Jeff Loeb’s and Jim Lee’s Batman: Hush – a quick review

This letter was posted on www.fanboyradio.com. Unfortunately, the site had hosting problems a couple years later, resulting in tons of missing info, including forum topics. The original post no longer exists.

EDIT 6*9*2005: Unfortunately, I do not have the original date this was written; I have not located the original email that I sent to Scott Hinze, host of Fanboy Radio, and the original post is gone. But, since the following review covers the first 5 issues of the arc (Batman #608-612), the 5th issue having been published in February 2003, I have dated this review 3*1*2003. The timestamp will change if the original date is uncovered.

I seem to be the only one who is not enthused with Loeb’s writing on this series. It’s not a terrible book, but I don’t think it lives up to the acclaim it has been given.

In the first 5 issues, the pacing was choppy with plot elements thrown out at the reader left and right without any sort of fluidity. Events seemingly took place simply because they were in the script and they were needed to tell the rest of the story, but they didn’t happen naturally. The dialogue seemed forced and at times unnatural. While the story itself is decent and interesting with all the mystery surrounding the main criminal character, the execution of this decent story is nothing special. The story relies very much on plot elements instead of scripting. For the first 5 issues, I felt like I was reading a chronicle of a Batman story instead of reading an actual Batman story.

Jim Lee’s art is the same as always. Very good draftsmanship. The storytelling is okay, but nothing special. It fits an action/adventure title. We’re still exposed to the same nose, eyes, and lips as always, still relying on the color of the character’s hair to make the biggest difference. His best work in the title so far are the flashback scenes.

I’m also sick of Batman becoming too reliant on this Batman family… is that how a loner is supposed to work? Having a supporting cast is one thing. Reliance on too many people is another. Batman may not be flawless in his actions, but having to be saved way too many times in the story’s beginnings is unforgiveable.

I will say, in defense of the story, is that I’ve continued to read it and have actually enjoyed the last 2 issues (the one with Joker, and the one with Harvey Dent), even despite Batman’s revealing to Catwoman what his alter-ego is (how many people now know who he is?). By the looks of things, the rest of the series will get better and better.