Jim Lee

Bob Kane

Adam Beechen

Ryan Benjamin

Loeb Jeph

Written by ADAM BEECHEN Art by RYAN BENJAMIN & JOHN STANISCI Cover by DUSTIN NGUYEN Terry McGinnis - the Batman of the future - and an elderly Bruce Wayne - the original Batman - star in this new title collecting the hit 6-issue miniseries. When someone targets The Dark Knight's old foes, the new Batman must begin a case that reaches into Bruce Wayne's past and puts Terry's future directly in danger. On sale MARCH 2 - 144 pg, FC

Hush Beyond

Batman Beyond

a.k.b.

Despite my years as a Batman fan, I never watched Batman Beyond until this last year - within just a few episodes, I understood why this television series was so beloved, and I immediately began looking into all the related comic books. Hush Beyond was a recommendation from fans that really caught my attention, and now that I’ve completed the limited series I can see why so many fans of the show enjoyed this comic.

Prior to diving into Hush Beyond, I’d recommend that you complete both the television series and the film, as this graphic novel contains references to both that may not make total sense to a new reader. This isn’t to say these references can’t be figured out, however, it is so much more fun to read this story while already understanding everything that it references. Aside from references to the Batman Beyond series, there’s also a great deal of references and Easter eggs for Batman fans in general, which adds to the fun of the experience.

Hush Beyond follows the emergence of a villain who resembles Hush, an enemy from Bruce Wayne’s past - Bruce fears that this is, in fact, Thomas Elliot returned, and the new Batman, Terry McGinnis, is on the case. For those that are fans of the greater Batman lore, this is an engaging and exciting tease, because the mystery surrounding this new “Hush” keeps one theorizing whether it is Elliot or if it’s someone new. The use of a well-known Batman foe is great for bringing together fans of both Batman Beyond and of the original Bruce Wayne Batman, and it creates an engaging story that brings the two worlds together very cohesively.

If you fear redundancy or predictability in this story, that fear can be quieted, as many plot points that occur are surprising, unexpected, and fresh. There are nice surprises and teases, keeping one engaged in the story and wondering how many of their predictions may come true and how many may be proven false. There are just enough clues in the story for one to theorize how it may go, but these clues aren’t so massive that they ruin the story.

One of the major highlights for me is the dynamic between Bruce and Terry, which rings true to their relationship in the show while also amplifying it just a little. Bruce is showing even more frustration and doubt, and Terry is working even harder to prove himself - one of the strengths of both Batman Beyond and this limited series is the way they showcase Bruce’s growing distrust and paranoia throughout the decades, how he’s become a brutal and bitter old man who let’s this out on Terry. As a reader, you not only feel for Terry, but you have this great love-hate relationship with Bruce and his choices throughout the story. The pair’s emotional conflict is very well done, suiting this story arc well, and once you reach the end of the book, you appreciate the writer’s choice in highlighting this conflict between them.

*minor spoilers* For myself, my favorite thing about this book was the inclusion of Dick Grayson, who has been my favorite member of the Batfam for years. For fans of the larger Batman lore, it’s great to see the inclusion of this legacy character, and it’s also interesting to then speculate why Dick is included in the story. As this series goes on, I began to realize the potential meaning of Dick’s involvement, and yet, I was still surprised by the story’s ultimate reveal, so I give kudos to the writer for the way Dick and the plot were both handled. *end spoilers*

The only major story downfall for me was the ending. The final confrontation between Terry and company and the villain felt as if it were lacking in depth despite all the potential that was there for the scene, and Terry’s final scene with Bruce, although in-line with how the show would wrap an episode up, felt a little empty. I could see the potential in both scenes, so it was disappointing that the book ended on an okay note.

My other complaint about Hush Beyond is the art. Ryan Benjamin, who served as the penciller for this series, has a style that serves very well for masked characters - his designs for Batman, Hush, and other suited-up figures look spectacular. However, when it came to unmasked characters, his work stood out in the wrong ways for me. It felt as if there was no love put into the designs of Terry, Bruce, and other characters that were featured, and I can only recall a few instances in which a character’s design didn’t bother me. This isn’t to say Benjamin’s work isn’t good, however, I found myself distracted by a number of design choices that I felt could have been done much better.

Jo A

Lauren Stewart

Angel-K

Batman Beyond Hush Beyond

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