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Batman
Batman: Heart of Hush
The villain named Hush, created by comic superstars Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee, makes a dramatic return to the life of Batman. What will this mean for Bruce Wayne? Secrets shared years ago between Bruce Wayne and Tommy Elliott begin to have dangerous repercussions in the present. Why is this mystery driving Hush to destroy Batman's life? What part does Catwoman play in Hush's plans?
Collects DETECTIVE COMICS #846-850.
Collects DETECTIVE COMICS #846-850.
144 pages, Hardcover
First published April 7, 2009
About the author
Paul Dini
739 books733 followersPaul Dini is an American television producer of animated cartoons. He is best known as a producer and writer for several Warner Bros./DC Comics series, including Star Wars: Ewoks, Tiny Toon Adventures, Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated Series, The New Batman/Superman Adventures, Batman Beyond and Duck Dodgers. He also developed and scripted Krypto the Superdog and contributed scripts to Animaniacs (he created Minerva Mink), Freakazoid, Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. After leaving Warner Bros. In early 2004, Dini went on to write and story edit the popular ABC adventure series Lost.
Paul Dini was born in New York City. He attended the Stevenson School in Pebble Beach, California on an art scholarship. He attended Emerson College in Boston, where he earned a BFA degree in creative writing. (He also took zoology classes at Harvard University.)
During college, he began doing freelance animation scripts for Filmation, and a number of other studios. In 1984, he was hired to work for George Lucas on several of his animation projects.
The episodes of the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon that were written by Dini have become favorites amongst the show's fans over the internet, although despite this as well as contributing to interviews on the released box sets of the series, Dini has made no secret of his distaste for Filmation and the He-Man concept. He also wrote an episode of the Generation One Transformers cartoon series and contributed to various episodes of the Ewoks animated series, several of which included rare appearances from the Empire.
In 1989, he was hired at Warner Bros. Animation to work on Tiny Toon Adventures. Later, he moved onto Batman: The Animated Series, where he worked as a writer, producer and editor, later working on Batman Beyond. He continued working with WB animation, working on a number of internal projects, including Krypto the Superdog and Duck Dodgers, until 2004.
He has earned five Emmy awards for his animation work. In a related effort, Dini was also the co-author (with Chip Kidd) of Batman Animated, a 1998 non-fiction coffee table book about the animated Batman franchise.
Dini has also written several comics stories for DC Comics, including an acclaimed oversized graphic novel series illustrated by painter Alex Ross. (A hardcover collection of the Dini and Ross stories was published in late summer 2005 under the title The World's Greatest Superheroes.) Other books written by Dini for DC have featured his Batman Animated creation Harley Quinn as well as classic characters Superman, Batman, Captain Marvel and Zatanna.
Best known among Dini's original creations is Jingle Belle, the rebellious teen-age daughter of Santa Claus. Dini also created Sheriff Ida Red, the super-powered cowgirl star of a series of books set in Dini's mythical town of Mutant, Texas. Perhaps his greatest character contribution is the introduction of Harley Quinn (along with designs by Bruce Timm) on Batman: The Animated Series.
In 2001 Dini made a cameo appearance in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back during the scene in which Jay and Silent Bob wear ridiculous looking costumes for a film being directed by Chris Rock, in which Dini says to them "you guys look pretty bad ass".
In 2006, Dini became the writer for DC Comics' Detective Comics. That same year, he announced that he was writing a hardcover graphic novel starring Zatanna and Black Canary. In 2007, he was announced as the head writer of that company's weekly series, Countdown. Paul Dini is currently co-writing the script for the upcoming Gatchaman movie. Dini is also currently writing a series for Top Cow Productions, based in a character he created, Madame Mirage.
Paul Dini is an active cryptozoologist, hunter and wildlife photographer. On a 1985 trip to Tasmania, he had a possible sighting of a Thylacine. He has also encountered a number of venomous snakes, a Komodo Dragon and a charging Sumatran Rhi
Paul Dini was born in New York City. He attended the Stevenson School in Pebble Beach, California on an art scholarship. He attended Emerson College in Boston, where he earned a BFA degree in creative writing. (He also took zoology classes at Harvard University.)
During college, he began doing freelance animation scripts for Filmation, and a number of other studios. In 1984, he was hired to work for George Lucas on several of his animation projects.
The episodes of the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon that were written by Dini have become favorites amongst the show's fans over the internet, although despite this as well as contributing to interviews on the released box sets of the series, Dini has made no secret of his distaste for Filmation and the He-Man concept. He also wrote an episode of the Generation One Transformers cartoon series and contributed to various episodes of the Ewoks animated series, several of which included rare appearances from the Empire.
In 1989, he was hired at Warner Bros. Animation to work on Tiny Toon Adventures. Later, he moved onto Batman: The Animated Series, where he worked as a writer, producer and editor, later working on Batman Beyond. He continued working with WB animation, working on a number of internal projects, including Krypto the Superdog and Duck Dodgers, until 2004.
He has earned five Emmy awards for his animation work. In a related effort, Dini was also the co-author (with Chip Kidd) of Batman Animated, a 1998 non-fiction coffee table book about the animated Batman franchise.
Dini has also written several comics stories for DC Comics, including an acclaimed oversized graphic novel series illustrated by painter Alex Ross. (A hardcover collection of the Dini and Ross stories was published in late summer 2005 under the title The World's Greatest Superheroes.) Other books written by Dini for DC have featured his Batman Animated creation Harley Quinn as well as classic characters Superman, Batman, Captain Marvel and Zatanna.
Best known among Dini's original creations is Jingle Belle, the rebellious teen-age daughter of Santa Claus. Dini also created Sheriff Ida Red, the super-powered cowgirl star of a series of books set in Dini's mythical town of Mutant, Texas. Perhaps his greatest character contribution is the introduction of Harley Quinn (along with designs by Bruce Timm) on Batman: The Animated Series.
In 2001 Dini made a cameo appearance in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back during the scene in which Jay and Silent Bob wear ridiculous looking costumes for a film being directed by Chris Rock, in which Dini says to them "you guys look pretty bad ass".
