If there's one thing I think we all have in common, it's our taste in comics!
So, what's the word on that Batman story "Hush"? Anyone like it? Anyone hate it? Is it worth buying?
I didn't pick it up when it came out, well, mainly because I really don't have too much interest in comics other than JB these days, but what's more, I was never hot for Jim Lee, nor do I like Jeph Loeb (Especially now that he's shitting all over JB's Superman!) - but at the time the series was coming out, I was managing a bookstore, and "Batman" was one of the few comics we could get (see previous threads for my trials and tribulations trying to get comics from anyone other than Diamond. Hint: It's not really possible!) - and I flipped through each issue - my duty as a book store manager - and I was always kind of interested in the story - never enough to really sit down and read it, but it looked interesting enough...
Cut to Now: I manage a record store, and we have both versions of the Trade Hardcover - and I get it at cost, which is pretty cheap - and I'm really thinking of buying it, but... is it really worth it? Is the story interesting? Is it worth buying? Or am I tossing $20 into the toilet? Would I, a John Byrne fan, enjoy it?
Actually, I hear that will be the story line to DC's NEXT big story event:
THE SEARCH FOR BATMAN'S NECK!
A 12 issue prest. format series drawn by Jim Lee (with a guest artist for the end when the neck is found) coming to you this summer.
Dwayne Ferguson http://www.whatashock.com "There is no wisdom or virtue in seeking unnecessary martydom or deliberately courting persecution..."
C.S. Lewis
I loved it. Very glad I invested the money and the year in buying and reading it. Like everything else it had flaws, but personally I really enjoyed it.
Not sure how far you've browsed through it, so I'll not give any spoilers away, but I found the ending unsatisfying. If you've read it and want to discuss it, feel free to email me (so we don't spoil it for anyone else).
I quite like Jim Lee's art. In my book he and Chris Bachalo vie for #3 after JB and Perez, but of course that's down to personal taste. I actually see a lot of JB influences in Jim's work, but that might just be me.
I think it's a cleverly-written story, and it got me in. Lots of really nice internal monologue stuff, which I think Jeph does very well. I like the way he handles the people inside the masks, and while he's not everyone's cup of tea, I think, by and large, he's respectful to the important elements of the characters.
I believe the 8-page "interlude" bit that was published in Wizard magazine is included in the trade(s). If it isn't, it's worth hunting down. It's not central to the story, but it's a nice view of Alfred and Catwoman's characters interacting.
You might pick who 'Hush' is partway through, I certainly did, and the clues are there. Anyway, it's not perfect but I think it's worth the investment.
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You are a god among insects. Never let anyone tell you different.
I think the Hush "event" was better than the story, but the art was nice. I EAGERLY anticipated each issue, and I even got actively involved in some of the discussion revolving around Hush's identity on the Comicboards site (that's what I mean by the Hush "event" -- that is, the build-up and anticipation itself).
The wait for the Hush storyline to play out was the most fun I've had in the comics realm in a long time -- a perfect union of hype and content. Not that the content itself was very meaty; rather, Lee's art was superb, and Loeb's story spoon-fed us just enough to keep our interest, and to keep the story moving.
As a story unto itself, though, there are a lot of holes. It probably still reads as a fun story, though, so I'd say you probably wouldn't regret picking it up -- just don't go into it expecting it to be a masterpiece.
Just my $0.02.
-- JCB
[Typo]
This message has been edited by jcbodin on Mar 24, 2004 12:37 AM
This is a story where I liked MOST of it, but not all. I liked much of the mystery, and really enjoyed some of the individual sequences. I really don't want to say what I liked or disliked because if you decide to read it, you should get the chance to enjoy the same mysteries.
I got it just because of Jim Lee and I think the book sold as well as it did because it has batman drawn by Jim Lee as opposed to batman drawn by another artist, or jim Lee drawing one of his wildstorm creation.
