BATMAN: THE STREETS OF GOTHAM VOL. 1: HUSH MONEY TPB

RATING: 3.4 out of 5 points: 

This TPB is mostly filler. It gives the background as to how HUSH became the puppet to the Wayne family by being  Bruce Wayne's face to the public, but it is not all inclusive story with a set end.  It has its moments, but when you get to the Streets of Gotham you will find that you have to wade through a lot of unnecessary additional story lines that also don't end in this trade paperback.

Reading order for the books that are included in this trade paper back:


1. DETECTIVE #852
2. BATMAN #685
3. BATMAN: Streets of Gotham #1
4 .BATMAN: Streets of Gotham #2
5. BATMAN: Streets of Gotham #3
6. BATMAN: Streets of Gotham #4

BELOW are my Reviews of the individual issues as they came out.

REVIEW 

 DETECTIVE #852

 

RATING: 3.5 out of 5 points:

This was a cool character development issue of HUSH.  If you like the criminal Hush, this is the issue for you.  If you don't know anything about Hush, this is still a good issue to read.  Dini quickly gives  a refresher on who Hush is in the first couple of pages, and then goes on to show  the despicableness of Hush's character.  This story continues in BATMAN # 685, so... IF you buy this issue you will end up buying that one. 

This is a great read, but nothing of Batman is actually in it.

FULL REVIEW: ******SPOILERS of the Story included, go to the next review in Blue if it isn't for you.

  

This issue takes place directly after the story line of  Heart of HUSH. Tommy Elliot, HUSH, thinks that he is finished and tries to commit suicide by jumping off a bridge.  A couple of fisherman find him and mistake him for Bruce Wayne.  Thus..he discovers that the everyday man on the street can't tell the difference between him and Bruce. The rest of the issue is of Tommy.... diving into the role of Bruce Wayne so that he can goose Wayne for as much money as he can.  It's important to know that at this point in the continuity, Tommy doesn't know that Bruce is really missing in action, and that is why, he doesn't try to take over at the top,...yet.

REVIEW 

  BATMAN # 685

The interaction between known characters was fun to read, but it felt like a filler issue.

FULL REVIEW: ******SPOILERS of the Story included, go to the next review in Blue if it isn't for you.

  

HUSH, while masquerading as Bruce Wayne in the jungles of Vietnam, meets up with Catwoman, who takes a bit of vengeance upon his hide.  I enjoyed the story but found it very uneventful. It does give transition in the overall story because it does tell how HUSH gets captured. 

REVIEW 
BATMAN: Streets of Gotham #1 #2 #3

Issue #1: IGNITION!, Issue #2: CITY ON FIRE, Issue #3 HUSH MONEY

RATING: 3.5 out of 5 points: 

This rating is on the story written by Paul Dini, not on the co-feature in the back of the issues.

These first three issues of the Streets of Gotham series, is a mosaic of backgrounds for several different stories lines that Dini develops later.  While it would make my life easier if he didn't shuffle these stories like a stack of cards, it does give you the feel that the  characters lives  are not singular, but weaved together upon one another, even if they don't knowingly acknowledge it.

I had to go back and reread these issues to actually understand what Dini was trying to do with these issues.  They contain background information that set up different stories that he will touch on in the future, but I also can see the interplay between the villains on the 'Gotham streets' and how their actions affect each other.

The storyline that got my attention the most, was the one with Thomas Elliot, Hush.  It travels through all three of these issues and is the reason why I grouped these issues together.  All story lines, even those in other series, that use the Wayne name, is affected by this plot, because it where Hush starts impersonating Bruce Wayne on a full time basis, with Wayne family approval, with limits of course.

In these issues we do see ABUSE for the first time, but it is not explained who, or what he is until issue 10. Also these three issues has Zsasz, and how he becomes "Mr Zsasz", but nothing of what he plans to do with his new persona.  Although... ,this information is nice to know, and helps with characterization, you don't necessary need to read these issue to enjoy the other stories when they finally unfold.

BATMAN: HUSH MONEY

Writer Paul Dini

Penciled & Cover: Dustin Nguyen

Inker/colors/letters: Derick Fridolfs/John Kalisz/Steve Wands

Publisher: DC Comics