Smiley Spot: Batman vs Hush

This holiday season, I have chosen to re-read some of my favorite comic book stories. The first of these series I read was Paul Dini and Dustin Nguyen’s recent run on Batman, primarily focusing on the return of Hush to Gotham city.

As many know, Paul Dini was the head writer on the legendary Batman animated series in the 90’s and wrote both of the recent Arkham video games. His take on Batman and his villains is one of the most celebrated in comics and has gone on to shape the way the public views Batman. For his comic book run, Dini was first put on Detective Comics, telling self-contained stories with Batman facing his villains. The highlight of this run for me is a dark Christmas issue where the Joker in a mini-van captures Robin, and the Joker torments Robin by driving over people.

As the Batman comics were about to be reshuffled due to Grant Morrison’s Batman R.I.P. and Batman and Robin, Dini brought his run into an epic confrontation with one time Batman villain Hush. Hush, created by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee was a childhood friend of Bruce who becomes a villain and the opinions on the story were mixed. Dini in his initial Hush story entitled Heart of Hush, we learn far more of Hush’s back story, his terrible childhood and where his hatred of Bruce Wayne comes from. Dini and artist Dustin Nguyen make a fun suspense story that leaves the door open for the team’s primary work on their new title Batman: Streets of Gotham.

Streets of Gotham shows Dini at his most inventive, showing the entire cast of Gotham City and how they operate within the rest of the Batman comics. It has always impressed me that Dini, a Batman legend, was so willing to work with all of the other Batman comics being published. It showed a real dedication and sense of teamwork on his part that no matter his status among the fans, any Gotham story was worthy of his attention.

Their final story ark entitled House of Hush was a great story as well. Through the story, we learn how Thomas and Martha Wayne met in Gotham, through Hush’s jaded and criminal perspective. Dini’s use of DC comics history makes the meeting, an important and undiscovered part of Batman’s past, worthy of the characters and a new and enjoyable piece of Cannon. The subtle hints to Joker’s origins and how he might have connections to Bruce Wayne’s parents is an excellent, and disturbing addition to the narrative. Again, when the Batman books were changing again due to Batman Inc, Dini played ball and made his story work in the context of his tale.

Nguyen is an artist who is entirely his own and is a pleasure to read. What I love about Nguyen’s style is that he never tries to give you the money shot in a comic. He gives you the kinetic moments that real life is about. Batman is never a hero because he is statuesque in these books; Batman is a hero because he moves just a little bit faster and a little bit stronger than the other characters. I look forward to Nguyen taking on the Batman Beyond characters in his exclusive digital series.

If you like Batman and you want to read a wide variety of fun, detailed and well drawn stories I’d encourage Batman: Streets of Gotham, and Heart of Hush. Happy holidays and Happy New Years to everyone involved with us at Usyfaber, and I hope our comics can make your holiday stakes this year.

Dov Smiley