It is a rare thing for Batman to be specifically summoned to the scene of a murder without being called by Commissioner Gordon. It is rarer still for the victim themselves to have a message for the Dark Knight. Such is the case with the story that headlines Detective Comics 2025 Annual #1.
“Batman, Do Not Solve My Murder” opens with a modern take on the classic locked-room murder mystery. The victim, billionaire tech magnate Cody Morse, seals himself inside a private bunker. It is here that the Dark Knight arrives after receiving a musical message in Morse code. It is also here that he discovers the dead Morse and the title message, apparently written by Morse in his own blood as he died.
(Image Source: DC)
This mystery leads to further intrigue, as Batman embarks upon an globe-spanning adventure. Before the end, he will search for a missing book, fight a magician in London, and uncover the secrets of a mad mathematician. One who believed he had uncovered a way to change the world with the right equations.
The second story contained in Detective Comics Annual 2025 is more mundane. This one centers around aspiring detective David Rosales. When several students at his junior high school start having anxiety attacks following stomach cramps, David is quick to conclude Scarecrow is involved. His classmates and teachers are skeptical, but David’s investigation leads to an encounter with Batman and an unlikely team-up.
“Batman, Do Not Solve My Murder” is a welcome throwback to the Batman comics of the Bronze Age. Al Ewing‘s script for this story evokes the spirit of Dennis O’Neil at the height of his creative powers. There is a race around the world, a threat mixing science-fiction and mysticism, and a good deal of suspense. All that is missing is a swordfight with Ra’s Al Ghul.
(Image Source: DC)
The backup story by Joshua Hale Fialkov is impressive for other reasons. When writing a young hero working alongside their favorite superhero, one runs the risk of becoming cloy. Batman seems to be a frequent victim of this, despite also being a prime example of how pairing a veteran hero with a junior partner like Robin can work wonders. For every instance that works, there are a dozen that don’t, like the ‘I’ve Got Batman in My Basement’ episode of Batman: The Animated Series. The adventure with David Rosales, thankfully, is smartly written and finds ways to make Joshua helpful to Batman without turning him into a smug prodigy, ala Wesley Crusher.
Detective Comics 2025 Annual has an all-star team of amazing artists behind it. The main story benefits from having every act illustrated by a different artist. All three artists, Stefano Raffaele, John McCrea and Fico Ossio, share similarly dark yet uniquely identifiable aesthetics. The final story, drawn by Mike Norton, is brighter and more animated, as befits the lighter tone.
(Image Source: DC)
Detective Comics 2025 Annual #1 is an instant classic and a must-read for all fans of the Dark Knight. “Batman, Do Not Solve My Murder” is a perfect encapsulation of the character’s appeal and versatility. The back-up story is an amusing palette cleanser and a perfect light work to balance the darkness of the first story.
Grade: 10/10
Detective Comics 2025 Annual #1 arrives in comic shops everywhere on April 30, 2025.