Matt Evans's Profile

I figured out what I hate the most about this storyline: every featured character is unlikable. I’ll give credit to Loeb for that, since it’s not an easy feat to pull off, and I doubt it was his intention. The other things I hate about this so-called finale? Horrible, cheesy dialogue, including Bats’ own stupefying internal monologue; amateurish plotting that simply has things happen whenever and wherever the writer needs them to, not because it makes any sense, but just ‘cuz; a lack of respect for the work of other Bat family writers from the last 23 years who have moved characters forward from where Loeb left them at the end of the original “Hush”, including Hush himself; turning the interesting and menacing Tommy Elliot character from the original into a silly, pathetic and utterly unoriginal shell of that character in this sequel; having characters show up out of nowhere simply because the plot requires it; overblown and cliched dialogue; and not concluding in any way, shape or form a pathetic storyline that the poor reader has waited for 14 months to finish up. I’m sure I could go on and on with additional problems facing this story, suffice it to say that it was a very sad and broken way to finish this volume’s 10-year run. Where were the f***ing editors, for crying out loud? Did they tap out after the first issue?

The only saving grace for this issue is Jim Lee’s artwork, which was a very notable step up from his previous issues in this storyline. He has lots of detailed backgrounds here, unlike before, and the characters are far more developed instead of being barely finished sketches like in some of the previous issues. There are many gorgeous panels here. It’s too bad that Lee’s hard work in this final issue was in service to a bullshit story that never should have seen print. Thank you, Jim Lee, for getting this to the finish line. And Jeph Loeb, you are a pale imitation of your former great self. Please consider returning some of the money you were paid for this and give it to charity, and also please consider retiring before you tarnish your legacy any further.more