“Batman: Hush” Makes Exciting Changes to Iconic Comic Book Storyline!

I wasn’t expecting Batman: Hush, the latest DC Universe Movie, to change things up in its adaptation of the iconic comic book story of the same name- but it did. As someone who has read the story and is a Bat/Cat fan, I enjoyed this film a lot.

I was provided a free Blu-ray copy of Batman: Hush for review from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. The opinions I share are my own.

This review contains certain spoilers. You’ve been warned.

For fans of the Bruce Wayne and Seline Kyle pairing, Batman: Hush is an interesting read because it focused a lot on the romantic potential between the two back in 2002. Since then their relationship has continued to grow with Tom King doing a lot in his current Batman run. So, when this animated movie was announced, I was here for it!

There’s a lot to appreciate about this offering if you understand why the writers decided to make certain changes to fit with the animated DC Universe timeline. All of the deviations from the 12-issue long source material made sense to me.

Batgirl takes the place of Huntress while Lady Shiva’s role is decreased. Ra’s al Ghul and Talia don’t appear. Damian Wayne gets a fun cameo where he gives Bruce dating advice.

Many key moments from the comic book survive. You get a fight between Batman and Superman. Poison Ivy is there. Even Harley and the Joker appear. I liked seeing how the writers changed stuff while staying in the limitations they were in. Of course, a stand-alone true-to-panel adaptation would have worked, too. But I don’t blame Warner Bros. and DC wanting to give their animated universe some continuity (which is severely lacking in the live-action films).

A big change is the Batman and Catwoman romance. You actually get to see Selina moving in with Bruce and fighting crime together. My heart!

Of course, things don’t continue going well between the two because of the villain and Bruce’s psychological state. In a sense, Selina deserves a lot better than Bruce, and I’m okay with her staying away from him until he grows emotionally.

The reveal of the main villain in Batman: Hush is an awesome surprise. It wasn’t a very out-of-the-box narrative decision, but it was still good. I won’t spoil it.

As for the bonus content, you get:

• DC Showcase: Sgt. Rock (Animated Short) – From executive producer and director Bruce Timm comes the first new DC Showcase animated short since 2011’s Catwoman, bringing DC Comics’ gritty World War II hero to animated life in an all-new adventure.
• Batman: Love in Time of War (Featurette) – Dangerous. Seductive. Villain. Hero. This is the story of Selina Kyle and the relationship she has forged with the world’s greatest detective.
• Audio Commentary – Executive Producer James Tucker, Director Justin Copeland, and screenwriter Ernie Altbacker share their thoughts and insights on Batman: Hush.
• A Sneak Peek at the next DC Universe Movie, Wonder Woman: Bloodlines – An advanced look at the next animated film in the popular DC Universe Movies collection.
• From the DC Vault –The Batman/Superman Hour: “The Underworld Underground Caper”
• From the DC Vault – The Batman/Superman Hour: “Partners in Peril”

I was ‘meh!’ about the Sgt. Rock animated short, but I think fans of the character will enjoy it.

The sneak peek at Wonder Woman: Bloodlines has me hyped for the upcoming animated film!

Also, the audio commentary is definitely something you should listen to. I love audio commentaries.

I enjoyed the featurette focusing on Bruce and Selina’s relationship. Let’s see what Tom King does with his new comic book series.

I didn’t experience any visual or audio issues with the Batman: Hush Blu-ray. There are some moments (when Selina is talking to Bruce on the phone) where the animation gets very weird. However, other than that the action sequences are well-done and the overall darker animated settings work for the narrative.

If you’re a fan of Batman stories where the Caped Crusader gets to do a lot of detective work, and if you don’t mind changes made to comic book storylines, I recommend you pick up a copy.

Batman: Hush is currently available on Digital, 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and the DC Universe streaming service.

Feel free to share your thoughts about Hush with us.

Author: Farid-ul-Haq

Farid has a Double Masters in Psychology and Biotechnology as well as an M.Phil in Molecular Genetics. He is the author of numerous books including Missing in Somerville, and The Game Master of Somerville. He gives us insight into comics, books, TV shows, anime/manga, video games, and movies.

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