Batman: Hush, Vol. 2

"When writer Loeb and artist Lee were assigned to one of DC Comics' highest-profile titles, it resulted in the most acclaimed Batman stories since Frank Miller revitalized the character in the Dark Knight series nearly two decades ago. Both Loeb and Lee have large fan followings, Loeb for his thoughtful takes on iconic superheroes, and Lee for his flashy, dynamic artwork. This book collects the second half of their 12-issue run on Batman, picking up where volume 1 [BKL Jl 03] left off. The story line is set in motion by a mysterious foe who is manipulating Batman's familiar villains, and that gives Loeb and Lee opportunity for distinctive versions, in this book, of Joker, Riddler, and Clayface as well as former villainess Catwoman, now embarked on a tentative romance with the Caped Crusader. For all the hype surrounding Hush, both volumes are built largely around the standard brawling by which, fairly or not, the superhero genre has long been characterized. Which is no deterrent to...