Batman #160 review

The last issue had a bit of a problem with contrived drama. Fans of Jason Todd would be especially upset, as it rolled back a lot of his character in order to rehash an argument he’s been having with Batman for almost 20 years now. The optimist might have seen that and hoped that it would be a brief low point of the series while it hits the obligatory Jason issue. That is not so. No, instead it seems that contrived drama between the Bat Family is going to become the running theme of the storyline.

Before we get to the rest of the family, H2SH is not done with Jason yet. Batman reviews the events that took place between Jason and Hush after he was knocked unconscious using the cave’s security footage. Just as before, it rehashes the same conflict of why Batman let Jason die and didn’t kill the Joker. It’s like no time has passed at all in the intervening decades. Even in 2006 Jason’s position was a little untenable, but after everything that’s happened since it’s become ridiculous.

Bruce attributes everything Jason’s doing to “arrogance”. What that apparently means is that Jason will go along with the most nonsensical plan ever constructed by a man who is obviously lying to him. Unless that crowbar did more lasting damage than we realized (which Hush even suggests might be the case), it becomes increasingly difficult to justify his behavior. At a certain point you just have to accept that the plot calls for Jason to fight Batman, and whatever gets that to happen will happen. This really becomes evident later on when Jason and Dick fight over the same thing that Jason and Bruce just fought about. No one will listen to reason because if they did the story would just stop. Due to “arrogance”, everyone just immediately starts punching and shooting without a thought.

There’s a moment worth bringing up where Hush argues that Bruce didn’t really care when Jason died because he didn’t call his world-renowned surgeon childhood friend to save him. First of all, Jason didn’t have a skull fracture when Bruce found him; he was dead. Surgery can’t fix that. However, even if we ignore that minor detail and accept Hush’s argument, I don’t think that bringing up these sorts of inconsistencies is a good idea. The only reason they’re there is because the original Hush story retconned in an important part of Bruce’s childhood that was never mentioned before. Pointing these sorts of things out only highlights how that original retcon didn’t work.

Speaking of Hush, I want to briefly talk about his outfit. It’s bad. Hush’s original costume mostly works because of its simplicity. The bandaged face, trench coat, and dual pistols are simple, memorable, and evocative. It becomes worse when he opens his trench coat and you see his monogramed tunic with the red lines everywhere because it’s too much. This new costume doubles down on that black leather under shirt and makes it the entire costume. Now the whole outfit is black and red leather, there’s random pouches and straps everywhere, and to top it all off Hush has a ridiculous “X” taped across his face bandages.

Before getting to the action climax of the issue, Riddler continues to show how clever he is by cryptically not-explaining what’s going on to Dick and Barbara. More than anything this comes across as frustrating, if not annoying. Nothing is actually being said, it’s just long-winded pablum in flowery language that goes on for multiple pages. The intention seems to be to present him as this mastermind who sees everything, but having him sit ominously in the shadows saying how he knows all but won’t say what doesn’t accomplish that. Worse than anything, his “riddles” don’t even work. “What has no legs but stands so high it could touch the sky” isn’t a clue to a light house. That could be literally any tall structure.

The problem with insisting that someone is a masterful genius without ever showing it extends to Hush as well. At one point Batman says how every event that has transpired is according to Hush’s carefully crafted plan, and that’s why he might lose his fight against Silence, but is it? Ultimately, all that was needed for Batman to lose was to throw an unmovably huge guy at him. It’s not exactly the chess match that it’s made out to be. It’s great when an antagonist is hyper-competent because the conflict really does become a “how do we outsmart him” but the story has to keep up and justify it. This is just telling us over and over again how smart the bad guy is without ever showing the work.

Part of that “master plan” is that Damian and Bane show up at the last minute to help Batman. What this mainly offers is a new opportunity for contrived drama between the Bat Family. Batman immediately distrusts why he’s there with Bane and thinks he might be working for Hush. I’m also curious what reason the story will give for why Damian would be working with Bane, but it’s such an insane leap for Bruce to just immediately assume Damian is part of the plot against him. Then again, maybe “arrogance” can justify any behavior and no one is safe.

To end things on a positive note, Jim Lee’s art is impressive as usual (barring some bad costume designs), but what really stood out were the words “spoken” by Silence. The text is not shown coming from any sort of speech bubble, but rather occupying the entire panels with big, oppressive block font. It’s almost as if the voice is coming from inside the listener’s head, drowning out everything else. I’m reminded of the “Voice” effect as presented in the most recent Dune movies. It’s certainly a visually interesting gimmick for the character and well worth being the focus of the cover.

Recommended If

• You like seeing Jim Lee’s art of the Batman cast
• The bat family should always be fighting
• You’re invested in Hush and Riddler’s competing master plans

Overall

Contrived inter-family fighting is quickly becoming the main focus of this story as Jason and Bruce’s argument spreads to characters like Dick and Damian. No one’s actions seem to make much sense, but the story assures us that everything is according to an intricately woven master plan that will eventually be revealed. At least the art is still impressive to look at while you hold your breath.

Score: 3.5/10

DISCLAIMER: DC Comics provided Batman News with a copy of this comic for the purpose of this review.