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!

Not the CSN Song

Becky Cloonan & Andy Belanger “Southern Cross Volume 1” (Image, 2016)

Alex Braith is headed out into space to collect her sister’s things.  She’s also going to look into her sister’s death.  Was it an accident? So she goes out on an old creaky, spooky ship (like you do) and things get really weird.

A story like this that is a science fiction horror story relies a lot on atmosphere.  It’s important to note that Andy Belanger’s art is crucial to setting the tone.  He gives us a dark grimy claustrophobic ship.  It’s the sort of place that you imagine to be populated with sketchy people doing sketchy things

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Becky Cloonan’s story is compelling.  She gives us bits & pieces of information, just enough to answer a few questions without fully resolving things.  I’m hooked.

Just when I thought I knew what was happening, things got really really weird.

It’s a murder mystery in a science fictional universe of cosmic horror.  What’s not to love?