Batman (2016-) #162

Batman (2016) (Single Issues)

by Jeph Loeb, Jim Lee (Artist)

"H2SH" with Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee Part 5! Batman versus the Bat-Family! Whose side are you on?

Genres: Comics, Batman, Dc Comics

Kindle Edition

Published November 12, 2025

About the author

Joseph "Jeph" Loeb III is an Emmy and WGA nominated American film and television writer, producer and award-winning comic book writer. Loeb was a Co-Executive Producer on the NBC hit show Heroes, and formerly a producer/writer on the TV series Smallville and Lost.

A four-time Eisner Award winner and five-time Wizard Fan Awards winner (see below), Loeb's comic book career includes work on many major characters, including Spider-Man, Batman, Superman, Hulk, Captain America, Cable, Iron Man, Daredevil, Supergirl, the Avengers, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, much of which he has produced in collaboration with artist Tim Sale, who provides the comic art seen on Heroes.

Reviews

[Mia · Rating 1 out of 5]

No more Jeph Loeb comics pls.

[Jadyn❀ · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was awful when Batman broke his no guns code to shoot at his own son, and it’s equally horrific that he temporarily paralyzed Barbara again, in front of Dick, knowing that it would trigger both of their deepest traumas. This is an unhinged characterization of Bruce and honestly, I just plain hate it. A star gained back for Selina’s role as the voice of reason, because I love when Selina is the person to ground Bruce and remind him of all the people in his corner. She is calling his behavior what it is and I only wish this scene had actually gotten to go anywhere. I know why Jason is mad at Bruce but as is often the case when Jason has this dramatic break from his family, I don’t know how they want me to believe he’s out here trying to kill Dick and Barbara too. I don’t like how or understand why Jason talks to Helena like she’s brand new on the vigilante scene, not a character who existed before his Red Hood did. Maybe it’s clunky set up for that Red Hood series that we already know because of this series’ disastrous release schedule will never go anywhere.
Barbara’s pretty smart, but I’m not sure she’d even be willing to describe what Bruce does at the end as “saving them” after what he did to her immediately before that. Looking forward to this being over.

[Cybernex007 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Riddler: “Question: what time is it to expect the unexpected? Answer: Nygma Time.”

Well at least the art is pretty good. Funny that I spotted panels being reused after how long it took for this to come out. But omg what was that?! Batman breaking up and ruining his relationship with half of his family speedrun? I am just so confused as to how there is 1 more issue left, the cookie dough wasn’t even put in then over to bake. It’s still raw! Where’s the story?! Batman is over here blaming anyone and everyone, especially hush, for orchestrating this giant genius move to turn everyone against him. And then he whips out the syringe that makes Barbara feel like she is paralyzed again and he expects them not to try and stop him? Dude’s been acting like an irrational out of character dick the entire time, and not the Grayson kind. Catwoman is the only one with any sense as she actually tried to her Bruce to stop and calls him out for acting like a child. But at the same time this feels like it could be easily fixed of everyone works together. I mean HUSH is right THERE, with a gun that shoots scalpels! I am serious! There is a gun that shoots scalpels and Huntress comes in and spins her bo staff around like Deadpool in x-men origins wolverine trying to deflect bullets. But instead of bullets, which would have been way more effective, IT’S SCALPELS! WHAT?! I have to give them credit they did answer one question I had a while back. During the Loeb/Lee DC discord QnA, I got my question featured asking what Riddler’s workout routine is because he is jacked. Turns out he is wearing an exoskeleton suit to be able to match blows with batman, but that also leaves him vulnerable ro a shock attack. As the issue winds down, Jason shows up in a Batmobile and just starts throwing hands. Idk what he has going on at this point, I do t think he does either. But batman immediately sees this as the cosmic chess movie Hush made to put Jason back into play and the Batmobile is the answer. So batman rushes over to the car and then “activates” it to trigger a trap that causes it to explode and send him falling into the area below them. Which is also apparently filled with his rogues gallery. We see bane and joker almost immediately just waiting for him. I SWEAR, mark my words, next issue the bat family is going to recognize that Bruce just tried to save them by taking on the trap himself and then they are all going to hand together as one happy family, forgetting about all of the stupid mindless fighting that just happened, and punch a bunch of bad guys and save the day or something. I have no idea, this is ridiculous.

