Lacks heart.
So I just finished this book and it's a bit difficult to explain what I think about it. Where should I start... where do I have it...ah yes there it is.
Ok, I got the hardcover edition. The design is really cool, I like these water colors and the pastel tone. When I remove the wrapper even more awesome artwork comes to light. Really nice. The price was ok too, I paid 14 Euros (that's 20$) and the paperback is around 14$.
Ok now lets look on the inside.
The story consists of five parts and unfortunately only the last two got me going. The whole plot is set up during the first 4 parts and then we get the showdown in part 5 which is not that good at all, I will come to that.
So we see how Hush slowly realizes his plan bringing all the pieces in position and meanwhile we get to know more about Bruce's and Thommy's past. You really can feel how hard Dini tries to make Thomas' development credible, but with all the effort he fails to give this character a reasonable motive. Here is why: I totally can see why he becomes so embittered since his his attempt does not fully succeed and he is stuck with his oppressive mother all the time and his evolving jealousy towards Bruce. But all this cannot ignite the fire which drives a true badass villain, since the author refuses to give us an understandable and therefore good reason for why Thomas attempted to kill his parents in the first place. Just money and independence? I don't think so.
So Hush stays very one dimensional.
About Bruce's character: we get what we are used to. I expected some more out of his relationship to Selina, but in fact, this very relationship is almost only considered to spin the plot. Well, in the ending we get a nice revelation which opens some doors for the future (, but I don't hear the bells, if you know what I mean. It would just be too neat for the Batman Universe).
The overall plot is nice. Really cool idea. But what's wrong with the showdown? Not much, but since it has a lot of action in it which has a quite awkward pacing, it dampens the excitement very soon. Read it, you'll now what I mean.
Also there is a nice little edge with all these fables and morals which are dropped every now and then. You really begin to look for a whole moral or message, but well, I hate to say this, there is none at all. Ok, now you could say:
"Dude, are you blind? Hush is getting the full payback for all his misdeeds and stuff!"
But my answer would be:
"Is vengeance really a supportable moral? I think it never was and never will be."
So what's left to say?
The art: I like it, but one might find it a bit quirky. As I said already, the cover art is awesome.
The writing: straightforward, no experiments.
The verdict: Batman: Heart of Hush is a little flat Batman story. It needs its time to get things going, but you won't put it down in the middle. Since this is the third approach to give shape to the character of Hush, you would expect a vivid character development. It is, but not as good as it could be. At least we get to know a bit more about Bruce's feelings towards Selina. A bit.
So buy it if you want to complete you Bat-Shelf, but it isn't a must-read. Also quite affordable.
