Comic Legend Drops First Look at New Batman Story: “My First Swing at the World's Greatest Detective”

The Batman fandom is buzzing with exciting news this morning as comic legend Al Ewing announces his upcoming story for the Dark Knight. This marks Ewing’s first swing at Batman, heightening anticipation as fans eagerly speculate on his approach. Check out a first look at the upcoming comic below!

On April 2, 2025, Tom Taylor, the current writer of the ongoing Detective Comics serial, announced on Bluesky that he would unfortunately have to step aside from the upcoming Detective Comics annual for undisclosed reasons. However, he ended his post on a positive note, revealing that Al Ewing would be stepping in to write the story alongside Stefano Raffaele, with art by Fico Ossio.

Ewing later responded with a Bluesky post of his own, confirming the creative team change and expressing his excitement for the project. He also shared a sneak peek at the upcoming narrative with a few textless pages, which can be found above in the gallery.

“Batman, Do Not Solve My Murder”: Al Ewing Takes Over Detective Comics Annual

Cover C Ariel Olivetti Variant for Detective Comics #1094 (2025)

Ewing’s post about taking over the annual read: "It's true! I get to write Batman coming to my town to solve a bizarre murder mystery. It's been a lot of fun taking my first swing at the World's Greatest Detective, so hopefully you'll all join us to puzzle out why a murder victim would scrawl 'BATMAN! DO NOT SOLVE MY MURDER!' in their own blood…" The first preview page he shared showcases Batman taking down four criminals. The second page shifts to a grimmer scene, depicting the Dark Knight examining a stab wound victim, who left behind the chilling message, "Batman, Do Not Solve My Murder,"written in their own blood.

The third and final preview page is a stark departure in both setting and art style, featuring a sketch-like design of Batman encountering mysterious, possibly supernatural creatures on the eerie, deserted streets of an ominous English town. This preview is packed with intrigue, but the most compelling mystery remains the victim’s cryptic warning: Why would someone beg Batman not to solve their murder? One thing is certain: the Dark Knight won’t heed that request, and whatever consequences follow are sure to make this a must-read annual for all Batman fans.

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Al Ewing Will Be Writing His FIRST Batman Story (& We Literally Can’t Wait)

Cover E Jorge Molina Connecting Legacy Variant for Detective Comics #1050 (2022)

What makes this annual even more exciting is that it marks Ewing’s first-ever take on Batman. A comic legend in his own right, Ewing is known for critically acclaimed runs like The Immortal Hulk and is currently making waves in the DC Universe with his Absolute Green Lantern series, which has completely deconstructed and reimagined some of DC’s most iconic characters. Time and time again, Ewing has proven he can meet fan expectations while bringing a fresh perspective to heroes with decades of history. That’s why it will be especially interesting to see what unique elements he introduces to Batman.

Source: Al Ewing