| Title | : | Batman: Hush |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 320 |
| Publication | : | First published November 25, 2005 |
BATMAN: HUSH is a thrilling mystery of action, intrigue, and deception penned by Jeph Loeb (BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN) and illustrated by comics superstar Jim Lee (ALL STAR BATMAN & ROBIN, THE BOY WONDER) in which Batman sets out to discover the identity of a mysterious mastermind using the Joker, Riddler, Ra's al Ghul and the Dark Knight's other enemies - and allies - as pawns in a plan to wreak havoc.
This volume collects Batman #609-619 as well as the 6-page segment from Wizard #0 and a 2-page origin story that originally appeared at dccomics.com.
Batman: Hush Reviews
-
(A-) 81% | Very Good
Notes: A grandiose, sprawling, byzantine epic, it's about exploiting vulnerabilities and the tactical manipulation of memory. -
A (now) classic Batman story that I think holds up very well.
This is one that I've read multiple times in multiple editions, and I really think that the 15th Anniversary edition is very well done. I loved seeing all the Easter eggs that I'd missed over the years pointed out to me. <--did you know Jean Grey and Gwen Stacy were buried in the Gotham Cemetary? I always miss stuff like that if someone doesn't shove my face in it, so it was a nice bonus to have the artist spoon feeding it to me in the back of the comic.
If you haven't read this story, then the gist is that someone knows Bruce Wayne is Batman and is out to destroy him. This villain is targeting not only Bruce but the people Bruce loves.
Speaking of people Bruce loves, he and Selina...?
Bow chicka wow wow
Ok. So, the whole time you're trying to figure out who is the mastermind behind all of these attacks, and every time your think you've gotten to the Big Reveal, the rug gets snatched out from under you.
Tons of red herrings all over the place!
So whodunnit?
Hush. It's a secret.
Also, if you've only watched the animated version, you're in for a surprise. The comic and the movie have some pretty big differences. <-I can't really say much more without spoiling the whole thing.
Highly Recommended! -
Collecting Batman #608-619, the superb
Jeph Loeb /
Jim Lee team-up that sees Batman being mightily confused and attacked from all sides, both by villains and heroes, as a person from his past seeks to wreak havoc on his life. Co-stars Catwoman, Oracle and Robin, as well as appearances by Superman, Nightwing, Huntress and more. A truly memorable Batman story. 8 out of 12 - Four Star read :)
2012 read -
It was okay. The graphics were great!!! Read it on Kindle Unlimited!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾 -
I had such a hard time deciding how to rate this one. I liked it and I didn't like it. I'm going with a four star..just because I love me some Batman and there are several really good things about this book.
Like: Batman and Catwoman. Do I like them together doing the smoochie smoochie? Well, somewhat.
I thought it would be hotter than it was..I mean come on, they are both awesomeness..but well it kinda fizzled in this book.
But here? Pure hawt.
Yes, I know I'm weird. I've been told that before.
The artwork: Frigging amazing.
Ohhhh Bats-you are looking good.
They story was fairly decent at times. I liked him teaming up with Superman and I figured out who the bad guy was before the end, but it's not a bad book.
What I thought was over the top:
Too much going on. Why does the Batman series that I've read have to have every bad guy that he has ever fought in each book? I felt sorry for the poor guy because he was running around like a chicken with his head cut off.
In the end this is one of the better Batman books I've read. He is on the darker side and I love him when he gets all angry and angsty.
ETA: I forgot this! My friend
Hulk boy aka Jeff recommended this to me. He seems to know the comic books I might like..if he would quit ignoring Kelly and I lately because we Goldblum/Groinkick/Vomit gif him to death. -
A multi-starrer action graphic novel!
Blurb:
The story depicts a mysterious stalker called Hush who seems intent on sabotaging Batman from afar, and it includes many guest appearances by Batman villains, as well as various members of the Batman Family and Batman's close ally Superman. It also explores the romantic potential between Batman and Catwoman. -
Jim Lee Superstar,
Or: How Many Fights Can You Pack Into One Book?
Batman vs. Killer Croc, Batman vs. Catwoman, Huntress vs. assorted “street punks,” Killer Croc vs. Batman and Catwoman, Poison Ivy vs. Catwoman, Batman vs. Superman, Harley Quinn vs. almost everybody, Batman vs. Joker… These are just the major fights of the book’s first half, there are many more. As you can imagine, fighting takes up a good chunk of the story. The remaining pages… well, they are little more than the desperate attempt to justify all the fighting, really. And they don’t always succeed, either. In short, Hush isn’t much of a story.
