Batman’s most iconic mystery from the early 00’s has been given a small update.
Note on this collection:
‘DC Compact Comics’ is a new line of collections from DC spotlighting some of their most popular, new-reader-friendly stories with a smaller page-size—a similar size to manga collections—at a cheaper price than regular ‘full-size’ collections.
Batman: Hush has been on my ‘To Be Read’ list for a long, long time. Given the story arc’s critical reception, its ability to remain in print for so long, and the general consensus that this is one of the most important Batman stories you can read, it’s actually a bit embarrassing that I’ve managed to avoid it for so long.
First published from October 2002 to September 2003, legendary writer Jeph Loeb and equally legendary penciller Jim Lee (not to mention inker Scott Williams, colourist Alex Sinclair, and letterer Richard Starkings) crafted a Batman mystery over twelve issues (#608 to #619) that has endured for decades and is often recommended to new Batman fans looking to start reading the comics.
I took a different route to get into Batman comics (nearly fifteen years ago… hold on a sec, just trying not to think about the passage of time… okay, back to it) which meant I managed to neatly side-step Batman: Hush, but when DC announced that they were reprinting it as part of their new ‘DC Compact Comics’ line, I knew I’d be picking it up.
Hush, Little Baby
On the hunt for a new behind-the-scenes threat that’s causing his foes to act out of character, Batman suffers a catastrophic injury. Saved by an old childhood friend, Bruce resumes the hunt for a villain that’s always one step ahead—one with intimate knowledge of who he is behind the mask…
Something that I really like about this new line of DC Compact Comics is that they highlight the genre of the story right on the front cover, e.g. Horror, Thriller, Adventure. Hush is a Mystery—and who doesn’t like a good mystery? Batman as The Detective is where many people find him to be the most interesting (as opposed to Batman as The Infallible, Indestructible Action Hero—a territory writers sometimes veer him into).
Indeed, Batman is on the backfoot for much of this story. That doesn’t mean he’s passive or boring—it’s just that in striving to solve this mystery, he’s reacting exactly as the villain expects him to, leading him into greater danger. Smart antagonists are fun and having one that can predict how someone like Batman will react has the extra effect of undermining one of Bruce’s defining traits: his intelligence.
The Cat and The Bat
Hush is also a lot of fun for more surface-level reasons than the thematic explorations of Batman’s psychology—it serves as a highlight reel for many of Batman’s most iconic villains. The narrative works them all in seamlessly, with each issue usually focusing on a new threat. Bruce also makes a stop in Metropolis to visit his old friend Clark Kent, kicking off a sequence that makes Hush particularly memorable.
If I were to criticise one element of the story, it’s that the constant looping in and out of classic villains starts to become a bit rote towards the second half of the book. That said, this is balanced by an increase in emotional stakes for Bruce, avoiding boredom.
Another element that feels underdeveloped is the romance between Bruce Wayne and Selena Kyle. Catwoman is always a thematically resonant love interest for Bruce, and Hush takes an important step in their on-again-off-again relationship.
Unfortunately, the specifics of their relationship as presented here are never half as interesting as what’s going on with Batman’s new mystery villain, and lacking the context of what came before this, their relationship felt rushed. They’re an engaging couple, but I just wanted more—more build-up, more insights into why Bruce decides to be Selina now as opposed to before, more involvement of Selina in the plot.
I get it, though. Comic book pages are limited, and I understand that prioritising the mystery over the romance was the right choice.
Robbin’ Robin
Somehow, despite years of enjoying Batman comics, the mystery of Hush remained unspoiled for me, and I was pleasantly surprised by the twists and red herrings placed along the way. There were a couple of moments where I thought ‘maybe it’s this’ and I ended up being right, but it didn’t ruin my experience.
Honestly, the artwork is so vibrant and kinetic and beautifully lit that just flicking through the book is a pleasure in and of itself. It’s rare to find a comic as gorgeous as this one, and although there might be something lost in how the page sizes of the DC Compact Comics line is smaller than usual, it certainly didn’t feel like I was missing any detail. Also, the various flashbacks in the story—be them single panels or entire sequences—are done in stunning, textured watercolour that I had trouble pulling my eyes away from.
Overall, Batman: Hush is a work of art, both visually and its explorations of Bruce's psychology. The story is self-contained and absolutely accessible to anyone looking to get started with Batman comics. It's available in multiple formats, but the DC Compact Comics line will most certainly be the best value. If you're a comic book fan, but you haven't read Batman: Hush, now's the time to do it.
***
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