In 2006, Dini became the writer for DC Comics' Detective Comics. That same year, he announced that he was writing a hardcover graphic novel starring Zatanna and Black Canary. In 2007, he was announced as the head writer of that company's weekly series, Countdown. Paul Dini is currently co-writing the script for the upcoming Gatchaman movie. Dini is also currently writing a series for Top Cow Productions, based in a character he created, Madame Mirage.
Paul Dini is an active cryptozoologist, hunter and wildlife photographer. On a 1985 trip to Tasmania, he had a possible sighting of a Thylacine. He has also encountered a number of venomous snakes, a Komodo Dragon and a charging Sumatran Rhi
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 309 reviews
May 4, 2024
(B+) 78% | Good
Notes: Flashbacks stain and bleed like watercolor, in soft glows and sepia: a blurred backdrop tuning foreground into focus.
Notes: Flashbacks stain and bleed like watercolor, in soft glows and sepia: a blurred backdrop tuning foreground into focus.
September 21, 2012
Hush returns and begins striking at Batman however he can. But when he attacks Catwoman and removes the heart from her chest, has he gone too far?
The Heart of Hush further fleshes out the childhood relationship between Bruce Wayne and Tommy Elliot, aka Hush, as well as that between Batman and Catwoman. It also cements Hush's place in Batman's Rogues Gallery along with legends like The Joker, the Penguin, and the Riddler.
Much like in his initial appearance, the big draw with Hush is that he knows Bruce Wayne well enough to strike him close to home, where it would hurt the most. In this case, it's Catwoman, who is used to show that Batman is still just a man. Hush continues to pal around with Bat-villains like Scarecrow and Mr. Freeze in order to achieve his goals. One thing I really liked in this volume was the Scarecrow juicing up a kidnapped, bat-fearing kid with Venom and unleashing him on Batman.
At the end of the day, however, it's not as remarkable as Hush or The Black Mirror, other recent Batman favorites of mine. Three stars, edging toward four.
The Heart of Hush further fleshes out the childhood relationship between Bruce Wayne and Tommy Elliot, aka Hush, as well as that between Batman and Catwoman. It also cements Hush's place in Batman's Rogues Gallery along with legends like The Joker, the Penguin, and the Riddler.
Much like in his initial appearance, the big draw with Hush is that he knows Bruce Wayne well enough to strike him close to home, where it would hurt the most. In this case, it's Catwoman, who is used to show that Batman is still just a man. Hush continues to pal around with Bat-villains like Scarecrow and Mr. Freeze in order to achieve his goals. One thing I really liked in this volume was the Scarecrow juicing up a kidnapped, bat-fearing kid with Venom and unleashing him on Batman.
At the end of the day, however, it's not as remarkable as Hush or The Black Mirror, other recent Batman favorites of mine. Three stars, edging toward four.
December 20, 2016
Hush sucks. Not even one of the greatest Batman writers ever, Paul Dini, can make him good!
Heart of Hush explores Tommy Elliot’s origins in slightly more detail than elsewhere though his motivation remains his jealousy of Bruce Wayne - live your own life, Tommy!
He performs surgery on himself to look like Bruce (hence the bandages) and he has guns he likes to shoot. What a terrible character, I really don’t understand why anyone would like him. In between the dull flashbacks to the past, in the present he’s going after Bruce’s nearest and dearest because he wants to hurt Bruce - that’s it, just hurt Bruce. Such a weak plot!
Dustin Nguyen’s art though is killer. It’s really tight and on point, I loved it. Usually Dini at least matches his collaborators’ efforts but he falls way short on this one. Heart of Hush is pants - no more Hush comics, please!
Heart of Hush explores Tommy Elliot’s origins in slightly more detail than elsewhere though his motivation remains his jealousy of Bruce Wayne - live your own life, Tommy!
He performs surgery on himself to look like Bruce (hence the bandages) and he has guns he likes to shoot. What a terrible character, I really don’t understand why anyone would like him. In between the dull flashbacks to the past, in the present he’s going after Bruce’s nearest and dearest because he wants to hurt Bruce - that’s it, just hurt Bruce. Such a weak plot!
Dustin Nguyen’s art though is killer. It’s really tight and on point, I loved it. Usually Dini at least matches his collaborators’ efforts but he falls way short on this one. Heart of Hush is pants - no more Hush comics, please!
April 3, 2015
Sidekicks 'r Us!
I’m going to hurt you, (Insert name of Bruce Wayne here), and everyone you’ve ever cared about .
If I had a dollar for every time I’ve read/heard that line.
It seems that every other superhero has given up on the concept of a sidekick except Batman and now that he has a son as his Boy Wonder (not in this volume) he’s kind of stuck with one. Even Captain America tried out that pain-in-the-ass Rick Jones as a faux Bucky before giving him back to the Hulk. ("Hulk need Rick’s help with pop top lid. Hulk fingers too big") And don’t call Falcon a sidekick. Just don’t.
Although Nightwing and Robin #3 (Tim Drake) make appearances in this story, here Catwoman fulfills this and, um, other roles for the Bats and the limits to those roles are put to the test by Hush, one of the creepier villains Batman has gone up against.
Insanity is a pre-requisite for being a member of Batman’s rogue’s gallery and Hush gives The Joker a run for his money. Poor guy was jealous of lil’ Bruce Wayne, his bestest pal, so he tried to kill his parents (the old, tampering with the brakes gambit), but only succeeded in giving daddy a dirt nap. Incredibly needy momma survived reminding Hush, at least thrice daily about how successful and hawt Bruce Wayne had become and that he's never going to be as good as old Brucie. Never! “Now come and give your suffocating old crone of a mommy a hug.”
Recommended for those of you who read and liked the “Hush” storyline.
I’m going to hurt you, (Insert name of Bruce Wayne here), and everyone you’ve ever cared about .
If I had a dollar for every time I’ve read/heard that line.
It seems that every other superhero has given up on the concept of a sidekick except Batman and now that he has a son as his Boy Wonder (not in this volume) he’s kind of stuck with one. Even Captain America tried out that pain-in-the-ass Rick Jones as a faux Bucky before giving him back to the Hulk. ("Hulk need Rick’s help with pop top lid. Hulk fingers too big") And don’t call Falcon a sidekick. Just don’t.
