Your post about Fraction's Batman is so true lmao, and NGL its just reinforcing my belief that anyone who says Bruce Wayne is their favourite character and also says they reads comics needs to elaborate afterwards because how can anyone enjoy Fraction's Batman without being willfully ignorant (at best, racist and misogynistic at worst). And I'm saying this as someone who likes Bruce a lot.
Sorry for the rant. I've seen some people (not necessarily Bruce fans but people nonetheless) try and excuse that Batman #11 panel and it's getting on my nerves.
No no it's ok anon, the grip Fraction seems to have on people is crazy. How good can his Hawkeye run be?? It's about to become my first Marvel comic since I can't comprehend why people would protect this guy this much.
Anyways, I would actually want to see a whole presentation explaining why this run (so far) is amazing. Because even with the characterization of the Al Ghuls and Damian aside, it's still weak. It just doesn't wow me. Everything is happening and nothing is happening at once. We got a new love interest! Ok, she hasn't done anything or has any indication of doing anything so far, outside of being an extra in Bruce and Damian's "conflict"?? This isn't very engaging since we, the audience, KNOW that she will play a big part, but still now it's nada.
There's a new butler now! IT'S NOT LIKE PKJ AND WILLIAMSON SET UP A WHOLE RUN WHERE THE MAIN THING WAS BRUCE HAVING TO LEARN HOW TO DO STUFF FOR HIMSELF AND HIS SON SINCE ALFRED IS DEAD OR ANYTHING!? Ntm the whole "college" thing being mentioned, which made me really worry but then it's been 5 issues since then, and the "Bruce and Damian's conflict" arc being completed, yet nothing has been expanded from it.
Bruce and Damian fought AGAIN. Despite Batman and Robin 2023 was supposed to be thee run where they reconciled after months of being away from each other post Alf's death. Where Bruce had a whole heart to heart with Superman about how much he wanted to try for Damian and how Damian was such a kind child etc. But then Fraction made Bruce call his own SON a "timebomb", send the punching bag flying as an intimidation tactic and say stuff like "he's such a difficult child, (hallucination) Alfred"
The first few issues got me hoping they would dig into Bruce's and the Rogue's psychology. But then they completely threw that out of the window. No further explanation or mention. And also let's bring in frog-in-the-jar Joker. Who is now in Annika's custody. Who gained her trust and approval to the point where she was willing to use the "kill switch" on Batman if he did something she didn't approve of. (Some said this is giving Harley Quinn? I don't know enough about her and the Joker to have a concrete opinion tbh)
The writing of the Al Ghuls. Yeah I don't need to explain my problem with that.
Minotaur made his first appearance in issue 4, disappeared, then showed up again in issue 10 (and briefly mentioned in issue 11). This feels like bad pacing to me, cuz I genuinely forgot about him until it was mentioned again. Not really a good thing when your character was supposed to be the big bad, imo.
On a more positive note:
There's a bunch of killers being after Bruce Wayne and Annika. Alright, ig that was fine. And Bruce being against sponsoring wars, I admit I do like that detail a lot. Ntm, I do like overall plot regarding corrupted police forces and Vandal Savage. But with so many things happening, it feels like that plot isn't getting the attention it deserves.
This is an extremely long reply to an ask 😭 Sorry about that. But this is my criticism on all the issues that we've seen so far. And it's been more than half an year. I'm getting impatient.
