It didn’t take that long before Hush returned.
Not even a year. 2004 was a bit of a reshuffling year for creative teams on the Batman books. Three new creative teams were taking over the three main titles, the secondary titles saw a bit of a refresh too, and there was a bit of a feel of a new direction. While they were picking up the pieces from the “Hush” event, there was a shift back to some gritty crime drama. Kind of.
While you could probably argue that the Brubaker/Rucka era that preceded it was somewhat analogous to television police procedurals, 2004 on took cues more from “Hush” and big movie action. More Michael Mann and Michael Bay than Steven Bochco or David Simon. With a confluence of supervillains coming together in a way that kind of felt like how Gotham was divided up during No Man’s Land.
“I thought you were dead.”
The new creative team of AJ Lieberman, Al Barrionuevo, Francia Portela, and Clem Robins began on Batman: Gotham Knights with issue #50, on the arc Pushback. (Noelle Giddings with Heroic Age would provide colour for the first issue, then Brad Anderson would take over for the remainder of the arc. Javier Pina & Jimmy Palmiotti would help with the art in the fifth chapter.) It picked up on Hush seeking revenge on the Riddler, with Nigma seeking safe haven from the Joker. Leading to a couple revelations on Joker’s backstory.
I can’t say that Lieberman and Barrionuevo abandon the earlier characterization of Hush here, but it does shift from directly attacking Batman to revenge against the Riddler. The character is much more raw, further abandoning anything but the medical skills of the Tommy Elliott persona. Presumably because the plan in the earlier story failed. The design for Hush changes here too, scarred, bare chested, and with bandages that seem to float in the wind no matter what, giving him an almost owl-like appearance at times.
Al Barrionuevo’s style is a bit to get used to. His characters are a bit exaggerated, some with large heads, many with angular features. In some ways, it reminds me of Jose Munoz, but there’s a push more towards a North American superhero style that I can’t necessarily place. Lots of dark shadows and thick lines maintained through Francis Portela’s inks. With an interesting use of colour, from both first Noelle Giddings and then Brad Anderson, keeping a relatively muted base colour for characters and buildings, allowing only bright colours for the central villainous characters. Like the change in appearance, Clem Robins also doesn’t use any kind of whispered word balloon here, making you wonder a bit.
“If you’re gonna take on both sides of Gotham you’re gonna need a lot more than what I can make you.”
“Pushback” in Gotham Knights by Lieberman, Barrionuevo, Pina, Portela, Palmiotti, Giddings, Anderson, and Robins was the first gambit in a two-year run on the title that brought high stakes supervillain warfare to Gotham City. It erupted into a line wine crossover in War Games and War Crimes, but circled back to the continued story of Hush through to the end of the Gotham Knights series.
Also of note, Lieberman along with Nailbiter‘s Mike Henderson have a new series The Hive from Image Comics. Launching in just a couple of days on February 12, 2025.
Classic Comic Compendium: BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS – PUSHBACK
Batman: Gotham Knights – Pushback
Writer: AJ Lieberman
Pencillers: Al Barrionuevo & Javier Pina
Inkers: Francis Portela & Jimmy Palmiotti
Colourists: Noelle Giddings with Heroic Age & Brad Anderson
Letterer: Clem Robins
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: February 18 – July 21 2004 (original issues)
Also available collected in Batman: Hush Saga Omnibus
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