Still, I found myself admiring the sheer professionalism displayed by both writer Jeph Loeb and superstar penciller Jim Lee. It is obvious that they were both fully aware of the rules of the game - they knew what the fans wanted, and that’s exactly what they delivered: as many fight scenes as possible, featuring as many well-known characters as possible, all drawn in Lee’s trademark sketchy, angular, overblown action style. It isn’t my thing, really, but Lee sure knows how to wow the fans, and Loeb wisely steps far into the background, well aware that a book with the name Jim Lee on the cover must really do only one thing: let the superstar strut his stuff. It does not necessarily have to make sense.
So what’s the verdict? It’s a book that achieves what it wants to achieve, and I think that deserves some credit. Many even consider Hush a Batman classic, maybe especially those who grew up with the exaggerated superhero style Lee helped develop in the early 1990s. And yet, personally, I don’t like Hush. I think you have to be a major admirer of Lee's style to really love this book - if not, you'll just file it under "empty spectacle." 2.5 stars, I'd say, bumped down because… well, I guess bigger isn’t always better. -
Batman and Catwoman sitting in a tree, K-I–S-S- .. . Okay, enough with that.
What I find fascinating is that nearly every Batman graphic novel I’ve read recently has been a good/great one. Forbidden Planet lists their top 50 graphic novels of all time. Batman has 5. No one else comes close. Many of the major comic writers have all tackled Batman: Frank Miller, Grant Morrison, Alan Moore, Jeph Loeb, Ed Brubaker, Neil Gaiman, Chuck Dixon etc. etc.
https://forbiddenplanet.com/picks/50-...
What makes Batman such a compelling character and fodder for some of the greatest stories ever written? In short:
1. His tragic background – After he witnessed his parents being murdered during a botched robbery attempt, Bruce Wayne vowed to rid Gotham City of crime. It’s this unrelenting pathos that drives the character.
2. He’s only human – Unlike his buddy, Superman, Batman has no superpowers. He uses his wits, athletic prowess and all the Bat toys a bilionare-playboy can buy. He won’t break the law (much) and he absolutely won’t kill. Unlike Superman, he’s prone to darkness, hence the whole Bat theme. In this volume, he beats the crap out of the Joker (let’s face it, the Joker had it coming. For a long time) and almost kills him.
3. His supporting players – A bunch of Robins, Nightwing, Batgirl, Batwoman, Oracle, Alfred, Commissioner Gordon, Catwoman and Ace, the Bat Hound. All iconic in their own right.
4. His rogue’s gallery – Batman probably has the greatest group of villains in the history of comic books. Only Spider-Man comes close. And because he won’t kill, they’re endlessly recycled.
5. He’s a scientist
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqBSnQ...
6. The Batusi – not really.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8BZDw...
The review (finally). Batman is being stalked by an unknown antagonist. This villain is using/controlling many of Batman’s foes in unique ways. Batman moons over getting kissed by Catwoman. He’s kind of lonely so he invites her into the inner Bat-circle-of-friends. Jeph Loeb’s story combines nicely with Jim Lee’s muscular art. An excellent Batman story! -
I've read Hush in the past (
Batman: Hush, Vol. 1,
Batman: Hush, Vol. 2), but this one is some kind of collector's edition or something.
Except I didn't actually open the book at the library.
So.
Yeah, it turns out that Hush Unwrapped is meant to showcase Jim Lee's penciling.
Which, to be fair, are really impressive. However, I'm not a fan of black and white comics. Not only that, but it's is really hard in some of the panels to tell exactly what is going on. Especially the action scenes.
I enjoyed the story, but I wouldn't recommend this version to someone who hasn't read it before. This is something geared more toward fans of Lee's art or fanatic collectors. -
Hush is without doubt one of the worst Batman books of the last 15 years but what makes it even worse is how highly it's rated by so many comics readers.
Well, I re-read this recently because I couldn't remember a thing about it from the first and only other time I read this years ago and what did I find? Good reason for why I couldn't remember a thing about it.
So I wrote an article on its many failings
here -
An unknown enemy is trying to destroy Batman at the same time he enters into a relationship with Catwoman. But who knows all of Batman's secrets?
I've been hearing about Hush since it was coming out in monthly format and finally decided to give it a chance. It was totally worth it.
Honestly, I was skeptical at first. While I liked Jeph Loeb's work on
Batman: The Long Halloween, I thought it felt a little padded. As for Jim Lee, I was wondering if he still had that old magic. I was not disappointed.
