READING THE CLASSICS: BATMAN #616

 Published on June 25th, 2003

    It's pretty crazy that the sequel to this storyline didn't come out until this year. It was popular and a big hit when it came out in 2003. You would think they would want to do a sequel pretty soon after it came out, not 22 years later. And nobody is talking about "Hush 2." The books everyone seems to be talking about these days are the Absolute books from DC and the Ultimate books from Marvel. They're the same thing: alternate universe books. It is kind of amusing that the most popular books from both companies are set in alternate universes. That tells you something about how great the regular books are. 

    While "Hush" is entertaining and pretty to look at, the big problem is that it's so scattershot. Every issue seems to just be showcasing one of Batman's villains, so there's no real cohesion to the story. This issue features Ras Al Ghul and Talia Al Ghul. Batman knows that someone is manipulating everything around him and decides that it's probably Ras Al Ghul since he's rich. Okay. To get to Ras Al Ghul, Batman kidnaps his daughter, Talia. While Batman goes to find Ras, Catwoman keeps an eye on Talia but ends up getting beaten up by Talia's assassin, Lady Shiva. Meanwhile, Harvey Dent shows up in Jim Gordon's bedroom to let him know that he's not Two-Face anymore and he's a good guy now. I mean...way to showcase that you're a good guy...showing up in a dude's bedroom when he's asleep. 

    This is one of the weaker issues of this storyline. While Hush is obviously pretending to be Harvey Dent, we're not supposed to know that yet. And this is part 9 of 12. I feel like we're going to end up with a rushed conclusion since the whole mystery behind Hush hasn't even really been hinted at yet. Oh, well. *1/2

READING THE CLASSICS: BATMAN #615

Published on May 28th, 2003

    Tommy Elliot's funeral opens this issue. As usual, since this storyline is basically Batman's greatest hits, The Riddler shows up. The Riddler's riddle is this: "What is it that has four wheels, costs eleven million dollars, and flies?" The answer is a solid gold garbage truck. First off, that's not a riddle. There's no such thing as a solid gold garbage truck. Also, the way it's written makes it seem like the object is flying, not that it has flies around it. Not that I care, since it's just a stupid comic book, but isn't The Riddler supposed to be the master of riddles? Anyway, the end of this issue also makes little sense. Hush, who's had his head wrapped in bandages throughout the storyline, shows up in The Joker's cell at Arkham (The Joker was arrested for Tommy Elliot's murder). Hush takes off his bandages to reveal that he's Two-Face, but that he's had plastic surgery and is back to just being Harvey Dent. Huh? The big reveal is that Hush is Two-Face? I'm guessing the final issue is going to have Hush just laying out an entire bad-guy revelation while Batman just stands there. The end of the issue also has Batman revealing to Catwoman that he's Bruce Wayne. That seems like it should be a big deal. Is it, though? I kind of thought Tom King's big Bat/Cat deal was something novel at the time, but it turns out it was just another re-hash of bygones. The big takeaway from this issue and this storyline is that, while it's not exactly great, it is entertaining. While I love Scott Snyder's Absolute Batman, which is one of the best comic books being published these days, the actual main Batman book hasn't been very entertaining in a long time. Jim Lee's art in this issue is great as usual but the last three pages look rushed and sloppy. **1/2 

READING THE CLASSICS: BATMAN #614

 

Published on April 30th, 2003

    The cover to this issue is pretty cool. It has Batman choking The Joker in close-up. There isn't much to this issue, though. In the last issue, Batman arrives in an alley to find a dead Thomas Elliot and The Joker with a gun. Assuming The Joker killed Thomas, Bruce's childhood friend, Batman decides to finally kill The Joker after reminiscing about all of the dastardly things The Joker has done. Catwoman attempts to stop Batman, then Gordon, who isn't a cop anymore but still running around with a gun, does stop Batman. Some of the flashback panels are drawn in different styles. There's a few watercolor painted ones and then one that's just a sketch without final colors. At the end of the issue, Hush reveals that The Joker is, in fact, innocent. The final sequence has both Hush, who's standing atop a building, and Thomas Elliot's dead body in the alley in the same frame. That means that Elliot isn't Hush! Or, at least, that's what they want you to think. What...is his dead body a dummy or something absurd? Harley Quinn is also in this issue, swinging a giant, cartoon size mallet at Batman. Harley is really comical in this book. I suppose she's always been like that in the comics, which, to me, plays better in a cartoon, where she was first created. I'm not sure there's been a darker, better version of Harley in a comic book. It's always this dumb, zany, comedic version that's oft-putting. Isn't she supposed to be this regular woman turned murderer? Why is she comedic? It's really too bad Alan Moore never wrote a Batman book with Harley in it. He's probably one of the few that could've cracked the code. And this issue is pretty thin in the grand scheme of things. I guess at this point I'm just waiting for the big finale to finally come. *1/2

READING THE CLASSICS: BATMAN #613

 

