I Am Batman Vol. 2: Welcome to New York

I Am Batman (Single Issues) #6-10

by John Ridley, Christian Duce (Illustrator), Ken Lashley (Illustrator)

The new Dark Knight has arrived!

Jace Fox's baptism by fire as Batman during "Fear State" was the first step toward his next great challenge-a relocation to the Big Apple! Joining his mother and sisters in the move as they arrive to the city, Jace will find new adventure, a rekindled love, and terrifying new adversaries!

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Batman, Dc Comics, Graphic Novels Comics

136 pages, Hardcover

First published March 28, 2023

About the author

John Ridley IV (born October 1965)[2] is an American screenwriter, television director, novelist, and showrunner, known for 12 Years a Slave, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. He is also the creator and showrunner of the critically acclaimed anthology series American Crime. His most recent work is the documentary film Let It Fall: Los Angeles 1982–1992.


Librarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name.

Reviews

[Khurram · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book. I like that Jace is still trying to find himself in the role of Batman. This book is about everyone trying to find their place. The artwork (probably not a term to use in this story) is great. The strongest point of the story for me.

Jace has moved to New York, and he is not shy about announcing Batman to New York City. Unfortunately, some Gotham crazy-style murders have also come to the city to tear down the people in power. Jace/Batman must work with the NYPD to catch the madman, whilst everyone wants them to fail, and dark secrets will be unleashed.

I like that Jace/Batman's inexperience, insecurities, and weakness are shown in this book. Because that is the way he should be at the beginning. I also like that he is trying to find who and what he represents. The book has awesome artwork on the hardcover, interior, and finishes with a variant cover gallery.

[Frédéric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jace/Batman moves his base of operations to NY. Of course another crazy pops up to crash the house-warming party.

If I stick to this part of the plot, well, that’s no cigar. The arty serial killer sucks. His ridiculous spiked iron sucks. His lazy motivations suck.

But.

The rest is not too bad. The change of scenery and the City Hall sanctioned Batman are by far the most original, just as the bat-squad.
The partnership with mean-ass Chubb or the right wing cop faction are less shiny but it’s at least decently done and it kind of works.

[Joel Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Fox family has relocated to New York City, and Jace Fox has set up operations as Batman, working for his father. The story definitely feels fresh: Jace Fox's Batman isn't as strong or confident as the classic Bruce Wayne. Jace has a different approach to crimefighting. He worries for his family. He hesitates sometimes, and he questions why he's doing what he's doing.

Some images in this story were extremely gruesome, illustrating the brutality of the villain. The story explores the topic of corruption in government and among the elites of society, as well as the different motivations for and approaches to policing.

In retrospect, the horror of the villain's violent murders reminded me of the cross of Christ. In a world where crucifixes and crosses have been made into stylish jewelry, it's easy to forget the immense shame and humiliation of Roman crucifixion. It was the worst form of criminal's death, a horrible, painful spectacle. Though innocent, Jesus went through that for the sake of our salvation. It makes me thankful.

[Sarospice · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know how I feel about Black Batman in New York. HE doesn't know how he feels about it. A Gotham cop is dragged along to babysit him on a special task force. The mayor doesn't want any Gotham type of loonies in New York. Too late. The worst part is everyone's uncertainty ( poor writing?) and they want Jace to be the world's greatest detective, and he's not. 2.5 Would consider the next trade.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a lacklustre first volume, Jace Fox relocates to New York and suddenly everything old is new again.

As literal as it is, having Jace strike out on his own really lets him define himself by his own actions, rather than just being another Bat-Character wandering around in the middle of Gotham. He brings his supporting cast with him, which works well too rather than tearing everything out from under him, and we even get some new enemies who are surprisingly gross, and some who don't even wear masks in the form of corrupt police officers.

The art's a little more inconsistent, with two issues by Ken Lashley while Christian Duce and Stephen Segovia share the other three. Duce is the strongest of the three, and the one who's been around the series the longest, so I automatically think of his work when I think of Jace, which isn't a bad thing.

I Am Batman is finally living up to its title, by giving Jace a chance to really make an impression as a character. A new setting, new villains, and a new art team really help define him, and his book.

[Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this second volume of the series. I like that Jace Fox and his family have relocated from Gotham to New York. One of the easter eggs is that Batman's creators Bob Kane and Bill Finger were native New Yorkers and lived in the Bronx. There is a street in the Bronx named after Bill Finger.
This series establishes the vast difference between Jace Fox and Bruce Wayne.
This Batman realizes that he needs people whereas the original keeps people at bay due to what happened to him as a child. This volume helps set up Jace's own rogues gallery and challenges him to overcome his own weaknesses and to not treat any opponent with kid gloves. I do love the artwork and story. I would love to see the series explore different communities in New York, especially Harlem.
I am eager to read volume 3 of this series.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprisingly solid Batman story featuring a black Batman. Jace and some of his family have moved to New York while his sister recovers from a serious injury. He decides to keep being Batman. The mayor decides if there's going to be a Batman in New York, he's going to work with the police and follow procedure so they set up a task force and Batman is officially sanctioned. I thought that was a cool take that hasn't been done much before. Of course, now that's there's a Batman a psycho emerges as well. He's cutting up people to turn them into art and this is surprisingly graphic for a DC comic. There's are body parts galore at the murder scenes. Anyway, I'll be looking into the next volume of this now that it's turned a corner and the Fox's left Gotham.

