It's a great idea to release a penciled version of graphic novel once in a while.

Batman: Hush Unwrapped Deluxe is basically the same book as Batman: Hush (Amazon: US | CA | UK | DE | FR | IT | JP) with dialogue and all, except everything is in pencils. The only coloured bits are the sound effects and Batman's internal narration.

Reading the book in just pencils is quite a different experience. It's basically like looking at the final draft of the book before the go ahead for inking. If you're marveled by Jim Lee's art in the coloured edition, you'll be blown away by this edition - if you're a comic artist maybe your brain will explode with awe.

Every page is filled with detailed pencil work, deserving a slow peruse. The amazing pencil hatches and shading are everywhere, on the characters, the backgrounds. After reading the book, you'll probably get a new sense of appreciation for comic artists and the art of making comics. This book is definitely a collectors' edition for fans.

As for the story, the storytelling is good and well paced, there are some surprises as Batman tried to uncover who this Hush villain is. The characters are well defined and believable. The sequences with Catwoman are fantastic - I love how Catwoman and Batman interacts.

However, I've a problem with the ending. Even though the villain was revealed in the end, the motivation for going against Batman isn't, or is too weak for me to notice. Just because you're a bad guy and he's Batman means you've to go against him? So the story is great for me until the ending which I felt could be better.

Also check out Icons: The DC Comics & Wildstorm Art of Jim Lee if you can't get enough of the art.

Batman: Hush Unwrapped Deluxe is available at Amazon (US | CA | UK | DE | FR | IT | JP | CN) and Book Depository

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Here are direct links to the book:
Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de | Amazon.fr | Amazon.it | Amazon.co.jp | Amazon.cn | Bookdepository.com