How are we doing, BOFers?!
Two Detective Comics reviews in one month? That can only mean one thing: It’s Annual time!
Detective Comics 2026 Annual #1 is a two-part story, the opening tale is brought to us by current writer Tom Taylor teaming up with artist Nicola Scott, the second tale comes from writer Dave Welgosz and artist Fran Mariscal. Taylor has gone off the rails lately in Detective. Can we see him rebound, or is he going to be overshadowed by a backup tale? Let’s dive right in!
Tom Taylor just can’t get out of his own way. We have seen him come apart issue by issue over the last five months in Detective proper, but here he really has lost his way. Batman and Lobo are a combo this reviewer never wants to see. While Batman acts more like Batman in this annual compared to the monthly title, it still isn’t enough. Once Batman is sitting on Lobo’s motorcycle with an astronaut’s helmet feeding space dolphins, I was done. At times it felt like a love letter to Alan Moore’s Superman tale “For the Man Who Has Everything,” then at times it felt like Tom King’s recent stories “The Gift” with a little “Batman/Catwoman” mixed in. Taylor has been trying to reconnect with the books he loved as a kid, but he keeps missing wide right worse than an FSU kicker.
The saving grace of this story is Nicola Scott. Scott brings a bright knight energy to the book with colorist Annette Kwok. This issue is not the dark and dreary Gotham we know; real time or in a dream sequence, this is a Gotham you haven’t seen since Batman ’66. Scott sadly doesn’t have much to really work with to showcase her all-star talents. The layouts are simple and easy to follow; Batman, Lobo, and the aliens all look great, respectively. The best panel in the whole book is the splash page with a 70’s looking Batman and purple 90’s Catwoman grappling across the city skyline. That is a total poster, screenshot material.
The backup tale this annual from Welgosz and Mariscal is the most Batman centered story to be featured in this title in over half a year. The story starts a bit slow, but when it kicks it into high gear, readers are going to wish this was the main tale. You have unsuspecting citizens of Gotham, a Batman who looks to be at the end of his rope, a community coming to the aid of their watchful protector, and some great action with unique artwork. It’s safe to say this backup easily outshines the primary. This is something Detective readers have not experienced since the pretentious mess that was Ram V’s run.
This feels like 2022 all over again, a crappy primary tale that wastes a good artist. A backup tale that feels like it should have been the main story and is well deserving of more than just ten pages. This reviewer was beyond excited to see Tom Taylor take the reins of Detective, but I think I have seen enough.
Bullock and The Penguin were enjoyable, but the villain sucked. Batman vs the clock/virus was good, but the recent Green Arrow Black Canary tale and now this Batman in space garbage has really left a sour taste in my mouth.
It’s what have you done for me lately, and lately Tom Taylor looks like he needs some time to figure out the hell he is doing with Batman.
Crappy primary, solid backup, and great art aren’t going to cut it for the $8.00 they are charging for this book. Solid pass. – Peter Verra
