Gotham Academy Volume 1: Welcome to Gotham Academy by Becky Cloonan and Brenden Fletcher and art by Karl Kerschl

Summary (from Goodreads):

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 the kid sister of Kyle, Olive's ex. Then there's the ghost haunting the campus...and the secret society conducting bizarre rituals.

Can Olive and Maps ace the biggest challenge of their lives? Or are they about to get schooled?

Review:

This was a lot of fun! I’ve read nothing but good things about this one. And when I saw this at a bookstore I almost bought it then and there. I played it smart though and requested it from the library. But still, I don’t think I would have minded owning this graphic novel.  It’s that cool.

If you have not somehow gathered, I’m a bit of a superhero fan. When I saw they were doing a Gotham high school/YA kind of story, I was excited. This graphic novel screams YA too. The main character at this prestigious school has lost all her memories of last summer. There’s a supposed ghost haunting the campus. Olive (the main character), also has to play tour-guide to her ex-boyfriend’s sister. There school dances, secret passages, a mixed up story with Olive’s mom being in an institution (Arkham), school drama, and plenty of mystery.

There’s also cameos by Bruce Wayne (and later Batman) and a villain I couldn’t remember from before: Croc. It’s also kind of fun to see a main character not in love or idolizing the superhero. In fact, Olive kind of seems to hate Batman. And I so need to know why!

I love the setting for this book. What’s not to like about a creepy prep school in Gotham where Bruce Wayne can just stop by? I also love the mystery. It read like a good supernatural suspense book. The art was awesome too. It reminded me of Batman the Animated series mixed with a really good manga. I’m not sure I’m feeling all the characters (yet). I love Maps. And I kind of love her brother too –the one who used to date Olive. I’m not sure how I feel about Olive yet. It does feel like I’m just getting to know her. I’ll have to keep reading the volumes to make up my mind.  I give it a 9/10.