A Sense of Doubt blog post #4024 - Review of HUSH2 - Batman #162 - Comic Book Sunday for 2602.22

A Sense of Doubt blog post #4010 - Review of HUSH2 - Batman #162 - Comic Book Sunday for 2602.22

I last posted a review of this series in October, which is fine because issue #163 has still not come out.

And I see that maybe it comes out On MAY 27th, 2026. MAYBE. I have no confidence in that news. But it is the final issue of HUSH2, so there's that.

My post on #161 is here: 

Sunday, October 19, 2025

A Sense of Doubt blog post 3897 - Review of Batman #161 - Hush2 - episode four

My rating

5/10 - straight up.

There's things I love (art, Batgirl), but the contrivances are too much, especially the reason Batgirl fights Batman. It's not her. It's stupid. Bigger demerits for that, plus breaking Bane out of prison, and to a lesser extent Jason rushing the Joker because "he's killed me once already."

The previous post on this series was this:

Sunday, August 24, 2025

A Sense of Doubt blog post #3841 - Review of Batman #160 - Hush2 - episode three

MY RATING:

Writing - 4/10
Storyline - 4/10
Art - 8.4/10
Color - 7/10
Cover Art - 9/10

TOTAL =  6.48/10

This rating places the third episode ABOVE the first, a 3.9/10 and the second a 3/10 as shown in the following.

The other issues should already be out, but they are not. Because: LAME!

DELAYED: Batman #162 and #163 were delayed months and are now releasing on October 15th and October 29th, respectively. It'd be bad enough if this wasn't delaying the heavily-advertised “H2SH” storyline, but the final chapters of this Batman volume will release after DC relaunches the main Batman title in September.

Sunday, March 30, 2025

A Sense of Doubt blog post #3694 - Batman - HUSH 2 - Reviews - Comic Book Sunday for 2503.30

I reviewed the first episode -- Batman #158 -- way back in MARCH and though I am easy to please and often like the comic book offerings of the big two, I did not like it.

I explain a great deal in the post along with some comics history. Ultimately, I gave it a 3.9/10 even though the critics overall average was 7/10 and the readers rated it at 6.6/10.

Short version? It's contrived and reads like work by an author who has not read a Batman comic in 20 years. Even Jim Lee's art is not as sharp as it was 20 years ago.

Almost three months later to the day, I reviewed the next issue.

Sunday, June 29, 2025

A Sense of Doubt blog post #3785 - Review of Batman #159 - Hush2

Again, NOT GOOD. 

More on the contrivances.

I gave it a 3/10, agreeing with the worst of the reviews.

DC editors should be saying "no, what you want to do flies in the face of 20 years of relationship building between Jason Todd, returned from the dead, and Batman."

But it seems that they said to Jeff Loeb, "sure, so whatever you want."

The result: CRAP.

RATINGS SO FAR

Episode One - Issue #158 = 3.9/10

Episode Two - Issue #159 = 3.0/10

Episode Three - Issue #160 = 6.48/10

Episode Four - Issue #161 = 5.0/10

Average = 4.595

Batman #162 - HUSH 2 episode FIVE

On sale - November 12, 2025

I only waited three months to post this review. Not terrible at all.

More contrivances to show Batman fighting  his Bat family (plus an uncharacteristically strong Riddler) with little conflict with HUSH at all.

As I have written before, the strength of many superheroes books and Batman in particular is the "family," his supporting cast, but in his case, it really is a family.

But throughout the history of Batman comics, especially with the work of Frank Miller creating a much loved Dark Knight persona, Batman stories have grappled with these two sides of the Batman coin: the solo, loner, obsessive, "only I can do this work" Dark Knight and the Batman who has sired one son and adopted (more or less if not in fact) three others as well as several other characters who are part of the family and his on and off again girlfriend, whom he married in other, older story lines.

Doing that same nonsense thing here.

And he calls the "entanglements," not FAMILY. Once again, Jeff Loeb shows he has not read a Batman comic in over 20 years. (Maybe the Riddler is an entanglement, surely not a family member).

That's a far cry from this:

And as the contrived story telling continues, Loeb goes for shock value against character rather than the difficult story work of characters talking to each other. Because this story is not about characters, it's about having characters who love each other fight each other, it's about plot surprises that do not make sense if we know the characters, and it's about selling comics, or what they think will sell comics in a cash grab for a sequel to a series that did not need a sequel or at least not one like this.

And it's more of the same. More of Batman behaving in ways he would not behave based on at least the last twenty years of character development solely for shock value.

If he truly thinks that Dick and Barbara may never forgive him for drugging Batgirl, then why do it? Why not find another solution?

