Comic fans and collectors, prepare your bat-signals! Cryptozoic Entertainment has unveiled their latest DC trading card masterpiece: Batman: Hush Essentials Trading Cards. Based on the landmark Batman storyline by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee, this collection brings one of the most visually stunning Batman arcs to the trading card format with meticulous attention to detail.
The Definitive Batman: Hush Collection
The Batman: Hush storyline remains one of the most influential and visually captivating Batman tales ever created. Now, Cryptozoic has immortalized Jim Lee’s iconic artwork in a premium trading card format that captures the noir aesthetic and dramatic storytelling that made the original comic such a phenomenon.
Key Highlights:
- 72-card Base Set featuring stunning imagery from the 12-issue run of Batman
- Five uniquely themed Chase Sets
- Premium foil parallels showcasing enhanced versions of the base cards: Blue Sparkle Foil (#’ed/50), Gold Prismatic Foil (#’ed/20), Printing Plates (1/1) and Black Brilliance Lava Foil (1/1).
- Hand-drawn sketch cards from talented artists capturing the Hush aesthetic
- Authentic autographed cards from key creators associated with the Batman universe
The Chase Sets
Chase 1: “STR PWR” (9 cards) (1:24 Packs): These nine cards only come printed on foil and focus on the stars of this series, illustrated by a legendary comic book art team: Jim Lee, Scott Williams, and Alex Sinclair.
Chase 2: “Alternate Covers” (9 cards) (1:4 Packs): These 9 cards showcase alternate covers from second printings, special editions, and collected volumes of the Hush story arc.
Chase 3: “Annotated” Cards (9 cards) (1:5 Packs): A deep dive into the artwork of Hush, with annotations written by Jim Lee himself. Discover hidden characters, what initials stand for, and additional meanings behind character poses.
Chase 4: “Heroes & Villains” Double-Sided Puzzle Cards (9 cards) (1:4 Packs): Collectors will love these nine cards, showing the heroes on one side and the gallery of villains on the other, with incredible art originally used for fold-out covers.
Chase 5: “Dynamic Duels” Cards (9 cards) (1:5 Packs): Experience a selection of battles from the comic books. See Superman battle Batman, Catwoman fight Harley Quinn, and the showdown of Batman against Hush.
The Full Checklist
Box Configuration and Pull Rates
Each Batman: Hush Essentials box comes packed with 24 packs, with 5 cards per pack, giving collectors 120 total cards to start their collection. The distribution provides an excellent opportunity for completing the base set while still hunting for those coveted chase cards.
The pull rates (on average) are as below:
- Autographs Cards (1:545 Boxes)
- Brilliance 1-of-1 variants of Base & Chase Cards on Lava Foil with black Deco Foil Brilliance logo (1:1,200 Packs)
- Sparkle Foil variants of Base & Chase Cards with blue numbering #-ered to 50 (1:24 Packs)*
- Prismatic Foil variants of Base & Chase Cards with gold numbering #-ered to 20 (1:53 Packs)
*STR PWR cards (Chase Set 1) only come in foil. The Sparkle Foil version is the most common version and is numbered to 608 (to celebrate the first Batman issue number of the Hush arc).
Limited Availability – Mark Your Calendar
Batman: Hush Essentials Trading Cards are scheduled for release in early 2025, with pre-orders already available. Given the popularity of both the Batman franchise and the Hush storyline specifically, these cards are expected to sell out quickly upon release.
The collection represents not just an opportunity for Batman collectors, but also for fans of premium comic book art. Jim Lee’s distinctive style is perfectly showcased in this format, making these cards as much art pieces as they are collectibles.
Perfect For New and Veteran Collectors Alike
Whether you’re a longtime Batman collector looking to add another premium set to your collection, or a newcomer drawn in by the iconic artwork of Jim Lee, the Batman: Hush Essentials Trading Cards offer an accessible entry point with substantial depth for dedicated collectors.
The base set provides a comprehensive overview of the storyline, while the chase card program ensures that there’s always something rare and exciting to pursue. With (the very rare) authentic autographs and sketch cards in the mix, each box opening becomes an event worth sharing.
