Batman #159

Batman Issue 159 opens old wounds and tries to heal new ones. Loeb explores Batmans morality to its most extreme limit, placing him in charge of keeping the Joker alive. Read Full Review

This book is definitely channeling the original story, for better and worse, but it's a very entertaining read so far. Read Full Review

Overall, Batman #159 is a pivotal issue in the current run. With Jeph Loeb at the helm and the inclusion of key Bat-Family members, it promises a powerful and emotionally charged story that will test the very core of Batman's being. This is a must-read for anyone invested in the Dark Knight's ongoing saga. Read Full Review

Batman #159 is a worthy issue. It brings several key characters to the table and promotes the dangerous genius of Hush to the nth degree. His true scheme is yet to be revealed, but the game is truly afoot now. Read Full Review

Batman #159 is a fascinating glimpse in to the psyche of a Batman who appears to be nearing breaking point. Not all of the pieces in the H2SH puzzle are fitting together yet. But the experience of the story, particularly through the iconic artwork of Lee, Williams and Sinclair, is well worth the price of entry. Read Full Review

Hush 2 is fun so far. Loeb is taking familiar characters and swirling them around together in a fun story, while using the original Hush to inform this sequel. Read Full Review

Hush 2 needs a more compelling reason for existing beyond revisiting what worked so well more than two decades ago. So far it hasnt done enough to validate its existence. Read Full Review

With the interjection of Jason Todd, Hush 2 tries to capture the pain of the Jokers past actions. Unfortunately, the landing doesnt stick. The writing tries forcing Hushs impact too much onto a new pawn. Lees art continues to be the star of the show in this sequel. Unless theres some sort of deeper play happening, there are more faults forming in the foundation. Read Full Review

Batman #159 continues the Hush sequel with cinematic flair, thanks to Jim Lee's gorgeous art, but falters when it comes to emotional logic and core character values. While the pieces are in place for a grander narrative, this chapter feels like it's buying time rather than delivering impact. In the collected edition, it might land more strongly, but in isolation, it's a stylish but uneven ride. Read Full Review

Batman #159amps up the interpersonal drama when Batman is forced to take unusual measures to save Joker. Jeph Loeb's script is serviceable script is high on tension but short on surprises or Hush, and Jim Lee's art is masterful. Get it for the Jim Lee art, but don't expect to be blown away by the story. Read Full Review

Batman #159 presents a frustratingly thin and dated plot, centered on Batman's baffling decision to save the Joker, which leads to recycled conflicts with Red Hood and questionable character choices. Despite the illogical narrative, the comic is visually salvaged by Jim Lee's stellar and dynamic artwork, which remains a significant highlight. Read Full Review

As continuity and the chance for something fresh shatters,Batman #159 leaves the much anticipated Hushsequel in a place more intelligible, but somehow even less interesting, than the first issue had. Overall, Jim Lee carries the book artistically enough to warrant a short perusal through the issue, but that is all. Read Full Review

Batman #159 leans too much on telling yet another chapter in the never-ending Batman and Joker narrative. This leads to easily forgetting that this is supposed to be part of the sequel to Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee's Hush story. The only thing that saves this second chapter from being a complete dud is the development involving Nightwing, Oracle, and Riddler. That and Jim Lee's high-quality artwork. But even then, that is not enough to save this from being a disappointing second chapter to the Hush sequel, aka H2sh. Read Full Review

Batman H2SH remains a disappointing and confusing follow-up to the original 2002 storyline. The characters are reduced to their most primitive iterations, and even the art is unexceptional. Read Full Review

Batman #159 is a rehash of every argument Batman and Jason have had over the past twenty years in the worst way. It would be exhausting enough if it were just the same conflict as always, but this is actually a major regression of their relationship to recreate its status quo from when Jason was first resurrected. In order to get to that point, it requires everyone involved to act in absurd ways so that every ounce of melodrama can be squeezed from them. What results is a story that will only upset fans of the characters. Read Full Review

fudo

Apr 23, 2025

really liked it

mego-joe

Apr 23, 2025

This is a great follow up to last month’s Batman #158. The mystery expands and there is some great character work with Bruce Wayne. Loeb brings in characters that can show a different side of Batman like Leslie Thompkins and Jason Todd. He’s unsure around them both and Loeb makes that part of the story. Loeb also continues to uses the pieces of the original “Hush” as he brings other characters in. It’s another fun and exciting comic that captures a classic feel and exposes some of the deficiencies in many contemporary comics.

