2025 is set to be a monumental year for DC's flagship Batman comic. Chip Zdarsky recently concluded his run with Batman #157, making way for the eagerly anticipated Hush 2 storyline by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee, slated for March. Following the conclusion of Hush 2, DC will relaunch Batman with a fresh #1 issue, introducing a new writer and an exciting new costume.
Announced at the ComicsPro retailer event, the new volume of Batman will be penned by acclaimed writer Matt Fraction, known for his work on Uncanny X-Men and The Invincible Iron Man. Current Batman artist Jorge Jimenez will continue his role, collaborating with Fraction to introduce a new costume and Batmobile. Batman will don a vintage-inspired blue and gray suit, a nod to the character's storied history. Check out the stunning new Batsuit below:
“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Batman. It was the first comic I ever read,” Fraction shared. “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.”
Batman #1 is set to hit the shelves in September 2025.
In addition to the Batman news, DC provided further details on the future of the Superman line during the ComicsPro event, as part of the ongoing "Summer of Superman" event. Supergirl is set to receive a new series and a new costume, designed by Stanley "Artgerm" Lau. Sophie Campbell, known for her work on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, will both write and illustrate the new book, which will see Kara return to the city of 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,” Campbell remarked. “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 be released on May 14.
Action Comics is also set for a refresh with a new creative team, featuring Justice League Unlimited writer Mark Waid and Resonant artist Skylar Patridge. The series will shift its focus to Clark Kent's teenage years in Smallville, delving into his journey of mastering his burgeoning powers as Superboy.
"I start the book with Clark as a 15-year-old boy, learning to be a superhero for the first time,” Waid explained. “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 will commence with Action Comics #1087 in June.
Lastly, DC has confirmed that Krypto will star in his own five-issue miniseries, Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton, as part of the DC All In initiative. Written by Ryan North of Fantastic Four fame and illustrated by Mike Norton, known for Revival, the series will delve deeper into Krypto's origin story than ever before.
“Krypto's origin has always been done at kind of a high level," North said. "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.
Also at ComicsPro, Marvel announced the relaunch of Captain America this summer, with Chip Zdarsky writing and Valerio Schiti drawing the book. Additionally, fans can look forward to an early glimpse into Godzilla's new interconnected comic book universe.
