Batman: Detective Comics 2026 Annual #1 – Tom Taylor, Dave Wielgosz, Writers; Nicola Scott, Fran Mariscal, Artists; Annette Kwok, Colorist
Ray – 9/10
Ray: Tom Taylor’s run on Detective Comics continues with this oversized issue, as he puts Batman into a seriously bizarre situation – facing off against Lobo and taking a journey into deep space. A contract has been put on Batman’s head from a space enemy that blames him for the murder of their King, and Lobo’s been hired to kill him. Batman is able to fend Lobo off by taking advantage of his near-immortality – he’ll heal from anything eventually, but it won’t be pleasant – and that’s enough to get Lobo to agree to take Batman into space to claim the contract personally, giving Batman the chance to investigate for himself. And what he finds there is a tangled web that traces back to the most feared plant in the DCU – the Black Mercy.
When the Black Mercy appears, there’s usually a vision coming soon, and while we’ve seen Batman’s ideal world before, I really liked this one due to its depiction of how Batman’s fondest wish is really just…family. In this world, Thomas, Martha, and Alfred are all alive – but Bruce is still Batman, he’s married to Selina, and he’s managed to somehow meet and take in all the kids he would have in the main continuity. It’s a great little touch that really drives home how the character isn’t nearly as unhealthy as people pretend. The interaction between Batman and Lobo is a lot of fun, with Batman’s prep-time usually getting the edge over Lobo’s ruthlessness, and the reveal of Lobo’s ideal world was hilarious.
The backup, “Pyg Pen”, is a fun, creepy tale that takes place at an artist’s studio. As a mysterious new artist named Mr. Sty takes over a space in the studio, the place soon takes on a disturbing feel as his projects get more and more disturbing. Professor Pyg is a character I rarely vibe with too much, as I often feel he veers into gross-out storytelling, but here he’s mostly shrouded in darkness and we see him through the artists who are encountering him for the first time. The moody art helps a lot too.
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GeekDad received this comic for review purposes
