Customer Reviews

Batman: Hush

5 star:		(53)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

I decided to try reading one of the DC collections that were made available specifically for the Kindle Fire and chose HUSH because I had never read it before and had heard good things. The story and art are enjoyable. The experience of reading it on the Kindle Fire is not. It limits my options on how to read the story. I am not able to rotate it into landscape mode and the only zoom capabilities are the pre-defined ones that walk you through the story panel by panel. The predefined zoom is still not enough to sometimes read the captions.

If Amazon chooses to update the Kindle Fire software to allow me to control my own zoom and to rotate the display, then I will score this higher.

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.

After reading Long Halloween, Haunted Knight, and Dark Victory, I figured I'd give Jeph Loeb's latest Batman offering a good go. Now, while the previously mentioned books were decent stories, helping give some solid background to Harvey Dent, Dick Grayson, and old Bats himself, they were no where near as ground breaking as Year One or Dark Knight Returns.

That being said, I wasn't expecting any great insights to humanity, the darkness of the human soul, or politics of the current day.

And with Jim Lee doing the pencils, it would at least be a pretty read. And essentially, that's all it was. This series has a very "commercial" feel to them as each issue introduces a character, a minor conflict, and a cliffhanger. There's at least one two-page-panel in each issue, with Jim really showing off his attention to detail. Most of his character models look very similar, but his work has such a great depth of field, it's hard to deny it's beauty.

There's nothing new being told about Bruce Wayne or his enemies or his friends in this story. He's still coming to grips with his parents' deaths. He's still a complete control freak. He's still a lonely, lonely man. SPOILER ALERT! (He also hooks up with Catwoman and reveals who he is to her, which as of late, seems to be the only thing they can do to draw readers. So now half of Bats' enemies and nearly all his "friends" know he's Bruce Wayne. Whoop. Dee. Dooooo.)

Let's hope this is Loeb's last Batman story.

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.

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!.

So I picked up this book the other day because I had heard it was pretty good, and being a fan of other Batman graphic novels, I figured I'd give it a spin.

First the good....The artwork is AMAZING, Batman has never looked more menacing, Catwoman has never looked sexier, and the rogues gallery has never looked more insane! Jim Lee did an excellent job with fleshing out a lot of the iconic characters from the DC Universe. The colors are fantastic and vibrant as well.

Now the not so good...The story isnt bad per se, but it is a bit convoluted and in many instances, seems to make weak excuses just to shove in another character from the DC Universe that doesn't really move the story along at all. Also, for all the hype surrounding him, Hush (the character) is probably the biggest disappointment in the Batman mythos since the horrible Batman and Robin movie.

Without spoiling anything I just want to say that I guessed his identity about halfway through the book, but then thought to myself "that wouldn't make sense though". Well I guessed right, but it still doesn't really make sense. Also if you are looking for a book that actually drops clues as to Hushes identity throughout the story, this is NOT it. There is so much deception and misinformation and NONE of it actually gives you any chance of deducing Hushes identity. By the time you are told who he is (in one scene the beans are spilled in a rather ungraceful manner) the mystery being revealed doesn't leave that sense of "holy CRAP! I should have known!" like Kaiser Soze in The Usual Suspects, but leaves you thinking "um...what?"

oh....and Super dog is in this book, which is almost a deal breaker for me in the first place.

I would recommend reading Batman Year One or The Killing Joke....both of those are more focused and have more depth to them then this book....they might not have the large cast of characters or action scenes of Hush, but they are infinitely more satisfying to read in my opinion.

Some readers might be tempted to steer clear of the works of Jeph Loeb because his name has been attached to questionable choices in comics such as The Red Hulk. I ended up very fond of "Rulk" as many indignantly called the character, but lots of comic fans weren't. Well, if you've read recent Loeb and disapproved or heard him badmouthed by other comic geeks, I hope it doesn't turn you off of Hush. Hush is drawn excellently by Jim Lee and tells a sweeping, complex crime story that will not leave you disappointed. Each of Batman's rogues is used to their fullest, each of Batman's allies is used to their fullest, even Catwoman, a character that most writers make fairly one dimensional is well written and real. Even if you know the true identity of the titular mastermind, it's worth seeing Batman get there and deal with the twists, turns and betrayals along the way. Regardless of your feelings about Jeph Loeb, this is a masterpiece.

Let me start by saying I am typically a Marvel guy, and have rarely ventured outside the Marvel Universe when it come to reading comics. Sure i have seen the movies,watched the cartoons, and of course grew up with Adam West, but recently I have decided to step outside of my little shell and see what I have been missing... and boy, is it alot!

This is quite possibly the best comic(tbp)that i have ever read. The story is well crafted and incorporates all the major players in Gotham City. No prior knowledge of Batman is needed in case you have been living under a rock. Jeph Loeb spins a beautiful web of mystery that completely encompasses the reader.

In addition to the great story line, the art of Jim Lee is outstanding! The cover alone is mezmerizing. Lee totally captures the darkness of the Dark Night and his city of Gotham in every beautifully crafted frame. I also quite enjoyed that they removed all the text from the original covers so you can fully bask in Jim's superior talent.

Bottom line, this is a must read for any comic fan, fringe or fanboy! I was so impressed i went out and ordered another Batman book by Jeph Loeb, and am looking for anything done by Jim Lee.

And although my heart is still deeply embedded withing the Marvel Universe, I will be taking many vacations to DC. I can't believe it has taken me this long!!