Nearly 13 issues in, DC’s mainline Batman series is enjoying a wild ride of a relaunch. For instance, Matt Fraction’s Batman run has debuted a brand-new Wayne family majordomo related to Alfred Pennyworth, named Verity; introduced a handful of fascinating new antagonist characters, including the formidable and mysterious Ōjō; and even potentially found a way to cure Joker, of all people, though the legitimate success of Dr. Annika Zeller’s Crown of Storms treatment remains to be seen.
It’s interesting, too, because it was teased at the end of Batman #12 that Joker may not be all alone with his thoughts, and possibly suspended in a tank with his old, evil psyche crawling back to the surface of his mind, and that’s a fairly great cliffhanger to leave off on. However, anyone who isn’t also reading other mainline DC comics, particularly Poison Ivy, may not be readily aware that Batman has now been swept up into the plot of Batman: Bad Seeds, and Batman himself is ensuring that the core, debut issue, Batman: Bad Seeds – Sunset #1, is incredibly accessible and new-ready-friendly.
Batman Doesn’t Mince Words, And Not While Gotham City Is In Peril
In the preview pages for Batman #13, Batman ascends the fire escape scaffolding of an apartment building nestled near the GCPD. He comes back down to a window when he hears the muffled cries of a civilian inside who’s been enveloped by the plants, freeing him. When the man asks Batman, “Th’hell is going on out there?” Batman’s response is short and sweet:
“Short version, best I understand: bad plants. Coming to kill us.”
There’s a bunch of lore that readers can dive into regarding what is actually going on in Batman: Bad Seeds, and a fun incentive of crossover events like it is to embrace other tie-in titles that fans might not be up to date on in order to be informed about all the storytelling that’s being passed around. However, to enjoy it and hop into Bad Seeds as abruptly as Batman has, all you need to know is that there are “bad plants” swarming Gotham.
This interaction is also funny since, due to the way he speaks, the random man Batman saves doesn’t call Batman “Batman,” but “Batmang.”
Batman: Bad Seeds Is Off To A Hot Start
It’s already remarkably rewarding to read DC’s Batman: Bad Seeds crossover event after reading all of Fraction’s Batman run so far because of an interaction that Batman had with Killer Croc’s Waylon Jones, who is now reformed and could well be a valuable ally in this event, assuming he hasn’t simply shown up for a small cameo role in rescuing Batman. As for Batman #13, Batman finished his side quest with the civilian promptly and battled TUCO officers in the GCPD, where he may be searching for the weapon that is apparently capable of killing Poison Ivy. The solicitation for Batman #13 reads as follows:
A CRUCIAL CHAPTER OF THE BATMAN: BAD SEEDS EVENT!
Somewhere in the headquarters of the Gotham City Police Department, Vandal Savage hides a chemical weapon designed to kill Poison Ivy… but if Ivy dies, there will be no ending the bad night of Bad Seeds, for Gotham City or anywhere else.
No power. No comms. A heavily-armed private militia tasked with bringing him down on orders of the worst person in Gotham. All holed up together within an impenetrable fortress.
This sounds like a job for Batman.
Eisner winner Matt Fraction and superstar artist Matteo Scalera deliver a crucial chapter of the Batman: Bad Seeds event!
Batman #13 is scheduled to be released on September 2, 2026.
- Created By
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Bob Kane, Bill Finger
- Alias
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Bruce Wayne
- Alliance
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Justice League, Outsiders, Batman Family
- Race
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Human
- Franchise
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D.C.
One of DC’s most iconic heroes, Batman is the vigilante superhero persona of billionaire Bruce Wayne. Forged by tragedy with the death of his parents, Bruce dedicated his life to becoming the world’s leading martial artist, detective, and tactician. Recruiting an entire family of allies and sidekicks, Bruce wages war on evil as the dark knight of his hometown, Gotham City.