A detailed guide to The Next Batman. This also lists a number of non-Jace arcs that provide important context to his solos; these focus on the rest of the Fox family. I've bolded the most important recs. I also have a simple checklist version without all the rambles.
To enjoy Jace's comics, you don't need to read all of this! You can skip right to Jace's major solo series, I am Batman (2021). Just bare in mind that I am Batman references a number of things from past Fox family stories and Jace appearances. This guide can hopefully help you locate the origin of those references if you're just reading I am Batman, or provide a reading checklist to those who want the full Jace experience.
Note: he changes his name to Jace when he's reintroduced, but he originally goes by the name Tim.
Before he was Jace:
BRONZE AGE TIM FOX
Tim stars in a short background arc spread across a few Bronze age issues (1979–1981). It establishes tension in his relationship with Lucius, especially based around potential abuses of financial power by Lucius and Bruce Wayne.
Tim appears in 4 issues:
Batman #313, #314 (Tiffany and Lucius talking about him), #323, #330, and #333 - in the story, Tim joins a small anti-Wayne Foundation street gang.
He also has a brief appearance in Post-Crisis as an unnamed kid in Batman: Gotham Knights #32.
THE FOXES WITHOUT HIM
In the New 52, the Fox family took a new shape. Tiffany was now the youngest daughter, Tamara (introduced earlier in Red Robin (2009)) was the middle daughter, and the new Luke Fox was the eldest and only son. Luke is recruited by Batman to become the new Batwing after David Zavimbe retires.
In Rebirth, Luke helps lead a batfamily team (Detective Comics (2016) #943–981, with a Tam cameo in #977). Later, Lucius becomes an even closer ally with Bruce (#1009–1019). When Alfred dies, he takes up that primary support position.
Luke and Lucius have many adventures throughout the N52 and Rebirth. Here are the important ones to understand Jace:
Batwing (2011) #20-23 - sets up the Fox family dynamic. Read the end of #19 for Luke's first appearance.
Batwing (2011) #27-34 - Referenced heavily in Jace comics. Tamara and Tiffany are kidnapped by a villain named the Rat Catcher.
Batman (2016) #86–94 - Lucius acts as primary support to Batman after Alfred's death. He doesn't appear in all the issues, but the arc as a whole sets up Joker War and the eventual transfer of the Wayne fortune to the Foxes.
JOKER WAR & AFTERMATH
Bruce's money has been taken from him. The Joker and his new sidekick Punchline are vying for control of the city. Lucius gets caught in the middle, tortured and traumatized by Punchline.
The whole crossover event is quite large (and good! worth reading). You can find a reading list to it here. The important issues for the Fox family are:
Batman (2016) #95 - Punchline tortures Lucius.
Detective Comics (2016) #1025 - Bruce rescues Lucius.
Batman: The Joker War Zone #1 - Lucius and Luke fend off their house from attackers. They decide to invite Tim/Jace home. (CW: this is a super intense issue w police-involved gun violence and mental health crises)
Catwoman (2018) #25 - Selina meets with Lucius and tells him that she transferred all of Bruce Wayne's money to him.
Batman (2016) #101 - Lucius has hired a body guard, Grifter, and meets with Bruce Wayne. He offers Bruce the decision to have his money returned but face higher scrutiny from outside forces, or leave it with the Fox family and let them rescue WE and his reputation. Bruce chooses to leave it with the Foxes.
Detective Comics (2016) #1037 - features 2 back ups with Lucius. One mentions him being disillusioned with Bruce, and the other is set in early Lucius & Bruce days and sets up the themes explored upon Jace's return.
The return of Jace
It's time to bring Tim/Jace home and reintroduce him as the estranged eldest brother of the family. And give him a couple of cool solos series.
Note: a lot of this is being published at the same time as the non-canon Future State saga (see next large section below), which is the first to portray Jace as Batman.
Batman: Urban Legends (2021) #4 - a flashback to Luke & Jace as kids.
The Next Batman: Second Son (2021) - Jace's first solo!!! He returns home to find his family full of trauma and tension. Luke and Jace race to find a cure for a poisoned Tamara. Lucius and Tanya start cracking down on masks. Jace tries to own up for the mistakes made in his past, and eventually discovers a Batsuit at Wayne Enterprises. Available as 12 digital-first chapters, or 4 full-page physical issues.
