Epic Batman Story's Next Chapter Delayed Once Again

Batman fans are going to have to wait even longer to discover the epic conclusion to one of The Dark Knight's most highly anticipated stories in recent years. Batman #163, the conclusion to the Hush sequel, is facing even more setbacks prior to its release.

BleedingCool reports that the issue has now been delayed for another two months, pushing its release back to March 25, 2026. Batman #163 has suffered from several scheduling issues and delays, and it will now be over a year since it was originally planned to be published. The issue marks the shocking conclusion to H2SH: Part One, with Jeph Loeb writing and Jim Lee providing artwork. The solicit doesn't share much information, simply teasing Batman's ultimate fate as Hush sets out to get revenge. With the significant delays that H2SH Part One has faced, some fans have even been left wondering if Part Two will ever materialize.

Batman #163

• Written by JEPH LOEB
• Art by JIM LEE
• On Sale March 25, 2026

Batman #162, which was released earlier this month, set up the high-stakes action for the H2SH conclusion, and it, too, was four months late from its original publishing plan. In the issue, Batman goes up against his very own Batfamily as the villainous Hush continues to expertly manipulate everyone in Gotham.

The new H2SH story is a follow-up to Batman: Hush, which was originally published in Batman #608-619 from October 2002 to September 2003. It tells the story of a mysterious stalker named Hush as he tries to sabotage Batman's plans from afar, all while spotlighting several of Batman's finest villains, the Batfamily, and even Superman. The series also explored Batman's relationship with Catwoman, making it one of Batman's greatest comic book stories to date.

The sequel, dubbed H2SH, began with Batman #158 in March 2025. Its plot has seen the return of Hush to Gotham, as he once again challenges Batman both physically and psychologically. From the very beginning, the sequel has faced multiple delays, with it originally planned to begin in late 2024 following Chip Zdarsky's critically acclaimed run on the main Batman series.

H2SH Finale Sees Batman Teaming Up With His Greatest Enemies

While fans are going to have to wait several more months before they finally read the conclusion to Batman's Hush sequel, the concluding issue is likely to see Batman teaming up with some of his greatest enemies. With the previous issue seeing him at odds with his own Batfamily, H2SH is definitely setting the stage up for a climactic battle that will be remembered — for better or worse.

To date, reception of H2SH has been largely mixed, and the issues leading up to the climax have leaned more negative. Longtime fans have taken issue with the sequel's writing, particularly the story and character development, especially when it comes to the portrayal of Batman and his decision-making. Plotlines aside, some fans have praised the issues for their art and for its complex story — holding out faith that things will all make sense when the conclusion finally arrives. Now, they will unfortunately be waiting a little bit longer to see if they're proven right in holding out faith.

Batman #163 goes on sale March 25, 2026.