Hush pits Batman against many of his foes, including a new one, Hush. Poison Ivy, Scarecrow, Joker, Harley Quinn, Croc, and others all make appearances. Batman's relationship with Catwoman is explored, as are his relationships with other members of his supporting cast. Jim Lee's art has come along since his days as the flavor of the month artist that made his mark on X-Men before helping form Image.
I do have a few gripes, however.
Hush is the best Batman book not written by
Scott Snyder that I've read in a long time. It's not earth shattering but is highly recommended. -
I guess I'm mostly alone in not thinking much about this title -- but here are my reasons:
SPOILERS BELOW
********************************************************************************
I don't think Lee's artwork is right for this story. I know this is a very "personal taste" kind of thing - but so be it. His work is very "high-def", and I think mysteries are more effective with subtle, even murky images...I don't want to see each individual sinew of Batman's bicep, and I don't think it helps set the tone of the story.
While the mystery was fun to try and solve, and the twists and manipulations were surprising, the final reveal of the criminal was a huge letdown. The childhood friend? Really? He was so bitter that his mom survived Wayne's surgery, that he waited years - became a renowned surgeon - and plotted to destroy Wayne's son - all the while "pretending" to be a good kid???? Okay, even if I could accept that he was acting like a good kid, while really being full of hate -why would his hate be directed at Bruce? Why wouldn't he just make another attempt on his mother's life? And why would he go to the trouble of becoming a surgeon when all he wanted to do with his life was inherit a fortune? I dunno - just seems really weak to me. -
Never have I read such an emotionally satisfying Batman tale.
As much as I loved
The Dark Knight Returns (and what sixteen year old comic book geek in 1986 didn't?), there is something inaccessible about
Frank Miller’s Batman that always pushed me two paces to the side.
Jeph Loeb’s Batman, though, is a different guy.
Well, he’s the same guy, but
Batman Hush invites us into Batman/Bruce in a way I’ve never experienced. I can’t pin down exactly why, but there are a few possibilities. First, he’s physically and emotionally vulnerable in ways I didn’t expect. He doesn’t just take a beating; he comes as close to death as he’s ever come, and it weakens him for every fight he faces for the rest of the comic. He doesn’t just care about people around him, he actually falls in love, opens himself to love and embraces the love that was always and already there. The invulnerable Batman and “Teflon” Bruce actually come together with a little bit of humanity, and this time around he actually listens to his allies and takes advice. Wow! Second, it could be that, for the first time since the Dark Knight era of Batman dawned, I’ve read a story arc that put Batman’s need for vengeance at the end of the queue. It still appears, particularly in Batman’s umpteenth beating of the Joker, but it doesn’t dominate the man, which means it doesn’t dominate the story. Third, and maybe most importantly,
Batman Hush finally finds a balance between the Dark Knight and the World’s Greatest Detective. The two incarnations become one. Sure the mystery is a bit clunky, but
Loeb really tries to deliver suspense, offering clues and red herrings like all good mystery writers should, and the cracks in the mystery are mercifully papered over by
Jim Lee’s stunning pencils. Which leads to number four -- the art. Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, Catwoman, Lois Lane, Huntress, Oracle, they’re all sexy as hell. Nightwing, Robin, Superman, Batman, they all look the part of heroes. Joker, Clayface, Killer Croc, Scarecrow, R’as Al Ghul, Two-Face, Riddler, they all have their menace and madness intact. The flashbacks are beautiful, the action is often in motion, literally, the depth of the landscape and even the rain of Gotham is tangible. It is truly a luscious visual experience, and it perfectly captures all of the things Loeb wanted his Batman/Bruce to be.
Batman Hush hit every emotional chord in me, and I loved being played. Even Batman’s mindfuck victory over the mastermind of the Hush conspiracy was what I wanted it to be. And then Selina Kyle walked away. So perfect.
Now, I admit that there are thematically superior Batman tales (most of Miller’s work and
Alan Moore’s unparalleled
The Killing Joke come to mind), but
Batman Hush is know slouch, and it did everything else very right. For the first time in a long time I could actually see myself choosing a DC title over a Marvel -- that's gotta be worth five stars. -
This was a harrowing Batman story: exciting, enigmatic, loads of guest stars - and a surprise ending. Up there in the greatest works of the ever-expanding Batman cannon.
-
The artwork. The action. The dialogue. The characters. Everything about this was ON POINT.
-
Absolutely fantastic.
Though, holy spoilers, Batman.
