The comic book annual has been a long-standing tradition amongst the Big Two, primarily as a way to milk a little more money out us comic fans whenever a month has a fifth week. In the past, they’ve been used for events, big new reveals, or a way to present whatever stories have been filed away for publishing at a later date. While DC’s Annuals have been a little more substantial than the Marvel ones of late, Detective Comics Annual 2026 definitely falls into the “lost story” category, but with the talents of regular series writer Tom Taylor and artist Nicola Scott, it’s at least an entertaining one that fits the current “team-up book” status quo of the main series.
Taking place before the events of the current Detective Comics and Loboseries, Detective Comics Annual 2026 keeps the tradition of the current run alive by having Batman team up with the Main Man himself to solve an intergalactic murder. When Lobo crashes Batman’s annual visit to Alfred’s grave, he learns that he’s the main suspect in a murder involving the Emperor of an alien race. Obviously the biggest sign that Batman didn’t do it is that he doesn’t kill, but the fact that one of his batarangs was found in the victim piques the Dark Knight’s interest enough to team up with Lobo to get to the bottom of the mystery and clear his name. Plus, Lobo gets paid either way, so he’s game to stop the fight and get back to his employer anyways.
What follows is a fun, if light, team-up story that fits the current modus operandi of Detective Comics, despite being set before the current run. Those who’ve followed my Detective reviews know that I’ve been a big fan of Taylor’s new approach to making it into a modern day Brave and The Bold series, and that sense of fun continues on here, with Batman being not only out of his element on a different planet, but having to team up with someone he doesn’t much like to be around. Lobo, for his part, is very much Lobo and not much else, which makes his banter with Batman all the more fun to witness as the Dark Knight tries to get him to focus on the larger mystery at hand instead of his eventual payday.
That all being said, the twist that comes with the mystery is pretty well done, if a bit out of left of field. It also leads to a very good, but very long detour midway through the book that feels a less like an act of the story and more like something to pad out the page count to justify the cover price up-charge. The emotional impact is certainly there for Bruce Wayne, but anyone who’s seen this story beat before knows how it will end, so we end up just waiting it out until we get to the inevitable conclusion.
Despite that, Nicola Scott’s art is pretty incredible in this issue. Tom Taylor really puts a lot of diverse elements into this issue, and Scott handles it with aplomb and ease without ever making the characters look too stiff. Their expression work on the characters especially is a delight, making for some of the humor between Batman and Lobo work without ever needing a line of dialogue. That, coupled with some really gorgeous alien worlds, makes for this annual standing out from others released from both publishers.
There’s an additional story included here from Dave Wielgosz and artist Fran Mariscal called “Pyg Pen” focusing on Professor Pyg, and while it’s certainly got its own mood and tone, it does feel a bit like padding. While the story of a group of Gotham youths helping Batman take Pyg down is good, having another superhero team-up or a story focusing on some of the Batman allies who haven’t had a featured story in some time would have made the final product feel a bit more filling. But for those looking for a “one and done” taste for what Tom Taylor can do on the character, and those looking for some new work from Nicola Scott, Detective Comics Annual 2026 will fit the bill just nicely.
‘Detective Comics Annual’ 2026 review: bats and bat-stitches
Detective Comics Annual 2026 #1
While inconsequential, Detective Comics Annual 2026 #1 features a fun Batman team-up with Lobo that showcases the strengths of both creators involved.
Reader Rating1 Vote
8.7
Another fun team up story that is largely continuity free and good for new readers
Continues the “modern day Brave and Bold” vibe of Tom Taylor’s current run on Detective Comics
A welcome return to DC by Nicola Scott, who really delivers some great moments in this issue
Has some great emotional moments throughout
The big twist in the murder mystery feels a little abrupt
There’s a large chunk of the story, that while good, still feels like padding
The second story “Pyg Pen” feels like it was included to justify the cover price
Longtime Batman fans (and comic readers) may find this “just okay”
7
Good
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