Batman #4 already feels like the start of an iconic run.

BATMAN #4 – Matt Fraction & Jorge Jiménez continue a defining run  

Batman #4 continues Matt Fraction’s impressive new era with another issue that excels in character, visual storytelling, and world-building. After the previous issue revealed that the Crown of Storms may be used on Arkham inmates, Bruce Wayne decides to visit Dr. Zeller — in his civilian identity for the first time instead of as Batman. What follows is an unexpectedly charming meet-cute. Zeller is so focused on work (and exercise) that it takes her a moment to realize she’s talking to Bruce Wayne, and when she accidentally falls into his arms and he casually asks her on a date, it lands as both funny and sweet without feeling out of place in Gotham. Ever the playboy.

This issue also introduces a new villain: the Minotaur. Immediately visually striking with his seven fingers on each hand and an imposing helmet, he’s revealed to have formed secret alliances with seven of Gotham’s major crime families, quietly pulling the strings behind the scenes. While he carries himself like a refined crime boss, he’s more than willing to get his hands — or fingers — bloody, instantly making him feel like a serious new presence in Gotham’s criminal underworld.

The central conflict revolves around a hijacked truck that sends the crime families into a paranoid war with one another. Batman quickly deduces that Anarky is involved and begins investigating not just his role in the chaos, but what he might be truly afraid of. Fraction’s Batman is especially strong here: still intimidating and obsessive, but also sharper, slightly snarky, and quietly compassionate in a way that feels earned rather than forced.

Artist Jorge Jiménez continues to operate at an elite level. The action is fluid, the poses are dynamic, and every panel feels carefully composed for maximum impact. Colorist Tomeu Morey’s work on the new Batsuit remains a highlight — the bold blue and oversized bat symbol pop beautifully off the page, giving Batman a classic yet refreshed silhouette that looks stunning in motion.

Gotham itself feels more alive than ever. Fraction and Jiménez move the story through varied, distinct locations rather than relying on familiar rooftops and alleyways. One sequence jumps through four different parts of the city in four panels, and each one feels visually and atmospherically unique. That attention to setting helps sell the scale and personality of Gotham as its own character in the story.

Four issues in, this run already feels like one of the strongest Batman runs in recent years. While each issue tells a contained story, the larger narrative is clearly taking shape, and Fraction’s careful, deliberate pacing makes the unfolding mystery even more engaging. If this momentum holds, this creative team is on track to deliver a truly definitive Batman era.