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Listen, Jeph Loeb knows that you've been waiting a long time for the next leg of his, Jim Lee, and Alex Sinclair's Batman 'H2SH' story. But he's asking us all for a little patience and a little grace for one of the busiest men in comics: Jim Lee. 

But there is some good news coming to all those feeling H2SHed: Batman #163 is now scheduled to be released on May 27, and it's the final part in the first chapter of H2SH. At the DC Comics: What's Next panel at Emerald City Comic Con 2026, Loeb said, "We always said it was going to be six issues, then we'd take a break."

And Batman #163 will leave readers primed to wait a bit more, because the issue ends on a cliffhanger.

 "You'll finish up that story, and then in 2027, you'll get all six issues together [of the second part of H2SH], and that story will fit beautifully before Matt Fraction starts his book," Loeb said jokingly, referring to the current Fraction run on Batman.

So, why all this waiting? 

"Why are we late? The reality is, I have a partner who is the best artist living on the planet, name of Jim Lee. He also happens to be the publisher of the best comic book company, and that takes a lot of time," says Loeb.

The promotion for last summer's Superman movie ate up a lot of Jim Lee's time as well, according to Loeb. But don't get it twisted, Loeb himself is also keeping an eye on the clock: after Lee told him that he was going to pause drawing 'H2sh' draw something in the upcoming Superman/Spider-Man crossover, Loeb said, "Well, there's a whole other part of Batman #163 we're not going to see."

If anything, Loeb wants you to walk away with one thing in your mind: "Do not hate the man, hate the game."

Loeb has experience in this. From 2010 to 2019 he was head of Marvel Television, and whenever he spoke about an interest in writing comics he has said the Marvel management turned him down, pushing him to focus solely on his Marvel TV job.

Batman #163 is currently scheduled for May 27.

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