Hush returns! About 23 years after the two teamed up, Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee are back again to tell an all-new tale featuring Hush. Batman #158 kicks off the hotly anticipated story arc, dubbed Batman: H2SH, and the result is… just ok.

Written by Jeph Loeb, the issue is a strange one. The storytelling feels a little disconnected at points with logic jumps that make absolute no sense. The Joker is at it again, this time poisoning Gotham’s water with fish… because. Of course Batman swoops in to save the day but also stumbles and he himself has to be saved… by someone who just so happens to be in the area. That’s the first oddity of the issue. But then, the Joker is being manipulated? Used as bait? It’s all rather odd overall leading Batman to discover Hush is back with leaps that feel rough and a stretch.

The comic’s entertainment can’t even been saved by Jim Lee‘s art which is good but doesn’t feel like it has the dynamic excitement of the classic story. With ink by Scott Williams, color by Alex Sinclair, and lettering by Richard Starkings, the comic looks great but there’s a lack of excitement visually. There’s solid panels, some beautiful work, it’s what we’d expect from Lee, but there’s nothing that jumps out or excites. It hits the beats but doesn’t excel and stand out like the original.

Batman #158 isn’t a bad issue. It’s entertaining and might lead to something great overall, but as a single issue, it falls short of the excitement and magic of that original release. Logic leaps along with art that doesn’t quite blow things away creates a start that’s just ok overall. In the end, this story arc will be measured by its whole but for a start, this one doesn’t live up to expectations or hype.

Story: Jeph Loeb Art: Jim Lee
Ink: Scott Williams Color: Alex Sinclair Letterer: Richard Starkings
Story: 7.0 Art: 7.0 Overall: 7.0 Recommendation: Read

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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