Gotham Academy Second Semester #2
Writers: Brenden Fletcher, Becky Cloonan & Karl Kerschl
Artists: MSASSYK, Sandra Hope & Adam Archer
Colorist: Serge Lapointe
Letterer: Steve Wands
Publisher: DC
Review by: Hafsa Alkhudairi
Gotham Academy is back in session with our favorite Detective Club ready to solve mysteries. Of course, the academy is never short of mysteries, even if some of them aren’t easy to detect. To top it off, nothing is the same since the first semester. Olive has a new roommate and is no longer as broody. Maps has developed a lot as a character since the beginning, yet she is still the most precious character in the DC Universe.
As a start of another chapter in their student careers, the story has yet to really unfold, but the plot so far has emphasized their friendship rather then the mystery. This is in line with Gotham Academy‘s style in the last run and is tune with what the reader should expect. However, it is a prelude to the actual adventure so there is more yet to be told! In the end, Gotham Academy‘s Detective Club is there for one another and will work together to solve problems and save each other.
Gotham Academy’s art is always great at meeting the needs of the story in every phase. It is a combination of beautifully serene and Gothic themes. The backdrop of the story and the characters is slightly out of focus to highlight the object of the panels. This produced a more colourful comic whose pages would jump at you. This difference in the art and colouring created a more pronounced design and comic. To top it off, the lettering gave a new dimension to the eerie atmosphere of the narrative.
The Verdict
Read It! Gotham Academy, as a whole, has the best balance of dark and light. Setting up these characters in an old mansion and giving them reign to produce their own adventure could have been a recipe for disaster. Instead we have these curious characters that are honestly having fun together while trying to right the wrongs or mysteries unfolding at the academy. All the while, they keep their individuality and personal progression. This part of the story was a pleasure to unfold and discover. It had relatable moments and self-discovery as well as adventures and excitement. Also, the art is gorgeous, the colours are brilliantly composed to emphasize the story and the environment, and places the characters in the most beautiful settings for the plot to move forward.
