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For only the fourth time in history, DC Comics is relaunching its flagship Batman book - and leading this new era is writer Matt Fraction and artist Jorge Jiménez. But Fraction's Batman era actually began before this, as he was a low-key scene stealer in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen, by Fraction and artist/raconteur Steve Lieber. That series showed a more comedic side of the DCU, especially in the case of Batman; but not in the 'Biff! Bam! Pow!' vein of the '60s Batman show, but more like Wes Anderson mold. 

Now, with Fraction taking on the very serious Batman book, one could rightly assume there wouldn't be the time for that kind of zest - but you would be wrong. We recently spoke with Fraction about these previous Batman stories in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen and particularly the prank war between the titular star and the DC's Dark Knight, and asked if it is possible to see some of that here.

"Yeah, a little bit sometimes. I think Jimmy brought out something very special in Batman, but I also genuinely think Batman is funny when he says, ‘I'm hilarious.’ I think he's capable of that," Fraction tells Popverse in a longer interview available now for our members. "So we'll see. I'm trying to limit myself to, you know, after Jimmy, which was so much about trying to be funny. We're checking the tone and making sure it's tonally appropriate, you know? But there are definitely some moments I think, where prank-war Batman pops out a little bit."

The chessboard that is DC is already seemingly moving Olsen and Batman together even without Fraction, as in the current Superman Unlimited series, it has been revealed Olsen has been sent to Gotham to set up a new branch of the Daily Planet. While Fraction sees that as a possibility - frankly, he's written ahead so much on Batman that it might take some time.

"I'm actually so far ahead on Batman that things are happening now that I’ve written like almost the entire first year at this point, and it doesn't come out for another two months," the writer says. "So although there’ll be a little bit of lag as we get caught up with what's going on in the DCU, but I'm sure it’ll be a reunion that will be worth the wait whenever it comes to pass."

Read our full interview with Matt Fraction about his upcoming Batman relaunch here.

Batman #1 debuts on September 3. Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen: Who Killed Jimmy Olsen? is available now where better books are sold.

He is vengeance, he is the night, he is... one of Popverse's favorite subjects. Learn how to do a Dark Knight movie marathon right with our Batman movie guide, and for the true World's Greatest Detectives out there, dive deep into the heart of Gotham City by getting to know Batman with Popverse.