Solo Batman is my preference. Batman becoming solo is an interesting story.
HUSH 2 continues this month in the pages of BATMAN #161, and what an interesting chapter it is. Immediately picking up from the previous issue, Batman discovers why Damian brought along Bane, The Joker has a shootout with two old birds, Barbara Gordon visits her father in the hospital, and Batman fights Batgirl.
Not a big, summer popcorn chapter, but an intriguing small character study.
Jeph Loeb continues to write Batman stories with ease. He has a way to keep a story moving, but without cheap tricks and flashy sequences. This issue is smaller in scale and deals with character interactions. We’ve known the character of Hush for over 20 years, but Loeb continues to surprise us with some of his moves. More than ever, the villain is personally attacking Bruce/Batman, pinning his strongest allies against him and causing the hero to become more isolated. Certainly, I don’t want that to be the end game for Batman, but for a hero to rise, he has to fall, and Loeb is making his fall mean a great deal.
Jim Lee continues to do what he does best…draw great comics. There’s a particular splash page right in the middle of two characters in the sky, and the attention to detail is just *chef’s kiss*. As pencil-heavy as his pages can be, the action is always clear and concise, delivering the hits while also delivering the emotion. As well as Loeb writes characters, Lee has to match them to sell it. And he is a flawless salesman.
Overall, not the flashiest issue thus far, but an important one. Hush is pitting Batman’s allies against him, driving The Dark Knight mad and making him question everything. Loeb and Lee are continuing to deliver a comic that’s well worth the money.