DC Comics set the stage for a groundbreaking development in their iconic Batman series. This week, the character of Tim "Jace" Fox took on the role of Batman. By doing so, he becomes the first Black character to hold the title.
"Even before the announcement of DC Future State and Future State: The Next Batman by John Ridley, Nick Derington and Laura Braga, the news that a person of color could be the next to don the cape and cowl as Gotham City’s protector sent tongues wagging inside and outside the comic book community about who it could possibly be," DC Comics wrote.
"Today, the speculation finally ends with the reveal of this surprise variant cover to issue #2 of the four-issue January/February miniseries. Featuring striking art by Doug Braithwaite and Diego Rodriguez, Gotham’s defender in this dystopian future is revealed as Tim (Jace) Fox, estranged son of Lucius Fox and brother to the former Batwing Luke Fox."
The four-part series is being written by John Ridley and illustrated by Doug Braithwaite and Diego Rodriguez. During a recent interview, Ridley said that his sons were an inspiration for the groundbreaking change.
“They’re happy for me. They’re great supporters. But they would much rather see Black Panther than 12 Years a Slave, let’s be honest,” Ridley said.
"So to be able to write the next Batman, for them to know that this next Batman is going to be Black, everybody else on the planet can hate it, have a problem with it, denigrate it, but I have my audience and they already love it.”
Future State: The Next Batman will debut on January 5. New comics will be released on a bi-weekly basis.
Photo Credit: Getty Images