DC is setting the stage for an epic showdown betweenBatmanandBatgirl—one that’s bound to be as intense as it is game-changing. But Batgirl isn’t the only Bat-Family member the Dark Knight will clash with. Teasers hint that these upcoming confrontations will shatter alliances and redefine loyalties within the Bat-Family like never before.
One of the most highly anticipated comic storylines of the year is the upcomingsequel to the iconicBatman: Hush, which reunites legends Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee for another unforgettable tale. The saga kicks off on June 10, 2025, withBatman#158.
However, looking ahead toBatman#161—the fourth installment ofHush 2, set to release on August 10, 2025—fans have even more reason to be excited. The main cover by Jim Lee teases a brutal showdown between Batman and Barbara Gordon’s Batgirl, while the synopsis hints at a shocking shift in Robin’s loyalties as he teams up with Bane.
Hush 2Will Pit the Bat-Family Against Each Other in Epic Battle
Cover F Jim Lee Foil Virgin Variant forBatman#159 (2024)
Jim Lee has once again outdone himself with the main cover forBatman#161, depicting an epic clash between Batgirl and Batman. In the artwork,Barbara appears to have the upper hand as she attacks Bruce from above, wielding two tonfas—a traditional Okinawan martial arts weapon resembling a T-shaped baton. Sparks fly between the duo as their blows collide, with Batman relying on his gauntlets as his primary defense. Lee also brilliantly pays homage toFrank Miller’s iconic cover forThe Dark Knight Returns, which shows Batman leaping into action, silhouetted by a vivid blue lightning bolt tearing through the sky behind him.
Likewise, Lee’s cover forBatman#161 captures Batgirl and Batman mid-air as they clash, with rain pouring down and a lightning bolt illuminating the background. This striking parallel makes it clear that Lee’s work is an epic tribute to Miller’s legendary art. However, this breathtaking cover isn’t the only indicator of upcoming Bat-Family turmoil. The synopsis for this issue hints at a major shift in loyalties, teasing,“Batman’s battle with Hush takes a dark turn when Damian (Robin) and Bane team up!”Based on this solicitation, it seems all but certain that the Bat-Family’s loyalties are about to be redefined in a major way.
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Cover E Lee Bermejo Supersmash-Up Variant forBatman#160 (2025)
With Batman openly battling Batgirl on the main cover and the synopsis confirming Damian’s alliance with Bane, there’s no denying that Loeb and Lee are setting the stage for serious inner-family turmoil within the Bat-Family. This tension is further emphasized byBatman#159, which confirms that Nightwing and Red Hood will also be involved in the narrative. One of Lee’s covers for that issue even features Jason Todd standing over the bodies of Joker and Batman, guns still smoking. Hence,Batman’sgreatest strength—his family—appears poised to become his greatest weakness, or at the very least, a major obstacle as he faces off againstHushonce again.
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