMÉNEZ, FRANK QUITELY
Page Count: 40 Pages
Release Date: 11/4/26
This review contains spoilers
Bruce Wayne goes on a Gotham talk show to say he’s leaving Gotham, and privately, Bruce also tells Superman and Wonder Woman that he’s going to fake his death to focus on the situation in Gotham.
In the Batcave, Batman reveals his plans to Plastic Man, Verity Pennyworth, Robin (Damian), and Jim Gordon. Jim’s not happy about the two assassins being held in comas, but accepts being part of the plan. Jim works with Dr. Zellar (observed by the Joker) to take over custody of any assassins caught, put them under sedation, and hopefully send them to international law enforcement to avoid Gotham’s corruption in the vacuum left by Bad Seeds.
As Dr. Zellar asks Joker if Jim Gordon is a good man (to which Joker answers “yes”), Batman, Robin, Verity, and Plastic Man go into action, with Signal (Duke Thomas) assisting. Plastic Man impersonates Bruce at a big party, with Verity dressed to the nines at his side. Batman and Robin team up with King Panther to take down Sr. Sueno and his team.
Batman #15 ends with the Ojo sniping “Bruce” (Plastic Man) at the party.
What are you doing, Bruce? (DC Comics)
Analysis
“The Assassination of Bruce Wayne” picks up right where Batman #12 left off – with Bruce facing the six assassins, dealing with Verity Pennyworth as a new ally, and working to counter the mysterious Minotaur. Though only two issues of Batman were involved in the Bad Seeds event, it’s a bit odd that only one line deals with the fallout of Poison Ivy and Vandal Savage both being removed as threats, and ZERO progress is made on who will be mayor and police commissioner next. That much being said, Fraction returns to the complex, multilayered storytelling after two much simpler issues for Bad Seeds (partly constrained by the 12 hour timeframe of the event), and the results are quite fun, though this is clearly the start of a big arc, so a lot feels like setup.
Fraction is clearly having a lot of fun with all the characters he’s pulling in, from very short cameos with Superman and Wonder Woman, to Plastic Man’s very sleazy hitting on Verity Pennyworth, to Batman and Robin teaming up with an older luchador against an assassin. A ton going on, and it’s interesting seeing how this fairly pulpy plotline of faking one’s death to trap the enemy (done by such characters as Sherlock Holmes, Lord Peter Wimsey by Dorothy L. Sayers, and even Tim Drake in the Red Robin compendium recently released) is handled by Fraction going for a very breezy, montage and cross-cutting heavy style.
Jorge Jimenez, back on art after the two Bad Seeds issues, provides once again an incredibly kinetic and appealing look at Batman and his plans and actions. His renderings of all of the characters continues to evolve, and the book remains one of the absolute best looking on the shelves, due to Jimenez and longtime Batman colorist Tomeu Morey.
Bad Seeds fallout glossed over – no details of who’s in charge of the city or police now.
Series main artist Jorge Jimenez provides the main cover, featuring an upside down Bruce in a tuxedo over a red batsymbol, clearly “dead” as he’s been assassinated (also available as a virgin foil variant for an upcharge). Jim Cheung’s variant shows Batman leaping towards the audience with a huge “BATMAN” spelled out in the skyscrapers below him. Dustin Nguyen continues his series of variants with Batman’s silhouette over Bruce in a sniper’s crosshairs, dividing the rest of the cover into quarters with the various assassins. Becky Cloonan gives us a Bruce in tuxedo lifting his Bat-cowl as red graphic bats flutter around him, forming bloodstains as well on his chest. Frank Quitely’s Watchmen 40th Anniversary variant shows the six main Watchmen characters in a spotlight in Quitely’s famous style. David Aja continues his 1 in 25 incentive variant cover series with a graphic design of a sniper against a moon and a white Bruce silhouette on the ground below. Martin Simmonds provides a set of retailer exclusive variants with Batman draped in his cape against a green glowing batsymbol, dripping glowing paint everywhere. Pasquale Ferrara provides another retailer exclusive variant set showing a tired Batman at the Batcomputer getting a midnight tray of food and drink from Verity Pennyworth in a beautifully rendered painted style.
Final Thoughts
Matt Fraction reunites with Jorge Jimenez to tell a tale of Batman vs many assassins!
Batman #15
DC Comics Reviewed by Ian MillerFinal Thoughts
Matt Fraction reunites with Jorge Jimenez to tell a tale of Batman vs many assassins!
