Review: Batman #7

In this comic book review of Batman #7, Batman confronts Joker in his experimental tank in Arkham Tower…

BATMAN #7
Written by MATT FRACTION
Art and Main Cover by JORGE JIMENEZ
Variant Covers: DUSTIN NGUYEN, JORGE MOLINA, RYAN SOOK, JORGE JIMENEZ, DAVID AJA, LEIRIX
Page Count: 40 pages
Release Date: 3/4/26

This review contains spoilers

As Batman #7 begins, Batman receives a cryptic and urgent summons to Arkham Tower to talk to the Joker. Dr. Zeller meets him and explains Joker’s current treatment, and the lethal countermeasures she will deploy if Batman tries to touch Joker. Batman deduces Joker’s method of contacting him – and Joker confesses it’s an orderly, former policeman, Josiah Jones. Batman asks if Joker is pretending to have forgotten his evil actions, and Joker responds he remembers everything. Joker says he’s grateful that Dr. Zellar has contained him, to Batman’s disbelief. Joker counters and says Batman must never let him out, and that he has a secret. Saying he thinks Batman needs a friend, Joker reveals that someone is coming to kill Bruce Wayne.

Analysis

Despite its minimalist “two characters in one room” setup, Batman #7 is a standout in Matt Fraction and Jorge Jimenez’s run. After a shaky previous issue, Fraction regains his stride with a meta, thoughtful exploration of the Batman/Joker dynamic.

While some themes echo recent runs by Tynion and King, Fraction’s sharp dialogue and focus on the weight of their shared history make the conflict feel fresh. Even for a Joker skeptic like myself, Batman #7 is an intense, engrossing read that fires on all cylinders.

Of course, at least half of that enjoyment is due to Jorge Jimenez’s brilliant visuals. Fraction sets up a brilliant space and situation for these two characters, but Jimenez visualizes that with supreme creativity. While not trying to imitate David Aja’s homage to Chris Ware in his procedural and detail-oriented insert panels, Jimenez nonetheless creates wonderful visual effects like the reflections of Batman and Joker in each other’s faces and eyes. My hopes that finally we get a Batman run that really allows Jimenez to show the mastery that he’s capable of seem to be proved by this issue. The advertised “stunning foldout sequence”, while very lovingly rendered by Jimenez as a beautiful montage-style poster of Joker’s history and mind – isn’t the best part of the issue. The way we get into Batman and Joker’s emotions and minds through the way Jimenez draws their faces and positions is – and is worth the price of the issue alone. Colorist Tomeu Morey enhances the issue perfectly, as usual, with pale green dominating the palette, but so many other perfectly chosen hues.

Jorge Jimenez’s main cover for Batman #7 is a great snapshot of the comic story – Batman and the Joker in a side by side face-off, the scraping of Batman’s glove conveying the tension and fear of the situation (also available as a virgin foil variant for a higher price point). Dustin Nguyen’s watercolor cover shows a pale green Joker in the tank – a nice feature of the new design by one of comic’s best artists. Jorge Molina features a similar concept to Jorge Jimenez’s with Batman vs Joker, but less creatively laid out, but more realistically rendered.

Upcoming interior artist for the Batman title Ryan Sook provides a more standard Batman vs Joker fight scene, in black, lit by red neon, and drenched in rain – very atmospheric, though not really representative of this particular story. Lesley “Leirix” Li’s Women’s HIstory Month Variant features a cute anime-style Cassandra Cain Batgirl in a fun pose. A blue and gold Batsymbol variant is also available. Lastly, the Jorge Jimenez Corner Box Spot Foil Virgin Variant features Jorge’s new Batsuit design in the corner box format, part of a series!

Final Thoughts

A tour de force of Fraction and Jimenez’s skills on Batman – may we get many more issues of this creativity and impact!

Ian Miller

A latecomer to comics - I started reading Bruce Wayne: Murderer, Birds of Prey, Hush, and War Games in college. Over a decade and a half later, I'm still inspired by Batman, and especially the Bat-Family (Stephanie Brown!) I started out listening to BTO, then Stella drew me to TBUCP, I volunteered to write reviews, and the rest is history! Love recording the podcast, especially with my amazing cohosts. Also a huge fan of Jane Austen, C. S. Lewis, Tolkien, and many more books!