Although Nightwing and Robin #3 (Tim Drake) make appearances in this story, here Catwoman fulfills this and, um, other roles for the Bats and the limits to those roles are put to the test by Hush, one of the creepier villains Batman has gone up against.
Insanity is a pre-requisite for being a member of Batman’s rogue’s gallery and Hush gives The Joker a run for his money. Poor guy was jealous of lil’ Bruce Wayne, his bestest pal, so he tried to kill his parents (the old, tampering with the brakes gambit), but only succeeded in giving daddy a dirt nap. Incredibly needy momma survived reminding Hush, at least thrice daily about how successful and hawt Bruce Wayne had become and that he's never going to be as good as old Brucie. Never! “Now come and give your suffocating old crone of a mommy a hug.”
Recommended for those of you who read and liked the “Hush” storyline.
April 19, 2013
4.5 stars
Introduction:
After reading “Batman: Hush,” I really got interested in Hush’s character and where he came from since we only saw half of his story in the original story. But thankfully, some of my reading friends managed to recommend me a story that continues the storyline from “Batman: Hush” and it is called “Batman: Heart of Hush!” With great writing from Paul Dini, who also wrote some of the episodes from “Batman: the Animated Series,” “Batman: Heart of Hush” is definitely one comic you have to check out!
What is this story about?
Hush, also known as Tommy Elliot, is back with a vengeance and he is planning on making Batman suffer more than ever before! After using the same tactics which involves trying to break Batman’s spirit by using his greatest foes to fight him, Hush manages to accomplish his ultimate goal in breaking Batman and that is kidnapping Catwoman! Can Batman save Catwoman from Hush before it is too late?
What I loved about this story:
Paul Dini’s writing: After seeing that Paul Dini had written stories for the “Batman” franchise before, which was writing some of the episodes in “Batman: The Animated Series,” the animated series that basically introduced me to the world of “Batman,” I was pleasantly surprised to see that Paul Dini had also written some stories for the “Batman” comics. “Batman: Heart of Hush” was basically the first “Batman” comic book story I had read from Paul Dini and it really started hooking me to his work! Paul Dini had done a great job at providing a more detailed back story on Tommy Elliot in this graphic novel since in Jeph Loeb’s story of “Batman: Hush,” he was shown to be Bruce Wayne’s childhood friend, but that was basically all we got from his character. In this graphic novel however, we get to see how Tommy’s childhood had affected him as a character and how he started leading his life as the notorious villain Hush. Paul Dini also did a fantastic job at making Hush into a calculating villain who knows Batman’s weaknesses and uses it against him, as it truly makes Hush into one of Batman’s most dangerous villains since the Joker! The creepy atmosphere that Paul Dini provided for this story was portrayed greatly as we can feel tension whenever Hush is introduced into the story and the mystery that surrounds the characters and Hush’s plan truly made this story interesting to read through!
Dustin Nguyen’s artwork: Dustin Nguyen’s artwork may not be as memorable as Jim Lee’s artwork in “Batman: Hush,” but the artwork is still detailed and brilliantly captures the darkness of the story. I loved the way that Dustin Nguyen’s artwork has dark colorings covering the city of Gotham as it really brings in the darkness of the city and it sets up a creepy atmosphere for the story. I also loved the way that Dustin Nguyen drew the facial expressions on the characters as they look truly realistic, especially whenever the characters look shocked or angry.
What made me feel uncomfortable about this story:
One of my biggest issues with this graphic novel was that I felt that the story was a bit too short and that many characters other than Tommy Elliot were not quite fleshed out like in “Batman: Hush.” I understand that this is Tommy Elliot’s story, but I wanted to see more of Nightwing and Catwoman like I did in “Batman: Hush” and have the story expand more on their perspectives on Hush and how Hush affected them as characters. I also wanted to see more romantic moments between Catwoman and Batman since it would have brought more depth to Batman’s determination to rescue Catwoman. Also, even though I usually do not let the artwork affect my reading of comics at times, I felt that the artwork in this comic was not as memorable as Jim Lee’s artwork and that the characters do not look as attractive as they did in “Batman: Hush.”
Final Thoughts:
Overall, even though I had some problems with “Batman: Heart of Hush” and I still consider “Batman: Hush” to be a better story, it was still a truly interesting read and a great follow up to “Batman: Hush” and “Batman” fans will definitely enjoy this book!
Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog
I would like to thank my Goodreads friend Brandon for recommending me this book!
September 14, 2022
This one was so good omg I just love it!
We get to see the return of Hush and what he has been upto since his last battle with Bruce and then seeing his plans and all and slowly going after Batman in all aspects of his life and then targeting his allies and constant battles with him and his side-kicks and then what he does with Selina plus in the process finding out his origins and all which is so well done btw and why he hates Bruce and ultimately what he does to become Bruce (which was just nuts) and the final battle and Selina's revenge that sets up the next story arc so well!
Omg this has gotta be one of my favorite Batman stories easily, its mainly told from Hush's perspective but you get to see why he maybe one of Bruce's most dangerous adversaries ever and then the first person narration and all and getting to see his origins and why he hates Bruce, Dini does such a good establishing that and he does it so well and then the final battle and all was so well done. Plus the art of Nguyen as he makes each page looks like a hundred bucks and the main thing I loved is the moments between Bruce and Selina which was <3! A must recommend from me!
We get to see the return of Hush and what he has been upto since his last battle with Bruce and then seeing his plans and all and slowly going after Batman in all aspects of his life and then targeting his allies and constant battles with him and his side-kicks and then what he does with Selina plus in the process finding out his origins and all which is so well done btw and why he hates Bruce and ultimately what he does to become Bruce (which was just nuts) and the final battle and Selina's revenge that sets up the next story arc so well!
