Batman: Hush in French: Every Edition Explained

Twelve issues of an American monthly, an artist at the peak of his popularity, and in France an editorial path that runs through three albums, an omnibus, black-and-white versions, a paperback and a deluxe edition. Before you buy, it helps to know what each object contains.

As always in this guide, only verified information (creators, issue numbers, dates) is stated as fact; the analysis is our own, with no reproduction of protected art or dialogue.

The original edition in brief

Hush was published by DC Comics in the monthly Batman series, in issues 608 to 619, between October 2002 and September 2003. Jeph Loeb writes, Jim Lee draws, Scott Williams inks and Alex Sinclair colors. As with so many stories of that era, there is no dedicated miniseries: the twelve chapters occupy the regular numbering of the title, which is why the same content turns up in several collected formats.

The plot puts Batman against a series of attacks coming from his own rogues gallery, orchestrated by a character masked in bandages. Catwoman plays an important role. We do not spoil the resolution: it is part of the reading pleasure, and opinions on how well it works remain divided.

One point of vocabulary avoids search confusion. The original title is Hush, while the French edition is titled Silence, with no exclamation mark or subtitle in current editions. When you search for "Batman Hush VF" (VF stands for French-language version), you land on the same story as "Batman Silence". Our entry on issue 608 details the original American copy, useful if you also collect the single issues in the original English.

The French editions, in order of release

2004 and 2005: the three Semic Books albums

The first hardcover edition in French was released by Semic in its Semic Books collection, in three volumes. The first came out in May 2004 and collects American issues 608 to 611. The second appeared in November 2004 and collects issues 612 to 615. The third followed in 2005. The translation of the first volume is credited to Edmond Tourriol.

The third volume continues the album series in 2005. The credits page of your copy lists the issues it collects. Page counts for these albums vary from one listing to another: sources disagree, so we do not cite them.

For collectors, these are the reference objects of the first French edition: three albums to assemble in order to own the whole story. To judge a copy from this period, see our guide to Lug and Semic bindings.

2010: the Panini reissue

In fall 2010, Panini Comics republished Silence in a single volume. It is the intermediate edition between the Semic era and the Urban era: you mostly come across it on the secondhand market, and it is better to read its printing notice than to trust the listing.

2013: the Urban Comics edition, DC Essentiels collection

On May 8, 2013, Urban Comics published Silence in its DC Essentiels collection: a hardcover volume of 384 pages, measuring 19 by 28.5 centimeters. It corresponds to the American Absolute version and adds about eighty pages of extras. This is the edition that made Silence a permanent part of Urban's current catalog.

2014: the 75th anniversary black-and-white version

In 2014, for Batman's seventy-fifth anniversary, Urban published a black-and-white version of the story, titled Batman Silence N&B 75 ans. It differs from the colored 2013 edition by the absence of color, which highlights Jim Lee's line work, but it does not replace the original reading experience. We were unable to obtain a reliable page count for this object.

The two Eaglemoss volumes

At Eaglemoss, Silence comes in two volumes in the series devoted to the best DC stories. Sources disagree on the year of release. To find out which issues each volume contains, as with Semic, read the credits page.

2024: the Nomad paperback

On August 23, 2024, Urban launched Silence in its Nomad collection: a 304-page softcover measuring 14.3 by 21.5 centimeters, collecting issues 608 to 619. It is the cheapest and lightest way to read the entire story. In return, the small format reduces the impact of Jim Lee's large panels, and the extras of the hardcover editions are not included.

Late 2024: Urban Limited

Released in December 2024, Silence appeared in the Urban Limited collection, a very large format in a limited, numbered print run. Announced page counts vary (sources disagree), so we do not retain any. This edition is meant for fans of collectible objects rather than readers in a hurry.

2025: the twentieth anniversary edition

On July 4, 2025, Urban republished Silence in DC Essentiels, in 400 hardcover pages, as a reissue of the twentieth anniversary edition of Hush. It adds eighty pages of sketches, research and commentary from the art team, a new interview and an epilogue. The translation is credited to Jérôme Wicky. It is today the reference edition for anyone who wants a new, complete copy.

And the sequel: Silence 2

Loeb and Lee returned to the story in 2025 with Batman Silence 2, published in the United States in issues 158 to 163 of Batman. Urban publishes it in black and white. This sequel is a separate subject; we mention it to avoid a title mix-up in your searches.

Original / French edition correspondence

This grid contains only what is established. For the volumes whose contents we do not detail, the credits page lists the American issues collected.

Which edition to choose for your profile

You simply want to read. Two paths are open to you. The 2024 Nomad paperback collects the twelve issues in a light book and is the most affordable in the Urban catalog. The 2025 hardcover edition gives you the large format, more comfortable paper and extras. If you like Jim Lee's full-page artwork, the difference in format justifies choosing the hardcover.

You collect the first French edition. Aim for the three Semic Books albums. They form a set that must be assembled. Check that the lot really contains all three volumes and not just the first two.

You love beautiful objects. The Urban Limited volume and, to a lesser degree, the anniversary edition combine large format with build quality. For ordinary reading it is not necessary, but it is the best support for this artwork.

You come from the animated film. An animated film adaptation dates from 2019; our film versus comics comparison details what changes before you choose your first edition.

You hesitate between a big and a small budget. Ask yourself a simple question: will you want to reread the story in ten years? If so, prefer the hardcover. If you will read it once to judge it, the Nomad is enough, and the difference can go toward other reading.

Pitfalls and points to watch

Multiple titles. Hush in English, Silence in French: a search on only one of these titles hides half the secondhand listings. Search for both, with and without the word Batman.

Silence and Silence 2. The titles look alike, the creators are the same, but the 2025 story is a sequel. Check for the "2" or the chapter number before ordering, especially on the black-and-white single issues.

Diverging dates. Several listings give different years for Eaglemoss or different page counts for Urban Limited. Trust the printing notice of the volume rather than the listing. Our French-edition collector's glossary explains how to read it.

Different splits. Three albums at Semic, two at Eaglemoss, only one elsewhere: the same story is cut at different places. Do not try to complete a Semic volume 1 with a volume 2 from another publisher.

Color and black and white. The 2014 version is in black and white. This is not a flaw, but a listing that does not specify it can mislead you. The 2013 edition, on the other hand, is in color.

Limited editions. Numbered print runs resell for more than regular editions, but they age like any collectible: a copy without its packaging or without its dust jacket loses some of its appeal.

What these editions are worth to collectors

Three parameters make the price of a French copy of Silence vary. The first is scarcity: the Semic Books albums, which are out of print, are harder to find than the Urban volumes still available. The second is completeness: a set of three albums is negotiated differently from three pieces sold separately, and a missing volume drops the interest of the set. The third is condition: corners, spine, dust jacket and interior.

To estimate a copy, note the publisher, the collection, the printing year and the condition. Then compare with completed listings rather than with listings that are merely displayed: sales actually made show the trend. Finally, relate the observed price to that of the current reissue, since the same content new serves as a natural ceiling for a reading copy.

Limited editions follow another logic: their value rests on the print run, the presence of the number and the condition of the packaging. Anniversary editions and Nomad volumes sit more on the reading side than on the investment side. For the original American single issues, see our guide to the value of Hush issues. Semic albums are often found at secondhand markets: our guide to buying French comics at flea markets explains how to go about it.

One last methodological tip: note the barcode and the printing notice of each copy. These two markers make it possible to distinguish two printings of the same title, a point that becomes decisive when a reprint changes the cover or the page count without changing the title.

Frequently asked questions