Greetings comics lovers welcome back to casually comics the channel where we chat all things
comics from reviews of comics new and old to history to anecdotes to really wherever
our whims take us.
I’m Sasha and let’s talk about being a beginner for a second everybody starts somewhere
and with a medium as big, and long lived as comics it can be a bit daunting to know where
to start.
Some of you have been asking me for readings lists which in my mind ballooned to let’s
experience some of the classics together and if it sounds interesting to you, you can hop
off and get the full first hand experience.
And of course come back for fun, and sass but probably mostly for salt.
So which comic are we going to start with, well we’re doing the Hush arc which we’ve
briefly touched on cause it’s integral to Jason’s resurrection and well we’ve covered
that from almost all angles.
Also this was the first trade I bought with my own money.
It was when I started university who needs to eat when there’s Batman to read.
Still me I just saved so I could both eat and relax.
So well we’re going to look at Hush an arc that I think is a really decent jumping on
point or easing in.
Others agree and some have come to feel this work is really overrated.
It was adapted into a DC animated universe original film in 2019 and some pretty big
changes were made again with polarizing results.
So let’s get started but before we do please if you haven’t already hit that subscribe
button you know you want to come on treat yourself.
So Batman Hush is a collection of an arc that ran in the Batman comic series from october
of 2002 to September of 2003 it;s always important to lay stuff like that out cause it does affect
how the work would have been initially read when you get a work collected in trade you
do miss some of the suspense and also guesswork time and room fans who were reading it as
it was released would have had.
They’re not better or worse reading experiences that is subjective or can vary they’re just
different.
This arc was written by Jeph Loeb with art by Jim Lee.
And this art let me tell you it’s gorgeous and is definitely part of what drew people
to this arc.
Issue 1 of 12 go!
For a series that would come to such renown this cover sure is a cover.
It’s nicely drawn but kicks as dynamic as they are with no clear target can always end
up looking a little static or overly posed although at least depending upon how you were
holding it, it could look like he was coming in to kick you.
Interactive who needs 3d.
We open on intense internal monologue dramatic narration, Loeb loves to have his protagonists
monologue in their narration bubbles he’s the one who writes the first batman/superman
2003 series team up comic arc.
Public enemies and he has those inadvertently really shippy narration boxes between Batman
and Superman cause they're contrasting.
It’s really great!
It works well when the boxes are in tone and for the most part here they are.
Batman is looking to resolve a hostage situation as he makes his way into the shipyard he takes
out goons while kindly telling us who they are it serves to personalise what’s happening
but mostly to showcase that Batman is up on his intel he’s prepared.
He did his homework no shirking for Bruce Alfred won’t let him.
Someone spent a lot of money assembling this crew but as Bruce wayne will attest you have
to spend money to make money.
So this version of Batman isn’t full into Bruce is a mask there is only Batman territory
but is more in the the version of Bruce Wayne he presents to the public is a mask and there’s
a real one in between him and the Batman persona.
5 pages in we get our title.
The ransom was it worth the wait you decide, the title is nicely laid out though.
Look at all the credit names laid into the wall like that, love it.
Batman rescues the young boy being held for ransom and then just randomly starts thinking
about Clark for reasons that are narratively for contrast most likely but in my head put
me right on the next boat for ship town.
I’m a regular there I have a season pass.
It makes me think about Clark how he’d handle this situation., Clark would smile the boyscout
thing And then say something homespun to put the boy at ease.
But the boy doesn't have Clark he has me.
In my city.
Gotham city.
It is better this way.
Um Bruce firstly thank you for telling us where you are for the uninitiated and I’m
not being snarky I mean it but 2 you could ask the boy what he’d like you known which
approach or who he’d like to be saved by but you won’t let’s just go with your
reasoning it’s better that way.
Suddenly he’s attacked by Killer Croc who had abducted the boy in the first place Edward
Lamont the 4th heir to the Lamont chemical fortune.
If you’re the heir to anything I don’t care if it’s a tuna sandwich you shouldn’t
live in Gotham.
Batman however, is perplexed by all of this as kidnapping isn’t Croc's thing and also
he feels that the way the ransom was set up and just the entire organisation of the crime
would have been too much for croc.
Who also appears more mutated and feral than usual.
Someone else had a hand in this!
Batman manages to separate Croc from the ransom 10 million dollars by the way .
What croc has in strength and speed he lacks in other areas.
Harsh Batman is mean that’s why he’s quiet he’s gotta keep that sass inside.
Batman defeats him with hypersonics Yeaaah!
Edward be quiet.
Ooof I bet he really wishes he was rescued by Superman now.
The F.B.I show up late only to note that the money is gone.
During the fight someone else took it.
That’s impossible no one could've gotten through our perimeter.
I did.
2002 Batman is on fire he’s got the sick burns.
Batman has spotted the thief, Catwoman this also throws Bruce off as recently she had
been trying to walk a more law abiding life and even when she did steal she went after
her own scores not other peoples not unless they were after the same thing.
Like the view it’s about the only thing you’re going to catch tonight.
That’s just a good line, it’s flirty but threatening they adapted it in the animated
version which was again both extremely loyal in some areas and yet not in others.
Batman gets ready to engage in a good old fashioned game of Bat and mouse, that joke
was bad and I should feel bad, but I don’t.
However suddenly his batrope is cut and he plummets donwards.
He breaks his shoulder on the way down as the comic decides to acknowledge that grabbing
anything while falling would also injure you.
Batman falls hurt and dazed well but cold really into an alley where of course Gotham’s
low life awaits.
Catwoman for her part was more in the Batman you still behind...no...meh.
She continues on to her destination with the money, And we have some nice subtle hints
as to who it is, the completely green balcony floor, the vines curled at the edge of panels.
Now bring me the money that’s it, You know you can’t resist me no man or woman can.
This is a very lovingly drawn Poison Ivy isn’t it.
Now I’m not sure what you’re looking at but for me it’s the bundles of money being
carried by the vines in her hair, it’s just a nice use of subtle plant control.
Also that whip belt looks inconvenient.
Personally I love this panel and it ends our first issue.
It showcases part of the appeal no not cheesecake though some were/are probably there for at
least a small slice of cake but you get to see pretty much Batman’s entire rogues gallery
in this series.
So that was issue 1 and it sets the tone you have an action packed yet also thoughtful
batman still in detective mode.
You have gorgeous art and you have appearances from 3 members of his Rogues gallery with
mentions of characters from the expanded universe and the promise of an interconnected tangled
plot.
Plus he was left in peril.
It’s a solid start and back in the day people thought so too it ranked first on the top
300 comics for October it’s release month.
So how do you feel are you intrigued?
Do you like the art?
Would you rather be rescued by Bruce or Clark or would it depend?
Answer all of that down below.
Thanks so much for watching casually comics please do all of the youtube things like share
comment subscribe and hit that bell notification so that you never miss a vid.
I’m Sasha and I will as always see you soon.
Buh Bye.