[luciddreamer99 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Shocking out-of-character moments for Batman. He is seemingly pointlessly put into a situation where he has to fight the other members of the Bat-family. Subduing Batgirl by crippling her is beyond cruel. The rest of the interactions are just stale and uninteresting. This storyline seems to be trying to play off the nostalgia of the first Hush, and those good feelings don't extend far enough on their own to make a good story. The art is more than passable, at least, with Jim Lee at the helm, but the story leaves me hoping this storyline is never completed. All-Star Batman and Robin is better than this issue. I can't recommend this, even for Batman fans. I deem it skippable, unless the concluding chapters somehow get a lot better.

[Connor · Rating 2 out of 5]

This Arc has been DOA, it's marketing was pushed to the moon, stores had a stockpile and even treasury editions (Which i call Taking-the-piss or where-am-i-going-to-put-this? editions) were made like this comic book was the second coming. In a way it was, only it was the second coming of a character not many people gave two shits about, Ive read Hush, so have you, it was okay. But not only that this comic book is months late, so late we are already upto the 3rd issue of its reboot, and THERE IS STILL 2 ISSUES TO GO, ill see this through to the end only because im a completionist but this is a fail in my eyes, so much so not even the great saint Jim Lee can save it.

[Thaddeus Tuffentsamer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not going to lie, I was kind of disappointed in this issue.

They waited three months, pushing this comic book back over and over again just to release a simple filler issue.

Seriously, it was nothing but him fighting the bad family.

Not to mention something that is becoming more and more irritating with DC nowadays.

Only 60% of the comic book was the actual storyline. The other 40% were page after page after page of previews of their next comic books.

I’m putting up $20 per issue for the giant sized foil cover, the least you could do is fill it with story and not advertisements.

[Jason Holtzman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m not sure if I can write anything new that other reviews haven’t said.

There are a ton of pros for the art — it really does look great, and I absolutely loved all the blue coloring in the cathedral scene. However, and perhaps this more on the script, some of the transitions (such as the appearance of the Riddler) were nonsensical. Characters just appeared and phrased through different locations.

Then there’s the story. What is happening? Bruce’s move against Barbra is nearly egregious enough to curdle the whole issue and every scene apart from Selina’s involvement devolves from there.

[Daniel Clausen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say? I'm a sucker for Jim Lee art. Jim Lee drawing Batman equals comic book magnificience. Hopefully, the entire comic ark gets done in a reasonable time. Then again, you can't rush / Hush perfection.

[Chris Loan · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was alight. At least we know Riddler didn’t just suddenly get buff, but “Nygma Time” really? Wtf was that?! The art was pretty good but the story isn’t just hitting. Especially with the delays it’s hard to keep interested in this story.

[alejandro galvez · Rating 5 out of 5]

So dope.

I am loving every minute of this. So cool to see the classic rogues gallery in action. Its a classic Batman story with lots of mystery and intriguing plots. I love me a good story like this.

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Que una nueva oportunidad de que Bruce y Selina puedan hablar de forma sincera de su relación, se vea truncada porque Bruce tenga que apalear de forma moral y psicológica a sus hijos adoptivo remata por todo lo alto de hacer caer este mamotreto que sin duda se está alargando en exceso.

[David Dalton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a creative team! I always love a Hush storyline.

[AJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

my favorite part was when edward nygma exclaimed, “its nygma time!”, real line written from award winning writer jeph loeb

[Trevor ComicFan · Rating 4 out of 5]

80

The delays are making it hard to remember what’s going on. I will reread them all in January prior to the final issue coming out.

[Lizzy DeMarco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the bat Cat interlude, interested to see how this wraps up in one more issue.

[Maverick Eaton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Holy fuck idk who this is but this is not Bruce Wayne

[Derrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 Just when this couldn't get worse...

[Etienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great art and good story. That Batman series is one of the very few comic that still had me entertain!

[Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Garth · Rating 3 out of 5]

2026 - 365 Days of Whatever Is On My Comic Book TBR
Day 12

2.5⭐️

[Lukáš Kudela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Such a cringefest 🤣 i kind of love it 🤣

[Steven Shinder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Catwoman at least calls Batman out, saying he sounds like he's five.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than the previous issue, but not by much. Jim Lee’s art is great to look at, but the dialogue was a bit mid. Not sure where this story is going to be honest….