Review Batman #5 | by Matt Fraction & Jorge Jimenez

Batman #5 does something genuinely refreshing by sidelining Batman entirely and letting Bruce Wayne carry the issue. And it works beautifully. This is one of the most fun and charming Batman issues in a long time, leaning into awkward romance, fastpaced action, and the kind of chaos that only Gotham can provide… And yes, they found a way to include ninjas crashing dinner.

What makes this issue stand out is how important Bruce Wayne feels again. He’s out of costume the entire time, forced to survive, protect Anika and stop a growing threat without the cape and cowl. That tension gives the story its energy. This is a modern take on the classic “Brucie Wayne” persona as casual, underestimated, but still incredibly capable. It’s something the Bat books have been missing and Matt Fraction taps into it perfectly.

The pacing is fast but intentional. The story moves at breakneck speed because Bruce has no room to breathe, no time to suit up and no margin for error. The result is a stylish, entertaining adventure that never loses momentum. Add in Jorge Jiménez and Tomeu Morey’s stellar art, a slick new character in Ōjō, and a genuinely surprising final page twist, and you’ve got a damn good single issue.

That said, there’s a lingering question hanging over this run.

Fraction’s “adventure of the week” structure has been a blast so far, but can it sustain long term interest? Episodic storytelling keeps things accessible and fun, but some readers may eventually want a deeper, more sprawling narrative that builds across multiple issues.

For now, though, Batman #5 is a reminder that Bruce Wayne matters and that Batman comics can still be fun, fast and creative without drowning in grim seriousness.