Batman: Hush (2019) (film review).
I’ve been sitting on this Blu-ray film version until I read the graphic novel, especially straight after, but it has an audio commentary, so there has to be a bit of a gap.
Although the graphic novel was used as the template, some of the characters were changed, no doubt to reflect their later popularity. Instead of Killer Croc, Bane is used. Batgirl instead of the Huntress, with Peyton List doing a passable Yvonne Craig voice. Neither of the two Robins is used, but Damon Wayne does a fleeting cameo. There’s also a plot enforcement early in the story with Lady Shiva telling Batman that there has been an illegal use of a Lazarus Pit. Amanda Waller is also there, eyeing up Bane for the Suicide Squad. There are also flash screens of the Penguin and Two-Face, but no more than that. For his fight with Superman, the Batman uses kryptonite knuckle-dusters rather than a kryptonite ring, and even that could barely stop him. Jim Gordon is back as commissioner of Gotham’s police force. There’s more inferred sex between Bruce Wayne and Selena Kyle compared to the graphic novel. Other than that, it keeps to the graphic novel template.
Other than that, many of the same locations and characters are used, and explanations are given as to how ‘Hush’ could appear in two places. The animated art relies on colour to make up the detail, and a lot is put in the shade. The long list of credits at the end testifies to how much work was put into this 82-minute feature.
The audio commentary is with senior producer James Tucker and director Justin Copeland and script adaptor Ernie Altbacker, who reveal it isn’t totally the same as the book, with more emphasis on the Batman/Catwoman romance. They also identify the key voices. They do point out which characters they changed and why. Elliot was the real red herring. They chat throughout, a lot about the choices they made and how much was done in the storyboards.
Extras. A 20-minute ‘Sgt. Rock’ animation short, made in 2018. Rock leads a new team of horror creatures to get some secret documents.
‘Batman: In Love In Time Of War’, at nearly 17 minutes, examines Batman and Catwoman’s relationship by production and comic book people, with emphasis on Selena Kyle and a look at Julie Newmar being an influence. Interestingly, the only one not interviewed is Jeph Loeb.
‘Catwalk’, an episode from the 1994 ‘Batman And Robin: The Animated Series’. A blonde Selena Kyle might know Bruce Wayne, but she doesn’t make the connection to his alter ego. Considering Wayne has a chest as big as that Superguy and a lantern jaw, you would have thought someone would have made the connection. Catwoman is persuaded out of retirement by the Ventriloquist’s Scarface to steal some jewels but is double-crossed by them and has to deal with the Batman and go after the real thieves.
There’s a pack of cards of the Batman, but I couldn’t get them out of the bind without being able to put them back in, so there they should remain, but you do get a lot for your money.
GF Willmetts
January 2026
(pub: Warner’s/DC Comics. 1 Blu-ray disc with an 82-minute film with extras. Price: varies. ASIN: 5000262723)