Published on March 26th, 2003

    This is part 6 of the 12 part "Hush" storyline. I mentioned previously that this storyline was showcasing the greatest hits of Batman. They've already had Killer Croc, Catwoman, Poison Ivy, and Superman. This issue has Harley Quinn and The Joker. I wonder if they'll get everyone into this story? Who's even left? The Penguin, Scarecrow, Two-Face, Bane. Anyone else out there? They did have Superman. They could add a bunch of the DC heroes: The Flash, Aquaman, Wonder Woman. Stuffing this story with an all-star cast at least makes it...what? Exciting? Makes it feel like a big deal? It also kind of feels desperate, though. Considering it's supposed to be out the mystery behind a new villain, Hush, why isn't he the focus? He's barely even in it. It also makes Hush seem like a lame villain if he's not good enough to carry the book. I did like the idea behind this issue. Selina Kyle, Bruce Wayne, and Bruce's childhood friend, Tommy, attend the opera for a charity function. Harley Quinn shows up and starts robbing the audience members and shooting a gun around. This reminded me of the circus scene in the movie Batman Forever when Bruce Wayne attends the circus and Two-Face sets a bomb off. Since Batman has been a comic book for almost 100 years now, I think every story has been done, and Bruce Wayne attending a public event when a villain shows up isn't exactly new. Cue Bruce Wayne disappearing and Batman appearing to save the day. The ending to this issue is shocking. In an alley outside the opera, Batman finds The Joker standing above a dead Tommy. Apparently, The Joker has shot and killed Tommy. It's an enjoyable issue with a good ending. We're halfway through this storyline and I think Hush has been in maybe a few panels. I'm guessing we're supposed to think Tommy isn't Hush because he's dead. Writer Jeph Loeb must think we're idiots. Tommy is literally the only suspect. ***

READING THE CLASSICS: BATMAN #612

 Published on February 26th, 2003

    The new Superman movie comes out this week, so I guess it's apt that Superman appears in this issue. Jeph Loeb is really throwing the kitchen sink at this book in terms of character appearances. The Joker hasn't shown up yet but I'm sure he will eventually. This does seem to be the end of Poison Ivy in this storyline, as her power over Superman fades when Superman saves Lois Lane, who Catwoman has thrown off a building. Catwoman then punches Poison Ivy in the face and Superman asks if that was really necessary and both Batman and Catwoman reply, "Yes." Batman also helps to defeat Superman by using a kryptonite ring that's hidden in a sewer. Hush does show up in this, but only to watch the action through binoculars. Hush hasn't done much of anything in this book. It is only 12 parts, right? The art as usual is dynamic and colorful. This is kind of a comic book's comic book. If you think of a comic book, this is it. Which is either a good or bad thing, depending on what you like. It's pretty much forgettable fun. **1/2

READING THE CLASSICS: BATMAN #611

Published on January 22nd, 2003

   Jim Lee's art in this isse, #611, the 4th chapter in "Hush," is pretty dynamic. It also harks back to when every woman looked like a supermodel in a Victoria's Secret catalogue. Bruce Wayne goes to Metropolis in this issue and goes to the newspaper where Clark Kent works. Lois Lane is working at a desk wearing a super tight, super short mini-skirt and high heels. Comics are kind of supposed to be for middle school age boys, so I guess this is apt to appeal to them and their raging hormones. Bruce Wayne also runs into Dr. Thomas Elliot, his friend from childhood. There's a few pages showing a flashback to when Bruce and Tommy were kids, and the art is done in a painted style that reminded me of Dustin Nguyen art on Descender. Bruce suits up as Batman and accompanies Catwoman to find Poison Ivy. They want to know why Poison Ivy needed money by getting Killer Croc to kidnap the child and get ransom money. The shocking conclusion to this issue has Superman showing up but he's been hypnotized by Poison Ivy and he's evil now. I guess the next issue will be Batman vs. Superman. The story is pretty ridiculous, even for a comic book, but the art is great and it's bombastic in terms of being over-the-top. **1/2

READING THE CLASSICS: BATMAN #610

 

Published on December 22nd, 2002

    This storyline is about Hush, a new villain in the Batman universe, yet here we are in part 3 and he makes only a one panel cameo, standing on a rooftop watching Batman and saying, "All men by nature desire knowledge." I suppose the big bad not even being in the story yet is supposed to build suspense. Besides that, Killer Croc escapes from Arkham thanks to Batman because Batman wants to follow him to see where the $10 million in ransom money went. Croc and Catwoman meet up but were told by someone else to meet there. Croc gets captured again by Amanda Waller, who I was surprised was around in DC back then. The final page has Batman and Catwoman kissing on a rooftop. I'm guessing this wasn't the first time they kissed...but I really didn't think that was a big thing until Tom King ramped it up into a non-wedding event. I just looked it up and I was totally wrong. They first kissed in Batman #3 in 1940. Jesus Christ. So it was always a thing. Funny how comic books are still doing this when it was first done in 1940. I'd say something like, "Are they out of new ideas?" But I guess Hush is at least a new character. During the 12 months that this storyline was published in Batman, the book was the #1 best selling comic for 11 of the 12 months. I have two questions: what month was it not the best selling comic book? And if it was so successful, why did they wait 23 years to do a sequel? **1/2