Detective Comics #846 (1 of 5) RIP Tie-In

[AuburnComics]

This is the first R.I.P. Tie in for Detective Comics and it is the beginning of a 5 part series involving Hush. I am not the Batman guy of AuburnComics.com and this may be surprising but I think this is my first 'Detective Comics' ever. I have been reading about three other Batman titles recently and this issue only continues the trend of interesting me more in the character.

For the most part I loved the art. It was very well drawn cover to cover with the exception of a few particularly annoying nose less faces. I have very little Hush history and having heard others lament at his return I was weary. However, I found nothing to dislike about the portrayal of Hush in this book. It works for me and I was particularly well pleased when about two thirds of the way though the issue we get a flashback that gives a lot of history to Hush and is told in a very interesting almost sepia, nostalgic tone.

There are lots of beginnings in this book that look to be leading us into a very interesting five part series even though I expected much more regarding the black glove to tie in with Batman R.I.P which I have already been reading. But for now it is a very faint tie in. We shall see where all this goes so don't miss this beginning. I may drop Detective Comics after the end of the 5 part run and I like that it gives me a easy place to jump off if I decide to while letting me into the series very easily as well.

I almost didn't want to write this last part but I feel compelled. Through the first few pages I was really worried that this was going to be an animal rights issue. Luckily we jump off that band wagon. I like animals but when Batman and Catwoman leap from a building saying its for the animals I almost put the book down. Don't worry, this issue is not a political agenda driven book. It's just good Batman fun.

[IamtheRock3]

did the prabale telling villan in this book appear anywhere else

or is he Dinni Creation

[AlistairCrane]

As an animal rights activist, I commend Paul Dini for bringing attention to this issue through Detective Comics.

[Schornforce]

I took at as when they said it was 'for the animals' it was Batman's way of working with Catwoman despite the fact that Batman is in love with Jezebel Jet (whom Catwoman asked about in the panel previous) and avoiding a discussion or arguement about any romantic relationship issues and such.

Catwoman's reply seemed sarcastic to me, that she knew Batman was avoiding the relationship/jealousy issue and turning focus back on the case at hand.

Of course, both do care about the animals, but I thought there was subtext in the initial dialogue given how abruptly the subject changed.

I enjoyed the issue much more than I thought I would, as the last Hush sequel was incredibly horrible. I enjoyed the insight into Hush's motivations and I even liked the two-bit villain Aesop.

[AuburnComics]

Originally Posted by AlistairCrane

As an animal rights activist, I commend Paul Dini for bringing attention to this issue through Detective Comics.

I don't know that that's what he was doing more so than playing on the Catwoman character's involvement and the big cats in the issue... But I guess I brought it up so kudos.

[Schornforce]

Originally Posted by IamtheRock3

did the prabale telling villan in this book appear anywhere else

or is he Dinni Creation

I never saw him or heard of him before. I assume he's a Dini creation.

[AlistairCrane]

Hopefully Jezebel Jet is evil so we can go back to the Bruce/Selina relationship.

[Mia]

You know one thing I loved about what Ed Brubaker & Will Pheiffer did with the character is the fact that they made Selina sexy without turning her into a piece of ass.

I don't mind Selina flirting with men for fun. But I thought we had moved beyond the 'give it to me baby', behaviour, That so characterised her in pre Catwoman volume II books.

Selina is clearly the sort of woman who can clearly have any man she wants. So she shouldn't have to stoop to acting like some slutty schoolgirl who needs to put out to keep her boyfirend. Can't Dini find her a better way of writing her? I cringed to read her dialogue.

[AlistairCrane]

Originally Posted by Mia

Selina is clearly the sort of woman who can clearly have any man she wants.

No she's not. She can't have Bruce, he's with Jezebel. So I think her behaviour's justified.

[Seraku]

I liked this issue, Dr. Aesop was a funny villain and the Hush flashback was pretty good. Made it seem like a true sequel to Leob than what Lieberman was doing.

[chipsnopotatoes]

Originally Posted by Mia

Selina is clearly the sort of woman who can clearly have any man she wants. So she shouldn't have to stoop to acting like some slutty schoolgirl who needs to put out to keep her boyfirend. Can't Dini find her a better way of writing her? I cringed to read her dialogue.

Actually, I didnt get that vibe of her 'putting out' in the dialogue; in fact, i find the way Dini writes her to be pretty unlikeable. She actually sounds like a naggy ex --i.e. bitter not because she wants him back but because he's moved on and she hasn't. Her scenes with batman were just so bland, i didnt sense any spark at all.

I'm really quite sad about this because I do want them back together.

[Alexx1]

I think Catwoman knows Batman well (certainly better than any other woman) and didn't completely buy into Bruce's "it's all about the Cats". I certainly didn't. Bruce might be in love with Jet but he can't stay away from Catwoman to save his life.

And I didn't think Dini mischaraterized Catwoman at all or made her seem desperate. Catwoman is a tease and a flirt. I think she understands her emotional importance to Batman and is always going to rub it in his face that she's well aware of her place in his life no matter who he's got in it and even if they don't acknowledge it openly. These two are awesome for each other. I just wish DC felt the same.

Cool issue. Awesome Splash page in the end!

[Doc Goblin]

This issue was all right. Catwoman was written well enough, I think. There's always going to be somethign between Selina and Bruce, so if Bruce is involved with anyone, she's going to make comment. It would be weird for her not to.

So it seems like Dini's on a mission to redeem Hush as a Bat villain. Most of this issue was an explanation of his history and motivation. It does give a much better picture of him than any appearance has in the past. Pretty clear that he's meant to be the anti-Batman. I get it. ...It's just a shame I find the character so boring still. The idea seems sound. I just don't like Hush.

I guess my biggest problem with Hush is accepting the idea of Thomas Elliot, the 8 year old criminal mastermind. But then if I suspend my disbelief enough to accept that idea, next I have to buy into this whole lifelong vendetta coming from the fact that Thomas Wayne managed to save his mom in surgery. It's too much. I can't take this seriously.

Dini's a good writer. I actually think I might like his Detective run a little better than Morrison's Batman run. But I'll be surprised if I enjoy this arc. I'll see how the next issue is, but I'm tempted to skip it.

[rZi]

LOVED IT.

Kinda took the myserty out of if Hush really was Elliot, i mean yes it was implyed alot...but we never did actualy see his face.

Why was he cutting himself? He was never shown to have any facial disfigurment in the original storyline, is there something ive missed?

[carabas]

So... How exactly is this a R.I.P. tie-in?