Omg this has gotta be one of my favorite Batman stories easily, its mainly told from Hush's perspective but you get to see why he maybe one of Bruce's most dangerous adversaries ever and then the first person narration and all and getting to see his origins and why he hates Bruce, Dini does such a good establishing that and he does it so well and then the final battle and all was so well done. Plus the art of Nguyen as he makes each page looks like a hundred bucks and the main thing I loved is the moments between Bruce and Selina which was <3! A must recommend from me!
November 18, 2011
After reading the disaster that was Batman: Harley and Ivy, I was a tad nervous to read anything else by Paul Dini. I'm happy to say, however, that he has totally redeemed himself (in my eyes, anyway) with Heart of Hush.
Hush, while not as awesome as Joker, is a pretty interesting villain. Heart of Hush explores more of Thomas Elliot's background, and also his warped reasoning for targeting Bruce Wayne.
I'm sure you can see from the front cover that Catwoman is also a prominent figure in this story. And really, is there ever such a thing as too much Selina Kyle? No. No, there is not.
I'm afraid I'll give out spoilers if I keep going, so I'll just end this review with a big Two Thumbs Up!
Hush, while not as awesome as Joker, is a pretty interesting villain. Heart of Hush explores more of Thomas Elliot's background, and also his warped reasoning for targeting Bruce Wayne.
I'm sure you can see from the front cover that Catwoman is also a prominent figure in this story. And really, is there ever such a thing as too much Selina Kyle? No. No, there is not.
I'm afraid I'll give out spoilers if I keep going, so I'll just end this review with a big Two Thumbs Up!
November 22, 2011
Batman has been blessed with a really interesting Rogue's Gallery. There's a lot of depth in those villains, and frankly, they're pretty scary as a whole. Hush has the distinction of being one of the creepiest, and with his competition, that's really saying something.
There's a lot of backstory here, about what made Hush who he is now. His current plot is the main focus, though. As the cover implies, it's much to do with Catwoman. Basically, Hush has heard through the grapevine that the events of Batman: RIP are about to happen and wants to kill Bruce Wayne first. His tactic is to get at him through the people he loves, starting with Catwoman.
I'll be honest, I'm kind of a Dini fangirl, so I'm going to like pretty much anything he does. But I do think it's worth it even if you're not a huge fan already. Hush takes center stage, and he's a strong enough villain to handle it. I liked the direction of the storyline itself, and I liked that it could have had lasting consequences. The art is great, especially the fantastic covers. And there's a great Joker cameo, which always makes me happy.
There's a lot of backstory here, about what made Hush who he is now. His current plot is the main focus, though. As the cover implies, it's much to do with Catwoman. Basically, Hush has heard through the grapevine that the events of Batman: RIP are about to happen and wants to kill Bruce Wayne first. His tactic is to get at him through the people he loves, starting with Catwoman.
I'll be honest, I'm kind of a Dini fangirl, so I'm going to like pretty much anything he does. But I do think it's worth it even if you're not a huge fan already. Hush takes center stage, and he's a strong enough villain to handle it. I liked the direction of the storyline itself, and I liked that it could have had lasting consequences. The art is great, especially the fantastic covers. And there's a great Joker cameo, which always makes me happy.
October 16, 2012
In a diabolical plan that can only come from the mind of a super villain, Hush kidnaps Batman's on-again, off-again ally, Catwoman and removes her still beating heart. However, rather than killing her, Hush keeps both Catwoman and her heart in good health as he toys with Batman, trying to end him once and for all.
When I had read Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee's foray into the Hush character a few years back, I wasn't overly impressed. Sure, it was a good story and the character was interesting, I just felt it lacked that punch that Loeb is known for with his often solid writing.
However, this time around, the character is in the capable hands of Paul Dini who is best known for his stellar story telling with the 90s Batman animated series. Paul crafts an excellent story that really hammers Hush home as a worth adversary for The Dark Knight. Tommy Elliot's (Hush) back story is expanded upon and at times, you can find yourself with feeling of empathy for the vindictive child hood friend of Bruce Wayne.
I'm certainly not justifying the lengths of which Hush goes to effectively endthe Batman but you certainly can't blame him for feeling the way he does. A hard upbringing and feeling unappreciated by family can really twist a person's world view.
A much better outing for Hush this time around. Oh, and the Tumbler from Chris Nolan's Batman makes a cameo - a nice nod to the series.
When I had read Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee's foray into the Hush character a few years back, I wasn't overly impressed. Sure, it was a good story and the character was interesting, I just felt it lacked that punch that Loeb is known for with his often solid writing.
However, this time around, the character is in the capable hands of Paul Dini who is best known for his stellar story telling with the 90s Batman animated series. Paul crafts an excellent story that really hammers Hush home as a worth adversary for The Dark Knight. Tommy Elliot's (Hush) back story is expanded upon and at times, you can find yourself with feeling of empathy for the vindictive child hood friend of Bruce Wayne.
I'm certainly not justifying the lengths of which Hush goes to effectively endthe Batman but you certainly can't blame him for feeling the way he does. A hard upbringing and feeling unappreciated by family can really twist a person's world view.
A much better outing for Hush this time around. Oh, and the Tumbler from Chris Nolan's Batman makes a cameo - a nice nod to the series.
April 3, 2016
Not as good as the original Hush. Might have been better released at the same time to flesh things out a bit. Still good.
May 12, 2020
Tocó relectura de este comic que en su momento me impactó. Hush era un personaje de mierda creado por Loeb en aquella historia nefasta que intento olvidar; después apareció en otra saga de mierda peleando con el Joker y no se supo más del personaje hasta que lo retoma Dini y le da dignidad.
Dini recrea el origen del personaje dándole profundidad y una adecuada motivación a lo que hace; es una historia con cierta madurez no tan común en los cómics de superhéroes. Pasado el tiempo, mantiene la calidad, a pesar de tener un par de situaciones resueltas medio de casualidad.
Recomiendo a aquellos que quieran una buena historia de Batman que no esté enganchado a nada más. No se van a arrepentir. Creo.
Dini recrea el origen del personaje dándole profundidad y una adecuada motivación a lo que hace; es una historia con cierta madurez no tan común en los cómics de superhéroes. Pasado el tiempo, mantiene la calidad, a pesar de tener un par de situaciones resueltas medio de casualidad.
