Batman #163, the finale of Hush 2’s first six-issue chapter, went on sale May 27, 2026—not the October 2025 date projected during an earlier delay. Writer Jeph Loeb has said the next six issues are planned to arrive together in 2027, but DC has not published a confirmed issue-by-issue schedule for that second part.
When did Batman #163 come out?
DC lists Batman #163 as having gone on sale May 27, 2026, and describes it as the conclusion of H2SH Part One. That is the actual release date, replacing the October 29, 2025 date that had been reported as a projection in June 2025.
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The delay affected the planned final two issues of the first chapter. In December 2024, DC had announced that the six-issue run would begin with Batman #158 on March 26, 2025, and continue monthly through #163 in August. By June 13, 2025, DCComicBooks.com reported that #162 and #163 had each moved back two months, with #163 then expected October 29. That report captured the schedule at the time; DC’s later listing establishes the eventual date.
Why was Hush 2 delayed?
At Emerald City Comic Con in March 2026, Jeph Loeb attributed the delay in part to Jim Lee’s other responsibilities as DC’s publisher. Popverse reported Loeb saying: “Why are we late? The reality is, I have a partner who is the best artist living on the planet, name of Jim Lee. He also happens to be the publisher of the best comic book company, and that takes a lot of time.”
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That is Loeb’s explanation, not an independently documented production account. Lee is the artist on the project as well as DC’s publisher, and those commitments were the reason Loeb gave for the schedule slipping.
Is Hush 2 finished?
The first part is finished: it runs through Batman #163, and DC calls that issue the conclusion of H2SH Part One. The larger Hush 2 story is not described as complete. Loeb said the plan was to pause after six issues—“We always said it was going to be six issues, then we’d take a break”—and then release a second six-issue section together in 2027.
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Loeb’s 2027 timing is a reported creator statement, not a confirmed DC release schedule. He also said the second story would fit before Matt Fraction starts his book. Readers should therefore treat 2027 as the stated plan rather than a guaranteed date for specific issues.
What does H2SH Volume One collect?
Batman: H2SH Volume One is a hardcover collecting Batman #158–163, the complete first chapter. DC lists its on-sale date as September 15, 2026. It does not include the planned second six issues, so it is not the complete Hush 2 saga.
| Reading option | What it includes | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Batman #163 | The finale issue only | Readers who already have #158–162 and want the first chapter’s ending |
| Batman: H2SH Volume One hardcover | Batman #158–163 | Readers who want the whole completed first chapter in one volume |
| Digital individual issues | Issues are listed individually by DC | Readers who prefer digital comics or want to obtain particular issues |
What is Hush 2, and how does it connect to Batman: Hush?
DC announced Hush 2 in October 2024 as a sequel to Batman: Hush, with the new story appearing in the ongoing Batman comic. The launch was preceded by Hush-related material in Justice League Unlimited #1. The creative team includes writer Jeph Loeb and artist Jim Lee, with Scott Williams and Alex Sinclair also named among the returning collaborators.
The original Batman: Hush storyline ran for twelve issues, according to DC’s launch interview. H2SH’s first planned chapter is six issues, #158–163; Loeb’s comments point to another six-issue section after the break.
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