LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is celebrating Free Comic Book Day with a new standalone comic, and it sounds like a proper love letter to Batman’s long, weird, brilliant media history.
Warner Bros. Games, TT Games, DC, and The LEGO Group have announced a LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight comic book tie-in, landing on May 2 as part of Free Comic Book Day 2026. As per the press release, the comic is called The LEGO Batman Returns and tells a fresh standalone story inspired by the upcoming videogame.
The setup is simple, but very Batman. The story follows LEGO Batman returning to Gotham City after a hiatus, only to run into a range of familiar DC faces along the way. It also tips the cowl to the Dark Knight’s wider history, with references to past films, television series, and comic books, all mixed in with that unmistakable LEGO humour.
The LEGO Batman Returns nods to Detective Comics #27
There is also a nice bit of timing behind the reveal. The announcement lands on the anniversary of Batman’s first appearance in Detective Comics #27, which was originally released on March 30, 1939.
In a neat callback to that debut, the opening panel of The LEGO Batman Returns recreates the classic image of Batman swinging over the Gotham skyline. According to the press release, that is just one of several nods to wider DC lore tucked into the comic.
The comic is written by Ivan Cohen, known for Beware the Batman, with artwork by Paul Lee, whose credits include Batman: Under the Hood. So yes, there is some proper Bat-history behind the pages as well as inside them.
Fans will be able to grab a free physical copy of the LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Comic Book Tie-In from participating comic shops on May 2, while supplies last. There will also be a free digital version available through the DC UNIVERSE INFINITE app on the same day.
For anyone needing a quick refresher, Free Comic Book Day takes place on the first Saturday in May, with comic shops around the world handing out free books from publishers across the industry. In this case, it also means LEGO Batman is getting in on the fun with a story that sounds happy to rummage through decades of Bat-history for a few clever nods and a laugh or two.
Honestly, a LEGO Batman comic packed with callbacks to old films, shows, and comics? That is the sort of cape-tugging nostalgia bait we can get behind.