Recomiendo a aquellos que quieran una buena historia de Batman que no esté enganchado a nada más. No se van a arrepentir. Creo.
November 1, 2013
I preface this review by saying Batman: Heart of Hush was a great Halloween read.
Batman and Bruce Wayne's greatest enemy, Hush, has returned to thwart the Dark Knight, planning to destroy him from the inside out. No matter how hard Hush has tried to kill Batman through physical attacks, no plots have been more effective than the ones that attack him emotionally. When Hush discovers the strong connection between Batman and Catwoman, she becomes his ace in the hole to break The Batman once and forever.
Written by Paul Dini and drawn by Dustin Nguyen, Batman: Heart of Hush is a five issue collection that is well worth the money for such an amazing story. The writing sizzles and the artwork, which is a blend of simple and complex lines and color, makes this one of the most visually arresting Batman stories I've read. Hush, or Thomas Elliot, is the absolute opposite to Batman and Bruce Wayne.
The complex relationship that the two of them shared as children is a reflection of how important it is to keep your friends close and your enemies even closer.
Bruce may have trained in the art of combat and detective work, but Thomas trained in the art of tactics and strategy. Watching these two battle it out in literature has strengthened my love for The Batman. If you're a fan of comics and of stories of revenge and crime noir, this collection is right up your alley.
February 15, 2018
Hard to talk about this without spoiling something. One thing's for sure, Hush is back. Set within the whole Batman R.I.P. saga, Hush decides that Batman's death will be his pleasure and no one else's. That's what I call passion.
The story explores past events that connect and explain Hush's venomous hatred for Batman. You get a scattered, but relatively thorough look at Hush's past as well. Heart of Hush essentially delivers a more dissected portrayal of the character; making sure to show you how messed up Hush is. It has some really interest ideas, backed up with great writing that even draws inspiration from several quotes by people like Aristotle. Isn't there a saying that says how awesome you are based on how often you quote philosophers? I probably made that up.
Soaked in a pretty huge array of emotions, this Batman story has a pretty twisted feel to it. The artwork is also decent, with a more clear, linear and sharp style. It also plays with the colours to distinguish past from present. There were parts that felt a little off though, like the action sequences with Hush. I'm not too impressed by the character's combat style, that's for sure. He also has some lines that felt out of character (especially in that last chapter) that I wish they had not done. In fact, that last chapter had some kind of tribute-vibe to it, but I wasn't sure what the occasion was to even incorporate it into this particular storyarc. Anyone who wants more Hush in their lives should definitely check this out. I mean, where else are you going to find him?
P.S. Full review to come
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: http://bookidote.wordpress.com
The story explores past events that connect and explain Hush's venomous hatred for Batman. You get a scattered, but relatively thorough look at Hush's past as well. Heart of Hush essentially delivers a more dissected portrayal of the character; making sure to show you how messed up Hush is. It has some really interest ideas, backed up with great writing that even draws inspiration from several quotes by people like Aristotle. Isn't there a saying that says how awesome you are based on how often you quote philosophers? I probably made that up.
Soaked in a pretty huge array of emotions, this Batman story has a pretty twisted feel to it. The artwork is also decent, with a more clear, linear and sharp style. It also plays with the colours to distinguish past from present. There were parts that felt a little off though, like the action sequences with Hush. I'm not too impressed by the character's combat style, that's for sure. He also has some lines that felt out of character (especially in that last chapter) that I wish they had not done. In fact, that last chapter had some kind of tribute-vibe to it, but I wasn't sure what the occasion was to even incorporate it into this particular storyarc. Anyone who wants more Hush in their lives should definitely check this out. I mean, where else are you going to find him?
P.S. Full review to come
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: http://bookidote.wordpress.com
November 30, 2016
Nice little read!
The story is thrilling, but a bit too predictable in certain parts. The art by Dustin Nguyen is gorgeous! It reminds me of Capullos style but a little more focused and less overloaded, which I like (might be more related to the colors, though...not sure ;)).
The story is thrilling, but a bit too predictable in certain parts. The art by Dustin Nguyen is gorgeous! It reminds me of Capullos style but a little more focused and less overloaded, which I like (might be more related to the colors, though...not sure ;)).
March 16, 2020
SUPER FAST REVIEW:
Eh, it’s okay.
The art’s good, it’s pretty actiony.
Dini added some stuff to Hush’s backstory that was kinda meh as was the writing of the characters.
The story is standard superhero stuff.
Not bad but don’t expect anything nearly as good as Loeb’s Hush.
3/5
Eh, it’s okay.
The art’s good, it’s pretty actiony.
Dini added some stuff to Hush’s backstory that was kinda meh as was the writing of the characters.
The story is standard superhero stuff.
Not bad but don’t expect anything nearly as good as Loeb’s Hush.
3/5
July 4, 2015
This volume breaks from the three previous by having one multi-part continuous story. It takes place after the Batman: Hush series (Loeb/Lee) and sometime around the Black Glove story arc.
The primary reason for the story is to give more background and depth to who Hush is and why he dislikes Bruce so much. It does a pretty decent job of giving some emotional motivation, with just one or two minor things that I didn't quite believe or weren't explained well enough. Intertwined with all of this Hush makes an attempt on Bruce through someone he cares about (which also helps define one of Bruce's relationship a little more). It does require reading the intro storyline of Hush to at least know who he is and there was one other reference which I believe there was another story about but I have no idea what it was.
All in all, a nice standalone volume that acts as not a direct sequel but a follow-up to Batman:Hush.
The primary reason for the story is to give more background and depth to who Hush is and why he dislikes Bruce so much. It does a pretty decent job of giving some emotional motivation, with just one or two minor things that I didn't quite believe or weren't explained well enough. Intertwined with all of this Hush makes an attempt on Bruce through someone he cares about (which also helps define one of Bruce's relationship a little more). It does require reading the intro storyline of Hush to at least know who he is and there was one other reference which I believe there was another story about but I have no idea what it was.
All in all, a nice standalone volume that acts as not a direct sequel but a follow-up to Batman:Hush.