Hehehe.
I suppose you have to expect that with such a long running series, but honestly this doesn't keep me from wanting to read the previous stories any bit even though I know what's going to happen now. Plus, I kind of knew bits and pieces from the movies, the animated series, and the video games already so I can't really complain that much.
I really love all of the women in this universe, though Catwoman will always be my favorite. I've loved her since
Batman: Returns and when I found I could play as her in
Arkham City I couldn't preorder that game fast enough. I'm also curious about The Huntress now, she seems like a really interesting character and one that I'm not at all familiar with. Though a quick look at Wikipedia (warning, don't go there if you don't want spoilers) shows that she was the main character of Birds of Prey, a show on the WB that I vaguely remember. Huh. I'll have to see what comics I can find at my library that have her in them.
Batman will always be my favorite comic hero. I think it's because he doesn't actually have any super powers that I love him so much (it also didn't help that I thought he was pretty *ahem* sexy in the
'90s cartoon ...) I will forever hear Batman as Kevin Conroy.
I think it's difficult to please fans of any of the long running series, but this graphic novel is pretty much a fan's dream come true. Some might say they mashed too much into the story, too many characters and such, but I think it all really worked to show just how much Batman and Bruce Wayne have been battling over the years.
If you're a Batman fan, this story really shouldn't be missed. -
Hush. It's hush hush, keep the villain a secret. Jeph Loeb said it started out as a joke. But no joke, it's a well written mystery. I'm no mystery expert, nor the world's greatest detective. But you're guessing and second guessing until the very end. So it gets points for high readability and entertainment value alone.
Hush is this: Batman is doing his normal rounds when the villains are suddenly acting and fighting with uncharacteristic superiority, and he realizes that someone smarter and more strategic is pulling the strings. But why? And more importantly, who? Turns out that they know Batman intimately and exploit every weakness and predictable response until the very end. Ooo, who's it gonna be?
Well, your options are many. Damn near all of the villains are here: Killer Croc, Clayface, Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, The Joker, The Riddler, Scarecrow, Talia al Ghul, Ra's al Ghul. And of course two others, whom I can't name to avoid spoilers. I think Mr. Freeze is the only one missing. Jim Lee's artwork, especially the splash pages, with Scott Williams' colors, is absolutely stunning. Lee draws the most dynamic and fluid fights of probably any artist, and Batman fights them all with great athleticism and vigor.
There are many heroes: Batman, Tim Drake/Robin, Nightwing, Superman, Catwoman, Huntress, Oracle, and Jim Gordon. This is a character driven story, and they're at their most emotional and personal, real, fragile and caring humans under their masks.
Themes of love and loss run throughout, new love mirroring old love and magnifying loss. Both Tommy Elliot and Bruce suffer loss, it binds them together. Yet Batman, apart from professional support, is essentially alone. His pain and thirst for revenge fuel his passion. But at some point the "monster of fear" can't always be an absolute. So I appreciate the tenderness between Batman and Catwoman, because that's extremely rare in Bat books, and it's nice to see that Bruce does have a heart.
I also wanted to mention that Loeb makes a Knightfall reference. Bruce has a severe injury and Oracle calls Dr. Shondra Kinsolving, who, if you remember, healed his broken back. And Oracle tells Alfred she'll have Dick wreck the Porsche. That was awesome, if you have any idea what I'm talking about.
So the mystery isn't perfect. But it ebbs and flows, deepens and twists, keeps you reading, and I'm therefore forgiving. The fights are epic and beautifully illustrated. The villains are viciously skilled. The heroes are tough but fallible. And Gotham, as usual, is a dark throbbing heart of viscerality. I can't find much fault here. Loeb has written a riveting story in true form to Batman. And if you love it, there's an Absolute version available. -
I loved this comic!!
The story line, the drawing, the drama, the romance, the mystery, it was all beautiful! This is probably one of my favourite comics I have read so far.
I really enjoyed the underlying mystery throughout the entire comic and all the bad guys we get to see! (Also Superman and Lois make a guest appearance and who doesn't love those two? - Lois calls him Smallville *eeek*)
The relationship between Batman and Catwoman was so interesting and unique. They have been hinting at their relationship within many of the previous comics and I was seriously happy when they finally admitted they actually liked each other!
What annoys me with all the Batman comics I've read, they always do a flashback of the night that Thomas and Martha Wayne were killed.
I know that was THE moment in Bruce's life that critically changed him forever but we all know the backstory, we do not need to be reminded of it every 10 pages.
