Detective Comics #850
This review written by Julian Hazeldine on Nov.17, 2008.
The eight hundred and fiftieth issue of a book isn’t the most obvious of anniversaries, but Paul Dini has risen to the occasion regardless, concluding his “Heart of Hush” arc with the requisite fireworks. It’s a well-constructed tale, but the Bat-titles’ elephant in the corner serves to mar enjoyment slightly.
The plot here isn’t terribly complex. Thomas Elliot’s latest scheme to ruin both aspects of his former friend’s life stands revealed, and it’s up to Batman to save his associated from Hush’s wrath. Dini goes to considerable lengths to play up the parallels between Wayne and Elliot, with the latter’s level of knowledge of the franchise’s concept only just below breaking the fourth wall. There’s a lot of fun here in Hush’s reaction to the Batcave, and his comments about the way Bruce has lived his life are an interesting twist on the occasional regrets that Alfred has been sometimes allowed to voice. The actual manner of Hush’s defeat is rather contrived, but Dustin Nguyen’s stylised art pulls off the fight that precedes it well, and it’s hard to feel short-changed by the story on its own terms.
Although the character has had a rather chequered history since Jeph Loeb’s blockbuster introduction, it’s understandable that Dini would pick this character for an extended arc. Once the mystery of his origin was unravelled, most of Hush’s dramatic interest comes from his personal connection to Bruce Wayne. If another man were to be wearing the cowl, Elliot would be a far more difficult character to use well, and it makes sense that the writer would want to get this confrontation documented before Grant Morrison’s master plan finishes transforming the franchise. The problem lies with his use of another plot element from Loeb’s “Hush” run, in the form of Catwoman’s knowledge of Batman’s identity. The story picks up their relationship straight off the shelf, with an epilogue showing the characters enjoying a romantic holiday together as Selina convalesces. The problem is that the other core bat-book has spend the last two years showing Bruce being swept off his feet by Jezebel Jet, whose betrayal of Wayne is a key part of Batman R.I.P.. It’s easy to rationalise Dini’s work as being set considerably in advance of Morrison’s plot, but it’s a rather jarring effort, particularly in the light of the R.I.P. banner plastered across the book’s cover.
November 18th, 2008 on 1:24 pm
Hi, I don’t know if I’ve missed the point you’re making here, but the guy with Selina at the end of the story isn’t Bruce Wayne, it’s just some dude.
I’m loving this series.
p.s. Have you tried any of the new Jonah Hex series? It’s effing good.
November 18th, 2008 on 11:47 pm
No, you right, and I realised that someone would pick me up on this when I re-read the issue last night. The text implies that some time has passed since Bruce’s declaration of love for Selina, and they’ve both moved on since then, but it’s still a rather odd editorial choice to have two “Batman in love” arcs running at the same time, featuring different women…
November 20th, 2008 on 11:42 am
With Selina and Zatanna as love interests for Bruce, you sort of get the impression that Dini is just totally ignoring what’s going on in Morrison’s book. As I’m only reading Detective, it works fine for me.