DC Just Killed Batman, But It Will Never Matter

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Batman is a cornerstone of DC Comics, arguably the most famous and widely published superhero in history. He consistently drives comic book sales and is a key figure in major DC events, which is why he was chosen to lead the recent crossover with Marvel. A significant reason for his enduring popularity is the quality of his stories, including classics like “Year One” and “The Killing Joke,” as well as newer, highly acclaimed titles such as “Gotham Nocturne.” These stories consistently attract attention and critical praise.

The recent decision to kill off Batman is shocking, but even more frustrating is how little impact it seems to have. While characters often return from the dead in DC Comics, Batman has only truly “died” once before – and even then, it was a temporary deception. This time, it felt like a real death, brought about by the Lazarus Pit – something new for Batman. However, we’ll likely never see the full consequences of this resurrection because it happened at the very end of Batman (2016) #163, concluding the first part of a story arc called “H2SH,” which will probably never be finished.

The Death and Return of Batman

The initial phase of the “Hush” storyline focused on separating Batman from his allies. Hush cleverly manipulated events, turning Batman’s entire support network against him and even landing Commissioner Gordon in the hospital. This left Batman completely isolated. When Hush finally moved to finish his plan, Batman was forced to forge temporary alliances with some of his most dangerous enemies, each with their own agenda regarding Hush. The climactic showdown was a violent and chaotic battle, with Batman largely focused on trying to redeem Red Hood. Ultimately, Hush stabbed Batman, seemingly fatally, and also claimed to have killed Catwoman, leading everyone to believe Batman had died.

Talia al Ghul showed up, but she couldn’t prevent Batman from dying. Instead, she chose to bring him back to life. She transported his body to her base and used a Lazarus Pit to revive him. The Lazarus Pits were supposedly all destroyed years ago, but their origin remains a mystery. Regardless, Batman was resurrected, though he wasn’t the same. Talia noticed a change in him, remarking on his dark and intimidating appearance. He then kissed her, and the comic concluded with a promise to explain everything in a sequel. However, it’s unlikely that this second part, “H2SH 2,” will ever be published.

A Littany of Delays and Poor Reception

The comic book series “H2SH” will likely be remembered for its significant delays and weak storyline. Issue six was originally scheduled for release in September 2025, but is only now appearing, meaning the new Batman series it was meant to lead into is already nine issues in. While delays aren’t anyone’s fault – artist and DC’s Chief Creative Officer Jim Lee experienced health problems – Lee has historically struggled with deadlines, and his current responsibilities and age make it seem unlikely he’ll be able to dedicate enough time to a large project like this in the future.

The main problem is that hardly anyone wants this story to continue. The first series, “H2SH,” was very poorly received and seemed to include every common complaint about current Batman comics. I’ve consistently felt it’s one of the worst Batman stories ever, and the final issue didn’t change that. This is similar to “Batman: The Widening Gyre,” which also planned a continuation that never materialized due to the creative team losing interest and scheduling conflicts. I expect “H2SH 2” will face the same fate. It’s hard to see how it could ever be finished, especially since the popular comic series that followed “H2SH” is still being published, meaning there’s little demand for a sequel.

The storyline introduced in ‘H2SH’ – where Batman is incorrectly brought back to life using the Lazarus Pit – was a compelling idea, and I’d hoped to see veteran creators Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee finish what they started. However, that seems unlikely. Knowing this comic doesn’t connect to the larger DC universe makes it easy to dismiss, and honestly, there are so many issues with it that I’m not even surprised things are going this way. It’s disappointing, but I’m so sure this series will never actually be completed that I’d be shocked if it was.

Batman #163 is on sale now!

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2026-05-27 20:12