Overall, just like the first Hush, the highlight here is the stunning art and blockbuster storytelling, but I feel like this one nails the tone a little better so far. Read Full Review

Batman #160 delivers a compelling chapter in the “H2SH” storyline, combining intense character development with exceptional artwork. As the alliance between Silence and Hush unfolds, readers are left anticipating the ramifications for Batman and Gotham City. Read Full Review

Batman #160 is easily the best issue of the H2SH arc to-date. It s consolidates all of the groundwork which Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee has laid over the past couple of months, capitalising on Hush's knowledge of Batman to back him in to a corner. Loeb's slow burn storytelling is finally coming together to rival Lee's epic artwork. Read Full Review

Batman #160 is undoubtedly the high point of H2USH to date. With more Robins than you can shake a stick at, the deck is truly loaded. What is Riddler's true motivation for wanting to help our heroes? Joker, having recovered in a fashion that Lazarus would be jealous of, has his pick of Nightwing and Red Hood in his crosshairs, so who will fall? Why is Bane helping Damian? So many questions ready to be answered in due course. Whilst anybody knows the ultimate outcome will be the hero on top, I do feel that the longer term effects will be far reaching indeed. Bring on Batman #161. Read Full Review

Batman #160 advances the "H2SH" story with cinematic visuals and exciting confrontations, but its uneven dialogue and questionable character choices may leave longtime fans scratching their heads, even as they admire the view. Read Full Review

Batman #160 is the chapter that the Batman: H2SH storyline needed. Finally, Hush is presented as a menacing villain whose presence is felt even when not physically on the screen. There are still a lot of problems with Jeph Loeb's writing jumping the logical shark but at least Jim Lee's artwork steps in to continue to lift the story. Hopefully this is a sign the rest of H2SH will lean into its strengths rather than weaknesses. Read Full Review

Batman #160 leans into to the schlock inherent to the sequel, making for the first chapter thus far to cohesively exhibit anything in the realm of entertaining. Lee's work was genuinely flooring here as the tale begins to take shape around his more explosive strengths. Read Full Review

Too many issues with Hushs overall scheme hamper what should be a turning point in the saga. The writing feels as its missing key details to establish more with readers. Lees art continues to be the saving grace in this chapter. Unfortunately, its not enough to overcome the roadblocks set in place. Read Full Review

Batman #160delivers more urgency, action, and characters than you can handle. Jim Lee's art is unimpeachable, and Loeb certainly strives hard to cram in as many characters as possible, but the net result feels rushed and chaotic. Read Full Review

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. Read Full Review

Damascus steel isn't rare or only forged in a single region of the world. In fact, it's fairly simple and really only adds a special pattern to the metal and can maintain a sharper edge longer. Come on Loeb... A simple Google search would tell you that.
He writes Jason like every awful Red Hood fan, (which is most of them) leaning into the normal equivocating, vaguely authoritarian justifying rhetoric of, "I do what Batman WON'T and that means it's justified," when we've been through this a million times. I don't care if you're now establishing that Jason's brain is more fried than the Lazarus Pit could heal. If Bruce ever thought that for a second in the years since Jason became the Red Hood and reintegrated with the Batfamily, he would have helped him fix it. He HAS helped him fix it. Maybe read a comic that you didn't write Jeph!
Lee's work here still isn't his best but so far is the best in this arc so that's a positive. That being said, I'm not a fan of this new Riddler design. Why does he look like a SWAT officer? It does nothing to really distinguish him as the Riddler. Just a new appearance to sell a toy that no one will buy because everything is overpriced and cheaply made these days. Thank McFarlane for the low DC quality figures.
Tangent aside, this book feels a lot like those aforementioned figures. Poorly sculpted, cheaply made but thrown to the masses in hopes of a quick nostalgic snatch at your wallet. Nothing of lasting substance. If a Robin dies, it's going to be a symbolic death. Jason will cast off the Red Hood mantle, Damian will transition from his position back to Talia, nothing will happen to Dick. I want to be excited. I want to not dog on a book that means a lot to me as a fan but I want and expect better. Everything is derivative of what came before and original ideas in Big Two superhero comics are few and far between when these characters are pushing 100 years old but don't do this. Don't write a sequel 23 years later.
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matt fraction save us!!!

This is a weird issue. So many plot points happen, one would think that the story moves forward. But so many plot points are introduced that they all get the shortshrift. Hush won’t let Jason kill Joker. It seems as lame as when Bruce won’t let Jason kill Joker. For Pete’s sake Jason, grow a pair and just do it. Stop waiting for permission.

Also, Hush can throw a scalpel into a gun barrel. Meanwhile Riddler makes his play and blows up Gordon. Jason fights Dick, Joker revives and gets the drop on them. Damien arrives to save Batman riding on Bane. Dick Dastardly joins forces with Snidely Whiplash. I might have imagined the last part. But my point is that they are cramming 10 pounds of crap into a five pound bag. It seems Loeb just has too much plot for the allotted number of issues, and it shows.

We see that Hush can make his own villains. So now he defeat the Joker, set Jason against the Batfamily, develop a master plan and tie the ghost of Alfred onto railroad tracks. That’s a lot for a Mary sue villain no one cares about.

The end result is a story that seems mixed up and lost, not well plotted and mysterious. Also the art seems sloppy for Lee. I am not impressed.

Or I could be wrong. more