2025 promises to be an exhilarating year for fans of DC's flagship Batman comic series. With the conclusion of Chip Zdarsky's acclaimed run in Batman #157, the stage is set for the much-anticipated return of Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee with the Hush 2 storyline, slated for March. Following Hush 2, DC will relaunch Batman with a fresh start, featuring a new #1 issue, a new writer, and an exciting new costume.
At the ComicsPro retailer event, it was announced that acclaimed writer Matt Fraction, known for his work on Uncanny X-Men and The Invincible Iron Man, will take the helm of the new Batman volume. The current Batman artist, Jorge Jimenez, will continue his collaboration with Fraction, introducing a new costume and Batmobile to mark the series' debut. Batman will don a nostalgic blue and gray suit, a departure from the current black and gray attire. Check out the stunning new Batsuit below:
Art by Jorge Jimenez. (Image Credit: DC)
“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Batman. It was the first comic I ever read,” said 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 set to hit the shelves in September 2025.
In addition to the Batman news, DC provided further insights into the future of the Superman line during the ComicsPro event, amid the ongoing "Summer of Superman" initiative. Supergirl is set to receive a new series and a revamped costume designed by Stanley "Artgerm" Lau. Sophie Campbell, known for her work on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, will both write and draw the new series, which will see Kara Zor-El 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 is scheduled for release on May 14.
Art by Stanley Lau (Image Credit: DC)
Action Comics will see a new creative team, with Justice League Unlimited writer Mark Waid partnering with Resonant artist Skylar Patridge. The series will shift its focus to Clark Kent's teenage years in Smallville, exploring his journey as he learns to manage his emerging powers as Superboy.
"I start the book with Clark as a 15-year-old boy, learning to be a superhero for the first time,” said 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 new run will begin with Action Comics #1087, set for release in June.
In a heartwarming announcement, DC has confirmed that Krypto, the beloved super-dog, will headline his own five-issue miniseries under the DC All In initiative. Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton, penned by Ryan North (Fantastic Four) and illustrated by Mike Norton (Revival), will delve deeper into Krypto's origins than ever before.
“Krypto's origin has always been done at kind of a high level," said 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 available starting June 18.
Also at ComicsPro, we learned that Marvel is relaunching Captain America this summer, with Zdarsky writing and Valerio Schiti drawing the book. You can also check out our early look at Godzilla's new interconnected comic book universe.
