Last year when I read Batman:Hush it immediately became one of my favorite graphic novels. Written by Jeph Loeb and illustrated by Jim Lee it set a high benchmark.

I just finished reading Batman: Heart of Hush, written by Paul Dini and illustrated by Dustin Nguyen. It is not the masterpiece Batman:Hush was, but it is a rich, emotionally complex followup story.

Originally in Detective Comics #846-#850, the story has been republished in the story “The Heart of Hush.”

Surgeon Thomas Elliot is now a manipulative sociopath, known as Hush. Elliot has returned to humiliate and kill Batman.

Frank Miller has written some great stuff.
Jim Lee is one of my favorite artists.

Enthusiastically I opened up All Star Batman and Robin, the Boy Wonder a graphics novel by Frank Miller, Jim Lee and Scott Williams.

Page after page Lee’s art popped.
Page after page Miller’s worked plummeted.

To new all-time lows.

I’ve read or watched Batman since I was a kid. I read back issues from before I was born. Some better than others.  I have my favorite portrayals  of Batman, but now I have a new least.

I turned 50 today.

Before this year I never though much about fifty. 

As I look back, look within, and look forward I feel grateful.

– Grateful for all those who carried me in the past

– Grateful for all those who support me, encourage me and follow my example.

– Grateful for all the great role models who travel ahead of me.

God reminds us, “In the same way, younger people should be willing to be under older people. And all of you should be very humble with each other. ‘God is against the proud, but he gives grace to the humble.’ ” [1 Peter 5:5, NCV]

“If you support _____ immediately delete me.”

That was posted on Facebook, tweeted and repeated passionately in the last few weeks leading up to our national election.

It’s interesting how much anger and vitriol arises during election years.

I see it everywhere.

Even among comic book readers.

At the risk of alienating fans of other fans I’m only going to refer to two set of loyalists, the Batman and the Superman fans.

Recently I read a graphic novel called Trinity by Matt Wagner featuring Wonder Woman, Superman and Batman. In the Trinity there is a conversation between Wonder Woman and Superman about Batman.

If you need a change in your usual reading list let me recommend Batman:Hush.

  Batman:Hush is a well-written, suspenseful graphic novel written by Jeph Loeb and illustrated by Jim Lee.

The story depicts a mysterious observer who seems intent on sabotaging Batman through subtle and manipulative use of a large number of Batman’s greatest villainous foes.

Hush leads us through parts of Bruce Wayne’s personal life including untold pieces of his childhood and an exploration of a romance with between Batman/Bruce Wayne and Catwoman/Selina Kyle.

I was impressed with the rich and compelling mystery.

The Dark Knight Rises opened last night. He’s a brave risk-taker.
But, I’m not a multimillionaire, so I’ll never be like Bruce Wayne.

The Amazing Spiderman opened a few weeks ago. He’s a brave risk-taker.
But, I’m not going to be bit by a radioactive spider, so I’ll never be like Peter Parker.

What kind of hero — what kind of bold, heroic, risk-taker — might you and I become?

Real World Heroes = Risk-Takers

Yesterday I had an hour-long conversation with a university professor who teaches potential risk-takers; she teaches entrepreneurship. It was a fascinating discussion about the challenges of taking great ideas and creating great opportunities.