Excitement was building for the renumbered Batman #1 even before San Diego Comic-Con 2025. A limited edition ashcan special at the convention offered the first look at the highly-anticipated comic, but it also sparked confusion as it showed the Dark Knight alongside a seemingly spectral Alfred Pennyworth.
Written by Matt Fraction with art by Jorge Jiménez, Batman #1 opens on a city turned against itself. Vandal Savage is Commissioner of the GCPD and has turned the city government upon its vigilantes. Killer Croc, seemingly regressed into a more beastly form, is on the loose. And the Dark Knight himself, already embittered by his recent battles, seems to be haunted (albeit not necessarily literally) by memories of his foster father and gentleman’s gentleman.
16 ashcan preview pages of Batman #1 may be viewed below.
Alfred’s presence a mystery in new Batman preview
The panels showing Alfred in the Batmobile prompted reports of Bruce Wayne creating an artificial-intelligence based on his fallen ally. However, there is no direct evidence to support this based on the art as given. It seems unlikely on as basic level, as such technology would have limited use as an interface for the Bat-Computer. It would also pose a security risk to the Dark Knight’s secret identity if someone were to see him interacting with the holographic figure.
Bruce Wayne has a history of being figuratively haunted by his deceased loved ones. Indeed, his entire vigil was prompted by the violent deaths of his parents. It seems more likely then that the Alfred depicted in the Batman #1 preview is a projection of memory rather than a literal ghost or AI assistant. In any case, it is sure to prompt discussion in the build up to the issue’s eventual release.
Batman #1 arrives in comic shops everywhere on September 3, 2025.
