A were-bat a werewolf and Damian Wayne have kept things busy at the most exclusive boarding school in all of Batman’s home town. What can top that? Why, only the works of the legendary bard! Your Major Spoilers review of Gotham Academy #10 awaits!
GOTHAM ACADEMY #10
Writer: Becky Cloonan & Brenden Fletcher
Art: Karl Kerschl with Mssassyk
Colorist: Serge LaPointe & Msassyk
Letterer: Marilyn Patrizio
Editor: Rebecca Taylor
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
Previously in Gotham Academy: Olive Silverlock has discovered that, rather than attending the exclusive Gotham Academy on a Bruce Wayne scholarship, she has been allowed to attend so that she can be monitored because of “issues” related to her late mother, who may have been a supervillain known as calamity. Of course, a careful assessment of the Academy’s faculty seems to reveal that she’s not alone in her former villanry, as Professor Milo and Kirk Langstrom will attest. But, if Mama Silverlock is dead, who has been popping up around the school?
Oh, and Olive might have tried to killed Batman. So, she’s got that going for her… which is nice, y’know?
THE CURSED PLAY
We open this issue with Olive and Pomeline fleeing the burning theater, as drama professor Simon Trent (whose name should send up important flags for fans of ‘Batman: The Animated Series’, he said significantly) overdramatically lamenting that his production of “The Scottish Play” is cursed. Fortunately, Olive and Pom volunteer (after Maps’ roommate Katherine, whose deal is still unknown to me), along with the rest of their Scooby gang, to fill out the roles. While the production of ‘MacBeth’ is in motion, strange doings are afoot, which Olive attributes to the ghost of her mother, but the true answer is much stranger than that. As the rehearsals go on, clues are found, including a specific type of mud (which ends up being a clue in more ways than one.) When the clues lead to Maps’ roommate Katherine, Olive and company sneak into her room, only to discover that she has a classic “pins and pictures” scary shrine…
…to Professor Trent.
KATHERINE’S DEAL IS NO LONGER UNKNOWN
When things finally hit the fan, we get another loving reference to BTAS, in the form of Katherine’s reveal (which I don’t want to spoiler here, but it is pretty amazing, especially the way her extended back story is wrapped into the back story of Professor Trent in a way that is both satisfying and perfectly logical) and the fact that it’s Maps and Olive who pull off an amazing save, leading to the final question: Is Olive’s mother alive? The Scooby-Doo-meets-Harry-Potter overtones of this book’s premise fit perfectly with the world of Gotham City, all dark alleys and spooky buildings, and the balance of characters is wonderful. Karl Kerschl’s art is also top-notch, whether showing us strange apparitions from beyond or a scared kid running a lighting board, with special kudos due for the visuals when Katherine…
…y’know, does The Thing. Seriously, you need to go buy the issue, read it, and come back, at which point you’ll be like, “WHAT??? NO WAAY! THAT IS COOL!”
THE BOTTOM LINE: SUCH A *GREAT* BOOK!
I’m gonna tell you right now: There’s a reason Gotham Academy keeps being our ‘Pick Of The Week’, and a reason why such a wide variety of Major Spoilers folk love it. This is quality material, where the art is wonderful, nuanced and above all, cute, with a story that is full of twists and turns and believable teenage characters. Gotham Academy #10 is moody, exciting and mysterious, with exciting story and wonderful art, earning 4.5 out of 5 stars overall. Seriously, go buy it, and see The Thing and judge for yourself!
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