Batman’s newest villain has officially debuted, and in a major way. This rogue has just pulled off a feat that makes anything the Joker has done look like child’s play. The act is so astonishing that it raises questions about whether the Dark Knight might be slipping with age. So, is this villain simply that impressive, or is it a major L for Batman?
Is Minotaur Gotham’s next big bad, or is Batman finally slipping in his legendary detective abilities?
Matt Fraction and Jorge Jiménez’s Batman #4 sees the debut of the Minotaur, a villain DC teased months ago in its solicitations. Now, fans get to see this rogue in action, and it’s clear immediately that this isn’t just any costumed freak.
The Minotaur has already united all of Gotham’s major crime families into a criminal syndicate without Batman noticing. On top of that, he’s devised a plan to control a piece of every revenue stream in Gotham, legal and criminal, within 20 months. This leaves readers asking: How did this villain accomplish all of this right under Batman’s nose?
How Did Minotaur Take Over Gotham Without Batman Knowing?!
Comic Page Comes From Matt Fraction’s Batman #4 (2025) – Art by Jorge Jiménez
The uniting of all of Gotham’s crime families feels like something Batman should have noticed long before learning about it from the low-level criminal Anarky. If even a minor criminal is aware of such a major power shift in Gotham, one would expect Bruce to be among the first, rather than the last, to discover it.
Batman being caught off guard by such a dramatic shift in the criminal landscape suggests one of two things: Minotaur is a level of mastermind Batman has yet to encounter, or the Dark Knight is slipping in his detective work. Anarky’s pointed remark, “Some detective you are,” perfectly encapsulates the reaction many readers have to this revelation.
In many ways, this blindsiding feels out of character for the World’s Greatest Detective. Minotaur himself blames Bruce’s ignorance of the organization on his staying “too busy.” But is busyness a valid excuse for the Dark Knight missing such a game-changing development in Gotham’s underworld? Fans are left questioning whether Batman is finally showing cracks in his legendary vigilance.
Who Is Minotaur? Has Batman Met His Match?
Comic Page Comes From Matt Fraction’s Batman #4 (2025) – Art by Jorge Jiménez
While much about Minotaur remains a mystery, Batman #4 reveals he is essentially the top dog in organized crime, leading the Torus organization, which seemingly unites Gotham’s major crime families. However, he isn’t a typical kingpin. There’s something distinctly unsettling about this villain, marking him as more dangerous and unusual than the average criminal mastermind Batman has faced before.
Beyond dressing like a futuristic Minotaur who got lost in Armani, the villain also has seven fingers on each hand, hinting at potential metahuman powers. He has also already shown he can match Joker’s unhinged cruelty, murdering a loved one of each crime family head. This raises the question: Is Minotaur Gotham’s next big bad, or is Batman finally slipping in his legendary detective abilities?
Batman #4 is available now from DC Comics!