Review: Gotham High

gotham high

Title: Gotham High
Author: Melissa de la Cruz (Author), Thomas Pitilli (Illustrator)
Genres:  Superhero, Graphic Novel
Pages: 208
Publisher: DC Ink
Review Copy: Library
Availability: Available now

Summary: From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Alex and Eliza and The Witches of East End comes a reimagining of Gotham for a new generation of readers. Before they became Batman, Catwoman, and The Joker, Bruce, Selina, and Jack were high schoolers who would do whatever it took–even destroy the ones they love–to satisfy their own motives.

After being kicked out of his boarding school, 16-year-old Bruce Wayne returns to Gotham City to find that nothing is as he left it. What once was his family home is now an empty husk, lonely but haunted by the memory of his parents’ murder. Selina Kyle, once the innocent girl next door, now rules over Gotham High School with a dangerous flair, aided by the class clown, Jack Napier.

When a kidnapping rattles the school, Bruce seeks answers as the dark and troubled knight–but is he actually the pawn? Nothing is ever as it seems, especially at Gotham High, where the parties and romances are of the highest stakes … and where everyone is a suspect.

With enchanting art by Thomas Pitilli, this new graphic novel is just as intoxicating as it is chilling, in which dearest friends turn into greatest enemies–all within the hallways of Gotham High! [Image and summary via Goodreads]

Review: I loved Sarah Kuhn’s take on Batgirl in Shadow of the Batgirl, so I was pretty excited to pick up Melissa de la Cruz’s Gotham High. Pretty much any superhero comic written by a YA author is an automatic buy/borrow for me. With that said, let’s dive into the review!

Gotham High centers on Bruce Wayne, before he’s Batman. At 16, he’s returning to an empty family home, with only his uncle from Hong Kong (Bruce’s mother is Chinese! Pretty cool.) to keep him company. As he adjusts to his new life and grapples with old memories, he’s drawn into the not-so-typical drama of Gotham High, starring his childhood friend Selina Kyle and prankster Jack Napier. Of course, danger abounds.

The mystery of what exactly is going on is an interesting one with unexpected twists. The most intriguing part of Gotham High is seeing how different characters from the world of Batman show up in this high school reality. Given the setup, there’s plenty of potential to explore wealth inequality and other issues, but that potential goes mostly unfulfilled.

If you’re a fan of Batman and superhero comics, you’ll definitely want to check out Gotham High. Otherwise, this may not be your cup of tea.

Recommendation: Borrow it someday