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