Creepiest School Ever

Becky Cloonan, Brendan Fletcher, & Karl Kerschl “Gotham Academy volume 2: Calamity” (DC, 2016)

If you’re not hip to the concept, the elevator pitch is simple:  kids going to a boarding school in Gotham find out that the school is, well, Gothamy.

This is a great book.  Cloonan & Fletcher have created a loveable Scooby Gang of kids that find mystery and adventure all while rarely leaving the (creepy) grounds of their boarding school.

This is not a like a teen X-men book, where all the kids are superheroes, they are just regular kids who happen to live in Gotham.  Yes there is some crossover with characters from the Batverse.  But take it from me, I’m the first person to complain about needless crossovers & this book didn’t make me want to scream at all.

So yeah, think more Lumberjanes than X-Men.  

Karl Kerschl does a great job on the art.  He has what feels to me a more Japanese influenced style than what you often see in comics.  It really sets the book apart & lets you know that this just isn’t your normal cape book.  He keeps the numerous YA characters easy to identify and action is easy to follow.

I was very happy with this book, & find myself looking forward to volume 3!

If it wasn't for you meddling kids!

Becky Cloonan & Brendan Fletcher “Gotham Academy Vol 1: Welcome to Gotham Academy” (DC Comics, 2015)

In the past year, DC has tried to add some variety to their line.  Gotham Academy is arguably the biggest hit of that effort.  So what’s the deal, anyway?

Set in Gotham’s best boarding school (the titular Academy), it’s about a couple of young girls –forced together due to the school’s mentor policy—who investigate a “haunting”.  They live in Gotham, so actual ghosts aren’t totally out of the question.  Of course so are other things that go bump in the night.

What you end up with is a fun, fresh title that makes me think of Harry Potter mashed up with Scooby Doo – but set in Batman’s world.  It’s a big departure from the tone & style of their other titles, but it’s confident and successful.

My only complaint is that it is perhaps a bit too rooted in the “normal” world of DC comics. I would have been fine with mentions of Batman without ever actually seeing any Bat characters.

But if you’re burned out on contemporary DC comics, this is a very well done book that may just be what you’re looking for.