Legendary duos returning years later is always a risky gamble, but what Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee are serving us in the sequel to the cult classic Hush is starting to feel like a painful fall from a very high horse. After a four-month delay (which effectively killed any remaining momentum for this story), Batman #162 has finally hit the shelves. And while the artwork screams "masterpiece!", the script whispers (and sometimes mumbles) a total surrender of common sense.

Patience Put to the Test (and 4 Months of Waiting)

Let's start with the fact that the gap between issues #161 and #162 was so long that it’s difficult to even get back into the rhythm of the story without re-reading the previous issue. Unfortunately, Loeb doesn't make it easy for us. Instead of pushing the narrative forward, he treats us to a spandex-clad "smackdown" that has more in common with mindless wrestling than the detective mythos of the Dark Knight.

Narrative Regression and Batman as... a Petulant Child?

The main problem with this issue is how Loeb treats characters that have been built up over decades. We start with a scene featuring Batgirl, who acts as if she’s forgotten twenty years of experience as Oracle. Barbara stands with her back to Batman, rejects Nightwing's help, and allows herself to be injected with a sedative without so much as a struggle. This is a slap in the face to fans of the character.

Worse still, Bruce admits in his internal monologue that this act reminds him of the trauma from The Killing Joke, but... he does it anyway. Loeb portrays Batman as an emotionally unstable, almost infantile adult. At one point, responding to Catwoman's grievances, Bruce throws out the line: "She started it!" Really? Is this the same man who is the most powerful strategic mind on the planet, or a preschooler in Kevlar?

Logic Disabled, Physics Non-Existent

The scene where Damian Wayne drags Batman behind a motorcycle on a rope, like a ragdoll through the middle of traffic, is the height of absurdity. Even with armor, Batman should have died at the first turn. The entire conflict with the Bat-family feels forced and artificial. Characters don't use words, they don't try to communicate they fight because the script requires another spectacular Jim Lee spread.

The Riddler’s dialogue has also hit rock bottom. The phrase: "Question: what time is it to expect the unexpected? Answer: Nygma time" is the level of humor from the 1960s TV series, but delivered without a hint of irony. Then there’s the bizarre dynamics with Catwoman, who claims she could "kick Bruce's ass if she wanted to," and the glaring omission of Cassandra Cain in the discussion about Batman's "daughters."

Jim Lee – The Only Reason Not to Throw This Comic in the Trash

If it weren't for Jim Lee, Scott Williams, and Alex Sinclair, this comic would be completely unreadable. Lee, however, delivers some of the best work of his career in years. The church scene with the stained glass, the rain-soaked Gotham, the brutal (though illogical) clashes it all looks insane. The dynamic lines, deep blacks, and cinematic scale make you momentarily forget how stupid the text in the speech bubbles is.

Nevertheless, even the visual layer has its hitches. The Bat-family’s costumes are depicted in colors so bright they border on gaudy, clashing with the dark atmosphere of the rainy city. The "cleavage cutout" in Catwoman's costume or the design of Damian’s mask reeks of a kitsch that is hard to ignore.

Verdict

Batman #162 is a comic that balances on the edge of "so bad it's good." It’s a title for Jim Lee art collectors who can turn off their brains while reading. As part of the Hush 2 saga, it is a painful disappointment. Jeph Loeb seems to have no understanding of the modern versions of these characters, reducing them to mindless pawns in a game where the rules are stretched to the breaking point. If you’re looking for a good Batman story keep looking. If you want a pretty album to look at this is for you.

PROS:

+Brilliant Artwork: Jim Lee in peak form, with cinematic splash pages and excellent use of blacks.

+Pace of Action: The issue is a lightning-fast read (mostly because there is almost no plot).

+Easter Eggs: Visual nods to Brian Bolland and classic moments from Batman’s history.

CONS:

-Tragic Script: Characters act irrationally, infantilly, and contrary to their established history.

-Dialogue: Riddler’s and Batman’s lines are painful and at times unintentionally comical.

-Lack of Logic: The motorcycle scene and the treatment of Batgirl are examples of pure narrative laziness.

-Long Delay: A 4-month wait for an issue that brings nothing to the overall story.

-Artificial Conflict: The entire drama with the Bat-family is poorly constructed and unbelievable.