Batman villain returns in “Heart of Hush”

Batman: Heart of Hush

Collecting “Detective Comics” #846-850 from Paul Dini and Dustin Nguyen’s run on the title, “Heart of Hush” brings back the Batman villain Hush, created by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee in the “Hush” storyline.

The intertwined pasts of Batman and Hush are explored, as Hush strikes at Batman through his feelings for Catwoman.    Like the original “Hush,” Hush strikes at Batman by using members of his rogues’ gallery as part of his plan.   I’ll avoid spoiling who Hush is for those who haven’t yet read the original, but his background and his relationship with his family is explored in-depth in “Heart of Hush.”  If you haven’t read the original yet, I’d do that first, but “Heart” is a worthy follow-up, published around the same time (and tying slightly into) “Batman R.I.P.”  in 2008-2009.

Dark Knight, Dark City

DC recently reprinted the Peter Milligan-Kieron Dwyer “Dark Knight, Dark City” from “Batman” #452-454. The Riddler goes on a crimepsree, but dark forces are at work beyond the Riddler’s usual schemes.   The 100-page spectacular also reprinted the Milligan story “Identity Crisis” from “Detective Comics” #633.