Bringing back the “other” John Stewart, whom I’ve long-considered to be the copy and not the primary version, is off to a rough start, since this version has no emotional investment in any of the last several years worth of stories, and thus is coming in as a kind of blank slate. What’s more, Hampton seems to be treating THIS version as the primary version, when I don’t believe that was Phillip Kennedy Johnson’s intent. In addition, the recruit training is lame and a waste of both Kilowog and Guy. Sinestro is relegated to being a barely-there background character even though his Corps has been restored. A new mystery involving a new villain is off to a yawn of a start. In summation, Hampton seems to be struggling without the help of Jeremy Adams, who in hindsight seems to have been the key ingredient of the writing duo in the prior, better-written issues. As for the art, it’s a mish-mash of varying styles and quality. more

There is a lot of on the nose monologue and dialogue. Selina asks Bruce if he is five, and he is written as a five year old, all pouty and whiney. It’s been so long since the latest Hush issue that I forgot why they were fighting. This issue did nothing to clear up the issues. I guess Alfred never taught them to use their words.

And apparently Hush had a gun that launches scalpels. I mean we’re bullets not Batman 1966 enough. Hush is now all goofy villain theme and no practicality. And the issues ends with Bats running into the Joker again. Man, I wish I had the Joker’s health plan, going from death’s door to fighting trim in like three hours. It’s been months in real world, but only hours story-wise.

Don’t ask me what the Riddler is doing in this story because it seems like it’s nothing.

And, again Loeb ignores characters who have grown in importance in the last 20 years. No Cass, no Steph. Damian gets some Bruce monologue analysis telling us his problem, not showing us. Selina has a big speech that says she and Bruce know each other, and she she nails Bruce by calling him childish. She is right because Bruce actually says the Bat family started it. That is just not good writing. Because this issue makes Bruce look like a total tool. And not a cool tool like a hammer, but a useless tool like an awl.

I guess that’s the problem. Everything happens to further a plot that ignores 20 years of character action. We have seen five issues now, and the story is basically stuck in neutral. Nothing is happening, just a lot of noise surrounded by decent but not great art.

I am not thrilled. But I could be wrong. more