The continuation of Hush, the year long twelve part narrative drawn by the legendary Jim Lee and scribed by Jeph Loeb, continues this month.

I’ve been looking forward to this chapter of Hush for quite a while. Compounding the problem was my lack of funds to order this direct from my comic shop and instead I had to wait for the local newsagent to get a copy. A month late but nevertheless not lost, Batman 609 finally arrived in my lap.

This book is just as slick looking as it was last month, great cover and internal artwork and a quality paper stock to boot. Most DC non-direct stuff is printed on a low quality newsprint paper stock; this title however has been given a gloss stock but still at the same low price. I sometimes wonder about pricing structures versus production values in the industry, if they can do it for one title why not bring the values of production up for the rest?

The first chapter of Hush ended on a good note, making me eager to get hold of this one. This issue also manages to work its way towards a suitable cliffhanger and leave me wanting more at its end. The storytelling itself is not very complicated and simple at its heart. Loeb does not get too verbose with his dialogue in this issue but rather lets the artwork shine through and tell a lot of the story.

Jim Lee has always been the focus of this series/arc and in this issue he continues to prove why. He manages to up the art stakes by designing a great rendition of the Huntress for this part of the story. She has a somewhat Lara Croft look about her with utility belts all over the place, but yet has the cape and staff as a weapon to bring her back to earth. Her introduction has to be the best part of this issue for me. She has been drawn perfectly, with a grace and style all her own. A great costume design and some clever writing by Loeb really make her come too life in an all too short cameo appearance. Other Jim Lee bonuses in this issue are the first appearance of his rendition of the legendary Batmobile as well as our opening glimpse of the Batcave.

Lee manages to surprise me in this issue be employing an art technique that I had not expected out of him. Known for his femme fatale woman and muscular super heroes, and not for his water colour David Mack stylings, he manages to sneak in something different for a section of the storyline. He uses a daubed paint, water colour style, to illustrate a scene from Batman’s past. Here he renders the old-fashioned styles of the period very well, especially in the case of Bruce Wayne’s parents.

The colours shine again in this issue as in the previous one, and really seem to enhance Lee’s drawing style. Sinclair manages to create great atmosphere with his palette as the story moves from one setting to the next. Whether it is a grimy alleyway on the backstreets of Gotham or the dingy confines of the Batcave, he manages to colour them with an equal skill for environmental lighting and presence.

In general it’s the art that grabs me the most with this project more than the actual storyline. But yet again I find myself reading along and coming to another cliffhanger ending leading me further into the mystery. A simple storytelling method but nevertheless very gripping, a nice book, give it a try.

Score 8/10
Reviewed By:Iain Duncan