Batman: Hush [Paperback]

Jeph Loeb (Author), Jim Lee (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: August 18, 2009 | Series: Batman

A New York Times Best Seller!

The complete critically acclaimed and best-selling tale is now available in one sensational hardcover volume.

 

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.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jeph Loeb's writing credits include the award-winning Batman: The Long Halloween and its sequel, Dark Victory, Daredevil: Yellow and Spider-Man: Blue. Jim Lee is a comics legend. After an extraordinary run drawing X-Men, he co-founded Image studios, and after creating WildStorm Productions he developed and illustrated smash-hit titles like WildC.A.T.S. and StormWatch. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: DC Comics (August 18, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401223176
• ISBN-13: 978-1401223175
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 0.5 x 10 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (173 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,728 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #22 in Books > Comics & Graphic Novels > Publishers > DC Comics
  • #51 in Books > Comics & Graphic Novels > Graphic Novels > Superheroes

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 70 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A New Batman Classic ! August 26, 2009

By P. M. Bradshaw

Format:Paperback

Finally! Previously available as two separate volumes, this is the first time all 12 monthly issues of the Loeb/Lee run have been put together, giving us the complete HUSH story.

Jeph Loeb gives us a very good detective story. Better is his character-study, nuanced approach to the Dark Knight, himself. Loeb manages to bring fresh eyes to the Batman, displaying a longing and a loneliness previously unrevealed. The scenes with Catwoman are some of the best in years. Those with Nightwing (the original Robin) show growth and a new maturity for both characters. And, of course, the new villain - Hush, is a great addition to the rogues gallery.

Jim Lee's contribution is possibly even greater. He draws some of the most iconic and visually stunning pictures of Batman, EVER. There was Neal Adams, Norm Breyfogle, Dick Sprang, and Alex Ross. Add to the `Top 5 Batman Artists of All Time' list - Jim Lee. And he may have taken over the Number 1 spot, at that! Sharp, dynamic, and nothing less than electrifying, Lee's work here is some of the greatest artwork ever done in a graphic novel or comic book.

Ranking high on the list (just after The Dark Knight Returns, Batman: Year One, and Batman: Absolution), HUSH instantly becomes one of the most important and character-defining Batman stories of all time.

21 of 25 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great to get back into Batman! September 10, 2009

By Tai

Format:Paperback

I've been out of the comic loop for a long time. Especially DC comics. Trades are great since I have no comic book shops local to me and I like nice big volumes to take in and digest over a long afternoon.

Batman: Hush is great in regards to letting you get back into the mind of the Bat. Hush, him(or her)self, is a great villain that is well done and there is also a good number of cameos by other mainstays and a twisted ending to the whole thing to boot!

I highly, highly recommend it to new or longtime Batman fans. I feel you won't be disappointed.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The ultimate Batman story September 6, 2009

By km

Format:Paperback

I'm not much of a comics reader, but Batman is easily my favorite character (although I'm in the minority who have found his live-action adaptations to be disappointing). And this particular collection is THE comic book for people who don't often read comic books.

Only a passing knowledge of Batman lore is needed to enjoy the story, and virtually all of the characters in his history make appearances of varying degrees. The highlight is his battle of wits with Superman, and seeing the famous contrast in styles between the two characters at work here, both as combatants and allies. It makes one desperately wish they'd make a live-action crossover film (and while one almost did get made before these current reboots, it seems unlikely now, save for the upcoming Justice League film). There are also some great interactions here between Clark, Bruce, and Lois.

Jim Lee's style can be a bit too technical and lacking in character, but I'm still a fan of his clean, dynamic style, and it's great to see it applied to the Batman world. His Catwoman/Selina is particularly memorable. The way all the characters are shoehorned into the story can come off as contrived in some regards, but for the most part it works and makes for a highly entertaining adventure.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars SO freaking awesome May 21, 2010

By Ken Jon Yeong

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book blew me away!. The art work on this Novel was exhillarating to say the least. The storyline is fantastic too. I would recommend anyone who loves a good Novel to read to get this one. Probably the best Novel I've read so far!.