Especially since this confrontation is so lame. "Step away from Batgirl." Okay. Why not?

Also, lots of Batman family are missing, which is odd, as they appear in the KO tie-in KnightFall comic advertised in this very issue.

We have seen Jason/Robin/Red Hood, but where's Batgirl (Cassandra Cain), Robin (Tim Drake), Signal (Duke Thomas), Spoiler (Stephanie Brown) among many others.

Loeb tried to justify Batman's actions as playing a chess-like match against Hush who is watching from nearby but does that make sense?

Not really.

And he uses BAD chess analogies: "Like in chess, never letting his hand off the piece in play.

Has Loeb ever played chess?

The best scene of the comic may be between Batman and Catwoman as someone she manages to tackle him as he gets away, and they crash through a stained glass window in a cathedral not because that would happen but like so many things in this story because it looks cool.

Sometimes, the contrivances work for the kinds of interactions we're used to and some good moments, like this one:

Though Batman's totally blank expression is really a cheap way of avoiding actual interaction.

Jim Lee's art really shines here as he is at his best with drawing women and the Catwoman elements of the first HUSH were among the best parts (also Poison Ivy).

And just when I have given up on getting much in the way of the good character work or dialogue, there's this sequence:

Selena says a lot of the things we're thinking as readers, which makes one wonder why Loeb/Lee are putting Batman into this role when they know it's stupid.

And yet, the whole scene goes to the same place. Batman has a wall around himself and won't let people in because he's still the scared little boy.

Once again, that idea really flies in the face of many years of Batman stories and not just the last twenty or so years.

Even so, forcing Batman into a one-on-one showed promise for a better story and some shift in the contrived, what-would-be-cool cash grab trend of the series.

But then they ruin it with something completely UNCHARACTERISTIC of character. And once again, has Loeb read any comics with Damian in them? I think not.

And this follows on Damian busting Bane out of prison to help in the previous issue???

Damian has something to prove and always will?

Maybe, but then, he has proven it and seems confident in his abilities, at least in all the other stories for many years.

So we get this little Robin recap: Dick, Tim, Jason (in that order).

"He is ROBIN." What does that even mean?

Why not "He is my son and all that comes with it."

Just that.

Because Damian would not be this reckless.

It's contrived because it looks cool.

And his success in it is contrived.

He wraps BATMAN in a batarang line without seeing his target. And he can wrap up Batman tightly and quickly at a distance to be able to yank him up and out of an upper window in a cathedral.

So much spectacle and broken glass and smashed cars.

So destructive. This is not the ninja-like assassin, son of Talia Al Ghul.

Stupid.

And then suddenly, the Riddler is SUPER-RIDDLER able to zap and snap the line Robin is using to drag Batman with his Riddler wand, and then Riddler starts to kick Batman's ass: "stronger than he should be."

I can accept that Riddler teamed with HUSH to get enhancements. But since when does he know that BATMAN IS BRUCE WAYNE! Unless that's HUSH talking through Riddler.

And Batman's big concern is WHY Riddler is with his Bat Family?

Really?

"If only he believed in himself???"

Again, Loeb does not know these characters AT ALL. I can't even think of a time when Dick did NOT believe in himself. Like really EVER. That's not his issue.

And then Jason returns with the Batmobile he should not have been able to steal and he's reset to where he was in the first HUSH story as if there's been no character and relationship progress since then, as I have complained about before, multiple times. CONTRIVED.

Stupid.

And then...

Since when has Batman even tried to talk to them? He didn't even give them a a chance to listen.

What is he talking about?

He didn't try to talk with Barbara in the last issue either.

When did this "not listening" thing happen that he is complaining about?

One of the hallmarks of the previous HUSH series was showing off Bat-tech we have not seen and often it was really cool Bat-tech that made sense.

But for Batman to use the Batmobile to escape by destroying a city block to drop into Gotham's tunnel systems is more destruction only because it looks cool and NOT something that Batman would do or would NEED to do.

And when he takes this completely unconventional escape route, the JOKER, whose life he saved, just happens to be there??? What?

If the goal is to write the most contrived Batman story of all time, then mission accomplished.

And he is so thoroughly recovered from his life-threatening injuries that he can take on Batman after how many hours?

Has it even been a full day yet?

This is beyond stupid and really terrible story-telling.

Given all this contrivance and characters NOT behaving as they should and allusions to characters "not listening" with no attempts to talk and the buff Riddler who knows Batman's secret and Batman's wanton destruction of his beloved city's property and despite Jim Lee's good and at times very good art, then this issue scores a 4.3/10.

It earns its 4.3, slightly higher than the first two, ONLY because of the Catwoman scene.

My Rating = 4.3/10.

Here's links to the COMIC BOOK ROUND UP PAGES, which usually need to be copied and pasted as they rarely work as hot links, though I will enable them.

https://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/dc-comics/batman-(2016)

https://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/dc-comics/batman-(2016)/162

This issue earned 6.5 from critics (I have no idea how) and a 4.3 from readers, which is my rating exactly, though I did not set mine based on this and looked after. Coincidence? I think not.

I am really disappointed in DC and in Loeb in particular for this dreck. I expect better of him as I have liked much of his work in the past. I am not sure how much influence Jim Lee has on the story decisions, so I am not casting aspersions his way, though I just don't think his art in this series is where it was 20+ years ago though it's still very good.

Here's two reviews as samples, one high and one low.

Thanks for tuning in.

This one rated an 8.0/10.

https://getyourcomicon.co.uk/blog/2025/11/12/batman-2016-162-review/

Batman #162 is written by Jeph Loeb and published by DC. Artwork is by Jim Lee, inks by Scott Williams, colours by Alex Sinclair and letters by Richard Starkings. Main cover art (left) is by Lee and Sinclair.

Batman #162 is available from today, in comic book stores and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your physical copy from Forbidden Planet or digitally from Amazon Comixology UK.

Synopsis

“H2SH” with Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee Part 5! Batman versus the Bat-Family! Whose side are you on?

Review

Four months after Batman #161 hit comic book stores the H2SH arc is finally back in comic book stores today. The Bat-Family is fractured and at each other’s throats. Hush has been able to manipulate all of them and Batman is powerless to stop it. But can Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee’s epic tale overcome the lengthy gap between issues to maintain momentum?

The answer arrives pretty quickly in Batman #162 as Bruce and Selina crash through a stained glass window, cutting through all of the tension for a moment of brutal honesty. Luckily for us Loeb hasn’t missed a beat between issues. Returning to Bruce, Dick, Barbara and the others in the alleyway all of the angst of last issue came flooding back without the need for a lengthy recap. As Bruce is forced to make even more questionable choices it really feels like the situation is escalating out of all control.

It makes sense for Loeb to use Selina as the only force strong enough to stop Bruce in his tracks. More than any chapter of H2SH so far, Batman #162 digs in to the character of it all. His actions against Barbara are deeply personal. Whilst there isn’t time for either her or Dick to reflect on it, Bruce acknowledges it may change their relationship forever. There’s every opportunity for serious repercussions when the dust settles.

Batman #162 interior artwork by Jim Lee, Scott Williams, Alex Sinclair and Richard Starkings

The moments between Bruce and Selina in the church act as a brief respite from the action. Loeb is clearly acknowledging that the pacing has been relentless over the last couple of issues. So he’s taking the opportunity to shake things up. Even if it is only for a couple of pages before Damian catches up to his father. Overall the issue does become a little repetitive as Bruce goes toe-to-toe with one foe after another. By the time he reaches Riddler I was beginning to tire. But there’s also no denying that each setup is key to showing how deep the divisions in the family run and the breadth of Hush’s influence.

Finally it feels like H2SH has begun to take great strides. Whilst the arc has been enjoyable to read this feels like Batman is finally moving forwards with his investigation. Previous issues have felt more like an illustration of the threat Hush presents. But now there’s a tangible sense of direction which is giving the arc purpose and making it a more rewarding read. A confrontation between Batman and Hush feels like it’s actually on the horizon now which has me enthused for the future.

Batman #162 interior artwork by Jim Lee, Scott Williams, Alex Sinclair and Richard Starkings

Batman #162 features an impressive roster of characters from the Bat-family. That means Jim Lee is in his element bringing Nightwing, Robin, Catwoman, Batgirl and more to life on the page. There’s a lot of movement in this issue which tasks Lee with bringing an energy to the book which elevates it beyond his trademark statuesque posing. That being said there is still plenty of room for striking imagery. More than enough to remind us why the long wait between issues is worthwhile.

Verdict

After a four-month wait, Batman #162 proves the H2SH arc is finally hitting its stride with genuine forward momentum and deeply personal character confrontations. Jim Lee’s dynamic artwork elevates what could feel repetitive into a visually striking showcase of Bat-Family dysfunction.

