Batman #163 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 #163 is available from today, in comic book stores and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your physical copy from Forbidden Planet or digitally from Amazon Comixology UK.
Synopsis
The shocking conclusion to “H2SH” Part One with Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee! Will Batman survive Hush’s revenge when his only allies are his greatest enemies?
Review
After another protracted wait the “H2SH” storyline is back in comic book stores today and wrapping up its first arc in Batman #163. For those still on this rollercoaster, Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee are wrapping up the first six issues of the story with a typically bombastic and fast moving issue which also seeks to setup a second part of the story for further down the line.
In case you need a little catch up on the events of issue #162 which released back in November… Bruce has been separated from the rest of the Bat-Family. His actions in saving Joker have alienated everyone close to him, leaving the Dark Knight to go after Hush by himself. But first there seems to be a collection of super-villains in front of him and his entire extended family quickly catching up behind.
On the face of it this final chapter has everything it needs. It’s tense as hell on both sides of the fight. Nightwing, Batgirl, Catwoman and the team feel seconds away from imploding as they debate the merits of taking down their hero and father figure. Whilst being held at gunpoint by Joker seems to lead to Bruce making some rather questionable choices about who he should choose to work with in order to finally catch up with Hush. Naturally this leads to bunch of really exciting confrontations which Jim Lee renders with his usual gusto. But it does struggle to hold up against the logic of its character decisions.
At this stage it feels a little too easy for absolutely everyone, including Damien, to have turned their backs on Bruce. Yes his actions in saving Joker could naturally have caused conflict. He did behave rather shockingly towards Barbara a couple of issues ago. But rather than debating what might be causing Bruce to act out of turn the entire family instead chooses to go to war with him? It’s not inconceivable but it doesn’t quite feel earned. Likewise, would even a Bruce this desperate choose to team with what is a gang of almost all his biggest villains? Whilst “my enemy’s enemies are my allies” almost cover it, again the decision doesn’t quite feel entirely earned.
That being said nobody can fault Loeb for the sheer volume of twists and turns in the story. From pitting the Bat-Family against Clayface rather than Batman. To the surprise arrival of Talia and a very shocking and unexpected death. There’s certainly a sense that everything is being poured into Bamtan #163 in order to steer the ship to a blockbuster conclusion. Those final moments setup a potentially interesting second act for “H2SH”, albeit one which possibly steps away from the villain himself, making his place in the story feel more of placeholder than pivotal.
It’s Lee’s artwork which once again saves the day for this arc of Batman. The above splash page is classic Lee and looks great will Scott Williams’ inks and Alex Sinclair’s colours. Moments like this are littered throughout the book and just serve as a reminder what this creative team is capable of. Even when the story feels like it’s at its most continuity-challenging it still looks incredible.
Verdict
Batman #163 arrives a little late to the party but is still a solid conclusion to what has been a curious but engaging first half of the story. The mix of Loeb’s twisty plotting and Lee’s exquisite artwork keep things afloat whilst setting up an interesting second half of the story for a later date.
⭐⭐⭐
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