“H2USH”
Writer: Jeph Loeb
Artists: Jim Lee
Color Artist: Alex Sinclair
Letterer: Richard Starkings
Review by Max Byrne
After a long delay, Batman #162 is finally released, continuing the Hush 2 saga from the much celebrated Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee. As is the case with all elongated waits between issues, momentum can be lost and the audience can also lose a bit of interest too. Whilst my interest remains intact, my main issue is struggling to remember what happened last time out, due to a 4 month gap! It would be recommended that readers dig out Batman #161 for a bit of a refresher, it could certainly help!
That said, Loeb doesn’t really move the narrative along greatly in this issue. Instead, we get a spandex clad smackdown for the ages. With Batman taking on the various members of the Bat-Family to spectacular effect. Jim Lee certainly comes to the fore in this issue, depicting said action with real class. His muscular Dark Knight taking on his various protegees with a balletic yet brutal style is extremely visually striking to say the least. Seeing our hero being dragged behind Damian’s motorcycle is a feast for the eyes.
As I said before, this issue is light on plot. A brief lull in the battle sees Catwoman try and talk Batman down off the proverbial ledge for his own good, such has been the effect of Hush’s machinations. One of the few people that can truly talk to the heart of the man, their scene together is over far too quickly as we speed headfirst into another scrap.
Such has been the fast pace of the story thus far. It isn’t really clear where the story is going here. Yes, Hush is stacking the deck against Batman. Pitting him against his kin and enemies alike. (The dust up with Riddler is dope). But his ultimate endgame is unclear. I have faith in Loeb to pull it together narratively speaking but for now I cannot see the wood for the trees.
Conclusion
Batman #162 is certainly action packed and fun, but doesn’t cover much ground. It almost jumps the shark at times, particularly Hush’s choice of weapon and Huntress’ method of combating it. It’s not particularly demanding of the reader but I would like to see a bit more happening under the bonnet. It’s a fine issue, but that’s the problem, such an A-list book shouldn’t just be fine, it should be killer. Hope springs eternal for the future instalments though, as long as the gap between issues isn’t so long moving forward.
Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment