REVIEW: ‘Batman’ Issue 160

Batman Issue 160 is published by DC Comics. Written by Jeph Loeb, with pencils by Jim Lee, inks by Scott Williams, colors by Alex Sinclair and letters by Richard Starkings.

In the next part of Hush 2, allies rally with villains, making Batman unsure who to trust. Batman Issue 160 shuffles the pack of heroes and villains. The first part of the plot focuses on what just happened. Red Hood is in cahoots with Hush, has stolen the Joker, and has been hiding a ticking time bomb. The Riddler is talking to Nightwing and Batgirl, which makes Batman uneasy and isolates him.

The plot is much more fractured than the first iteration of Batman: Hush. Many threads are moving simultaneously, making it intriguing to see how they link up. Each section brings a complete surprise. As Batman hunts for clues, the world moves around him, too. This is a chess game where not all of the pieces have been revealed yet. The story is always seeking to deliver something new, too. There are new villains and old villains alongside people they usually revile. This makes each part feel fresh and unpredictable.

More of the cast is entering the fray, but with a fascinating approach each time. Odd allegiances are being made everywhere around Gotham. These conversations are pretty civil, instead of devolving into violence. The protagonist is the one character on their own in Batman Issue 160. Bruce is now paranoid, unsure about whom to trust and doubting even those closest to him. He doesn’t speak much in this issue, yet Loeb captures his personality and fracturing mind brilliantly. The narration shows just how hostile he is getting towards his family.

The cast has slowly expanded, and the gradual increase has been great for the character development and unexpected moments. There are more of the Bat-Family in this sequel, and they all play an important role. Nightwing and Batgirl had been on the side of the story so far, but both are drawn in. Both Dick and Barbara show a loyalty to their respective families that shows how honourable they are. All of the heroic figures included carry their classic personalities and ideals, but the villains come with unnerving revelations. Especially the Riddler, who starts calling the heroes by their real names..

The art is glorious, but what would you expect from the master? Lee and Williams shine working together again on this series. There isn’t just a desire to cling to past costumes and regalia. The Riddler looks very different, rougher and more suited to a gritty genre. He has a buzz cut, a question mark tattoo on his eye and a leather jacket. But he still holds his iconic staff. The other characters have slight and subtle changes to their looks, which are all phenomenal.

There are two fight scenes in Batman Issue 160. One sees two brothers brawl in a brutal and feisty conflict. It’s intense, physical, and filled with the martial arts that Batman comics are renowned for. The other sees Batman tangle with a newer villain, one with powers that force him to think logically. The line art of Williams and Lee perfectly demonstrated that power.

The colors use two contrasting extremes. The characters are either in a darkness filmed with blues and purples, or there is a very bright yellow illuminating the panel, often startling the figures within the spotlight. It means the characters can’t hide or slink away. Most of the Bat-Family are out of their comfort zone in the light. The lettering is brilliant, never trying to change the font in the word balloons or caption boxes. This means the eyes don’t have to adjust to try and read anything else, maintaining a consistency throughout Batman Issue 160.

Batman Issue 160 is more than just nostalgia. The classic feel of the creative team and the characters simply draws eyes to the page. There are so many new ideas and directions for the characters to go through. The presence of Hush is changing the other ecosystem of Gotham and its costumed citizens. They’re having to make moves they don’t usually make and make friends they usually hate.

Batman Issue 160 feels like an evolution of a world that sometimes seems stale and formulaic, making it a fascinating read on every page.

Batman Issue 160 is available where comics are sold.