January 27, 2010
As a fan of Batman: The Animated Series, I really enjoyed this story arc. The writer, Paul Dini, worked on that show, and the tone of this book is very similar. I only read part of the original "Hush" storyline, but these issues did a good job of catching the reader up to speed. Nearly half of the story is taken up by flashbacks to Bruce Wayne's childhood, when he was close friends with Thomas Elliot. Elliot was another child of privilege, but his upbringing was full of abuse, and he grew up to be a mentally deranged supervillain called "Hush." In "Heart of Hush" he sets out to destroy Bruce Wayne by striking at the people closest to him. Nothing special, ultimately, but it's a well-told Batman story, and I liked it.
June 30, 2024
Hush is one of my favorite characters and Paul Dini wrote him really well. Also, it’s nice to see Dustin Nguyen’s beginnings, not so smooth but still great artwork.
November 24, 2014
2 1/2 Stars
Well it was better than Batman: Hush Returns but that really isn't saying much. You know how in Spider-man 3 they had those flashbacks of the "Uncle Ben" incident and they revealed that Flint Marko was also involved in an attempt to make the audience care?
Aside from being really lazy writing, it felt forced, cheap, and trite....which pretty much sums up this 3rd HUSH arc.
The author attempts to add depth to the character with flashbacks but it's too derivative. Instead of making Hush more it makes him less, less believable, less relate-able, and less interesting. I didn't buy Hush's Bruce Wayne obsession this time around and the Catwoman melodrama didn't tug at my heart strings.
I am so tired of characters 'dying' and then reappearing. It is so annoying and really insults the intelligence of the reader. At this point Hush has died twice and come back each time to everyone's shock and awe. At the end of this book guess what... yep he 'dies' again, except there is no body found. Oh okay, so this guy that you've tried to get rid of twice has disappeared so your just going to shrug it off and assume you got him this time with absolutely no proof whatsoever...really!?
Overall, there was a ton of forced emotionality and I just wasn't buying it. All of the Aristotle quotes tried to make this into something philosophical and deep, they failed. The artwork was acceptable and there were a few great moments such as BAD ASS ALFRED and a funny Joker cameo. Despite several flaws this was enjoyable, however I often hear it lauded as one of the best Catwoman stories and it is no where near the top of that list.
Well it was better than Batman: Hush Returns but that really isn't saying much. You know how in Spider-man 3 they had those flashbacks of the "Uncle Ben" incident and they revealed that Flint Marko was also involved in an attempt to make the audience care?
Aside from being really lazy writing, it felt forced, cheap, and trite....which pretty much sums up this 3rd HUSH arc.
The author attempts to add depth to the character with flashbacks but it's too derivative. Instead of making Hush more it makes him less, less believable, less relate-able, and less interesting. I didn't buy Hush's Bruce Wayne obsession this time around and the Catwoman melodrama didn't tug at my heart strings.
I am so tired of characters 'dying' and then reappearing. It is so annoying and really insults the intelligence of the reader. At this point Hush has died twice and come back each time to everyone's shock and awe. At the end of this book guess what... yep he 'dies' again, except there is no body found. Oh okay, so this guy that you've tried to get rid of twice has disappeared so your just going to shrug it off and assume you got him this time with absolutely no proof whatsoever...really!?
Overall, there was a ton of forced emotionality and I just wasn't buying it. All of the Aristotle quotes tried to make this into something philosophical and deep, they failed. The artwork was acceptable and there were a few great moments such as BAD ASS ALFRED and a funny Joker cameo. Despite several flaws this was enjoyable, however I often hear it lauded as one of the best Catwoman stories and it is no where near the top of that list.
May 23, 2025
New Review - so we do get a bit of a stronger story here than I originally remembered. It definitely makes Thomas Elliott a little bit more flushed out due to getting a much deeper background. but I got to say that it's overly wordy and not that interesting in the long end. I did like some of the art a lot though and some of the fight scenes were really cool but overall this was kind of just decent at best. I'm going to give it a three this time out of five.
old review - I'd give it a 2.5 in the end. It's okay. The start is promising, and learning about Elliot is great, which I overall really enjoyed. Then something happens to a character, and again, that's very interesting. However, it all really falls apart in last two issues/parts. It becomes a same run of the mill Batman story that I hoped it wouldn't. Where Hush felt like it matter, this story felt like a short diversion. So with that it was just okay, and nothing more.
old review - I'd give it a 2.5 in the end. It's okay. The start is promising, and learning about Elliot is great, which I overall really enjoyed. Then something happens to a character, and again, that's very interesting. However, it all really falls apart in last two issues/parts. It becomes a same run of the mill Batman story that I hoped it wouldn't. Where Hush felt like it matter, this story felt like a short diversion. So with that it was just okay, and nothing more.
December 5, 2013
Once again, liking this for the Selina / Bruce OTP, but otherwise unimpressed with the story and character of Hush. Too much melodrama and not enough show, instead of all the tell needed to shoehorn Thomas Elliot into Bruce's life.
Full review of Hush and Heart of Hush here: http://bibliosanctum.blogspot.com/201...
Full review of Hush and Heart of Hush here: http://bibliosanctum.blogspot.com/201...
January 14, 2025
Excelente historia que decora y complementa el arco de Hush. Una pena que Dini no haya escrito esa historia también.