14 of 19 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Enter the Bandaged Man March 27, 2010

By JME2

Format:Paperback

In 2002, Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee succeeded Ed Brubaker and Scott McDaniel as the main creative team on the "Batman" monthly title. They were commissioned for a 12-issue run that ended up putting one of DC's flagship books back on the Top 10 sales chart and reinvigorated interest amongst the fans. Previously collected in separate volumes, those twelve issues are finally reprinted in a single collection here.

Eight years after its publication, I still like 'Hush', but it is not among my all-time favorite Batman stories. In terms of characterization, Loeb demonstrates the same understanding of Gotham City and its protector as he did in "The Long Halloween" and "Dark Victory". He has Batman down to a 'T' and knows what makes the character work, how he interacts wih the likes of Superman, etc. His "Thinking Man's Super-hero" narration is also appreciated and remains one of his trademarks.

The main problem is with the plotting. Loeb has stated in interviews that he writes to his artists' strengths. The result is a story that feels, at times, like an excuse to have Jim Lee draw all of the Gotham Rogues -- which is perhaps not the worst offense. Lee's pencils, Scott Williams' inking, and Alex Sinclair's coloring make for one of the most detailed, crisp, and definitive depictions of the Dark Knight in years. If nothing else, the artwork is worth the purchase.

But the plot feels like a rehash of 'Knightfall' and tries to be too ambitious for its own good at times. Still, this book is an ideal gift/starting point for any reader looking to enter the world of Gotham City and its Dark Knight.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Lee's Batman, not Loeb's Batman October 9, 2011

By L. YEE

Format:Paperback

I was introduced to Jeph Loeb (and artist Tim Sale) in a couple of comic series: Batman: The Long Halloween and Superman All Seasons. Both series were extremely well written and easy to read and understand, Jeph Loeb turned out to be one of the few writers in my watch list.

So when I saw that Jeph Loeb had teamed up with Jim Lee to do a Batman piece, I was extremely excited and bought this graphic novel without thinking twice. A great story teller with one of the most influential and greatest comic artist - no brainer, right?

It turned out to be a mistake.

Batman: Hush is made up of 13 comics. It has similarities to The Long Halloween in that the whole point of the story is to find out who is the mysterious villain, Hush. The first 12 comics see Batman on a wild goose chase from Gotham City to Metropolis to find out the identity of Hush - and it is not your typical wild goose chase from a good detective novel. No, this is a disparate mesh of story lines and characters, most of them unrelated, trying to gel together a dramatic story. It has failed terribly.

If I were to analyze how Hush has failed compared to Jeph Loeb's earlier work, I'd say that he was probably `star struck'. Star struck by Jim Lee/Scott Williams. Instead of Lee's art telling the story that Loeb crafted, it became a slide show of Lee's art gallery. Instead of a story, we have scenes being set up so Lee could craft a beautiful piece to wow the audience.

Why else would you see a host of villains and Bat-friends being involved in this story? We see Killer Croc, Poison Ivy, Riddler, Harlequin, Joker, Ra'al Ghul, Clayface, Two Face (Harvey Dent) and Catwoman, Superman, Nightwing, Robin and Huntress.... Someone in DC is obviously twisting Loeb's arm to make sure he give Lee a chance to depict all these villains and heroes.

The art is nice, no doubt. Lee's take on many of the characters and scenes are really nice. But, sadly, many of his character (body and face) are like cookie cutter. They all have the same `dreamy' eyes and same body build up. They are all made of cookie cutter. Case in point, Commissioner Jim Gordon looked like Superman with white hair and spectacles who looked like Batman who looked like Harvey who looked like Robin. You get the idea. I was looking back to Loeb's Batman The Long Halloween and marvel at the variety of characters in there, all drawn with different mug faces and body shape. Some are skinny, some with long face, some really fat guys, big build mobs, etc. So, I am disappointed that Lee's character doesn't really stand out at all.

All in all, if you want a book of Lee's art, get Hush. If you are in for a story, buy The Long Halloween instead. Read more ›