Other than that small detail, I thoroughly enjoyed this comic and can't wait to eventually re-read it! -
Title Batman Hush??? Book was literally more like w(H)ole (U)niverse (S)hown (H)ere. we see almost everyone we know in Batverse from Ivy, Harley to Talia & Luis or from Riddler, Joker to Dent or Clayface or Ra's, Shiva or Superman, Batgirl, huntress, ROBINS!! and many more... if there were one or two more issues then I'm sure Loeb would have made whole Justice league or Darkseid appearing in this story. XD
Hush is not a bad comic but I was expecting same quality as The Long Halloween/Dark Victory by seeing the name Jeph Loeb in this but this was nothing like them. It starts bit weak then picks up and ends up weak again. Surely this book has so many iconic scenes, moments, interactions, lines and fights and Lee's solid artwork was great compliment to it but still the main plot was kinda decent. It wasn't very coherent and couldn't hold my attention the way some other classic Batman stories have done for me. Still I loved BatCat stuff so so much and overall this was a good boook with decent mystery and various twists and turns but again ending was just disappointing! My actual rating - 3.5 Stars! -
I remember trying this back when it was a blue cover trade, and a green cover trade, and not liking it.
Batman: Hush, Vol. 1,
Batman: Hush, Vol. 2
One can hardly say that if it like it now, it's because my tastes have matured. Broadened, maybe.
No, I remember what I didn't like- I generally hate all flashbacks to forgotten childhood friend of "Master Bruce," although like most things Batman, everything that's been done can be re-done.
As far as the Chinese box style plot, with a twist on every twist, and involvement (at some level) with many many famous friends and enemies- that was all well and good. Typical Jeff Loeb, I'd say. -
Reread: 06/06/21
It starts off with Batman fighting his villains and something with Killer Croc but something goes wrong and he finds weird happenstances and so he investigates and that leads to him fighting Poison Ivy but then he goes to metropolis and he has to face off against his best friend Superman and its an epic fight and we see the mysteries unfold and it leads to a big gauntlet of all his villains from Harley to Joker to Ra's Al Ghul and all, team up with Nightwing and Huntress but finally when the mystery is revealed who it is and then the final fight, revelations and all happen its so worth it and every dot is connected and it makes sense and finally a great conclusion and t also poses some questions regarding Joker and Catwoman which was good. It just shows the tragedy that is Batman and the various dilemmas on it but Jim Lee's art here is the main highlight here with every panel detailed and all and the colors just sparkling! Just wow!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Its an interesting book and like details the coming of Hush this mysterious adversary that has made Bruce's life hell as he has to face a gauntlet of his enemies and also heroes. That fight between Superman and Batman is epic and the romance between Batman and Catwoman is just *chefs kiss*. The main thing is Jim Lee's art, each panel, each page feels like a poster and is a masterpiece. The writing by Jeph Loeb is just perfect. -
4.5 stars
Wow. This is probably my favorite Batman comic!
I went into this thinking that I already knew who Hush was. I thought it was . But there were so many twists and turns in this that I soon realized I had no idea who Hush was and I was caught completely off guard at the end. I like that, at its core, it's a classic detective story. And I love that they did that because it stays true to who Batman is: a detective.
I also really loved all the character cameos. This is like the definitive modern Batman stand-alone comic (if I may say so). You get a good look at many of his Rogues, his friends/family, and him as a man. He was just so greatly written, with a lot of inner struggle and emotional baggage to deal with.
Jeph Loeb did a stunning job with this story and Jim Lee's artwork was perfect. I would recommend this to all Batman fans. -
One of the best Batman stories ever done.
-
Over the years Batman Hush has gotten tons of praise. So, I figured it was about time I give this one a shot. Sadly, I was not impressed. Hush starts out like any Batman comic might. The only diffrence is that we have this Hush character lurking in the background watching over batman. It's not till about 250 pages in where we really get to see Hush.
But who even is Hush? Honestly I have zero clue. I know some people like when a comic book is a bit confusing but I don't. In fact I hate it. I don't know about you but I actually like to understand what is going on. I heard they releasing a new version with more issues. So maybe it will make a bit more sense after that but I doubt it.
For the most part I enjoyed what was happening in the beginning. I thought they were fun batman stories. But in my opinion it didn't work as a whole. But, I know A LOT of people who loved this. So don't let me ruin this for you. -
یکی از کمیک های خوب بتمن
اقتباس انیمیشنی این کمیک را هم به تازگی تماشا کردم ، تقریبا خوب ساخته شده بود ولی، پایان رو عوض کرده بودند ،حیف
دوستان هم اشاره کردند، یکی از نکات ضعف کمیک وجود شخصیت های زیاد در اونه ، که درصورت عدم آشنایی با آن ها ممکنه هم گیج بشید هم کمیک رو رها کنید
من صحنه رویارویی بتمن و جوکر رو بیشتر از همه دوست داشتم ، وقتی بتمن خشم خودش رو خالی میکنه به خاطر تمام جنایاتی که جوکر در حق خودش(بتمن) و دوستانش کرده -
4.5 stars
Wow! This may be the greatest Batman story I've ever read. It's certainly my favorite of Loeb's works. This story used Batman's cast of characters so well! It featured nearly every character I know to be big Batman characters: Nightwing, Jason Todd, Joker, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, Leslie Tompkins, Huntress, Oracle, Harvey Dent, Jim Gordon, Killer Croc, Riddler, Scarecrow, Tim Drake, Superman, Lois Lane, and, most importantly: Catwoman.
This was more like a love letter to their relationship than anything. I know Bruce and Selina are getting married this year and I wish them well. They have one of the better M/F relationships in the comics and I would be more invested were it not for the fact that Batman remains one of the most bland characters I've ever read.
Don't get me wrong, this is a fantastic Batman story. The plot is just fantastic but I came to the same conclusion I come to whenever I read a Batman book; Bruce Wayne is the least interesting part.
I just can't ever get a discernible personality out of him in his books. He may smile occasionally or crack the occasional joke but he's just so uninteresting to me. It's the oddest thing because he leads a super interesting life.
But, I digress: this story is a great story. It introduced(?) one of Bruce's childhood friends and I called the twist about 40 or so pages before it was revealed. Unfortunately, Loeb has pulled this kinda thing like twice before. However, it still made for a great story.
The standout character here is Selina and she's lovely as ever. Honestly, I love her personality in this book and her dedication. There was a mini subplot sort of thing about her agency. I enjoyed all of her fight scenes and the way she moved. Honestly, Jim Lee's art perfectly encapsulated how Selina and Dick move when they fight.
I loved Oracle throughout her parts in this. Superman and Lois as well. I actually enjoyed Huntress' part in this, as well.
The mystery was done very well, in my opinion.
So why not 5 stars? I felt like this fell apart in the ending. It was a little rushed for me and then everything just sort of abruptly sped towards a conclusion and then it ends with Selina concluding that Bruce can't trust her. I just think, for an entire book dedicated to Bruce coming to the conclusion that he can trust Selina, him going against that belief deserved more than 2 pages. It left me wondering if Loeb didn't get the time he wanted to finish this.
However, this was still a really great read and I enjoyed it. -
Batman is a character who is known for many things; Batman: Hush is a graphic novel that gives us these many things. This top-of-the-line Batman story was everything you could hope to get out of a Batman graphic novel, and rather than feeling cluttered or disjointed, everything worked together marvelously. There have been plenty of other Batman stories that excel at showing one side of Batman while leaving out another equally as important aspect. You may come across one graphic novel that focuses on hard-hitting action the whole way through, or maybe you will find one that is more intellectually involved with more detective work at the forefront; not that either of these singular focuses are necessarily bad in a Batman graphic novel, though they are not as wholly indicative of Batman as they have the potential to be. If you are looking for an all-encompassing Batman experience, one that covers every facet of Batman's being – everything that makes him one of the greatest superheroes in all of comics – then you will find it all in abundance in Batman: Hush.
Like I said, Batman: Hush is not so two-dimensional as to only touch upon one of Batman's many superior skills, for it opts instead to showcase several sides of the hero, giving us the best of his fighting expertise as well as his brilliant mind and detective work. I do not want to elaborate too much on why Batman: Hush stands supreme in this regard, for I would not dare to spoil its phenomenal story to anyone who is even remotely interested in it, but I can say that what it does, it does better than any other Batman graphic novel that I have read so far. If you are looking for a riveting mystery that has even the World's Greatest Detective himself puzzled to the very end, then this is the story for you. Otherwise, if your cup of tea is more along the lines of intense action sequences full of blood, bruises, and concussions, then look no further than this fine graphic novel. For most Batman fans, and fans of comics in general, this balance of fighting and mystery prove to be some of the best in the business and are just about guaranteed not to disappoint even the most critical of comic readers. Once again, Jeph Loeb has proven himself to be one of comic's best writers.
