LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight getting comics tie-in for FCBD

This year’s Free Comic Book Day is getting a little more… plastic. That’ll be thanks to a LEGO Batman tie-in issue from DC.

LEGO Batman hits the stands

Some Batman news today, spinning out of Warner Bros Games for what’s the anniversary of the superhero’s first appearance. March 30th, 1939 was the very first time fans got a look at Batman, in the pages of Detective Comics #27. And as it happens, today’s news ties in both comics and the hero’s next video game.

Has a LEGO Batman game ever gotten a comic book tie-in? We can’t recall if one has, though that’s what’s planned for this coming Free Comic Book Day. The annual celebration of comics, which sees participating stores offer free comics to fans, will be hosting The LEGO Batman Returns. And yes, that’s a standalone comic book. According to Warner Bros Games, the issue will follow Batman as he returns to Gotham. It’s not overly clear why he was away, but that’s the premise for the book.

Fans will see Batman, yes, but also a “variety of familiar DC characters” that’ll be included. And much like with the game, it sounds like those characters will cover a wide swath of the Dark Knight’s history.

The cover is notable too, as it’s patterned after a pretty famous Batman illustration by the great Jim Lee.

The story, titled The LEGO Batman Returns, follows a day in the life of LEGO Batman as he returns to Gotham City after a hiatus and encounters a variety of familiar DC characters, paying homage to the Dark Knight’s history in media, with references to past films, television shows, and comic books, combined with signature LEGO humor.

Warner Bros Games press release

Watch for The LEGO Batman Returns to hit stores this coming Free Comic Book Day, May 2nd, 2026. As with every year’s event, not all stores will be participating though, so make sure you check with yours.

LEGO games return too

The tie-in for the book, as mentioned, LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight. If you’re a Batman fan too, it’s looking like a game to watch. The title plays off of the character’s history in multiple forms of media, including movies and games.

That’s more than evident from the trailers, which show homages to everything from the 1989 big screen original to The Batman. Even better, the gameplay looks inspired by some of the most popular Batman games of all time. One look and you’ll see what we mean.

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is an all-new open world action-adventure videogame inviting players to embark on Bruce Wayne’s epic journey to become the hero of Gotham City, from origin to legend, inspired by decades of Batman films, television shows, comic books, and games, combined with DC lore and TT Games’ signature brand of fun-filled LEGO humor.

Warner Bros Games press release

Launching on May 22nd, 2026, LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is on the way to the PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (via Steam and the Epic Games Store). Pre-orders are open now for the the Standard and Deluxe Editions of the game, complete with bonuses.

The first of those comes in the form of the Dark Knight Returns Bat-suit, available for all pre-orders. The Deluxe Edition includes a little something extra though. That’d be a special 72 hour advance play window. So those who pre-order that version of the title will be able to play on May 19th.

And on top of that, there’s also a bonus for creating (or having) a Warner Bros Games account. That’ll grant the Golden Age Batsuit at launch, so LEGO Batman can be decked out in the original costume from all the way back in 1939.