Posted By Dan Greenfield on Feb 28, 2025 | 5 comments

EXCLUSIVE: The first chapter of HUSH 2 is getting a huge volume that breaks new ground in comics…

This is — literally — huge news.

DC Comics is breaking ground on a new comic format: a “Giant-Size Special Edition” of March’s Batman #158 — the first chapter of Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee’s 6-part Hush 2 — that will measure a whopping 11″ x 17″.

That’s much bigger than a treasury/tabloid — which is around 10″ x 13″. Rather, it’s the size of an Artist’s Edition, only with a thick card-stock cover (standard or foil).

Dig this official description from DC, which was sent to retailers late Friday:

Batman #158 Giant-Size Special Edition

It’s the biggest sequel in comic book history—and DC looks to make it even bigger with a giant-size version of Batman #158, the first chapter of “Batman: H2SH” by Jeph Loeb, Jim Lee, Scott Williams, Alex Sinclair and Richard Starkings! This unique version of Batman #158 presents the amazing artwork of Lee, Williams, and Sinclair at art board size.

Batman #158 Giant-Size Special Edition is a special widescreen edition of the pivotal issue, measuring at 11” x 17” and allowing readers to pore over all the stunning details of the breathtaking art, at the size that it was created.

Batman #158 Giant-Size Special Edition arrives with a standard cover at a $14.99 cover price, and a foil edition for $19.99.

 On Sale: March 26

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Several thoughts:

— To be clear, this does not reproduce the original art. It’s the art as published, with full color and letters, at gigantic size. Boiling it down, it’s a humongous comic book — with the ads and everything. The sale date is the same as the regular issue.

— Feel free to correct me, but I’m pretty certain this has never been done before with a single comic-book issue. And you know the drill: If it sells — and it will — this could be the birth of a whole new format.

— The Hush 2 news has come fast and furious this week. On Wednesday, we got a SNEAK PEEK at the first two issues. Earlier Friday, the publisher posted the video above.

— Boy, DC is not afraid to go big. A year ago, it began publishing Bronze Age treasuries as Facsimile Editions, at full size. In January, it put out The Untold Legend of the Batman Limited Edition, a tabloid-size reprint of the landmark 1980 miniseries, in essence the first new treasury collection in decades. Now, this. The possibilities are endless. I’m here for it all.

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MORE

— THE JOKER’S LAUGHING FISH Are Back in BATMAN: HUSH 2. Click here.

— EXCLUSIVE: DC Comics Plans Full BATMAN: HUSH Facsimile Run. Click here.