“Detective Comics” #852 is part one of a two part “Faces of Evil” storyline. Paul Dini returns as the writer for “Detective Comics” with this issue and he will continue with part two in “Batman” #685. Throughout the month of January DC is focusing on the villains of the DC Universe in “Faces of Evil”.  The villians will take center stage in the monthly comics of their adversaries as well as some individual special issues. This issue of “Detective Comics” focuses on Hush and takes place right after the “Heart of Hush” storyline. As we know from this storyline, Thomas Elliot aka Hush has surgically altered his face to look like Bruce Wayne. He was attempting to take over Bruce’s life when Batman thwarted his plans.

The issue opens up with a scene reminiscent of “It’s a Wonderful Life” with Hush about to commit suicide by jumping off a bridge during a snow storm.  A Clarence the Angel type does not jump in the water in order to save Hush, instead he is rescued by some fishermen who thinks he’s Bruce Wayne.  Hush has lost all of his fortune thanks to Catwoman who at the end of “Heart of Hush” stole all of his money out of revenge for stealing her heart. With Bruce Wayne missing, Hush decides to take advantage of the situation goes around bamboozling people into paying for him or giving him money outright.

Hush is rejuvenated and looks at this as his ticket to getting back on top. Unfortunately his plans are put on hold as Catwoman decides she’s not done with him and that’s where the book ends.

Overall this was a pretty good issue. A big improvement over the disappointing “Last Days of Gotham” by Denny O’Neil.  Dini has done a descent job with Hush.  An improvement over what we’ve seen done with the character in previous appearances.  I’m not crazy about Thomas Elliot surgically altering himself to look like Bruce Wayne.  I’ve watched a lot of soap operas in my day and I’ve seen that storyline done a bunch of times (“One Life to Live” is doing something like it now with the character Todd Manning) so it seems a bit hack to me.

I hope Dini can continue to build on the Hush character.  I think he has a lot of potential and could become a major threat to both Bruce Wayne and Batman.