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

Always wondered what Batman in another city besides Gotham would be like...

This is about Jace's Batman persona STILL not quite fitting in. Now centered in NYC, the whole family is out of the usual Gotham environs. I find it surprising that in DC, there's NO CAPES in NYC already. Even with a handful of reboots, NY would be a natural place to put a hero or two.

Consider it a 'work in progress'. It's an interesting take and pulling the characters OUT of Gotham gives them room to breathe and grow as something besides 'Bat-family' characters.
---
Bonus: Manray ...hmmm
Bonus Bonus: How many volumes will be devoted to creating a whole new rogue's gallery?

[Adam Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jace Fox continues as Batman in New York. Not only is he able to make a deal with the mayor to be on a police task force specifically created to work with him, but he is going up against an artistic serial killer dubbed Manray, whose M.O. is to expose corrupt lawmakers and good guys and turn them into gruesome pieces of art. Jace has the same "No killing" rule that Batman does, and some of the police don't like that, which turns bad for them when the lead detective on "Strike Force Bat" has to wound one of them.
Seems like there will be at least one more Volume (probably before Dark Crisis). I look forward to seeing how this will play out.
Recommend.

[Marian · Rating 3 out of 5]

In "I am Batman #2," John Ridley finally seems to be able to tell what he wanted all along about Jace Fox and his world. There are thematic ups and downs, with one part of the readership being more about the family and the other part being more about being Batman. I tend to be with the latter and am glad that Batman and his reboot in New York fill the bulk of the volume. The action is fantastically staged both narratively and drawing-wise, and Batman just looks fantastic in New York City. I'd like to see it continue like this.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book! Much better than the first volume, but still not overly impressive.
I felt like the writing and artwork were much improved since the last volume and I was definitely a lot more invested in this story.
Another story of Lucius Fox’s son as Batman (in a book called “I Am Batman” when he’s actually not the real Batman lol). It’s a decent murder mystery, but kind of ended on a cliffhanger which actually made me really want to see where the story goes next. So I’m hoping for a third volume!
Would recommend.

[Dexter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meine Güte. Beim Lesen dachte ich die ganze Zeit, der Umgang mit der Handlung - erzählerisch, szenisch, dialogisch, alles das - ist wie in einem Film. Und dabei dachte ich sogar an Sieben. Oder andere kranke Thriller-Klassiker, in denen der Böse Teil aller ist und deshalb umso gefährlicher. Und dann lese ich am Ende dieses Bandes auf des Redaktionsseiten davon, dass John Ridley seine Geschichte wirklich wie einen Film erzählen will. Ich bin echt beeindruckt von diesem Run.

[Michael · Rating 1 out of 5]

*opens graphic novel*

sees it isn't actually batman and the author instantly starts in with the racial divisiveness.

*closes graphic novel*

Seriously, they make this mediocre crap and if you don't like it they say "See! You're racist!"

*sigh*

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

All around a very solid Batman book with great artwork. Jace Fox is still finding himself as Batman as he’s relocated to New York.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked this one so much more than the previous volume, though not so much for Jace as for the supporting cast. Both the main villain and the NYPD villains were proper terrifying.

[Sebastián · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't believe they really gave away Batman's name for this

[Jesse A · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a real big fan of this one so I'm probably out on this series.

[Will Cooper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Batman isn't in Gotham...he's in New York! A very different city!

[Rafael Suleiman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good graphic novel.

[Ming · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hallelujah it's an actual story arc instead of Magistrate crap

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Am Batman Vol. 2

Great Batman book. Jace is one of the better people to take up the mantle. Man ray is Jace's joker at the moment, can he defeat him?

[Kris Ritchie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 rounded up, this is essentially a cop procedural with Jace Fox's Batman along for the ride.

[Noah Fuhst · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gute Story, toller, sehr moderner Grafikstil. Interessanter Twist mit neuem Batman und teils sehr blutigen Darstellungen. Leider lassen sich an doch häufiger "woke" Elemente, welche einfach sich einfach nicht auf natürliche Weise in die Story einfügen, finden. Es wirkt da etwas so als wolle der Comic zu wirklich allen von Diskriminierung betroffenen Gruppen (u.a. Sexismus, Rassismus, Ableismus) catern. Dann doch lieber etwas weniger solcher Stellen, die sich aber dafür natürlich ins Gesamtbild einfügen :)