This one rated a 4/10.

https://thebatmanuniverse.net/comic-book-review-batman-162/

BATMAN #162
Written by JEPH LOEB
Art and Main Cover: JIM LEE
Variant Covers: DAVID FINCH, GABRIELE DELL’OTTO, ESAD RIBIĆ, JIM LEE, GERALD PAREL, JAE LEE, CHRIS BACHALO
Page Count: 40 pages
Release Date: 11/12/25

 

This comic book review contains spoilers 

Batman #162 picks up with Nightwing, Robin, Huntress, Red Hood, Riddler, Catwoman, and Batgirl all teaming up to take Batman down. Batman injects Batgirl with a sedative to occupy the team while he is pursued by Catwoman into a church. They briefly talk about their history together before Batman is captured by Damian and dragged along behind his motorcycle like a ragdoll. He fights Riddler and Red Hood before using the Batmobile to deploy explosives, dropping him down into the sewer system. There, he encounters none other than The Joker. 

Analysis

Batman #162 features lazy writing from pretty much all angels right from the start. Batgirl is awkwardly standing with her back to Batman telling Nightwing to stand down because she can handle Batman on her own? This is supposed to be the same supergenius who spent two decades as Oracle and now she rejects help and sets herself up for sedation without so much as a fight. What a slap in the face to Barbara Gordon fans. Bruce knowingly associates this in his mind to what the Joker did to her in the Killing Joke and admits that Dick and Barbara may never forgive him but that didn’t stop it from being his first impulse. 

The next scene is even better, as Catwoman says both her and Batman know she could kick his ass if she wanted to, which I don’t think any of us are buying. Then she says Barbara is the closest thing to a daughter Bruce will ever have which the internet has already derided for its blatant erasure of Cassandra Cain. Batman responds by saying “she started it!” which, setting aside its juvenility, I’m not even sure what he means. She started it by standing in front of him and telling Nightwing to stand down? 

Jeff Loeb seems determined to depict this era of Batman as an overgrown petulant child, and while that may be a small element of his psyche, it’s so overplayed here that it just makes me wonder if he even likes the character anymore. 

Batman gives absolutely no resistance with a remotely operated bird with a rope attached, binds him up and drags him behind Damian’s bike. I just don’t know how to make sense of this story when every single plot beat unravels with the slightest bit of thought. Forget the fact that Damian would almost certainly have killed Batman if there was any semblance of physical reality present in this story. 

Riddler has one of the dumbest lines I think I’ve ever seen him say, and that’s saying something: “question, what time is it to expect the unexpected? Answer: Nygma time.” There is a convoluted confrontation between Red Hood and Huntress before another tired reveal of The Joker. 

For all the issue’s faults, I do think this is the best Jim Lee’s art has looked since the beginning of this run. For one thing, there are a ton of fun easter eggs like his depiction of Brian Bolland’s shooting of Barbara Gordon, and the death of Robin’s parents, although I think that is literally just a Tim Sale panel repurposed. Batman turning his head to see Hush on the rooftop at the bottom of page 4 is a direct echo of the original Hush. The stained-glass church scene looks pretty good too although probably not as good as it could look. 

I enjoy the way Scott Williams and Alex Sinclair use blacks with often obscuring parts of Batman’s costume giving him a kind of three-dimension depth (of the kind that’s lacking in the writing). However, I find that the colorful mix of tones in the Bat-family’s different costumes comes across a bit garish in how brightly they are depicted. Most of the modern costumes are far from each character’s best and moments like the issue’s first page just look a little goofy, especially Damien’s along with Catwoman’s absurd cleavage cutout. 

Final Thoughts 

Batman #162 is a pretty terrible issue, maybe bordering on ‘so bad it’s good.’  There’s so much to laugh at and meme here, and Lee’s art has a few highlights. Depending on what you want, you might want to pick up this issue just for morbid entertainment but I can’t recommend it on its merits.

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- Bloggery committed by chris tower - 2602.22 - 10:10

- Days ago: MOM = 3888 days ago & DAD = 542 days ago

- New note - On 1807.06, I ceased daily transmission of my Hey Mom feature after three years of daily conversations. I post Hey Mom blog entries on special occasions. I post the days since ("Days Ago") count on my blog each day, and now I have a second count for Days since my Dad died on August 28, 2024. I am now in the same time zone as Google! So, when I post at 10:10 a.m. PDT to coincide with the time of Mom's death, I am now actually posting late, so it's really 1:10 p.m. EDT. But I will continue to use the time stamp of 10:10 a.m. to remember the time of her death and sometimes 13:40 EDT for the time of Dad's death. The blog entry numbering in the title has changed to reflect total Sense of Doubt posts since I began the blog on 0705.04, which include Hey Mom posts, Daily Bowie posts, and Sense of Doubt posts. Hey Mom posts will still be numbered sequentially. New Hey Mom posts will use the same format as all the other Hey Mom posts; all other posts will feature this format seen here.