Batman #160 is written by Jeph Loeb and published by DC. Artwork is by Jim Lee, inks by Scott Williams, colours by Alex Sinclair and letters by Richard Starkings. Main cover art (left) is by Lee and Sinclair.
Batman #160 is available from today, in print and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your copy from Amazon Comixology UK right here.
Synopsis
The gentleman’s name is Silence, and his alliance with Hush willdestroy Batman!
Review
It’s time for part three of DC’s ambitious H2SH arc to arrive in comic book stores. As the team of Loeb and Lee draws back the curtain and reveals more of the events unfolding in Gotham. Fans continue to pour over every detail of the book searching for clues as to Hush’s deadly plans. But as the story reaches the half way mark questions still remain as to whether the sequel can affirm its place in the pantheon of great Bat-stories.
Last month we learned that Jason Todd was in Hush’s pocket as he broke in to the Batcave and stared down Batman through the barrel of a gun. Many fans were shocked in the moment as Bruce too held a gun to his former partner’s head. A moment which some felt broke character for the Dark Knight. All of which is picked up on as Batman #160 follows on mere minutes after the previous issue ended. Only now one crucial piece of the puzzle is finally making an appearance, Hush himself. Or herself for that matter. We’re still in the dark as to who might be under the bandages. But finally, three issues in to H2SH, the villain is making an appearance on the page.
Batman #160 makes it clear that Loeb has a point to make about the Bat-family and their relationships. Between scenes in the Batcave and those in Barbara’s clock tower, it’s clear that relations both behind and out their masks are somewhat key to what Joker, Riddler and Hush are doing. It’s also strongly hinted that perhaps a shift in the dynamics may be coming before the series resets itself to issue #1 when this arc finishes. Of course we’re still in the dark as to what that might be. But it certainly makes for compelling reading seeing Loeb digging this deep in to what makes the Bat-family tick.
We do learn a little more about what is happening with Jason. Giving potential context as to why he is taking actions against the rest of his team. Loeb ties everything in neatly to Jason’s history which amps up the potentially tragic nature of his story. Loeb also utilises Hush’s manipulations of Jason as a neat way to escalate his diabolical nature. His manipulations are clear on the page and it works so neatly to build up the audiences dislike of the character. Ultimately that’s going to help increase the pay off when Batman finally (hopefully) takes Hush down.
From there Loeb is able to splinter the storytelling in issue #160, widening the scope of the book to cover more of the ensemble cast. There’s time to catch up with Jim Gordon, himself in a rather nasty predicament now. Then there’s events in the clocktower which are ultimately very enlightening about Riddler’s new status quo. I’m not just talking about his chiselled new physique either. It all leads in to a fun, if lethal, face-off between Nightwing and Red Hood and a first appearance in this storyline for Damian Wayne. At this stage only Tim Drake is missing from the roster of Robin’s so I’m interested to see if he will become part of the story also.
Part of the charm of the original Hush storyline was how it became a who’s who of Gotham and DC. It’s somewhat of an all-star book. Without ever compromising on its storytelling Loeb was able to tee up the chance for Lee to draw every major Bat-character in existence as well as plenty of other Justice League members and DC heroes. That naturally led to high expectations coming in H2SH. But Loeb and Lee have side-stepped that and at this stage I think its safe to say this is a much more personal story for Bruce.
As such the reveal that Hush has been creating his own villains, plenty of whom appear here, is brilliant. Rather than history repeating itself, this version of Hush (whoever they may be) is rewriting the rule book. Knowing that Bruce has an encyclopaedic knowledge of his adversaries seems like the ultimate play to put Batman on the back foot. But the time the epic conclusion of Batman #160 rolls around the Dark Knight is facing not only a villain who knows his every move. But a villain who also has a small army of super powered goons of whom he has absolutely no knowledge.
As H2SH hits the half way mark things are certainly looking bleak for the Dark Knight…
Verdict
Batman #160 is easily the best issue of the H2SH arc to-date. It s consolidates all of the groundwork which Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee has laid over the past couple of months, capitalising on Hush’s knowledge of Batman to back him in to a corner. Loeb’s slow burn storytelling is finally coming together to rival Lee’s epic artwork.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
