DC Comics Unveils New Batman #1 with Updated Costume

2025 is set to be a landmark year for DC's iconic Batman series. As Chip Zdarsky concludes his run with Batman #157, the stage is set for the much-anticipated Hush 2 storyline by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee, slated for March. Following Hush 2, DC is poised to relaunch Batman with a fresh #1 issue, featuring a new writer and a revamped 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. Jorge Jimenez, the current Batman artist, will continue his role, collaborating with Fraction to introduce a new costume and Batmobile. The new look will see Batman sporting a nostalgic blue and gray suit, a nod to his classic attire. You can preview the 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."

The new Batman #1 is scheduled for release in September 2025.

In addition to the Batman announcements, DC unveiled further details about the future of the Superman line during ComicsPro, continuing their "Summer of Superman" event. Supergirl is set to receive her own new series and costume, designed by Stanley "Artgerm" Lau. Sophie Campbell, renowned for her work on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, will both write and illustrate the series, which will see Kara Zor-El returning 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," Campbell stated. "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 slated for release on May 14.

Action Comics is also set for a creative overhaul, with Justice League Unlimited writer Mark Waid teaming up with Resonant artist Skylar Patridge. Their focus will shift to Clark Kent's teenage years in Smallville, delving into his early experiences 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 new run will begin with Action Comics #1087 in June.

Lastly, DC has confirmed that Krypto, Superman's loyal companion, will star in his own five-issue miniseries as part of the DC All In initiative. Titled Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton, the series is written by Ryan North, known for his work on Fantastic Four, and illustrated by Mike Norton of Revival fame. The miniseries will provide an in-depth exploration of Krypto's origin story.

"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.