Gotham Academy was a surprise highlight of the New 52 era back in 2014. On the surface it seemed like just another high school book aimed at younger readers, and in some ways it was that, but it had so much heart with a compelling story and characters that it quickly gained a cult following (especially the breakout supporting character of Maps Mizoguchi). That series began with Olive Silverlock returning from an extended leave from the Academy where we slowly learned more about her past over time. Now with Gotham Academy: First Year, that history will be shown firsthand. Given that we’ve already been told about what happened, the big challenge for the series moving forward will be justifying itself as a worthwhile addition.
Even compared to the beginning of Gotham Academy, this version of Olive is reserved and far less sure of herself. It’s easy to see why that would be the case. At this point she has absolutely no support network of friends, and the trauma of what happened to her mother is still very fresh in her mind. She’s scared, alone, and in a terrifying new place. As a fish out of water story, it actually serves as a good introduction to the setting of Gotham Academy for those new to the series. For returning fans, it’s a bit of a refresher, though much of it will still be familiar.
Her loneliness is exacerbated by the social class element that Brenden Fletcher uses as a focus for the story. The only reason that Olive is attending such a prestigious academy is an act of charity by Bruce Wayne after her pyrokinetic mother was taken in by Batman. A lot of attention is given to Olive’s relative poverty, up to and including her socks being covered with sewn patches. Contrasted with the “princesses” that attend the school, she’s more concerned with not attracting attention than making friends. Thankfully a handful of people like her roommate the initially snobbish Lucy and the second year Kyle reach out and get her to open up. It does cut short the sense of isolation that could differentiate this series from what came before, but it gets the supporting cast established early.
The real heart of the drama is the memory of Olive’s mother’s breakdown and subsequent arrest. Because it happened so recently at this point, Olive is still mentally recovering and is unable to really cope with the world at large. Everything seems to be a reminder of what makes her different and how that night affected her. Multiple times throughout the issue Olive thinks back to what happened, providing the issue’s most exciting moments. In addition to contextualizing what’s happening in the present day and offering a glimpse into Olive’s tortured psyche, they’re in and of themselves a dose of action that keep the story engaging.
These moments are also where Marco Ferrari’s art is at its best. The roaring flames and twisted images of Batman bursting onto scene make for some impressive visuals. Unfortunately, the art as a whole is still a noticeable step down from what was in the original series. It lacks the expressiveness of Karl Kerschl’s vibrant and distinct style (which can still be found in the cover art) and can at times come across as somewhat slapdash in layout and details. That being said, there are still a number of nice splash pages and its simplicity is fitting for the tone of the story.
Recommended If
- You want to see more of Olive Silverlock and the Gotham Academy crew
- Origin stories offer a good look at familiar characters
- You’re looking for a Dark Academia styled comic
Overall
Gotham Academy: First Year sets up the beginnings of what will eventually lead to the world fans were introduced to with Gotham Academy. Like most prequels, it has a bit of an uphill battle to set itself apart from its predecessor and what’s already known. We do get to see the beginnings of Olive’s friend group and a version of her that has not yet recovered from the trauma that would come to define her character journey. While it’s still too early to say how much this firsthand look at her first year will add, it effectively sets the stage for what’s to come.
Score: 7.5/10
DISCLAIMER: DC Comics provided Batman News with a copy of this comic for the purpose of this review
English (US) · 