Read
May 23, 2026not entirely sure how to rate this. it's a LOT better than hush! mostly because hush puts forth this really annoying backstory that this book definitely improves upon lol. thomas elliott being like "grr i hate bruce wayne because im jealous his parents died" makes no sense to me in the original, but i liked the way they made his mother such an insane villain in this that. yea okay kinda makes more sense now!!
overall i still find him really frustratingly written, no matter who's writing him, there's just this underlying edginess that i cannot get into and yes i know that's ironic considering you could say the same for any batman villain. but tommy really just.... god. so illogically bent on revenge for a reason that STILL makes no sense. even the turn he takes against bruce as a kid in this is ... i guess framed as him... lashing out and taking out his anger re: his abuse at the wrong target..? but idk man it just doesn't. yeah
surprisingly okay with the really abrupt catwoman ending (both the romantic and the revenge SHE gets to take) but i'd say im more amused than i wouldve expected at this particular take on like a more emotional batman (compared to the one in the first telltale game). i still like how he's characterised! it's just very cheesy and endearing. ohh the scarecrow crumbs.... and thank GOD the joker didn't play a large role.
overall i still find him really frustratingly written, no matter who's writing him, there's just this underlying edginess that i cannot get into and yes i know that's ironic considering you could say the same for any batman villain. but tommy really just.... god. so illogically bent on revenge for a reason that STILL makes no sense. even the turn he takes against bruce as a kid in this is ... i guess framed as him... lashing out and taking out his anger re: his abuse at the wrong target..? but idk man it just doesn't. yeah
surprisingly okay with the really abrupt catwoman ending (both the romantic and the revenge SHE gets to take) but i'd say im more amused than i wouldve expected at this particular take on like a more emotional batman (compared to the one in the first telltale game). i still like how he's characterised! it's just very cheesy and endearing. ohh the scarecrow crumbs.... and thank GOD the joker didn't play a large role.
September 4, 2023
Not an essential read for Grant Morrisons run but a good story either way. Hush is definitely an interesting villain and was good to read another story of his. The ending disappointed me a bit but other that I enjoyed this!
June 12, 2020
This was pretty good. A lot of the art was good, and the plot was something else. Overall, Hush is a rather interesting villain.
September 2, 2026
Stealing hearts (literally)
September 9, 2026
🫀 SCALPELS, STOLEN HEARTS, AND THE JEALOUSY OF KINGS 🫀
In 2002, Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee created Tommy Elliot as a blockbuster visual enigma. In 2008, Paul Dini and Dustin Nguyen did something far more difficult: they gave him a razor-sharp scalpel, a terrifying psychological motive, and delivered the definitive, pulse-pounding masterpiece that the original storyline always promised to be.
“I didn't just want to kill Bruce Wayne. I wanted to cut out the thing he loved most, stitch my face onto his mirror, and inherit his kingdom.”
If the forensic, surgical obsession of a medical thriller like The Silence of the Lambs merged directly with the grand gothic melodrama and emotional stakes of Batman: The Animated Series, all rendered in the sleek, ink-washed atmospheric style of a high-end graphic novel, you would get Heart of Hush. It is taut, deeply personal, and emotionally agonizing.
📖 The Deep-Dive:
Running through Detective Comics (#846–#850) as an essential prelude/tie-in to the chaotic landscape of Grant Morrison's Batman R.I.P., Paul Dini cuts through the bloat of standard rogue crossovers to craft an intensely personal vendetta:
The Surgical Strike: Tommy Elliot—the prodigal son and neurosurgeon who sabotaged his own parents' vehicle as a boy only to have Thomas Wayne save his abusive mother—returns with an airtight, monstrous plan. Rather than trading martial arts blows with the Dark Knight, he ambushes Selina Kyle (Catwoman), surgically carves her beating heart directly out of her chest, and places her on life-support machines at Gotham General.
The Ultimate Leverage: With Selina’s life sustained purely by clinical pumps and ticking countdown timers, Batman is forced into a desperate, frantic race against the clock. To save her, he must rely on Doctor Mid-Nite and Alfred while navigating a gauntlet of Elliot's psychological mind games, including alliances with Scarecrow and Mr. Freeze.
The Stolen Face of Wayne: The narrative climax elevates Elliot from a petulant rival into a chilling, identity-stealing sociopath. In a perverse act of vanity and covetous spite, Elliot undergoes extensive plastic surgery on his own face, reconstructing his features into an exact replica of Bruce Wayne.
Dini masterfully contrasts the parallel childhoods of Bruce Wayne and Tommy Elliot. Where tragedy forged Bruce into a disciplined protector fueled by selfless grief, the same privileged environment twisted Tommy into an entitled, venomous sociopath consumed by narcissistic envy.
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🔥 Why This Arc Outshines the Original Run:
Dustin Nguyen & Derek Fridolfs’ Stunning Visuals: Nguyen's expressive watercolors, moody shadow placement, and clean, evocative character designs ground Gotham in elegant noir. The surgical sequences feel chillingly sterile, while the emotional expressions—especially Bruce’s barely suppressed terror over Selina—hit with raw visceral power.
Emotional Stakes That Matter: Dini uses the physical removal of Selina's heart as an unforgettable metaphor for Bruce’s emotional walls. Watching Batman, a man defined by emotional detachment, fully confront how deeply he loves Selina Kyle gives the high-octane rescue sequence genuine, heart-in-your-throat tension.
Fixing Hush's Motive: The original 2002 arc often struggled with Tommy Elliot's nebulous end goals. Dini tightens every screw: Elliot's obsession with usurping Bruce's identity, fortune, and legacy is presented with airtight psychological coherence.
⚠️ A Note for the Ward:
Morrison-Era Contextual Tethering: While largely readable as a self-contained Catwoman rescue thriller, the story is formally set during the buildup to Morrison’s *Batman R.I.P.* Readers wanting full narrative closure regarding Hush's disguise will need to follow Dini into his subsequent *Streets of Gotham* run (*House of Hush*).
Suspension of Medical Disbelief: The core premise—a person surviving with their heart removed and placed inside a portable cooler while connected to external bypass pumps—requires leaning hard into heightened comic book science.
⭐️ THE VERDICT:
Batman: Heart of Hush is widely considered the best Hush story ever written and one of Paul Dini’s greatest contributions to the Batman canon. By trading bombastic mystery teases for raw emotional stakes and bone-chilling psychological horror, Dini and Nguyen crafted a modern gothic classic that cuts straight to the core of Bruce Wayne. Essential reading for any Bat/Cat aficionado.
