An Intriguing Welcome to Gotham Academy! Gotham Academy Vol. 1 - A Comic Book Review

Cover of Gotham Academy Vol. 1 by Becky Cloonan & Brendan Fletcher
Gotham Academy's intrepid protagonists!
Even though I'm disappointed I missed out on reviewing the new Dick Grayson series and Batgirl of Burnside volumes because of computer issues, I finally got the Adobe Digital Editions to work on my tablet and was able to download and review this new series in time for it's official release today!

Title: Gotham Academy Vol. 1: Welcome to Gotham Academy 
Author: Becky Cloonan & Brendan Fletcher
Illustrated: Karl Kerschl
Published: 2015 by DC Comics

About the Book:
"Welcome to Gotham Academy, the most prestigious school in Gotham City. Only the best and brightest students may enter its halls, study in its classrooms, explore its secret passages, summon its terrifying spirits… 
 Okay, so Gotham Academy isn’t like other schools. But Olive Silverlock isn’t like other students. After a mysterious incident over summer break, she’s back at school with a bad case of amnesia, an even worse attitude… and an unexplained fear of bats. 

Olive’s supposed to show new student Maps Mizoguchi the ropes. Problem: Maps is kid sister of Kyle, Olive’s ex. Then there’s the ghost haunting the campus…the secret society conducting bizarre rituals…and Bruce Wayne, the weirdo billionaire who funds the Academy - and may know the secret to Olive’s big mystery. 

Find out in GOTHAM ACADEMY VOL. 1, the acclaimed new series from co-writers Becky Cloonan (DEMO) and Brendan Fletcher (BATGIRL) and artist Karl Kerschl (TEEN TITANS: YEAR ONE)! Collects GOTHAM ACADEMY #1-6."

The Artist Librarian Review: 
This new series set in Batman's world first debuted last October.  Collecting issues #1-6, Gotham Academy Vol. 1: Welcome to Gotham Academy provides spunky heroines who tackle the supernatural mysteries around them in a way that would make Nancy Drew proud.

My favorite character ended up being Mia "Maps" Mizoguchi --the tomboyish, plucky sidekick/tag-a-long to protagonist Olive Silverlock.  Readers will puzzle over what happened to Olive over the summer, a question that probably will slowly be revealed to both us the audience and Olive herself. Because of her mother's absence, Olive is quite a self-reliant girl. Another mystery involves Batman's connection to Olive and her family (she's currently a Gotham Academy student though a scholarship provided by Bruce Wayne).  Finalły, if things weren't weird enough, the school building itself seems to hold its own secrets as well.

Not only are there intriguing mysteries regarding the school grounds and the characters, but Karl Kerschl's art is perfect for this series aimed at tweens and teens. I can see some manga influences in some of the stylization of the art and I love it for the target group.  I also like that the writers chose to feature female protagonists and a diverse classroom of students.  For a sample of character designs, check out this feature! 

Note: there are some supernatural elements such as ghosts, what some may consider slight language (e.g. cr-p), and a teenage couple is depicted making out in class, but depending on the patron, I'd feel comfortable suggesting it to tweens and older. Gotham Academy Vol 1: Welcome to Gotham Academy releases today and I'll definitely be following this series for more!

 [Disclosure: I was allowed access to a digital pre-release copy by the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes.]

Do you have a favorite graphic novel or book series set in a school or academy?  Let me know in the comments!

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