Detective Comics # 846 - Heart of Hush Part 1: First Families of Gotham

While not as good as Batman: R.I.P., this new storyline that is connected to R.I.P. called Heart of Hush is still very good. This book reminds readers what is so good about Dr. Thomas Elliot. He is ruthless, smart, and dramatic. He is one of the best of the newer batch of Batman villains in the past ten years. Here we are reminded of his past and why he hates the Wayne family so much. Also we get to see Batman and Catwoman go up against a new Batman foe that will leave you searching for a moral to these tails.

The writing is as almost always superb with Dini at the helm and while it always takes me a second to get into Nguyen's art...I always like it by the time I finish the story. So overall this is a very well done tie to an even better book. I hope that doesn't upset Dini...sorry. :-)

Mask of Tengu for graphicnovelbookclub.com

In this issue we see A little more of Hush as a boy, and his thoughts and motivations about when he killed his parents. We also find that he is willing to protect Batman so he can kill Bruce Wayne. I have to say that this turned out to be a pretty good issue. I came in half way through the first Hush story line. So I enjoyed getting the back story they gave us here.  While he shares the same thinking that "only he should be the one that kills Batman" same as the Joker.  It is the Bruce Wayne half that he wants to kill. It makes sense since he was screwed up long before Bruce took up the cape and cowl.
 Those are just a couple of the issues that makes this a strong umm .... issue, sorry for that. There is a strong blend of story and action inside. Not really a part of the R.I.P. story, but it will do.

Ok so Hush is back. I read half of his story arc a while ago and didn't care enough to read the rest. I really didn't give a crap about it. But wait! Why would I want to read this, then? Cause Paul Dini wrote it! And I'm a fan. Most of the best episodes on the 90's Batman cartoon were written by him.

Anyway, Bats and Catwoman are working together to take down some gang boss who's obsessed with fables. So much so, that he when one of his henchman "cries wolf", he sends exactly what you would guess to kill him.

Hush is seen spying on them to plan his next move. With the Black Glove trying to kill off Batman, Hush wants to make sure that HE is the one that does the deed. Thankfully, he goes over anything I missed by putting down the original story arc. So 10 year old Tommy was the one who caused his parents accident. While we see the flashback, Hush is performing surgery on his own face.

Next scene, we see Bats and Cats fight the gang boss again, this time he recites a fable I never heard of. The boss tries to escape, but gets killed by Hush, who threatens Bats and disappears.

This wasn't anything special, just a set up for what's next, like what all first issues do.

I loved the art, however. Nguyen is very versatile. While I didn't care for his covers much, his pages have a semi-Mignola feel to them (when it's in the present). One reason I disliked Hush was for the art. Sure, comic fans love JIm Lee to death, but he's nothing past generic for me.

Anyway, I liked this one, but more for the art.