'Batman: Hush' Gets Surgical Improvements

Batman: Hush is the latest installment in the DC Animated Movies Universe, which resulted from time travel depicted at the end of Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, and began properly with Justice League: War. This universe started out as mostly an adaptation of The New 52 relaunch of DC Comics. But over the last couple of years, it has incorporated adaptations of older DC stories, including Teen Titans: The Judas Contract, The Death of Superman, and Reign of the Supermen, all of which are re-contextualized, so that they fit within the timeline of this universe.

This particular film is an adaptation of the Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee comic book storyline of the same name published as Batman #608-619 from December 2002 to September 2003. While the timeline placement of Hush within the DCAMU was called into question, a line of dialogue from Lex Luthor makes it clear that this is post-Reign of the Supermen, the ending of which is alluded to. (Both The Death of Superman and Reign of the Supermen are excellent films that are worth watching). It seems a bit odd for Hush to be released after Reign, given the storyline teased by the end of that film. But perhaps that particular storyline will come later. But for now, Hush proves to be an adaptation that streamlines and improves upon the source material in ways that work. Below, there will be spoilers for both the film and the comics.

Retrofitting

To fit within the timeline of the DCAMU, this story has Nightwing fill in for Tim Drake (the third Robin, who has not appeared in the DCAMU). He provides some amusing wisecracks regarding Batman's relationship with Catwoman that goes into full effect, with the former even revealing his identity to her. Damian Wayne has a brief cameo appearance, amusingly warning his father to be careful in his romantic escapades. And since the events of The Killing Joke do not seem to have taken place, Barbara Gordon is Batgirl rather than Oracle (funny enough, Huntress appears in the comics, and is mistaken for Batgirl).

While the context of this universe is different, the first two acts are mostly straightforward adaptations of the comic book storyline. Superman and Lois Lane are a fully committed couple after Reign of the Supermen, and this adaptation was able to incorporate them very well. Like the source material, this story has a Superman under Poison Ivy's influence pitted against Batman. But when Lois' life is endangered, Superman snaps out of it.

Noticeable Trimming

Since this is based on a 12-issue storyline, some cutting has to take place. Interestingly, this is the second Batman movie in a row to exclude Killer Croc. He is replaced by Bane for one of his sequences. Batman's duel against Ra's al Ghul is also omitted. However, the film does not feel incomplete as a result of these changes. It still feels like a very full, put together story.

Perhaps the most impressive villain sequence involves Scarecrow, who is armed with a scythe. In the comics, he comes in on a motorcycle. But his tactics here are still very effective. However, one cannot help but wish that he sang the "Hush, Little Baby" lullaby to enhance his creepiness a bit more.

Tommy Elliot’s Role

Tommy Elliot was first introduced in the original Hush storyline. As such, he feels like an obvious candidate for the identity of Hush, and this turns out to be the case in those comics. If Batman writers had known what would come, perhaps Elliot could have been introduced years or decades earlier. But as he is presented, he comes out of nowhere, being added into Batman mythology as Bruce Wayne's childhood friend. He tried having his parents die in a car accident, so that he could inherit their fortune, but his mother was saved by Bruce's surgeon father.

In the film, Elliot is a surgeon just as he was in the comics. And he is said to be Bruce's childhood friend, but the film lacks the flashbacks that depict the childhood that they shared. The flashbacks in the comics have some impressive artwork, and such flashbacks might have made more of an impact at the moment Batman sees that Tommy is dead, and takes it out on the Joker. In the comics, Batman remembers what Joker did to Barbara Gordon and Jason Todd in The Killing Joke and A Death in the Family. But since similar events have not been depicted in the DCAMU, his anger has to be repurposed. Had flashbacks, here and there, been included, his anger over Tommy's death might have felt a bit more believable. However, one can still appreciate that Gordon tries to keep Batman from going over the edge.

A Streamlined Ending

The original Hush storyline included a couple of threads that would have been too distracting for the film. One involved Batman facing what appears to be the second Robin Jason Todd, who was killed by the Joker in A Death in the Family. However, this turns out to just be Clayface mimicking Jason Todd's appearance. Jason Todd would return in a later storyline, but this event in Hush simply feels like a shock value moment, a gimmick that does not really amount to much. And since Jason Todd has not really been referenced in the DCAMU thus far, something like this would have felt out of place in the film.

The other thread from the comics that would not have had a place involves Harvey Dent, who returns with a completely healed face and ends up shooting Hush. This moment in the comics actually makes the end of the storyline feel very anti-climactic. And since Dent has seldom been featured and developed in the DCAMU (having only appeared in Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay), his appearance would have also felt distracting, and as if it came out of left field.

What the film provides instead is an exciting, streamlined ending. Clayface takes on the form of Riddler, who controls him for a bit. Riddler is still the mastermind behind the whole conspiracy against Batman, but he turns out to be Hush in this version. His fight against Batman and Catwoman is well-choreographed, and it ends with Batman and Catwoman's ideologies being at odds with each other. Batman wants to save Riddler, but Catwoman lets him die. This results in the end of their romance that was well-highlighted in the film. And this reason for their breakup is more compelling than Batman's paranoia in the comics over whether their feelings were genuine, and whether he can trust Catwoman.

Verdict

Batman: Hush might not please Batman fans who want iconic storylines to be mostly the same. Some changes do not affect the story much, and little things here and there that were cut would have been nice to have. But the big changes of the third act alter the story in a way that feels fresh. For those who have read the comics and expect Tommy Elliot to be Hush, the Riddler reveal would be a twist. But depending on the viewer, one's mileage may vary over whether it is a twist that works well. In the eyes of this reviewer, it worked and enhanced the story, removing some of the minor gripes pertaining to the original. Hence the following score:

9.5/10—An amazing take on a classic Batman storyline. Even though this is not the film that viewers might have expected to be released after Reign of the Supermen, it is definitely worth watching.