This Is the Worst Batman Story in Years (And That’s Saying a Lot)

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Currently, being a Batman fan presents an intriguing mix of anticipation and frustration. On one side, the comics “Absolute Batman” and “Batman: Dark Patterns” are shaping up to be timeless masterpieces, likely considered essential reads for newcomers in no time, if they aren’t already. Furthermore, the upcoming fall sees a refreshing reinvention of Batman led by the renowned creative duo Matt Fraction and Jorge Jiménez, promising a revitalization that the Caped Crusader hasn’t experienced in quite some time.

However, the main “Batman” comic has oscillated between monotonous repetition and derivative content to downright irritating narrative patterns over the past few years. The series has been grappling with one disappointing arc after another, retelling similar stories that grow increasingly tiresome. To add insult to injury, the current “H2SH” storyline is arguably the worst Batman tale in recent memory, a significant statement considering the fierce competition we’ve faced recently.

Batman Is in a Creative Rut

It seems like the primary Batman series has been stuck in a repetitive pattern for approximately ten years now. Most storylines revolve around either Gotham City being taken over by a villain, Batman being criticized for his heroic actions or fighting with his allies and family due to convoluted reasons. Sometimes these three elements are combined, which results in the least satisfying stories. It’s worth noting that there have been some excellent Batman tales within the main comic book series over the years, such as James Tynion IV’s tenure, and the first two arcs of Chip Zdarsky’s run were particularly impressive. However, these storylines often succumb to the issues mentioned above, ultimately leading to their downfall. The controversy surrounding Tom King’s run still persists, while Chip Zdarsky’s run is frequently criticized for its overly prolonged Failsafe narrative. Despite the positive aspects of those runs, I can’t recall a single enjoyable element about “H2SH.

The issues with “H2SH” are numerous, but they can essentially be traced back to two primary concerns: a lack of narrative flow, and a plot that’s creatively barren, often relying on characters making the most contentious choices at every turn. Let’s delve into these points. Firstly, the lack of continuity is evident in “H2SH”. The comic appears as if it should have been published two decades ago, not now. The characters’ behaviors are more reminiscent of how they acted in the early 2000s rather than their current portrayals, especially with the emphasis on Robin, Batgirl, and Huntress as members of the Bat Family. It seems that “Hush” was just released last year instead of 23 years ago, giving the impression that Batman and Hush haven’t had any significant interaction since then.

After that, we have the Riddler, a significant figure in both “Hush” and “H2SH,” sporting a militaristic overhaul and boasting an imposing bodybuilder physique. This change is exciting, yet it leaves fans puzzled because the Riddler was a major character in the recent Batman arc and appeared much happier and distinctly different than he does currently. Then there’s Red Hood’s choice to align with Hush due to his anger towards Bruce for not killing the Joker and possibly suffering from damage inflicted by the Lazarus Pit. However, Red Hood has already let go of his anger against Bruce numerous times, and they recently reconciled and forgave each other in the comics. Furthermore, if Red Hood were to be affected by brain damage from his resurrection, wouldn’t we have seen signs of it by now? It just seems like this twist is too drawn-out for it to feel convincing.

Moving on to the topic of Red Hood, it’s quite evident that this narrative is problematic due to its fixation on stirring up controversy. It appears as though each significant plot development serves the purpose of eliciting anger or shock from readers. For instance, Red Hood is portrayed as a villain once more, Batman uses a gun to shoot his own son, he frequently blames Batman for not killing the Joker, Bane collaborating with Damian, and the Bat Family engaging in conflict again. All of these events seem unjustified and unnecessary, yet they persistently accumulate within the storyline.

For instance, Damian and Bane unexpectedly appear to save Batman, which is quite surprising considering that Bane had killed Alfred in front of Damian. Given their past, it’s not likely Damian would team up with the man who killed Alfred. However, they do collaborate, but there’s no clear reason provided as to why Bane, of all people, would aid Batman or why Damian approached him for help. Furthermore, Batman’s reaction is confusing; he yells at Bane and knocks him out with a single punch, which seems illogical.

As for Barbara, her newfound hatred towards Bruce stems from two events: Batman saving the Joker and her father almost dying. It’s unclear how these two incidents are connected, especially since Hush is the one responsible for putting her dad in the hospital. Barbara attacks Batman, and he defends himself, but when the rest of the Bat Family arrives, they advise Batman to stand down because it seems he’s being blamed unfairly for everything that’s happened.

The plot of “H2SH” is illogical and unsatisfying, as the characters make poor decisions and rehash questions that have been answered repeatedly. The villain lacks impact, making the story feel like cheap paper mache. This story offers nothing new or valuable to Batman’s mythology and seems to be aimed at people who dislike or don’t read Batman comics. It’s difficult to imagine any Batman fan enjoying this story, and non-Batman fans are unlikely to be drawn in by its negative portrayal of the character. The story seems to have no clear target audience, and it feels as though the writers are intentionally being controversial just for shock value, since without that element, the story might not be able to stand on its own merits. In other words, if the goal was to stir up controversy, then they’ve definitely succeeded.

Batman #161 is on sale now.

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2025-07-24 22:10