DC Comics Just Replaced the Bat-Family — And Fans Didn’t See It Coming

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Though he usually works best on his own, the truth is Batman couldn’t have accomplished everything he has for Gotham City without the support of the Bat-Family. But what happens when those closest to him start to lose their trust in him?

A sneak peek at the upcoming issue of Batman: H2SH shows Batman forming a new team – but instead of heroes, it’s comprised of some of his classic foes.

In Batman #163, the story continues with Bruce Wayne isolated after Hush successfully turned Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, Huntress, and Red Hood against him. Even Catwoman seems to be siding with them, despite her feelings for Bruce.

To the hero’s shock, his most dangerous enemies – including Bane, Killer Croc, Poison Ivy, Scarecrow, Mr. Freeze, and the Penguin – have unexpectedly formed an alliance, even with each other. Surprisingly, The Joker is also part of this group, and it’s revealed – while Batman fiercely grips his throat – that they are actually working with the vigilante.

Ivy reveals that Hush betrayed them all. The Joker then points out that those they once trusted have turned against them, while those they distrusted are now the only ones they can rely on. He acknowledges their past mistakes will bring enemies after them, including themselves. He then jokingly declares that he and the other villains now form a new, unconventional “Bat-Family!”

Now that Batman knows where Hush is hiding, and some of his former friends are plotting against him, he’s forced to team up with criminals. He realizes he needs to work with anyone who opposes Hush, even if it means partnering with those he normally fights. Fans will find out how this uneasy alliance plays out in Batman #163.

Jeph Loeb returns to the story he began with Batman: Hush in Batman: H2SH. This sequel pits Bruce Wayne against a new, enigmatic enemy with surprising ties to his history. The creative team from the original comic—penciler Jim Lee and inker Scott Williams—are also back, and this first part of the story will wrap up in Batman #163.

Batman Has Joined Forces With Villains Before

It’s truly surprising to see Batman cut off from his allies and forced to work with former enemies. However, this isn’t the first time something like this has happened to him.

Batman has surprisingly teamed up with The Joker a few times, most notably during the events of Scott Snyder’s The Batman Who Laughs. Batman understood that to defeat an evil version of himself, one twisted by the Joker’s poison, he needed to get advice from the source of that toxin.

Harley Quinn has occasionally been portrayed as an ally to Batman, not just in alternate universes like the ‘Absolute’ timeline where a version of Batman teams up with a Harley Quinn-led gang to fight Bane. For example, in the 2017 animated movie Batman and Harley Quinn, Batman seeks Harley’s help in tracking down Poison Ivy, and she ultimately ends up joining the search with him.

One of the most surprising team-ups in Batman history happened when Bruce Wayne joined forces with Joe Chill, the man who killed his parents. In Mike W. Barr’s Batman: Year Two, Batman reluctantly works with the criminal underworld to stop a vigilante called The Reaper, who is damaging his reputation. As part of this alliance, he’s assigned a partner – unexpectedly, it’s Joe Chill.

While many stories explore similar themes, Jeph Loeb’s Batman: H2SH stands out for its shocking twist: forcing Batman to depend on his most dangerous enemies in Gotham.

Batman #163, or Batman: H2SH — Chapter Six, Draw, hits the shelves on May 27.

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2026-05-27 15:10