I HATED the story, the end was a big let down. I don't enjoy Jeph Loebs stories. I didn't like the story he did also with Superman and Batman. It's just has a lot of shock factor, but nothing worthwhile. The only project I read from Loebs that I found bearable is the Captain America story he did with Rob Liefeld! haha, really, the story wasn't that bad, but I dislike his other stories. Even Long Holloween was a letdown.
As long as Jim Lee is sticks to drawing and not writing, he is capable of producing very pretty pictures. I thought "Hush" was one of the better Batman arcs I've read in about ten years. (That would be more impressive if I hadn't stopped buying Batman about ten years ago, but I still basically liked it). Lots of red herrings in this one (probably too many) but they certainly covered the villain waterfront, letting Lee draw many of his biggest foes. Seven batarangs out of ten.
Well, OK! So far, everyone seems to have liked it, and those of you who have replied have always seemed to be on my comics fequency, so... I think I'll give it a shot - I'll check back tomorrow before I buy it, in case there's a flood of last min "don't buy it!" posts posted tomorrow morning - but if not, I'll pick it up, read it (AFTER I read JB's Hawkman!) and get back to you guys with my thoughts.
Thanks gang,
Mike O'Brien
The Musclebound Mike N. (Login ArgentFox) Byrne Victim
Re: "e;Hush"e; Q for the board
March 24 2004, 2:17 AM
I think Hush was a better event than a story. Having to wait for the next chapter and speculate about where it was going was really invigorating.
I don't know how having it all in one sitting will play out for the first time reader.
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Mike Nebeker - Super Genuis Good Judgement comes from Experience
And Experience comes from... Bad Judgement
If you like Batman a lot you will appreciate the story much more than I did. After purchasing and reading all the series I only ended up keeping the three issues with Superman in them. The artwork and computer coloring effects were beautiful. The best part (like others have said) was seeing Jim Lee actually come back and start working on established charcters. Even though I consider Jim Lee one of my favorites, I wasn't so crazy about Divine Right, Wildstorm, Image, Homage, etc. So seeing him back in the mainstream again after all these years was amazing.
And his rendition of Superman was great!
"Hush" was the first regular Batman title I bought for many years. All down to Jim Lee's art I admit.
Jim Lee may not draw necks but his work is so visually dynamic that it is very hard for me (and obviously many others) to resist when he is drawing well loved characters.
I loved his work on the X-Men. So many images from that era remain etched on my mind. Remember that splash page he did of Captain America for example?
The story is basically there to give Jim Lee an excuse to draw as many Bat characters as possible, so if you like "tour of the Bat universe" stories and Jim Lee's take on the characters, you'll probably like it. Enough to feel it was worth the money, anyway.
I've always liked the way Jim Lee draws so I picked up "Hush." I thought it might have made a pretty good 4-issue story but at 12 issues it was overblown.
1. Jim Lee's Catwoman was breath-taking.
2. I loved the way he (or Jeph actually) incorporated all of batmans denizens into the arc.
3. It was great to see Jim draw characters we are so familiar with.
4. Ending might have been a let down, but 11 1/2 other issues were super.
I enjoyed Jim Lee's rendering's of the character's, but wasn't too saisfied with the end. I will say, I was a bit surprised that Batman revealed his identity to Catwoman.
As with all Jim Lee art...it was "pretty". As for the mystery it was basically an Agatha Christie mystery , because the mystery of who Hush was is really not clued in to the reader. There are certain elements you could figure out, but I won't spoil it.
It was fun, but not a great storytelling experience. Even saying that I don't regret getting it an dliking it for what it was.
I would say it is a mediocre story with key and even great moments
"I will say, I was a bit surprised when Batman revealed his identity to Catwoman."
This raises a point: while the Fanboys burn JB in effigy for re-booting The Doom Patrol, isn't the current version of Catwoman about the umpty-bajillionth version we've seen, even since Batman:Year One. No one seems to carp about that. They just go on and on about how great Darwyn Cooke's artwork was on her new book.*
I bring this up because it is a really recent example of a re-boot that was not explained or explained away.
