I Am Batman #5 reveals why Jace Fox is leaving Gotham - for his family, and because of that OTHER Batman - cookagnat1973

I Am Batman #5 reveals why Jace Fox is leaving Gotham - for his family, and because of that OTHER Batman

I Am Batman #5 excerpt (Image credit: DC)

DC's new Batman, Jace Fox, has cursorily established himself as a pull out inside the Bat-titles and Gotham City, but in November the publisher announced he'd glucinium leaving that city arse for the bright lights of New York.

And now we know why (and what his first 24-hour interval in the Big Apple is like).

Spoilers ahead for I Am Batman #5 by John Ridley, Christian Duce, Juan Ferreyra, and Laura Braga.

As secure from the initial announcement, January 11's I Am Batman #5 - in a story fittingly called 'Goodbye, Gotham' - explains Jace Fox's reasoning for wherefore helium (and his folk) decides to leave their hometown of Gotham Metropolis. It's non a retreat - information technology's more some growth, and comes after Jace and his father, Lucius Fox, end their years-long estrangement and have a true father-son talk.

The development comes after Lucius Fox in the end sees the error in judgment he made in championship a super-secret military program called TALOS (Tactical Assault Unimportant Operator Suit), in which he, as the proprietor of Anthony Wayne Enterprises, financed the hi-tech battlesuits augmented with AI learning for the government.

"Somewhere I went from wanting to protect to lacking to control. And I know you detested me for it," Lucius Fox tells his son after helium came to his senses. "I've wanted so badly to be a symbol for this city. Maybe the most important matter I can ut, particularly for black and browned multitude, is to stand up and say it's okay to take for help."

The elder Fox says he's definite to introduce therapy to help him with his issues, and the conversation reads similar an unspoken Olea europaea limb to Jace (whom he has been unloved from for years), asking for his help oneself and his fellowship.

Virgin Batman, New York City

Jace Bedevil - WHO, recall, took upfield the name Batman in 2021 - and then confides in his father about his own future.

"However it began, I feel like I finally recovered a purpose: to salute my life to going to war for judge," Jace says. "As long arsenic I'm in Gotham I'll always be the strange Batman, or replacement Batman, or substitute Batman."

This explains why helium's deciding to leave Gotham City, but as for why he's leaving for New York City? Family.

His baby Tam has been in a coma for the past few issues but wakes up in I Am Batman #5. Patc she's currently being treated at a Gotham hospital by the finest doctors a Wayne Enterprises CEO like-minded Lucius Fox can yield, it turns out she needs better health care than that - and it's something the Presbyterian Hospital in New House of York City has.

(Yes, thither's a existent-life Presbyterian Hospital in New York - in fact, they have 10 campuses in the area.)

"Mom's taking Tam to New York for rehab. Tiff's going with her," says Jace. "Maybe I'll do the same."

Lucius supports Jace in his decisions but makes one request - a costume change. He wants Jace to ditch the faceplate in his Batman gear.

The faceplate covers up the lower half of Jace's face when dressed up as Batman. It's better protection of course, but it also hides the color of his skin.

"You ARE Batman, yes... but you're also your Have gentleman's gentleman. A legacy of our previous. A symbol of our forthcoming. And a kind of champion we need reactionary now," says Lucius. "Never be afraid to show people who you are. Pride oneself in the fact that you inspire. And in a higher place everything else, my son... defend. ALWAYS typify."

The last varlet of I Am Batman #5 has Jace-as-Batman surveying the New York City skyline from - what else? - a gargoyle rock outcrop.

With this issue on stands, DC has already shared an unlettered prevue of what's next - I Am Batman #6 by John Ridley, Ken Lashley, and Rex Lokus - over on DCComics.com. Have a look:

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I Am Batman #6 preview

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I Am Batman #6 is on cut-rate sale now, with I Am Batman #6 coming February 8.

Keep track of this and all the newly Batman comics , graphic novels, and collections coming in 2022.

Newsarama Senior Editor in chief Chris Unmitigated has covered comic account book news for Newsarama since 2003, and has also written for USA Today, Life, Entertainment Weekly, Publisher's Weekly, Wonder Entertainment, TOKYOPOP, AdHouse Books, Cartoon Brewage, Bleeding Cool, Comic Shop Word, and CBR. He is the author of the book Modern: Masters Cliff Chiang, co-authored Art of Spider-Man Classic, and contributed to Dark Horse/Bedside Compress' anthology Pros and (Comic) Cons. He has acted as a judge for the Leave Eisner Comic Industriousness Awards, the Harvey Awards, and the Stan Lee Awards. Chris is a member of the American Library Association's Graphic Novel & Comics Round Table. (He/him)