Written by: Becky Cloonan and Brendan Fletcher
Art by: Karl Kerschel
Published by: DC Comics
Gotham Academy flies in the face of everything that we’ve come to expect from comics that take place in Gotham City. The dark shadow that has enveloped the city for years seems unable to fully penetrate its most prestigious school. On the rare occasions that there appears to be a hint of that darkness, Cloonan and Fletcher quickly turn it on its head. This is right in line with what the book is – fun, quirky, and filled to the brim with a child-like sense of adventure that is unparalleled anywhere else in comics.
Of course, there’s more to the first volume of Gotham Academy than its quirkiness. It really is a testament to the talent of both Cloonan and Fletcher that Welcome to Gotham Academy ends up being equal parts style and substance, and is more than just a one trick pony. The depth of the book’s characters perfectly complements its unique style, and really makes everything that the creative team does here feel deserved. As such, they have managed to create a world that, at is best moments, is evocative of a Pixar film.
Much of this volume is spent introducing the readers to the characters of the series, specifically the lead duo of Olive and Maps. The juxtaposition between the two is not exactly groundbreaking, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less lovable. Maps is really the driving force behind this book – her unbridled desire for adventure and naive innocence act as a microcosm for what Cloonan and Fletcher want readers to take away from the debut volume of this series.
While Maps gives the book its energy, this volume is very much Olive’s story. The arcs of the rest of the ensemble cast truly pale in comparison to the roller coaster of emotional uncertainty and teenage angst that characterize Olive. In a sense, this is a story of self-discovery for Olive. After a period of great trauma, her return to Gotham Academy at the beginning of this volume finds her with a shaken resolve, and a lack of understanding of who she is. Her story is raw and emotional, one that no doubt anyone can relate to in one way or another.
Her journey is very much facilitated by the plot that Cloonan and Fletcher have come up with to introduce readers to the world of Gotham Academy. Part Scooby-Doo mystery, part horror film, the story of Welcome to Gotham Academy is one that is visceral, briskly paced, and an all around super enjoyable romp through the campus of Gotham Academy, with a little bit of the occult tossed in for good measure. The plot advances perfectly, putting each of the characters in situations that are obviously new to them, and require them to adapt.
The plot attacks from multiple angles, and I truly believe that there is some element of the plot from which anyone could derive enjoyment. There’s some of the teenage drama that has defined recent young adult fiction, but it’s handled in a manner that prevents it from being too overbearing. As I mentioned above, there’s a little bit of the occult going on here as well. It’s not the focus of the book, but it’s definitely around. Then, of course, there’s the adventure movie sensibilities and the whole mystery side of the book. Cloonan and Fletcher manage to find a perfect blend of all of this that comes together like the pieces of a puzzle. Separately, it’s a complete mess, but once combined, it creates something striking.
I will say that, at times, it does feel a little bit thin. That may seem to contradict what I’m saying, but despite everything that’s going on here, the through line of this particular volume is not all that complex. It’s still very good, but Cloonan and Fletcher are definitely more interested in complex character arcs than a deep plot. With the way this chunk of the story ends, that could definitely be coming, specifically with the inclusion of a couple characters near the end. That being said, I can’t evaluate this volume’s plot based on what may come in future volumes.
Somehow, I’ve managed to make it to this part of the review without spending too much time raving about Karl Kerschel’s art. It’s definitely a mix of eastern and western styles, taking the best elements of each and combining them. There’s definitely anime and manga sensibilities in his art, but as obvious as that influence may be, the influence of Pixar films and western comic book artists is prevalent as well. The art style also isn’t always the same. There are slight variations to the pencil styles and the coloring throughout the volume, and each of these variations suits the mood of the book at that particular moment. It’s notably different from what other artists are doing, though, considering what this book is, that shouldn’t actually be too shocking.
Despite all of the praise I’m throwing at Welcome to Gotham Academy, the book does come with the caveat that it’s definitely not for everyone. The product as a whole is definitely something that certain people won’t enjoy, and it will probably be fairly obvious to you if you’re one of those people. Although, six months ago I thought that I would be one of those people, and this book ended up being a very pleasant surprise.