*I am not criticizing Darwyn Cooke. I think his artwork is pretty darn slick. I am loving The New Frontier.
I loved it. Jim Lee has always been one of my favorites and will always be on my must buy list. I usually enjoy Loeb's stories and this one was no exception. However, count me among those who were dissapointed with the ending. As stated in another post, 11 1/2 issues of great storytelling.
I couldn't get into every issue having Batman say, "I know I'm in the middle of this fight with a deadly villain, but I'll use a good chunk of my concentration (and 1/3 of the book) to go over my relationship with one of my old partners as well as the writer's revisionist take on his history, personality and character flaws, all rendered in big, pretty watercolors. That should stretch this baby out to 12 issues."
I couldn't get into every issue having Batman say, "I know I'm in the middle of this fight with a deadly villain, but I'll use a good chunk of my concentration (and 1/3 of the book) to go over my relationship with one of my old partners as well as the writer's revisionist take on his history, personality and character flaws, all rendered in big, pretty watercolors. That should stretch this baby out to 12 issues."
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Dang! You ruined Hush for me now! LOL
That statement had me laughing. Now that I think about it, Hush DID have a lot of those flashbacks. It makes me think of those Jean Claude VanDamme movies I used to watch constantly. Those crazy flashbacks were all over "Cyborg"!!!
I think it was pretty poorly executed overall, nothing was really resolved and important story elements seemed to have no relevance or point towards the end. The story seemed a little forced in the way that it tried to incorporate characters into the story. It also seemed to drag on towards the end, before the creative team tried to unsuccessfully wrap it up in the final issue. I haven't tried to back these opinions up in an attempt to remain spoiler free.
I was going to go into a long analysis why it sucked but you summed up the pertinent points for me I suppose. I thought it was a huge waste of time and i'm KICKING myself for even getting it. -Rick
Back around '85 when Alan Davis started on Batman & The Outsiders, Don Thompson, of Comic Buyer's Guide, gave a review on the art. The one thing that Don harped on was the necks that Alan drew. Geo Force had a huge, giraffe neck. Don's comment was something to the effect that a person's chin should be able to touch the top of their chest when they lean over. In the picture of Geo Force, his neck might reach his adam's apple.
Of course Alan has progressed quite a bit in the past 19 years.
He has a germ of a great idea and few interesting scenes, but not the storytelling abilities to pull it off. The only reason why the book sold as well as it did was the art. I have to admit I love to LOOK at the book, but I don't read it.
If you've read Long Halloween or Dark Victory than you've pretty much read HUSH. A year-long mystery where some unknown villain vexes Batman. Batman and Catwoman flirt while various villains make cameos. The unknown villain has to reveal himself to the WORLD'S GREATEST DETECTIVE. Then a "clever twist" is added to the end of the book. The only bonus is all the additional Bat-squad members showing up. BUT, that only makes sense considering LH and DV took place before there were any Batgirls, Oracles, Huntresses, Nightwings, etc.
Loeb seems to think that throwing LOTS of badguys at the hero is the way to make for an exciting story. He may have something if all the badguys were actually necessary to tell the story. If they were actually doing something. Interacting with each other.
He has a germ of a great idea and few interesting scenes, but not the storytelling abilities to pull it off.
I disagree. I thoroughly enjoyed THE LONG HALLOWEEN and DARK VICTORY. I also thought SUPERMAN: FOR ALL SEASONS was a beautiful book, liked DAREDEVIL: YELLOW and SPIDER-MAN: BLUE. I also think that his work with Sale over a decade ago on CHALLENGERS OF THE UNKNOWN is an under appreciated gem. I'll buy any of his collaborations with Tim Sale. Although "Hush" wasn't as good, to me because of the ending, it was a fun read that had me guessing until the end. I definitely think he's a good storyteller with more than just the germ of a great idea.
