9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Artwork - 5 Stars, Storyline - 1 Star, March 14, 2006
I don't read many comic books, but I enjoy Batman and I enjoy talented artists. The artwork in this comic book is awesome ... great drawings, great use of color. The storyline, however, is amateurish. Admittedly, you must approach all fictional writing with a degree of "suspension of disbelief", however this pushes the bounds of what is tollerable. Spoiler: c'mon ... a 10 year old boy wants his parents to die so he can be an orphan? And then plots his revenge against Bruce Wayne for 25+ years after his Bruce's dad was able to save the mother? DESPITE now himself being a world famous physician? The plot brings every villan into suspicion ... seems like a weak attempt to get all of Batman's most famous enemies on the cover to sell more comics. The writer gave us no sense of the torment of the antagonist, no real motive. Were his parents abusive? Why the displaced agression towards Bruce? The writer wasted valuable storyline on dead ends rather than building real suspense and drama. I am going to continue to read Batman graphic novels in hopes that there is something better than this out there. I wished the writing lived up to the art work.
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Close to being a masterpiece, July 19, 2006
I was highly pleased to have read Loeb and Lee's Batman: Hush. The artistry rivals that of Japanese manga and the story line is rich with internal detail. The reader is exposed (for me a first) to the insights of Batman's mind. Throughout the story, we know what he's feeling and what he worries about. There are times, however, where the internal narration gets in the way with the real-time events. For example, Batman will be fighting and in the same panel, he will be thinking about someone else. Hush is a good story for new Batman fans, though. Loeb does new readers the favor of explaining new and old characters albeit some may find the practice boring. Catwoman is also in need of some development. As much as I found her intriguing, I'd like to see more of the justice-seeking Catwoman, the Catwoman who fights so ardently for the weak and cannot stand to see injustice prevail.
Also, I would have to disagree with a few of the reviewers regarding the plot twists. Maybe they were meant to bring in as many DC characters into the story as possible, I found this practice entertaining. It's a new thing to see old villains being used by new ones to show how easily the old villain's insecurities and weaknesses are exploited. This approach made the old villains appear more human than the plastic characters we are so used to seeing the televised Batman series. (Before you rip my head off, the Batman series has come a long way, so don't think I consider Batman villains to be plastic as they are not so in the cartoon series as they were in the 1960's television series).
BOTTOM LINE: A great read, nearly a masterpiece. It's easy for new Batman fans to become acquainted with this fandom since new and old characters are explained. We are also exposed to the inner workings of Batman's mind, a slight oversight in Frank Miller's Batman: Year One, however annoying at times. Catwoman's character is a bit limited to her saucy and flirtatious ways, though she does not fail to amuse. Above all, a great read and well worth the time.
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5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best Batman stories in years!, August 10, 2005
Okay, if you want a great story about mid-career Batman, go out and buy Hush volumes 1 and 2 immediately. Do not hesitate. If you need further convincing (and I don't doubt you will) then read on.
I first learned of the Hush story from friends on the web. Originally a 12 month story arch from the monthly Batman comic, one of DC's tentpole publications, this comic stands almost perfectly on it's own two feet as a graphic novel, which I can attest to since I don't buy monthly comics outside of the occasional trade paperback.
First off, Jim Lee's art is amazing. He strikes that elusive blend of style and realism that I seek when looking for a good artist. He doesn't go over-the-top and come off looking impressionist like many artists who have handled Batman, and yet he doesn't slip into the borigness of straight-up reality. His anatomy is solid, his environments are believable, and his women are beautiful. I'm an aspiring artist, and Jim Lee is definately an inspiration. If nothing else, buy it because it's a book full of great Jim Lee Batman art.
As for the story, I've got to hand it to Jeph Loeb. When I read volume 1 the story seemed to be mostly an excuse for Jim Lee to play around in the Batman world and draw lots of it's favorite characters. But when I read Volume 2, it was a completely new ballgame. Most recent Bat-stories have fallen into the trap of meeting and maintaining a status quo. Hush is one of those rare stories that doesn't just change the status quo, it destroys it. I won't spoil anything, but I'll tell you that it has some pretty big impact on the Batman mythos, and unlike many recent comics it manages to evolve the story in ways that some will condemn, but others like myself will praise.
Basically, without spoiling too much, the story is about Batman at the top of his game, but someone is organizing his enemies and Batman ends up wrapped up in a waist-deep conspiracy against himself. The plot is chock full of huge twists and surprises that I'll admittedly didn't see coming. In between the juicy details are some good action scenes with alot of great action with famous Bat-villains, some great dialog and character developement for Bats himself. And if you like Catwoman, HUSH offers one of the best stories about Batman's relationship with her I've read, and I found it very touching. The whole thing is a genuine rollercoaster of intruguing plot twists and solid character developement, and I was surprised at how well it kept me guessing.
Overally, HUSH is definately a quality Batman story. If you've already had your fill of "early years" Batman stories, buy yourself Hush volume 1 and 2. Jim Lee's gorgeouse art with Jeph Loeb's compelling narrative is a genuine home-run for DC, and I really hope they come back together in a few years to give us another one.
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