REVIEW: ‘Detective Comics 2025 Annual’ Issue 1

Detective Comics 2025 Annual Issue 1 is published by DC Comics, written by Al Ewing, art by Stefano Raffaele, John McCrae, and Fico Ossio, colors by Lee Loughridge, Tríona Farrell, and Ulises Arreola, and letters by Tom Napolitano. 

There is a backup story written by Joshua Hale Fialkov, art by Mike Perkins, and colors by Nick Filardi. Batman investigates the murder of a billionaire inside his own home in an adventure that takes him to England.

Detective Comics 2025 Annual Issue 1 has a long, beautifully weighted pace. It’s a real murder mystery, with Batman discovering the body in a deserted home filled with high-tech tools and gadgets that have a much darker subtext. The length of the story allows for Batman and Ewing to take their time exploring and considering the options. There is a terrific structure to Detective Comics 2025 Annual Issue 1, splitting the story into three acts. The first one assesses the crime scene, moving through a rich man’s home filled with excess.

There are pieces of action and investigation, meticulously working through each room, which have their own setting and idea. At this moment, it just seems like the book will feature Batman solving the murder with a gritty, street-level tone. But then the story gets taken out of Gotham, and much more is added to the plot. Both magic and science are involved when the Caped Crusader heads to the ancient English city of York.

The city’s history plays a role in the plot of Detective Comics 2025 Annual Issue 1, and the whole adventure in York takes an unexpected turn. It feels like a sidequest as the mission gets mystical, but that encounter gives Batman some ideas heading into the final act. The later stages of the issue are much harder to understand what’s going on, but the ride is fun nonetheless. The fights and the locations are interesting as they take Batman completely out of his comfort zone. The ending has a cold but calm conclusion, leaving both the hero and the reader satisfied.

What’s interesting about Detective Comics 2025 Annual Issue 1 is the cast. No sidekicks or famous supporting cast members are included in the story, with just Batman working alone to solve the murder. There are guests and other characters, but they are either new or not well-known. This means that a lot of time is spent with Batman. The comic isn’t entirely silent, as it includes narration that follows Bruce on his adventure.

Ewing writes a superb approach to the narration. It is descriptive, like a detective writing down all of their observations. There is both dry humor and some sad moments. Detective Comics 2025 Annual Issue 1 shows Bruce’s adaptability and seemingly limitless knowledge. He can recognize languages, fighting styles, and other aspects of a character or situation, moving on the fly and coming out on top every time.

Ewing shows how Batman changes the way he talks to people. If they are genuinely helping him, he can be polite and kind. But if you’re causing harm or just being annoying, you will get the more dangerous side of the Dark Knight.

The artist changes in every act, giving each chapter of this large comic a new look. In the first act, Raffaele leads Batman through the billionaire’s home. There are many rooms: kitchen, recreation room, gaming room, and library. Each one is big, spacious, and incredibly detailed. The house looks lived-in and full of character, telling us about the life of a man we have seen. There is still a peacefulness to the beginning of the issue, absorbing the room’s atmosphere. But then it jumps to life and gives Batman the first test of Detective Comics 2025 Annual Issue 1.

The second act sees Batman explore the medieval city of York, illustrated by McCrae. The city looks terrific, but different from Gotham. It’s older and more realistic, recreating a genuine place rather than imagining one. The art can look scruffy and obscure, but it is full of character and exciting imagery. It is at this point that Detective Comics 2025 Annual Issue 1 becomes mystical, with Batman encountering bizarre and unexpected creatures. Their design is amazingly odd. They are summoned by a villain who is funny and ridiculous. There is a terrific setup with the villain, as there is an expectation about what will happen to him, and the issue does not disappoint.

The last part of Detective Comics 2025 Annual Issue 1 sees Ossio step in. It’s a much more physical story, seeing Batman step into his element. A fight against henchmen feels like a classic conflict for the character, showing just how many ways the Bat can take down a human. What’s different is that he has a book strapped to his chest, which is rather peculiar and amusing.

The colors also vary depending on the art and the story. There is a consistency in contrasting thick shadows with brighter tones to grab the reader’s attention in both the first and second stories. There is a bright yellow that appears as a background color while Batman moves. The vibrant shade puts everything in the foreground into focus. The creatures in Act Two are neon pink, activating an electric atmosphere. The lettering is very easy to read, which is a fantastic approach to the narration and the word balloons, making it comfortable on the eyes.

The backup story is a change in tone and is wonderfully wholesome—a young kid teams up with Batman for an investigation at his school. There is a lovely, heartwarming tone to this little story in Detective Comics 2025 Annual Issue 1. It’s refreshing, positive, and fun, and it has beautiful art as well. It shows that Batman is there to inspire and excite.

Detective Comics 2025 Annual Issue 1 is a unique adventure for the Bat. What looks like an intriguing murder mystery soon becomes a globe-trotting tale for Bruce Wayne, throwing him into various circumstances. Each act is something new, with a different art team and location each time. Even if he is out of his depth and lacks support, there is consistency in Batman’s character that allows him to work in any story and scenario. As a Brit, it’s refreshing to see a different part of the country explored in American comics, one that deviates from London, and the accents are treated with authenticity and respect.

Detective Comics 2025 Annual Issue 1 is available now wherever comics are sold.