Jeph “Spinning Plates” Loeb.
BATMAN #160 kicks off this week immediately following last month’s intriguing issue, giving us a little more context behind what we saw, where we’re headed, who else is involved, and what it all means.
Jeph Loeb, the man spinning many plates at once, and not one falls.
I’ve mentioned before that he may be my favorite Batman writer, and he continues to show why. A summer popcorn movie in comic book form is there to entertain, and the man is definitely delivering here. I appreciate the ebs and flows of fun action, to character interaction, to isolation with Batman while we are attached at the hip, reading every thought. It’s all great pacing, smoothly taking us on this adventure that never feels overstuffed or crowded.
Speaking of summer popcorn (I might pop a bag), Jim Lee is continuing to bring us the fun spectacle we expected. Much like the previous issues of HUSH 2, he’s providing a nice blend of big action and small moments, assisted by his pro inker pal Scott Williams. We get to revisit The Batcave, see The Batcycle in action, great watercolor(ish) flashbacks, and an exciting battle at the end. This issue packs a lot of fun in 22 pages, and Lee brings it on every panel.
We’re at the halfway point of HUSH 2: PART 1, and it still feels like we’re only beginning. Granted, this is only 3 chapters of what will ultimately be 12, but I feel like we’re still covering a lot of ground. Loeb and Lee are giving comic book fans a fun story that is doing a lot, while also only scratching the surface.
I’m looking forward to what’s coming while drinking in every page of what we’ve gotten. This is a fun story. – Ryan Lower