One of the coolest aspects of Batman: Hush is how it takes its readers on a roller-coaster ride through Batman's rogues gallery without their presence feeling gimmicky or unnecessarily forced into the story. So many of Batman's greatest villains make appearances in this graphic novel, and each character has a significant role to play in the overarching story. Some appearances may be more brief than others, but nobody ever felt out of place or extraneous. This abundance of capable villains added to the mystery in Hush, for with so many potential suspects, just about anyone could have feasibly been the mastermind behind the story's mystery. Unfortunately for myself, I was spoiled to this mystery long ago and knew the identity of the titular antagonist for many years. Yet, despite my having already been privy to the important aspects of the mystery, I was thoroughly impressed at how well the story managed to throw readers (and Batman himself) off-trail of the truth behind the mystery. Had I been new to the story and without any knowledge of its twists and revelations, I am close to absolutely certain that I would not have figured out the identity of Hush so easily, such was Jeph Loeb's dedication to telling a truly masterful mystery. What I can say, without hesitation, is that even if you have been spoiled to the details of Batman: Hush as I unfortunately was, there is still a mountain of other great things to appreciate and enjoy from this marvelous graphic novel, making it well worth your time to read even in lieu of the surprise factor for which it is most well known.
Batman's villains are not the only characters getting all the attention here, for Batman's allies make several appearances throughout the graphic novel, as well, including the often neglected Huntress. Catwoman, in particular, makes a great counterpart for Batman as he attempts to unravel the mystery of Hush. Whereas partners like the various Robins and Oracle are more controllable and operate in a complementary role to Batman, Selina Kyle adds a new dynamic to that mix, for neither is she easy to contain nor is she one of Batman's disciples who take his every order without question. Batman and Catwoman working together for the majority of this story is refreshing because I have only ever really seen Batman work alongside the likes of Jim Gordon, the Robins, and Oracle, and to see someone akin to a wildcard helping Batman adds something new and unique to this graphic novel for me personally. Although Catwoman has always been around in Batman stories, I cannot think of another graphic novel that has showcased their partnership as well as this one has; since her appearance is not merely relegated to a simple cameo, nor is she an antagonist in this story, Catwoman was afforded plenty of time to shine as a true partner to the Dark Knight. One of the strengths of Batman: Hush is how Selina and Batman interact, and without these moments, the whole of the story would have felt a little emptier.
Apart from the excellent story and portrayal of the characters, the art is just stunning and merits its own high praises. Now this is the kind of contemporary comic book art that I can get behind! I never pegged myself a fan of newer comic book art, for I have found much of it to be too drab, too devoid of colors, or just flat-out ugly. I am a greater fan of the '90s era of comic book art because those books were not only brimming with detail, but also knew how to implement many colors without appearing too juvenile or unattractive to the eyes. In the case of Batman: Hush, artist Jim Lee seems to have taken a lot of influence from those older designs and merged them seamlessly with the contemporary look synonymous with 2000s era comics. What we get is beautifully crafted characters and settings that appear at once vibrant and realistic. I wish all art could be as high in quality as Jim Lee's, for his work really made Batman: Hush present itself all the more as a top-of-the-line graphic novel. While the story would not have fared any worse had the art been lacking, the fact that the art is so wonderful just makes everything so much better.
Truly, Batman: Hush stands as one of the best examples on how to portray Batman and write his stories, for not even the likes of critical hits such as The Long Halloween, The Dark Knight Returns, The Killing Joke (which I personally did not enjoy), A Death in the Family, or Under the Red Hood can match how well this graphic novel manages to capture the essence of Batman comics. Every component, from its captivating story and high-octane action, to its stunning artwork and satisfying mystery, works so well in tandem with one another to create what is arguably the best Batman graphic novel on the market right now. Even having read as few Batman graphic novels as I have so far, I am confident in this declaration of superiority because I felt that Batman: Hush gave me everything I was looking for in a Batman story, where anything more would have felt excessive and anything less would have felt inadequate. I highly recommend Batman: Hush to everyone from the biggest of Batman fans to the most casual of comic book readers; nobody should miss out on this masterclass in Batman storytelling. -
Well, I've finally read Hush and ... I'm not mad??? But I also didn't love it??? The way that people were hyping up the story didn't quite match what I saw when I finally got around to reading it.
