It’s all come down to this – the final showdown between the students of Gotham Academy – A handful that call themselves the detective club – and the sorceress spirit of Olive Silverlock’s ancestor, who was burned at the stake for witchcraft in the earliest days of Gotham’s settlement. For generations, she has plagued her descendants, often with tragic results.

But Olive’s friends are nothing if not determined – as well as devoted and perhaps a little reckless. Thanks to a gift from Damian Wayne, Maps has all the confidence the gang needs to pull Olive from the brink of damnation.

This book has been a fun ride. Many all-ages books are regretfully dumbed down, even by childish standards; completely neutered to the point of ineffectiveness. It’s like watching a classroom full of cosplayers on the playground.

But Gotham Academy has been a liberal mixture of Harry Potter, Scooby Doo and Insert-Animé-Show-Here. The artwork is head and shoulders above most comics in general, seemingly designed to appeal to animé fans. When the series is collected into a trade paperback, it will be a terrific opportunity to share with the young comic fan in your life.

Rating: 9/10