This is a great story! I loved the storyline, with all its twists and turns, and found the illustrations to be absolutely excellent! My son and I both loved this story, and highly recommend it. We're also breathlessly waiting until we can see the sequel!


Great Art, Decent Story   June 21, 2003
 12 out of 22 found this review helpful

I actually started collecting the storyline in the single-issue comics from the Batman vs. Superman and since nearly all the backissues for this storyline is near-impossible to get, I bought the TPB for the earlier stories. The art of Jim Lee is stunning, it is easy to see why he ranks as one of the best comic artists of all time. And add Jim's talents with Jeph Loeb's storytelling, you've got a winner. While I really admire Jeph Loeb's works (The Long Halloween, Dark Victory, Superman for all Seasons), the story for Hush falls a tad below my expectations. Sure there is a great plot, a new villain, new developments, but in my opinion the stories seem to drag on a little. The main point being that I guess he was tryiong to provide elbow room for Jim Lee to showcase his take on the world of the Dark Knight. I mean some of the plots that encompass an entire issue could have been done in half the time and space. I guess those who buy the TPB will not feel it as much as those who still have to wait each month for the new upcoming issues, like me, but I guess I am just venting. But other than that complaint the storyline is flawless and a great read. And trust me, get volume two of Hush as well, there are a lot of developments (identities are revealed) :), a lot of old characters come into play and you finally meet the man behind the enitre Hush storyline. The debate on his identity is a heated one, just check the DC messageboards.


Meh.   July 13, 2003
 9 out of 18 found this review helpful

To reiterate most of the other reviews: Yes, this isn't Loeb's best (seriously, did THAT part of Superman's past have to be revived?! Uck!) work. Yes, Lee's amazing as usual.

However, that's not why I gave this collection 3 stars. It's for the hardcover itself.

Marvel's raised the bar for hardcover editions lately, so maybe I'm just spoiled. However, DC just isn't measuring up with their line. You can take that as you will.

I ordered the Hush hardcover alongside the Spider-man: Blue hardcover, and the differences between them are obvious:

1. Just to get it out of the way, I'll admit that I'm annoyed that the entire 12-part storyline wasn't collected in one large hardback. I'd bet most would be happy to wait a little longer and pay more to have one collected edition, rather than several volumes. Take a look at Ultimate Spider-man Vol 1, and the fact it sold out, and tell me nobody would want Hush presented that way.

2. The pages themselves feel thin and fragile. After leafing through Blue and it's thicker pages, I felt like I would rip Hush's if I wasn't careful.

3. I know I'm nitpicking with this, but the book sleeve was poorly designed. Art-wise, it's beautiful (hey, it IS Jim Lee, you know!). However, it's normal paper based, with exceptions made for artistic reasoning. Look at all of Marvel's hardcover line, and they have glossy, tough sleeves. I've only had the book for about a week, and the vast majority of that time it's been in my bookcase with my other hardcovers. And yet the edges where torn and wrinkled when I first got it. The top edge has a curl to it, and it has a visible fingerprints/smudging from being used. Blue, on the other hand, has been handled more, and looks brand new.

There's really no comparison quality wise between Marvel's new line, and Hush's first volume. DC really dropped the ball on this one. Don't get me wrong, it's not the worst hardcover out there...but it should have been one of the best. The closest comparison I can draw to Hush, is with my oldest hardcover: The 1989 first printing of Karven's Last Hunt. It's been read over and over again over the years, and as such definately has a slightly worn look to it. However, a friend of mine was perusing my bookcase the other day, and honestly thought Kraven's Last Hunt was the NEWER book. The only thing that gives it away was the text used for the titling, which is definately an older style. So, apparantly Marvel published a better long-lasting hardcover in 1989 then DC could in 2003. Sad.

Very disappointing, but it's still better than the paperback edition. If you don't have the individual comics, buy it, but be prepared to handle it carefully.


I hate this book.   August 14, 2003
 9 out of 20 found this review helpful

All of it is so dull and dry. I read it and get deja vu - 'didn't that already happen?', 'haven't I seen this plotline before?'. Dick Grayson attempts to connect w/ Batman! Catwoman seduces him like only she can! Villain has to be brought down! Batman wants to kill but then feels bad that he ever contemplated it! It all seems unnecessary, like it's going in a circular pattern. The art is good (great in many spots) but stylistically rather plain. Though in '95 I would've been thrilled.


Part One -- Pretty good!   October 18, 2005
 9 out of 15 found this review helpful

I'm a Batman fan, hands down. It's all ways been about the Dark Knight, more so than the Boy In Blue and all of DC's other characters. Batman has always been top of the line for me. I may not collect the monthlies but many of my favorite comics are Batman comics: Dark Knight Returns, Batman: Year One, The Killing Joke, Gotham by Gaslight, to name a few.

When I heard that Lee was going to be joining the Batman team, I was pretty excited. I checked out the issues as they came in. Never buying, but looking them over. One of my favorite images of Batman was this drawing that Lee did for Batman Black and White many years ago. I was excited to think of what he might do with a whole comic let alone a few issues.

Now that I've seen the final product, I guess I feel a little let down. Maybe I'm preferential to other artists like Miller, Breyfogle, Wagner, and others who portray him as a creature of the shadows and not a hulking brute who just beats the crap out of everything he comes across. Right from the get go, we're getting a Batman who looks more like Spartan from Wildcats with a cape. I did like his work on Killer Croc and Catwoman. All complaints aside, Jim Lee can draw women better than anyone out there save John Cassaday.

I guess, what I was hoping for was Jim to mess with his usual style and maybe try some of the stuff he used to do with Deathblow and come up with more darkness than was used. Although, he seems to do that a little more in the second Volume of Hush, I just wasn't feeling that his art style was the best for Batman.

As for Loeb's writing, it's really good. The story kind of goes from plot point to plot point and it's kind of like a who's who in the Batman Rogues Gallery. The Catwoman/Batman twist makes for good reading but sometimes his narrative seemed forced and not needed. We see his Batline get cut but do we need to be told "Someone cut my Batline!" I don't think so.

Good start. Volume Two is much better.