See if you can follow this formula.
Take the teen angst of a contemporary young adult novel, add Harry Potter (but subtract the magic) and then multiply the whole thing by the world of Batman. That's the basic recipe for Gotham Academy, a brand new DC Comics monthly series created by artist/writer Becky Cloonan (Demo, East Coast Rising), writer Brenden Fletcher (Batgirl) and artist Karl Kerschl (Teen Titans: Year One, web comic The Abominable Charles Christopher).
The story revolves around one Olive Silverlock (she has long, gray hair -- get it?), who attends a prep school called Gotham Academy, right in the heart of Batman-land. Since it takes place from her perspective, we hear her thoughts, so she's instantly sympathetic to the reader.
Olive seems to have a talent for getting into trouble despite herself, especially when she spends time with a plucky underclassman nicknamed "Maps," who's new to Gotham Academy. The two of them know each other through Maps' big brother Kyle, a broodingly handsome teen who Olive used to date.
The first issue establishes the friendship between Olive and Maps, while giving us a small taste of the school's many inhabitants. There are teachers, a creepy old headmaster and dozens of other students -- most of whom don't seem to care for Olive. The big, gothic structure itself serves as another character, being full of closed-off areas and rumored to be haunted. And this being Gotham, of course Bruce Wayne is one of its benefactors.
Fletcher and Cloonan have crafted an engrossing introduction that flies by as you turn the pages. That's no small task, considering that they had to flesh-out a new, unexplored part of a city whose every nook and cranny has been chronicled for 75 years. They inject plenty of humor into what could have been a rather dreary place, without losing sight of character development. This first issue also raises its share of mysteries, but don't bother hoping for answers so soon. For now, just savor the possibilities.
Artist Kerschl is clearly having a blast cooking up these new characters and drawing them in a wide variety of situations. He nails the exact mood and tone you'd expect from an enclosed school in Gotham City. (Watch closely for his nod at the old Adam West TV show on page 9.) He also cooks up some truly inventive layouts, such as an amazing tour through the Academy grounds on a two-page spread.
At the end of the day, Gotham Academy feels like a YA novel set in the DC universe. Frankly, it's kind of surprising that DC would green light this kind of book, since there are no capes or cowls or crimes to solve anywhere in sight. What it does have is plenty of interesting new characters that you'll immediately want to know more about.
This could turn into something special.
Story:
★★★★
Art:
★★★★★
Overall:
★★★★
