One of DC’s most essential stories for the Batman character, Hush, is finally getting a sequel 22 years after the original. The landmark storyline kicked off its run in DC’s main Batman. comic, and in no time, readers found themselves gripped to the mystery from issue to issue. When all was said and done, it was clear that fans had witnessed a modern classic, and one of Batman’s best comic book arcs of all time.

DC Comics held a “Jim Lee & Friends” panel at New York Comic-Con this past weekend, where a sequel to Batman: Hush was announced. The announcement also comes with Lee’s artwork for Batman: Hush 2 (or, more specifically, Batman #158 by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee, currently slated to release in March 2025), seen below. There will also be a four-page Hush 2 prelude in Justice League Unlimited #1.

Seemingly confirming that Chip Zdarsky’s Batman run as head writer ends with Batman #157, Batman #158 will bring the writer-artist duo behind the original Hush back to the franchise.

What A Hush Sequel Means For Batman Fans

The Impact of The Original Justifies a Sequel

Batman: Hush originally ran from October 2002 to September 2003 between Batman #608-618. The story centers around Batman being targeted by a mysterious, bandaged enemy who seems to know everything about The Dark Knight. It’s eventually revealed to be Bruce Wayne’s childhood friend, Dr. Thomas Elliott. The storyline as a whole has been critically acclaimed and has proven to affect current Batman storylines in notable ways. Most importantly, long before news of a sequel hit the press, DC has already revisited Hush in one way or another over time.

For instance, a brief tease that the then-dead Jason Todd could be Hush under the mask ended up inspiring the former Robin resurfacing in the canon shortly after as the Red Hood. The tease ends up being one of Red Hood’s most definitive moments before he legitimately comes back from the dead. More recently, a female version of Hush named Shush debuted to torment Bruce and Damian Wayne. Meanwhile, the original Hush recently returned to DC canon in Catwoman’s ongoing series.

Our Take on A Batman: Hush Sequel

Revisiting Hush in a New Way

Both readers and creators can’t stop talking about Hush to this day, more than two decades after the Batman storyline first hit shelves. Revisiting the original story for an actual sequel allows creative teams to explore Hush – the character and story – in new ways beyond just paying homage or taking inspiration, as DC Comics have done recently. Now, DC has an opportunity to explore Hush in a way that recontextualizes the original Batman storyline, extending its legacy in the process.

Batman: Hush 2 is expected to arrive in March 2025 from DC Comics