DC Comics Announces Batman: Hush Sequel and the Return of Vertigo

DC had plenty of big news to reveal at the “Jim Lee & Friends” panel at NYCC. Not only is the much-loved Vertigo imprint making a comeback, but one of the most popular Batman stories of all time is getting a sequel after more than 20 years.

Lee revealed that he and writer Jeph Loeb have reunited to produce a sequel to the 2002-04 storyline Batman: Hush. As before, that story will unfold in the pages of the flagship monthly Batman series, beginning with Batman #158 in March 2025. This would seem to confirm that current writer Chip Zdarsky is ending his Batman run with issue #157. DC will also publish a four-page prelude to Hush 2 in November’s Justice League Unlimited #1.

Art by Jim Lee. (Image Credit: DC)The original Batman: Hush introduced the titular bandaged killer, who was eventually revealed to be Bruce Wayne’s childhood friend Tommy Elliot. DC laid the groundwork for a sequel with the 2022 release of Batman: Hush 20th Anniversary Edition, which features a new epilogue story that leaves Hush’s fate uncertain.

This isn’t the first time in recent months that Loeb has revisited an iconic Batman storyline from earlier in his career. DC recently launched Batman: The Long Halloween – The Last Halloween, the final act in the Long Halloween trilogy.

As for Vertigo, DC is reviving the fan-favorite imprint five years after its original demise. The new Vertigo will again focus on adult-oriented, prestige comics. But where the DC Black Label line is the home for mature readers stories featuring existing DC characters and properties, Vertigo will emphasize creator-owned projects. The first release udner the revived Vertigo banner will be a reprint of James Tynion IV and Álvaro Martínez Bueno’s The Nice House by the Sea.

Art by Álvaro Martínez Bueno. (Image Credit: DC)Also at the panel, we learned that James Gunn’s Peacemaker series is getting a comic book spinoff. Peacemaker Presents: The Vigilante/Eagly Double Feature! features a Vigilante story by Tim Seely and Mitch Gerads and an Eagly story by Rex Ogle and Matteo Lolli. Gunn served as a story consultant on this five-issue limited series, which is set between Seasons 1 and 2 of the show.

Art by Mitch Gerads. (Image Credit: DC)Finally, we got our first glimpse of Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong 2, the sequel to the DC/MonsterVerse crossover. Writer Brian Buccellato and artist Christian Duce will return for the sequel, which this time will see the Justice League travel into the MonsterVerse as a group of villains attempts to weaponize the Titans for their own end. Titans like Ghidorah, Rodan, and Mothra will also appear. Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong 2 will debut in June 2025.

Art by Christian Duce. (Image Credit: DC)Previously at NYCC, Marvel revealed The Rise of Emperor Doom, a new Marvel Universe crossover kicking off in February 2025. Be sure to check out our roundup of everything announced at NYCC so far.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.