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NerdDadBrad - Apr 24, 2025

I'm having a hard time with this so far, I think there is some promise, but hope we get it soon. I'll be putting your review on my podcast, Lunchbreak Reviews.

mego-joe - Apr 24, 2025

I think what’s working for me is the fact that it feels older. Been off Batman for a while and there’s a lot of stuff that resonates with me. I think there are some surprises coming too.

motorik

Apr 23, 2025

Critics are being a bit harsh. This is ok. I'm not as demanding as some comic readers on here but all this disperate elements here gave me immense deja vu. Hardly classic Loeb and not even in the same stratosphere as Mark Waid or Scott Snyder.

myconius

Apr 23, 2025

While this was still far from excellent, I have to say I actually enjoyed this issue, despite a few really terrible story choices. Batman having to use a gun against Jason Todd is the biggest offender. Batman's actions here completely diminish the climax of BATMAN UNDER THE RED HOOD. He didn't need to use a gun against Jason there, and shouldn't require one to overpower him here. That being said, I did find Batman's dilemma of being conflicted towards saving Joker very interesting, as was the scene with Leslie Thompkins. This issue did give me similar vibes and got me itching to re-read Peter Tomasi's DETECTIVE story where Leslie gets "Jokerized". Anyway... There are still many areas where the art looks rushed, but overall the art doe s look a lot better in this issue than the previous. Well, everything except for The Riddler's new look! WTF?! This is far from becoming my favorite Batman story, but it is getting me interested in what is coming next. Hopefully it'll hold my interest going forward. more

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• NerdDadBrad

NerdDadBrad - Apr 24, 2025

I agree with a lot of what your saying, I kept going from a 6.5-7.5, but ended up going down to 6.5 on this one. I'll be putting your review on my podcast Lunchbreak reviews, check out. I'm always open for a good Batman discussion.

K-23

May 21, 2025

Love the stuff with Leslie but everything with Jason was way off.

ComicsGild

Apr 23, 2025

As a fan of the first issue, I get why this doesn't shine as we would've hoped it would. It doesn't spark, the story isn't mind blowing, the art is just solid... but we're not on the edge of our seat, holding our breath while reaching the end of the issue, need a minute to think it over after its done, craving for more... We wanted this, but they didn't deliver that. Let me be clear its not bad, but they didn't deliver on their promise.

NerdDadBrad

Apr 24, 2025

Batman Hush 2, is just really OK. It doesn't feel like this should be in continuity. Batman saves the life of The Joker, Red Hood get's pissed and that is pretty much the entire issue. Batman saving the life of his mortal enemy, at the cost of his biggest failure and even calling himself out for it. This is just opening old scars in Batman, and I don't know if it is really needed. I'm still in for the ride on this, and hope that it'll do better in future issues. I'll be doing a full Lunchbreak reviews on this book ASAP!

Kenjamin

May 21, 2025

Art: 3.5/5 Story: 3/5 Total: 6.5/10

daspidaboy

Apr 23, 2025

Something about this story is just.... so stale and lifeless. Like it doesn't have that spark, it's just going through the motions. I really don't lie the fact that Batman would actually shoot a gun, unless it was by any means necessary (like him shooting Darkseid in Final crisis). It's not bad, but it's just.... meh and whatever. The only reason this is not a 5 out of 10 is because current Jim Lee's art is still above most modern comic book artists.

BatSledge

Apr 23, 2025

Disappointing. This issue is riddled with inconsistencies in the characterizations. Not to mention Batman spends 2/3 of the story sitting in chairs, inert. When he becomes active, it’s to have yet another fight with Jason Todd and he shoots him in the head to stop him when he could have stopped him in half a dozen other ways. We get an out of left field plot development with Barbara, Dick and the Riddler in yet another new costume variant and with knowledge of their identities. Finally, we are 1/3 of the way through the story and Hush has barely appeared. Very disappointing. The art, while not spectacular, saves the issue from being purely mediocre.

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• NerdDadBrad

NerdDadBrad - Apr 24, 2025

I agree with you a bunch on this one. I'll be reading your review on my podcast, Lunchbreak Reviews.

