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 it’s time for more Hush.
Shhh quiet now issue 2.
We handled our history segment on this series over in the review of of issue 1 aka issue
608 so if you missed that as always how dare you and of course you should catch up via
card or link but if you have no time as always I offer you cliffnotes.
Batman was on the case rescuing a kidnapped heir being held for 10 million dollars.
He’d been kidnapped ny killer croc which was weird cause croc is too dumb for that
so says Batman.
Batman saves the kid takes out croc but has the money snatched by catwoman who brings
it to poison ivy which she manages to do cause someone cut the batrope and Bruce plummeted
into the gotham streets and he’s hurt bad.
Issue 2 go but before that take a moment to subscribe come join us on this comic filled
adventure.
This cover with the tongue in cheek caption girls night out has become a famous one, one
of those covers upon which variants are based.
Do you like that there are clearly ivy controlled cats in the greenery cause I do.
It’s a solid cover and ties into the last issue even though it;s gonna prove to be *cough
cover bait*.
Batman is down for the count he can’t even move.
Oracle is in his ear trying to get his attention but quickly realizes she needs to summon back
up.
So for those who are new Oracle was Barbara Gordon pre new 52.
She adopted this persona after being paralyzed by the Joker in the killing joke.
After deciding she wanted to continue crime fighting and refusing to let the Joker defeat
her she became the eyes and ears of the bat family their super researcher, dispatcher
and still a solid fighter who would found the birds of prey with black canary.
In short she was awesome and hardcore cause she’d come through stuff.
Oracle would be retconned in the new 52 to return the use of her legs because some both
fans and writers felt the loss of them had been unfair and misogynistic.
Mileage on ths change varied some felt it was about time to undue an unfair character
change and that barbara as batgirl was iconic while others felt that it was unnecessary,
regressed the character and was ironically ableist while sidelining other female characters
who had taken up the batgirl mantle.
It’s a discussion that’s for sure.
I for one say I love barbara as batgirl but babs as Oracle is the Goat.
Anyway back to Batman and his injuries If only I could tell her Barbara it’s crime
alley.
Of course it is.
Why would it be anywhere else are there even other alleys on Gotham I don’t think so.
Criminals are gathering many armed and unlike Batman’s alist Rogues they’re ready to
unmask none of that oh no he should unmask himself or that would ruin everything.
No the z list knows what’s up.
However this is 2002 Batman he’s in uber prepared mode.
His mask emits gas when the try to take it off and when one of the criminals tries to
hit him with a pipe they get electrocuted.
Meanwhile on the comms we hear that someone is on the way but Barbara isn't thrilled about
who it is.
Who the
I’m here!
Right next to the chapter two title of the friend we have the Huntress.
And her midrift cause that’s how confident she is also she never gets cold also we all
know why we can really see her mid rift.
Your mileage will vary on how much that bothers you.
Batgirl
Oh you’re trying to tick me off.
Tell everyone huntress did this to you.
So this is post crisis but pre new 52 huntress.
So the huntress most people tend to be familiar with in passing.
The huntress has a convoluted canonical past thanks to the merging of all the earths with
crisis on infinite earths and later because of some artistic decisions.
Here currently she is Helena Bertinelli a fellow vigilante who works with the Batfamily
and will come to be considered as part of it but is kinda on the outs with them cause
well she’s down for a good kill.
Also batman keeps her at arms length cause she reminds him of Barbara and so he keeps
an eye out but is also worried about you know Joker things the usual
Huntress makes swift work of all who dare oppose her.
So much like I was when I started out no wonder the others haven’t accepted her.
Have to speak to dick about...about.
Batman is fading fast so Huntress gets him into the Batmobile.
I’m sure when he can he’ll want to thank you himself.
This is me holding my breath, except I can’t see that speech bubble cause I’m distracted
by derrier perfection, why is that like that this comic straddles the line between tasteful
cheesecake which exists I swear and well gratuitous.
Still nicely drawn tho 10 out of 10 could bounce a coin off it like Bruce in Batman
damned and nightwing is this what it takes to join the batfamily.
Cause then I cannot join, sad times at casually comics high.
On the rooftop we get our first glimpse of what is to become our titular villain but
he hasn’t been named yet so Hush.
We see Poison Ivy handing off the money to a mysterious figure and there’s a technique
used here that I adore the complete panel shading to match the overall lighting in the
room.
I feel it really amps up immersion however this technique has gotten some artists into
hot water of late because invariably this technique and change the skintone of the character
while in effect so people get accused of all types of things usually involving being bigoted
or insensitive and no explanations about art technique and lighting can help you depending
on the crowd so alas some have decided to opt out of this technique for their own sanity.
I still love it panels of people awash in the moonlight or a sunset so gorgeous and
they can feel so cinematic.
These panels just feel extra dark and clandestine because of this technique and it really builds
the atmosphere.
Anyway back to Bruce he is not ok his skull is fractured a fall that had actually consequences
well played.
So while the Batfam concocts a bruce wayne friendly excuse for these injuries they decide
on he crashed his car.
Bruce starts trying to get their attention by tapping out a name in Morse code.
Even with a fractured skull he’s extra.
He taps out the name Thomas Elliot and now it;s time for everyones favourite trope the
long lost childhood friend.
What that’s not your favourite trope, I thought you were people of taste.
I’m kidding tell me your favourite trope.
Bruce starts recalling his old friend after recalling a time when he told his mom he had
no friends I lied to my mother There was always thomas elliot.
After all this time always.
I can’t.
He’s a brain surgeon so he can slide right on into the plot he’s here to save Bruce
and we get treated to a flashback which will be important to take notes.
If you ever see a flashback in a story that isn’t referenced later on in a story well
that’s what actually subverting people’s expectations looks like or you know having
an unconnected narrative which can sometimes be the same thing.
So young Bruce and Thomas are playing a game that is most certainly not risk but it looks
like risk and i get a kick out of the idea that Bruce plays risk.
Just try and kill me.
Bruce you’re already dead.
How can you tell you haven’t moved yet.
It won’t happen on the next move it is six moves from now.
You always do this bruce you always attack without knowing your opponents weaknesses
As long as you can’t think like me you’ll never beat me
But I can always think like you.
What a wholesome childhood scene that in no way concerns me.
Thomas Wayne claims that barring some kind of disaster Bruce may have found his best
friend a brother for life.
Ok Thomas how’s that alley treating you?
What happened to me today.
And so Bruce survived his fall and lives another day and you know he hit his head hard cause
he starts being grateful to all the people who helped him.
I barely survived the fall.
Had it not been for tommy
Had it not been for alfred
Had it not been for huntress
Had it not been for oracle
Had it not been that someone cut the batrope dun dun dun
Well that shifted tone?
Are you still intrigued.
This issue is really interesting cause it maintains momentum despite Bruce being out
of commission for all of it.
It also showcases more of the bat family which makes this whole endevour fell bigger in scope.
This feels as you read it like it’s a bit more than your standard one and done batman
adventure or at least that it’s setting itself up to be.
I mean pointed flash back scene is pointed and there is some intense appreciation for
the Huntress I mean I too love the Huntress but that’s why I want to get her a coat.
I’m worried Gotham seems cold.
Still I like this issue it feels like a lot happens the plot keeps going and we learn
more about Bruce and his relationships.
What did you all think?
Are you gonna chip in on my get the huntress some fabric fund?
Did you too chat machivelianly with your childhood besties?
Share all of that and more down below.
I’m Sasha and 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 appreciate all of you giving me some of your time and I’ll see you again soon.