The good: Matt Fraction and Jorge Jimenez teaming up on Batman!
The bad: DC is pulling a Marvel and appears to be relaunching titles as new #1s to increase sales, justify publishing. I’m sure the sales surges from the Absolute line help as well.
So far in the main continuity we’ve seen Superman, Flash, Aquaman, and Wonder Woman relaunched and now it’s Batman’s turn.
I utterly hate the relaunches. BUT, I am a big Fraction fan, so I might have to start getting this.
I like the single issue story format.
As for the number on the front, I’ll treat it as 164.
In my mind this totally outweighs the bad. Yes, it’ll be over printed and dollar bin fodder. But Batman has always been a read book from me…it’s the only title I’ve never abandoned since getting back into comics about 10 years ago.
All good here.
Interesting that Hush 2 ended up as regular numbered issues in the current volume, and then DC goes and relaunches with this. Jiménez is a strong artist, but that #1 cover is not his best work.