Gophfacekillah

Apr 23, 2025

It’s clear Loeb hasn’t read a Batman title since the last time he was writing one. So he doesn’t know that this conflict between Bruce and Jason is pretty stale and is only regressing Jason more. The art was also pretty basic especially for Lee. But I don’t really blame him with Loeb not really giving him anything to work with. You can tell Loeb’s heart really isn’t in this and I’m bummed that I’m excited for this to be over only two issues in. I really hope I’m wrong and it turns around. But for now it’s not a tragedy to Batman but it is at best an unnecessary side step.

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• Hex

NerdDadBrad - Apr 24, 2025

Great Review, I'll be reading it on my podcast Lunchbreak reviews.

Aesopjer

Apr 23, 2025

There’s three other current Batman titles that are incredible and accommodating to different tastes. All of which I love. Then there is this. I like the full paged art of Batman and Red Hood pointing a gun at one and another.. but, why? lol

Hex

May 15, 2025

This is just... not it. Art is 50/50 between great and sloppy. Writing is clearly by someone who hasn't read anything since he wrote the first Hush. Why is Jason fighting Batman AGAIN over the thing they have hashed out countless times? Why is Batman using a gun? Why is he shooting Jason in the head because it's "unanticipated"? I can't even be intrigued by the cliffhanger with the Riddler because this doesn't feel like Batman. Like I said before, this is a sequel that needed to happen 23 years ago. Getting it now with a script and writer who ignores all of the growth and regression, over and over again that Jason has had is just exhausting.

fzanca

Apr 30, 2025

The only reason I'm rating this at this level is because of the artwork. Otherwise, it would be a 1. It seems like Loeb has never read a Batman comic and doesn't know the rules. This is so horrible that I can't believe Jim Lee agreed to do the art. I gave it one more issue, and from the looks of it, it's not going to get any better. I can't believe that I'm dropping Hush 2 by Jim Lee, but this is just a piece of trash. I hope sales plummet so DC understands they can't just slap titles on something and it will sell. My Comic Review Channel - https://youtu.be/HVFBd98HtzY

sawright20

Apr 23, 2025

I don’t think Jeph Loeb has read a Batman book in the last 20 years.

Tempra16v2.0Turbo

Apr 23, 2025

Wow, this is so boring. Everything here is written as if it were the first time it happened: Batman saving the Joker? It's nothing new, he even gave up adrenaline to save the clown when Nightwing killed him. Batman and Jason conflict? Again? The only thing remotely interesting in this comic is the horrible new design of the Riddler..........and why he's working with Batgirl.

Quinn

Apr 23, 2025

I rate this an “oh, brother.” B takes J to Leslie Thompkins’ clinic. Leslie lives there, talk about dedication to mission. No wonder Bruce is so neurotic. His great inspiration never leaves the office. So Leslie’s clinic has surgical facilities, but is not open 24/7 - strike one. Leslie and Bruce argue but she saves Joker - strike two. Because Bruce doesn’t trust any other medical family in the world to save Joker, including JLA ones, he brings J to the Batcave, which is apparently sterile enough to offer post-op care - strike three. Strike four is Bruce shooting Jason in the head (flesh wound, not fatal, great shot for a guy who hates guns). This is done because Jason wants to kill the Joker. Bruce gets knocked out again and J ason takes Joker away because he is working with Hush. Meanwhile Riddler has crashed Batgirl/Oracle’s hq because he is just that smart. Strike five. Bruce should have a terrible concussion, but oh, well. So many questions, like how does Bruce get the Joker’s body to the cave after Leslie’s surgery? An ambulance, a Batambulance, strapped to the passenger seat of the Batmobile? I ask these questions because it’s like the old “South Park” bit about underwear gnomes who say “one steal underwear, two blank, three profits.” Steps are skipped, and the story reminds me of so many in the past. That’s the problem with Jason, he is a character created in a corner surrounded by wet paint. There is one story you can do with him, and that story has been done to death, pun intended. And don’t get me started on Bruce’s no kill rule being greater than his no gun rule. Batman Beyond answered that question, and to have him shoot Jason in the helmeted head just to save the Joker? Talk about a bridge too far. Loeb is going back to a plot that is 20 years old, but that train left the station. The result is a story that ignores character progress while repeating plots that have been repeated over and over again in the last two decades. Not a good story. Art is even pedestrian. Or I could be wrong. more

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NerdDadBrad - Apr 24, 2025

great review. I'll be reading it on my podcast Lunchbreak Reviews ASAP.

Quinn - Apr 24, 2025

Thanks for reading my review on your podcast. Go to YouTube and look up underwear gnomes. You’ll see a couple of very funny videos.