First and foremost, many people love Jim Lee's art, and whilst I understand why (it's very similar to the bright and beautiful art of The Wicked + The Divine) it doesn't do anything for me. I know I will die on this hill but Tim Sale is the man to go when it comes to illustrating Batman. The way that man plays with dark colours and shadows just perfectly matches what I want my caped crusader to stand for. This bright style of Lee's with a lot of attention to detail and action scenes doesn't fit Batman, as I envision him. I loved the way in which the flashbacks were drawn but I don't know if that was even Jim Lee. Those were beautiful watercolour drawings devoid of almost every color. Gosh, I loved that.
Second of all, the story wasn't all that great; especially given the fact that Loeb did something similar in Batman: The Long Halloween (which is up to this day one of my favourite comic books). I like the fact that he introduces us to all of these iconic villains and heroes of Gotham City (and even Metropolis), but this time around, the plot that was tying all of these subplots together was kinda weak and not that engaging.
The story depicts a mysterious stalker called Hush who seems intent on sabotaging Batman from afar, by using all of his villains against him, as well as various members of the Bat family and Batman's close ally Superman. So, we get Poison Ivy, the Riddler, the Joker, the Scarecrow, even the Penguin shows up in one panel, and of course — my one and only — CATWOMAN.
The main reason why I wanted to read Hush was that I knew Batman and Catwoman were making out in this one. LMAO. I wasn't pleasantly surprised that this comic books explores so much more than that because for a short time, the two are as good as dating. They're kissing all the time, Bruce reveals his true identity to Selina (SUCH A BIG DEAL!) and they want to start trusting each other more. And even though their ending was bittersweet (Selina realises that Bruce suspects her of being in on Hush's crimes, and then goes on to tell him: "We are who we are. That's why it works. Maybe someday, you'll come to trust that. Until then..."), I thought it was the perfect way to end their relationship. For now. Ya'll know I'm dying to see them back together.
But yeah, I didn't care for the whole Hush thing. I thought it was extremely obvious that Tommy Elliott was Hush and therefore I didn't understand why Batman needed that long to put the pieces together. Also Harvey Dent coming back to life ... nah, man, first of all, I hated how Jim Lee drew him, and second of all, it was a cheap plot device.
My favorite moments — apart from all the BatCat action of course — were the Joker's entrance into the story (standing over Tommy's dead body with a gun in his hand saying "Now, that's how you make an entrance!" ICONIC!) and Alfred being the icon that he usually is ("I can only offer him soothing I fear he sorely lacks. Love.") and also the little boy, Edward, that Batman saves in the beginning from Killer Croc. When the detectives tell him that they will safely get him home, he says: "I don't wanna go home. I want to stay with Batman." MOOD! Oh, and I loved seeing Dick all grown up. Gosh, ma boy. The last time I encountered him was in Batman: Dark Victory as he met Batman for the first time ... so to see him all of these years later still by his side, now as Nightwing and no longer as Robin, made me all soft inside. We stan!
So, overall, Hush wasn't as clever, innovativ or beautiful as I would've liked it to be... but it's still a solid Batman story and made even serve as a good introduction to people who don't know where to start with Batman since you are introduced to almost all of the important characters. -
This was a good graphic novel. There were a lot of twists and turns in the storyline as Batman followed Breadcrumbs and realized that a particular character wasn't the one pulling strings, and everything is leading to a puppet master behind everything. A parallel storyline is Bruce's relationship with Thomas Elliot, a childhood friend who has suffered losses just as Bruce did, but went in a different direction. What I didn't like so much is that the main character who is behind everything really isn't revealed in this volume, even though you can easily surmise who it is. I'm glad my library has
Batman: Hush Returns. I liked the artwork and the storytelling is good, just too abrupt an ending. -
I am usually a fan of Jeph Loeb's writing and this was no exception.
This story stays true to what Batman really is: a detective. And yet, it also gives you some insight into his life as Bruce Wayne. We get to see several of his relationships which include Dick, Tim, Jason, Alfred (of course), Selina (my fav), and even a childhood friend, Tommy Elliott. Cameos from classic Batman villains are always welcome. Even more so, when they are acting even stranger than usual. We even get a new one!
The women were pretty awesome! As always, we never get enough of them but I'm intrigued by Huntress. Surprisingly, I know almost nothing about her, but Selina catty ways never fails to make me smile. We get to explore her relationship with Bruce in greater detail except now they know each other's secret identities. Love that she walks off when she says that Bruce still doesn't trust her.
The ending was a surprise when the villain was reveal. To be honest, the motives behind their actions, came off as kind of petty to me though. Can't say a whole lot. Spoilers! Even so, the twists and turns throughout this arc make it worthwhile.
