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.

Throwback Thursday! This review was first written for my Special Topics in Librarianship: The Graphic Novel class in October 2014.

(c.) 2014 by DC Comics

Title: Batman: Li'l Gotham: Vol. 1
Creators: Dustin Nguyen & Derek Fridolfs
Published: 2014 by DC Comics

Batman: Li’l Gotham, Vol. 1 is SO adorable! I love the artwork by Dustin Nguyen. They’re sort of reminiscent of Japanese chibi (a cute stylized manga/anime style characterized with large proportioned heads and eyes in relation to body).  This along with the watercolor-like illustrations add to the lighthearted feel --it was great to read after the more serious/violent/intense storyline in Batgirl. This volume was published in 2014, but many Batman characters show up in this "Li’l Gotham" regardless of space, time or the New 52 universe.

Each issue (there are six collected in this volume) has a holiday theme: Christmas, Halloween, Mother’s Day, etc. There are a lot of “easter egg” extras, jokes, and cameos regarding characters that only Batman savvy audiences would get. For example, one of my favorite stories of the bunch featured Batman/Bruce Wayne and all his “Robins” (Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake, and Damian Wayne) trying to make Alfred dinner for Father’s Day while Barbara Gordon and her dad (Commissioner Jim Gordon) run into a more villainous father/daughter pair …

I’d recommend it wholeheartedly, even to elementary aged students who are independent readers. If you needed to do a readers' advisory for a patron that wanted something similar, I’d recommend the Tiny Titans comic book series by Art Baltazar and Franco Aureliani.

Do you have any favorite "kid-friendly" comic book series?

This review was first written for my Special Topics in Librarianship: The Graphic Novel class in October 2014.


Title: Batgirl: Vol. 1: The Darkest Reflection
Author: Gail Simone
Illustrators: Ardian Syaf, Vicente Cifuentes
Published: 2012 by DC Comics

I've wanted to read a Batgirl comic for awhile, because I heard that she was a librarian in her origin story!

This Batgirl volume was published in 2012 and is a part of the “New 52” universe. It brings Barbara Gordon back as Batgirl, which was a controversial move since she had been paralyzed since the 1980s “Killing Joke” storyline (which was also controversial itself). Between this time, she had come into another persona, The Oracle --an expert computer hacker and information specialist, proving her value even as a “handicapped” individual. This was one of the reasons why some objected to her mobile return as Batgirl: there are not many wheelchair bound comic book characters and as Oracle she was a role model for others like her.

One of the things that kept me away from Batman titles is that I didn't know how “dark” the titles are … and the 1980s-current titles seemed kind of dark to me. This volume was right at the edge of my tolerance level (violence-wise, language-wise, situation-wise, etc.) … Anything more I don't think I could enjoy, but the story was pretty interesting and I ended up enjoying most of it.

In this volume, Batgirl’s back on the scene and determined to prove to her mentors and to herself that she is ready to rejoin the fight for justice as she works to take down the mysterious new villain, Mirror. She isn’t a librarian (apparently that’s from her Silver Age origin), but has a degree in forensic psychology and an eidetic (“photographic”) memory.

I personally would recommend it for high school and up … unless a younger audience watched a lot of Criminal Minds or CSI types of shows, then perhaps they could handle it. If someone liked this title, I’d recommend one I’d like to get to eventually myself: Gail Simone’s Birds of Prey run which starred several female superheroes (Oracle, Black Canary, Huntress, etc.) and is considered one of the best from that series (though it’s previous to the New 52 era).

Who's your favorite super-heroine?  Why?

San Diego’s Comic Con is one of the largest pop culture conventions in the world and has become not just a place for comic book enthusiasts as its name suggests, but one of the premiere events for those in the television, film, book, toy, collectible, and gaming industries to unveil new products and information about upcoming releases.  Multiple panels and workshops feature actors, directors, artists, costumers, authors, and other guests.  This year the event runs from July 24^th – 27^th and though many fans (such as myself) won’t be able to attend, I thought it’d be fun to go through the San Diego Comic Con Event Schedule and write about some interesting panels and workshops I’ll be keeping an eye on as I count down to Comic Con.

Countdown to Comic Con - Superheroes

Marvel Television Presents

The cast of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (c.) Disney/Marvel

Marvel Studios

Warner Bros. Television and DC Entertainment: The Flash, Constantine, Arrow, and the World Premiere of Gotham with Special Appearances by Casts and Producers, Hosted by Arrow's Stephen Amell

      The Flash and his allies quickly became one of my favorite superhero “families” ever since first watching Young Justice last year.  Though Grant Gustin’s version of Barry Allen/The Flash is younger and not as bulked up as the comic book depictions, he won me over in his appearances in Arrow (from whence The Flash will be a spin off of). Though I couldn’t really get into Arrow (though I do love Felicity Smoak), I’m definitely going to be watching The Flash this fall! Check out the extended trailer below ... pretty neat, right?