While we are several months into the DC All In there are still many unknowns. That is certainly the case for Batman as he is dealing with an ever-changing landscape. This change is not just going on for the big picture with his work as a core member of the Justice League Unlimited. It also applies to Gotham City as Chip Zdarsky and Jorge Jimenez recently concluded their close to three-year run on Batman. While wrapping up their run they left plenty of things for future creative teams to pick up on. That includes plot points that Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee can pick up on during their upcoming sequel to Batman: Hush.
BATMAN REDISCOVERING HIS PLACE IN GOTHAM CITY A WEAKNESS HUSH CAN EXPLOIT
Throughout Chip Zdarsky and Jorge Jimenez run on Batman we saw the entire concept of the Dark Knight challenged. Specifically, how Bruce Wayne’s vision as the protector of Gotham City as the Dark Knight fit into the present. Gotham City was no longer the same place that caused Bruce to begin his mission as Batman. It wasn’t just that their were super villains like Joker, Riddler, and Two-Face running around. Gotham City itself was changing to be more of a modern city rather than being stuck mob-ruled place like it was when Batman first debuted.
With how Gotham City is evolving we saw at the end of the conclusion to Zdarsky and Jimenez run that Bruce questioned his place in the city he calls home. Even though he defeated Commander Star/KGBeast and Riddler, there was a change going on that his methods as Batman don’t make everyone feel protected. In the current state of Gotham City Batman is no longer just a vigilante has become a symbol like the GCPD to the people.
With Bruce left to question his place as Gotham City’s protector, Thomas Elliot could very well take advantage of. Thomas returning to prominence as Hush can utilize how Gotham City is changing to become the full counter to how Bruce as Batman changes. In turn it’ll make the two childhood friends opposing forces for where Gotham City can go. Which would add a greater spice to Hush’s revenge plot that goes beyond just defeating Batman.
WHERE ARE THE BATMAN FAMILY MEMBERS AS HUSH RETURNS?
Speaking of other characters that are part of Hush’s plans, we know that Thomas Elliot is targeting both the Batman Family and rogues gallery. This complicates things for the rest of the Batman Family as various members are doing there own thing in the DC All In era. That includes:
- Nightwing – dealing with Bludhaven’s power vacuum in his solo series, a member of Titans and Justice League Unlimited, and guest appearances in various Batman titles.
- Oracle – co-leading the Birds of Prey with Black Canary and being the person in the chair helping Batman, Nightwing, and Justice League Unlimited.
- Robin (Damian Wayne) – going through an identity crisis in Batman and Robin as he searches for his own purpose as a hero.
- Batgirl (Cassandra Cain) – recruited to help her mother, Lady Shiva, with a Shadow War involving League of Assassins and other groups in her solo series.
- Catwoman – globe trotting to deal with some rising crime lords and old friend.
- The Signal – recruited by Josiah Power and Black Lightning to be part of a strike team to investigate the growing “Waller was Right” and metahuman crisis in Atlanta.
- Harley Quinn – having random adventures in the Throatcut Hill area of Gotham City.
- Tim Drake, Stephanie Brown, Jason Todd, Kate Kane, and Helena Bertinelli – all on call for guest appearances.
Given the Batman Family’s status quo it’s safe to say Hush will be able find a way to individually target each of its members. This does lead to the question if Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee will pick up on Bruce’s previous stated desire for the Batman Family to call the Pennyworth Manor located in the heart of Gotham City their home. With most of the members busy with their own missions Bruce’s wish to be closer to his family may not be possible.
At the same time, Hush can use that information to his advantage. Unlike in their original encounter Bruce has become more active about being the patriarch of the Batman Family. That care could leave him more vulnerable for how Hush plans to place get revenge on Red Hood, Nightwing, Oracle, and others.
Though mysteriously Hush did have an “X” over Catwoman’s picture in his planning room. With Alfred Pennyworth having a similar “X” drawn on his picture that does indicate that by the time the Hush sequel begins Thomas has already gone after Catwoman. That does raise the question of what role Selina Kyle will play in the sequel. Afterall, it can be argued Hush is as much a Catwoman villain as he is a Batman villain.
BATMAN ROGUES GALLERY EVOLVING IN THE SHADOWS
It is not just the Batman Family that will be targeted by Hush. The Batman rogues gallery will also be part of Hush’s revenge tour. In the Batman: Hush 2 teaser we see Joker, Poison Ivy, Riddler, Penguin, Clayface, Scarecrow, and Killer Croc on Thomas Elliot board of targets. Hush targeting Batman’s villains does show he is going after everyone who got in his way over the years.
It is certainly an ambitious choice because the villains in Gotham City are going through as much change, if not more, than the Batman Family. Particularly during the Dark Prisons story arc we saw Failsafe mentally alter some of the villains. That had an immediate impact as we’ve seen Riddler begin his own billion dollar tech company and Two Face running an underground courtroom to judge other villains. That’s on top of how we constantly see Joker change to counter Batman’s development and Poison Ivy teetering between hero and villain.
This does create questions around how exactly Hush can expect to be able to get revenge on so many different characters. Going after Batman is a challenge on its own as Hush has suffered countless defeats at the hands of the Dark Knight. And the last few times we saw Hush both Nightwing and Catwoman also defeated him.
So Hush does not have the best track record to match his current ambition. Which does create genuine intrigue with how Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee will give Thomas Elliot the credibility to be a big threat again. If anyone can pull that off it is Hush’s original creators.
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