Unmasking the Mastermind: The True Story of Thomas Elliot as Hush

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In a thrilling turn of events, I’m excited to be part of the circle as Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee team up once more for “Hush 2”, a sequel to their iconic Batman tale, “Hush”. Back in the day, “Hush” was like a greatest hits compilation for Batman, centered around the enigma of who the elusive Hush truly was. At that time, it wasn’t too challenging to guess the identity of Hush, as a new character, Tommy Elliot, made an appearance – someone Bruce had known in his childhood before the tragic loss of his parents. Despite the story’s attempts to create suspense about who Hush could be, there was essentially only one plausible candidate. However, the masterful artwork by Jim Lee kept fans engaged, making it easy to overlook the central mystery that wasn’t as complex as we might have hoped.

The second installment of “Hush,” titled so in November, unveiled a fresh costume, the recurring Aristotle quotations, and hints at a new scheme. The first “Hush” was published more than twenty years ago, leaving newer readers puzzled about why Hush is significant given his infrequent appearances. As “Hush 2” approaches release, this guide will provide you with all the essential details about Thomas Elliot and his tenure as Hush.

Hush Quickly Became One of Batman’s Most Popular Villains Before a Precipitous Fall

In the city of Gotham, the Waynes and the Elliots were two affluent families who each had a son – Bruce and Thomas, respectively. The duo rapidly formed an unbreakable bond, engaging in shared activities like camping. However, the Elliot household was unlike the caring Waynes. Roger Elliot was a violent alcoholic, while his wife Marla hailed from humble origins, enduring his abuse silently. Their son Thomas suffered under his father’s cruel behavior and developed intense hatred towards his parents. To help him cope, Marla compelled Thomas to study ancient philosophy and Aristotle, hoping he could use this knowledge to resist his father’s abuse and eventually retaliate. He sought refuge as much as possible in the seemingly perfect Wayne family.

In a chilling attempt to rid himself of his parents, Thomas sabotaged their car brakes, causing an accident that left them critically injured. They were rushed to Sacred Heart Hospital where Thomas’ father worked as a doctor. Unfortunately, Dr. Wayne could only save Marla, and Roger succumbed to his injuries. This outcome filled young Thomas with resentment.

Following the accident, at camp, Thomas almost shared the incident involving his parents with Bruce, but held back. Marla arrived at the camp to fetch him, and everyone except Bruce labeled him as a “mama’s boy,” which caused Thomas to react aggressively. He was confined in a clinic for the remainder of the summer, where he encountered Dr. Jonathan Crane, who would later be known as Scarecrow. Crane noticed Thomas’s antisocial traits, and later took Thomas under his wing as Hush. Thomas grew increasingly anxious at the clinic, convinced that Bruce had colluded with his mother to spoil his summer, developing a deep-seated hatred towards Bruce and the Waynes. However, after the summer ended, the Waynes met their tragic fate in Crime Alley. Bruce became somber and secluded, sparking envy in Thomas who longed for his parents’ demise like the Waynes. Thomas remained under his mother’s control due to her promise of funding medical school. Eventually, Bruce departed from Gotham, leaving Thomas with his ailing mother.

Initially despising his life, Thomas encountered a woman named Peyton, who was linked to a crime boss’s family. Their relationship was strained as Marla, another woman in the picture, disliked Peyton intensely. Intriguingly, Marla manipulated the will to exclude Thomas without his knowledge. Meanwhile, unaware of this, Thomas took matters into his own hands by killing his mother with a pillow. Both parties eventually discovered each other’s secrets, but their bond didn’t survive.

Seeking a fresh start, Thomas embarked on global travels and rose to become one of the world’s top neurosurgeons. Intriguingly, he was the personal physician for the Riddler when the villain was diagnosed with brain cancer. However, instead of succumbing to his fate, the Riddler sought out the Lazarus Pits to heal himself. Upon returning, he attempted to sell Thomas information about these mysterious pits. But Thomas had other plans; he asked the Riddler to collaborate on a revenge plot against Bruce Wayne. The Riddler agreed and shared an additional secret: his experiences at the Lazarus Pit had granted him clarity and allowed him to deduce that Bruce was Batman. With this knowledge, Elliot and the Riddler began devising their sinister plans, giving birth to the infamous villain known as Hush.

In Gotham, Elliot made a comeback and aimed at Batman, disrupting one of his cables to cause the Dark Knight’s fall, resulting in a fractured skull. Remarkably, Elliot – being the city’s surgeon – was on call and managed to save Batman’s life. Later, Elliot performed reconstructive surgery on Harvey Dent, which ultimately led to the emergence of the Two-Face persona. Hush gathered numerous villains to battle Batman, but it was Dent who assisted the vigilante in overcoming the antagonist. As time went on, Hush would resurface multiple times, even recruiting the Justice League’s nemesis, Prometheus (or a less dangerous replica of him who had claimed the original’s armor), but Batman consistently outwitted him. Eventually, Hush seemed to disappear from the scene.

Thomas Elliot as Hush Is One of Batman’s Most Clever Villains

Among Batman’s numerous lethal adversaries, Thomas Elliot soon proved to be one of the most deadly. Despite harboring intense resentment towards his mother, her insistence on academic pursuits in warfare and philosophy provided him with an advantage that ultimately prepared him well for battling Batman, transforming into a sinister reflection of the Dark Knight. Known for orchestrating elaborate schemes, Batman has barely managed to stay alive against Hush’s machinations.

Up until now, it remains unknown what exactly Hush has planned next, but the teaser hinted at Robin and the Joker as possible focuses. The upcoming “Hush 2” has sparked great anticipation, placing a significant challenge upon creators Loeb and Lee. After their original story, subsequent writers struggled to maintain the same level of success for Hush, which is why he hasn’t quite reached the status of the Joker or Riddler. Thomas Elliot, the mastermind behind Hush, is a ruthless villain molded by a life marked by hardships and malice.

Batman #158 is part one of “Hush 2” and it’s on sale March 27, 2025.

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2025-03-23 16:11