Hush 2’sprelude teases the return of an iconicBatmanvillain, and his return has me hyped for the sequel to the iconic story. “The Promise,” a prelude by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee published inJustice League Unlimited#1, teases the return of Hush inBatman, along with the villain’s new plan. But as the prelude reveals new details about Hush’s return, the more excited I find myself about his return - and the more hopeful I feel about Hush having a future in the DC Universe.
While I’ve always been interested inthe idea of Hush as a character, and he has had some great stories in his publication history beyond just the originalHushstory by Loeb and Lee, I always felt like there was a certain factor that was missing from the character.In an iconic rogues gallery, such as Batman’s, it’s already hard to stand out, but that’s been a constant problem for Hush as a character.
The sequel, which officially begins in March’sBatman#158, appears to rectify this, simply by havingHush take on the entire Bat-Family, as well as giving him a deeper thematic parallel with Batman.
Despite His Strong Debut inBatman: Hush, Hush Has Struggled as a Character
“The Promise” by Jeph Loeb, Jim Lee, Scott Williams, Alex Sinclair, and Richard Starkings
While the character made his debut inthe iconicHushstorylineby Loeb and Lee, I always felt that the character didn’t have a strong showing in this story, despite how well-loved it is. Much of Hush’s stronger characterization, as well as the idea of Hush copying Bruce Wayne’s face, comes from the pen of writer Paul Dini. These stronger showings, which often included more interesting schemes for Hush to undertake, consequently havemade the character’s depiction inHushfeel weaker in hindsight, despite the story’s iconic status. At times, it feels like the eponymous villain is the weakest link in his own debut.
The teaser forHush 2has me excited to see what Loeb and Lee will do with the character’s return.
But with the variouscontinuity reboots of the DC Universesince then,Hush has never had a strong place in the various Batman books. As the Dark Knight’s other villains have adapted and changed with the times, Hush himself always felt like a remnant of those previous eras. He appears for group shots and as a fodder villain, but nothing of note has been done with the character in recent years. While I do like Hush as a character and as a villain, it’s not hard to see that he’s had a hard time standing out in theBatmanline.
However, the teaser forHush 2has me excited to see what Loeb and Lee will do with the character’s return.The character has been allowed to evolve, and his plans now involve targeting the Bat-Family in addition to Batman himself, as well as having some kind of plan for his many villains. This change lets him fit in with the way the Bat-Family books have changed, finally letting Hush break free of the past without losing what initially made him unique.
I Hope that theBatman:HushSequel Will Finally Upgrade the Villain
Hush Is Given a New Scheme and a New Batman Parallel
While there have been other villainswho target the Bat-Family,Hush differs in that he is purely motivated by pettiness and hatred towards Bruce Wayne. He won’t be targeting the other Gotham characters because they’re in his way or because he wants to try and make Bruce into a better Batman. He’s targeting them for the sole reason that they’re associated with Batman.Hush 2seeks to make him into a larger villain, but the personal heart of his grudge with Batman is kept alive and well. There’s no ideological divide between the two, only an old grudge.
Intriguingly, the prelude also features Batman directly comparing himself to Hush, citing how they’ve both made promises which fundamentally altered the way they live their lives. I think this parallel was the factor that Hush was missing previously: a deep thematic connection to Batman. But Loeb has finally found it, and with it,he’s delivered a new layer to Batman’s rivalry with Hush. The two aren’t just childhood best friends turned into bitter enemies anymore, but rather reflections of one another. They’re two men haunted by the promises of their youths, unwilling and unable to give up their oaths.
Batman: Hush Sequel Shares First Peek with Special Prelude: What to Know
Batman: Hush is one of the most famous Batman stories, and now the original creative team is returning to give fans a sequel to this iconic story.
Hush 2finally has me excited for Hush’s return. Through teasing Hush fighting the entire Bat-Family, as well as establishing a deeper thematic connection with Batman himself, I think the long-anticipated sequel has me hooked now. Hush has always had the potential to be an especially engaging addition to Batman’s rogues gallery, but few stories have capitalized on those ideas. “The Promise” teases a new take on the iconicBatmancharacter, one that seeks to realize that potential. While only time will tell ifHush 2lives up to the hype, this teaser has me excited about where it goes next.