Infinite Frontier (2021) #0 - it has a one-page scene of Jace & Lucius playing chess, and the Batman sections introduce Fear State.
I am Batman (2021) #0 - Jace's new solo starts! Issue 0 shows his first attempt at being Batman.
I am Batman #1–5 - Fear State Jace. This first main arc is set in the Batman: Fear State era. (Optional: read Batman: Fear State Alpha for surrounding context and a Jace cameo. He also has tiny cameos in Batman #115 and #117. That said, you can still understand I am Batman fine without it). An anti-vigilante police state is enforced by the Magistrate and supplied by Lucius Fox's tech. The old Batman is rumoured to be dead. Jace takes up the Batman mantle to protect civilians during the ensuing conflict.
I am Batman #6–10 - Jace moves to New York! He establishes himself in the community and rebuilds his family bonds. Partnering with the police force, he hunts down a serial killer known as Manray.
I am Batman #11–14 - Jace, Renee (the Question), and Chubb (police) target NYC corruption. Meanwhile, Tiffany debuts as her new vigilante self.
Dark Crisis (2022) #1 - The Justice League is gone. Jon Kent reaches out to Jace for help. After all, every Superman needs a Batman.
I am Batman #15 - Jace faces Sinestro and his worst fears in this tie-in to Dark Crisis.
Dark Crisis #6-7 - Jace arrives at the Dark Crisis battlefield and, in smallish cameos, helps out where he can. Read Dark Crisis #2-5 for context on what's going on with the grander plot.
I am Batman #16–18 - Killers are hunting down people connected to the Fox family. One of their latest victims reveals a large secret about Jace's parentage.
That's it for his solos! Since then, we have also seen him in:
DC Power: Rise of the Power Company (2025) #1 - Jace meets Duke Thomas/The Signal! They team up to take down some criminals.
The Power Company: Recharged (2025) #1 - Jace is recruited to the Power Company... kind of. He still insists on working alone as they hunt down a serial killer.
Meanwhile, Luke and Lucius star in Outsiders (2023)'s 11 issues.
Future State
Some of Jace's best stories happen in Future State - a dystopian non-canon universe building out of Fear State (see above). It was published at the same time as The Next Batman: Second Son (also see above) and was the first time Jace was shown in the Batman mantle.
Future State was told through an overlapping batch of mini series. I have arranged the Jace-relevant minis in my attempt at chronological order, but you can check out the official release order here (in the checklist section near the end).
Future State: The Next Batman (2021) #1–4 - Jace battles villains on the streets as Batman, and battles the tensions in his family at home. Features an important back up with Duke Thomas.
Future State: Nightwing #1–2 - Jace and Dick team up to protect the resistance base.
Future State: Justice League #1–2 - Jace is part of a new Justice League with Jon (Superman), Yara (Wonder Woman), Andy (Aquawoman), Jo (Green Lantern), and Jess (Kid Quick).
Future State: Dark Detective #1–4 - Bruce Wayne has been hiding in secret since the news of his "death" came out. He meets Jace briefly in issue #3. Features important back ups with Jason & Rose and Luke & Grifter.
Future State: Gotham #1–12 - Jason Todd, soldier for the Magistrate, hunts down Batman (Jace). Soon, they become unlikely allies along with Harley Quinn and a protegé named Hunter Panic.
Future State: Catwoman #1–2 - Selina and Talia work independently to rescue the captured Bruce Wayne. (No Jace appearances)
Future State: Gotham #13–18 - Battle of the Five Batmans. Jace vs Bruce vs Dick vs Damian vs [spoilers]. Which Batman(s) will win?
and if you haven't read it as the back up in Future State: Gotham #2, make sure to check out either Batman Black & White #3 or DC Power - A Celebration for a Jace and Tiffany team up.
That's it for my reading guide to Jace Fox! I believe I caught all his appearances (aside from a few background-of-unimportant-group-shot cameos). I really recommend checking his comics out. He really is such an incredibly cool complex character with really gut wrenching stories.
Here's the checklist version of his appearances if you're ready to get started without all these rambles!
In Batman 323#, cover date May, 1980, Caroline Crown, who became Bruce Wayne's personal secretary, was introduced. She was created by Len Wein and Irv Novick. ("Shadow of the Cat!", Batman 323#, Comic, Event)
