Batman #608A (2002)

Hush, Part 1

Written by Jeph Loeb, art/cover by Jim Lee & Scott Williams. Jeph Loeb & Jim Lee begin their much-anticipated run on BATMAN with the 12-part "Hush."

A young heir to a vast chemical company fortune has been kidnapped. While everyone from the mayor to the F.B.I. agree to pay a $10 million ransom, Batman decides to rescue him outright. Why? Because he can, and more importantly, because he knows he can. That is, if he can get past a newly mutated Killer Croc… Once the dust and scales settle, Bats races through the skies to catch the ever-purring Catwoman, who has absconded with Croc's hard earned ransom money. Yet something- or someone- cuts the Batgrappler's rope in mid-flight, sending him, broken and alone, into dark, downtrodden slums. And the locals don't exactly have cookies and milk waiting for him, unless they're hiding behind knives and makeshift clubs. Meanwhile, Catwoman, rather disappointed that her pursuer lost the chase so quickly, brings the money to her employer- or master.

Key book; beginning of the twelve-part 'Hush' story arc by Jim Lee and Jeff Loeb. Near mint condition.