Final Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5.0/5 Stars - The Definitive Tommy Elliot Story)
October 13, 2011
****spoiler alert****
Shortly before reading Heart of Hush, I read Kevin Smith's Cacophony and The Widening Gyre, both of which I loved, and both of which were torn to shreds in many of the reviews I read. It seems long-time Batman fans couldn't stand seeing him bent into a potentially softer character with long-term love interests. I bring this up because the critiques I've read of Kevin Smith's writing of Batman seems to apply much more to this Paul Dini story. Overall I enjoyed this story very much, but some of the characteristics I consider to define Batman most - namely studying all the angles and being one step ahead of his opponent in hand-to-hand combat - were pulled out from under him by a villian who hasn't fought a fraction of the battles as Bruce Wayne. Sure, Tommy might've beat Bruce in childhood war games, and has grown up preparing to torment and kill Bruce, but that doesn't equal tactical advantages when it comes to fighting The Goddamn Bat-man. And if we are to believe Hush's fighting and planning is on a par with Batman's, why on earth would Dini use the slow, giant mechanical T-Rex in the Batcave to disarm the villian? Of all the things that could have given the upper hand back to Bruce, we're to believe it's a robot, that its sheer loudness warrants a complete shift of attention from the villian, and that he would empty all his bullets into this robot dinosaur rather than continuing the fight he was winning? That's some silliness right there.
Shortly before reading Heart of Hush, I read Kevin Smith's Cacophony and The Widening Gyre, both of which I loved, and both of which were torn to shreds in many of the reviews I read. It seems long-time Batman fans couldn't stand seeing him bent into a potentially softer character with long-term love interests. I bring this up because the critiques I've read of Kevin Smith's writing of Batman seems to apply much more to this Paul Dini story. Overall I enjoyed this story very much, but some of the characteristics I consider to define Batman most - namely studying all the angles and being one step ahead of his opponent in hand-to-hand combat - were pulled out from under him by a villian who hasn't fought a fraction of the battles as Bruce Wayne. Sure, Tommy might've beat Bruce in childhood war games, and has grown up preparing to torment and kill Bruce, but that doesn't equal tactical advantages when it comes to fighting The Goddamn Bat-man. And if we are to believe Hush's fighting and planning is on a par with Batman's, why on earth would Dini use the slow, giant mechanical T-Rex in the Batcave to disarm the villian? Of all the things that could have given the upper hand back to Bruce, we're to believe it's a robot, that its sheer loudness warrants a complete shift of attention from the villian, and that he would empty all his bullets into this robot dinosaur rather than continuing the fight he was winning? That's some silliness right there.
August 15, 2016
I needed a good Batman story after the dreadful BvS and dissapointing Killing Joke film. Who better to go to than Paul Dini? This man wrote some of the greatest Batman the Animated Series episodes. I thought before buying this 'how good can this be?' I was hesitant because I didn't know how dark he could get. He made me realize that Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee's original Hush series (fantastic BTW) sort of lacked pathos for the villain.
This book, while safe and slow at first, kept delivering the goods with each new issue and showed how vital Selina Kyle is to the Batman mythos. her arc felt like a demonstration at how female characters should be treated. Alan Moore had Barbara Gordon used as a plot device than a character for Killing Joke (the comic). Just when you think Catwoman is being treated the same...well let's just say you don't fuck with Selina Kyle.
What I loved the most was how this book made me question if Joker is the true yin to Batman's yang in villains. That is especially remarkable. Dini made Hush terrifying and sad at once.
Last thing, Dustin Nguyen may be my favorite Batman artist, but I want his watercolors. They're too beautiful to not be seen. The colorist made his designs look like Mike Mignola, which isn't necessarily bad. However, I felt cheated not seeing Nguyen's lucious vibrant colors.
This book, while safe and slow at first, kept delivering the goods with each new issue and showed how vital Selina Kyle is to the Batman mythos. her arc felt like a demonstration at how female characters should be treated. Alan Moore had Barbara Gordon used as a plot device than a character for Killing Joke (the comic). Just when you think Catwoman is being treated the same...well let's just say you don't fuck with Selina Kyle.
What I loved the most was how this book made me question if Joker is the true yin to Batman's yang in villains. That is especially remarkable. Dini made Hush terrifying and sad at once.
Last thing, Dustin Nguyen may be my favorite Batman artist, but I want his watercolors. They're too beautiful to not be seen. The colorist made his designs look like Mike Mignola, which isn't necessarily bad. However, I felt cheated not seeing Nguyen's lucious vibrant colors.
April 2, 2009
I devoured this book as soon as it was available in-stores. Of course I read each issue prior to that but it ain't as good as reading in succession.
The villainous concoction of Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee, Hush, aka Thomas Elliot, is once again up to no good and seeks to bring his nemesis Batman down, reaching Bruce Wayne where it hurts most (hey, I just noticed how that statement could be misconstrued): his heart. It's a race against time to save the woman who's meant more to Bruce than he's ever allowed.
Plenty of Batman and Catwoman banter thrown in with a very poignant move forward in their tumultuous but utterly electric relationship. If it will ever amount to more is another question, but would we have it any other way?
Paul Dini consistently churns out fantastic narratives, and more importantly there are no pretensions about his writing (Grant Morrison, I bite my thumb at you, sir)! Dustin Nguyen's pencilling is equally refreshing, especially his watercolours which are mind-bogglingly well executed. I love them.
Not entirely sure how this pertains to the main RIP storyline, but what the hell, this sure as hell makes more sense, ergo more enjoyable to me at least.
The villainous concoction of Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee, Hush, aka Thomas Elliot, is once again up to no good and seeks to bring his nemesis Batman down, reaching Bruce Wayne where it hurts most (hey, I just noticed how that statement could be misconstrued): his heart. It's a race against time to save the woman who's meant more to Bruce than he's ever allowed.
Plenty of Batman and Catwoman banter thrown in with a very poignant move forward in their tumultuous but utterly electric relationship. If it will ever amount to more is another question, but would we have it any other way?
Paul Dini consistently churns out fantastic narratives, and more importantly there are no pretensions about his writing (Grant Morrison, I bite my thumb at you, sir)! Dustin Nguyen's pencilling is equally refreshing, especially his watercolours which are mind-bogglingly well executed. I love them.
Not entirely sure how this pertains to the main RIP storyline, but what the hell, this sure as hell makes more sense, ergo more enjoyable to me at least.
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