New Batman Comic Cover Has Surprise Shonen Jump Hit Easter Egg

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DC Comics is preparing to start a new chapter for its ongoing Batman series with issue number 1, penned by Matt Fraction and illustrated by Jorge Jimenez. The release date for this anticipated comic book is September 3rd, available at your local comic shops. This issue marks the beginning of a new era for Batman comics and DC Comics is celebrating the relaunch with various variant covers. Some covers are store exclusives, others are alternative versions, but the FanExpo Shop has an exclusive Batman #1 cover that pays tribute to one of Shonen Jump’s popular manga series currently running.

Artist Dan Mora, famed for his anime and manga fandom, was tasked with creating an exclusive piece of art for Batman #1 at FanExpo. For this cover collaboration with Fraction and Jimenez’s Batman #1, Mora chose to directly honor the action-fantasy manga series Kagurabachi, currently published in Weekly Shonen Jump. Mora’s artwork mimics the first volume cover of Kagurabachi, replacing Chihiro Rokuhira and his adversaries with Batman and his rogues gallery. On social media, Mora himself acknowledged that this is a tribute to Kagurabachi.

New Batman #1 Pays Homage to Kagurabachi

Batman #1 homage to Kagurabachi

— Dan Mora (@Danmora_c) August 31, 2025

There are numerous parallels between Batman comics and the manga “Kagurabachi.” Both stories revolve around male protagonists seeking vengeance for their parents’ deaths. Similar to Batman, Chihiro, the main character of “Kagurabachi,” is a stoic figure dressed in black, who displays empathy when necessary. In “Kagurabachi,” Chihiro possesses the seventh Enchanted Blade crafted by his deceased father and aims to recover the remaining six blades to retaliate against an evil organization of sorcerers that killed his father. Launched on September 19, 2023, “Kagurabachi” has quickly gained popularity as one of Shonen Jump’s newest sensations. As popular manga series conclude, fans are drawn to “Kagurabachi” as a potential replacement.

Enthusiasts and literature enthusiasts can acquire the cover modeled after “Kagurabachi” for Batman #1 on the official FanExpo Shop website for $20 USD. For an additional cost, fans have the option to buy a virgin foil version of the cover ($25), a signed copy of the virgin foil by Dan Mora for $35, or a sealed graded version of the comic for over $100. Other Batman variant covers are also available for purchase on this site. The online store is filled with memorabilia and exclusives from various conventions. Fraction and Jimenez’s Batman #1 is highly anticipated as one of the most significant new comic releases in September, and potentially all of 2025. Batman comics, including the main series Batman and Detective Comics, consistently rank among the top-selling comics each month. The duo of Fraction and Jimenez are regarded as exceptional talent, ensuring that Batman #1 will receive significant attention upon its release.

At present, the manga “Kagurabachi” is available across 8 volumes in Japan, and it’s being translated and distributed by Viz Media in North America. As of now, an anime adaptation for the series has been announced but no substantial updates have been shared yet. Interestingly, the original author, Takeru Hokazono, made an appearance at Anime NYC in August.

If you’re a fan of Dan Mora’s stunning artwork on Batman #1, do you appreciate it when elements from anime and manga are incorporated into American comics? Share your thoughts below!

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2025-09-01 17:46