10 Reasons You Must Read GOTHAM ACADEMY

It’s easy to see when it’s happening what books take the comic market by storm. The real trick is to not take them for granted a few months in. Great sales on a #1 is huge for a new title. But sustained interest… that’s what keeps your favorite comic from falling by the wayside in a cancellation wave.

So, with that in mind, some of the great brains of Comicosity have put together your guide to one of our most favorite new titles. These are the 10 reasons you must be reading Gotham Academy from DC Comics right now (with a little extra chatter from guest Brenden Fletcher, co-writer of the book itself!).

 

1. It’s like Harry Potter Meets Batman.

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J.A. Micheline: Comics needs more all-ages books. We’ve taken this comics-aren’t-for-kids-anymore idea so far now, that superheroes have basically become for adults when they’re in print and children when they’re in animation. The lines for both should be much more blurred than they are. Gotham Academy marks a great opportunity to bring young adults into the fandom, just like Harry Potter did for people of ALL ages.

And honestly, there aren’t many comics these days that a mother can read with her son, or a father with his daughter, and everyone ends up enjoying the comic equally, if not for the same reasons.

Brenden Fletcher: We always intended Gotham Academy to be an all ages book and Harry Potter was a natural touchstone for us, given that both stories involve children solving mysteries at a boarding school.

 

2. Olive and Maps are brilliant. They are also friends.

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Eris Walsh: Could we just say “Diversity” 10 times?

Girls get to actually be friends in a comic book. Not rivals. Not ancillary characters. But lead characters who are friends. Olive Silverlocke and Maps Mizoguchi are well-rounded, smart female characters, who are also racially diverse. I mean, people of color exist, and they’re actually *gasp* people! Everything we seem to be lacking in so many other super-hero universe books, it’s all here in Gotham Academy — in spades.

Brenden Fletcher: The friendship of Olive and Maps is central to the main narrative of the series. It might not seem it at times, but everything hinges on it. EVERYTHING!

 

3. Pomeline Fritch has serious eyebrow game (and an attitude problem).

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Alison Baker: You know how I said girls actually get to be friends in a comic? Well, they don’t HAVE to be. And that doesn’t make them any less interesting or cool.

Pomeline acts precisely her age, which in itself is a rarity in the writing of comic book teenagers. But she also isn’t the cackling one-dimensional villain or spoiled brat. Like all the characters in Gotham Academy, Pomeline has layers and shades of all kinds of emotions —just like every teenage girl you’ve ever met.

Brenden Fletcher: Pomeline is MUCH more than she seems. She’s not the stereotypical “mean girl” in the class. She has specific goals and follows a very calculated path to achieve them. If she can use Olive and Maps to get there, all the better.

 

4. Kyle is a babe.

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J.A. Micheline: An Asian male in a jock role is huge. Not that assimilation is the goal for diversity, but specifically from what I know about Asian-American discourse, characters tend to be exoticized and generally viewed as effeminate feminine.

How many male characters of Asian descent have there been in comics that weren’t Kung Fu experts? Try to name 5. You can’t. So, seeing a demonstrably masculine Asian male (who isn’t the next Karate Kid) with Kyle Mizoguchi is great.

Brenden Fletcher: I think it’s safe to say that you can plan to spend some serious time on the tennis courts with Kyle in our second story arc this summer! You’re going to be seeing a lot more of him.

 

5. Gotham City is its own character.

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John Ernenpuch: Finding new ways to tell engaging stories while paying respect to what has come before is a sweet spot that every comic aspires to, but few reach. Gotham Academy expands The Bat-Mythos in new and intriguing ways.

Gotham City and the families that built it are a huge part of Batman lore. Gotham Academy has a sense of history that pays respect to the importance of this aspect while introducing next generation of characters who don’t necessarily need Batman. And we’re getting a side of Gotham never before seen and, in so doing, the book fleshes out the world of the greater DCU.

Brenden Fletcher: Gotham Academy — the series AND the in-universe location — is indelibly tied to the city itself and, as a result, to Batman. It’s part of the central mystery.

 

6. The art is amaze-balls.

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Michael Hale: New and dynamic art-styles which are not intrinsically linked to comedy books are welcome. Nobody is saying Gotham Academy has to be the next Metropolis, but books which take new approaches to character design, layouts, and art styles despite the ‘normal’ style a Gotham book should be presented in? That is a new and exciting dynamic which should be nurtured and pushed to the limits.

And Karl Kerschl is honestly one of the most underrated artists in the industry, and has been for over a decade.

Brenden Fletcher: Karl IS doing the work of his career here in Gotham Academy. And, it goes without saying, that our colour team just puts the book over the top! The background work by Geyser and Michele Assarasakorn is simply outstanding!

 

7. You don’t even need to know (or like) Batman.

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Kelly Richards: I like that you don’t really need to know anything about the wider Bat-universe to get into Gotham Academy. I think people, especially girls who also have to contend with gatekeeping nerdbros, are sometimes turned off of comics because of the seemingly infinite back story and continuity – I know I was.

Batman’s pretty much not in it. Which sounds like not a plus, but it is a plus. Much like Gotham Central years before it, Gotham Academy is giving new readers an intro to a world that isn’t overwhelming, and can stand on its own.

Brenden Fletcher: While Gotham Academy takes place in current continuity we try to be extremely conscious of the notion that our younger readers might not be picking up some of the more intense titles in the Bat-universe. We do our best to stay tight with continuity, but not lean into it for our primary plot points.

 

8. But if you do know Batman, there are tons of Easter Eggs!

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Matt Santori: Aunt Harriet, Book Worm, Professor Milo. The history of the Cobblepot family and the Gates of Gotham. There’s clearly a huge love from the creative team for classic Batman — particularly the 1966 television series. If you’re any kind of Batman fan, there’s a ton in here to poke at and uncover, and as the mystery goes on, there’s clearly going to be more and more.

Brenden Fletcher: This series is a Bat-fan’s dream in that it’s referencing over 75 years of Batman stories through various media. In addition to the ‘66 TV show, look out for characters and important items from The Animated Series, Batman Beyond and decades worth of classic comics.

 

9. It’s not like any other DC book.

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John Ernenpuch: It’s new. Readers always seem to clamor for something new and unique in the marketplace, but when push comes to shove they don’t put their money where their mouth is way too often. Editor Mark Doyle took over the Batman books with a clear goal in mind “To make a Bat book for everyone” and he ushered in some fresh new talent to make this a reality.

If you want DC to continue to take risks with their biggest franchises, then supporting books like Gotham Academy is in your best interest.

Brenden Fletcher: Gotham Academy is a bit of a risk, yeah, and we’re very thankful that so many of you are willing to take it with us!

 

10. Becky, Brenden, and Karl are sitting right over there — watching.

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Matt Santori: Remember way back when your favorite artist or writer was merely a name in a comic you revered from afar? Thanks to Twitter, Tumblr, and Facebook, now we get to hob nob with the people who create these amazing things we love — and see how much they love them too.

It’s rare that I don’t give a second look to a book that I can see the creators putting their heart and soul into EVERY DAY. And they are with Gotham Academy. They so are.

Brenden Fletcher: We’re out there every day! Tweet at us:

@brendenfletcher

@beckycloonan

@karlkerschl

 

So, if you love Gotham Academy, spread the word and encourage lots of other fans to pick up this Wednesday’s issue #4 (and pre-order the first trade paperback while you’re at it!). You can even use the Twitter hashtag #GothamAcademy.

And if you haven’t tried it yet, do. Jump in. Get your feet wet. Fall in love. You won’t be sorry in the least.

 

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