Gotham High (graphic novel) - Paul's REVIEW

*I received this book as an eARC from DC Comics and Random House via Edelweiss. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

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Title: Gotham High
Author: Melissa de la Cruz
Artist: Thomas Pitilli 
Release Date: April 7, 2020


Synopsis: From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Alex and Eliza and The Witches of East End comes a reimagining of Gotham for a new generation of readers. Before they became Batman, Catwoman, and The Joker, Bruce, Selina, and Jack were high schoolers who would do whatever it took--even destroy the ones they love--to satisfy their own motives.

After being kicked out of his boarding school, 16-year-old Bruce Wayne returns to Gotham City to find that nothing is as he left it. What once was his family home is now an empty husk, lonely but haunted by the memory of his parents' murder. Selina Kyle, once the innocent girl next door, now rules over Gotham High School with a dangerous flair, aided by the class clown, Jack Napier.

When a kidnapping rattles the school, Bruce seeks answers as the dark and troubled knight--but is he actually the pawn? Nothing is ever as it seems, especially at Gotham High, where the parties and romances are of the highest stakes ... and where everyone is a suspect.

With enchanting art by Thomas Pitilli, this new graphic novel is just as intoxicating as it is chilling, in which dearest friends turn into greatest enemies--all within the hallways of Gotham High!

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Review: What if all the classic Batman characters were in high school at the same time? That's the world Melissa de la Cruz has created in this graphic novel. These versions of classic Batman characters play off of the tropes they have become while bringing them to a modern world. Diversity is showcased in some modifications to these versions of the characters. Representation matters so seeing these changes is awesome. I especially enjoyed this version of Bruce's mother. She's from Hong Kong and she's where the money comes from for Wayans Enterprises. There's also some casual queerness, which is always welcomed.

This is a really fun take on Batman characters in a modern high school. This is a fully contained story on its own, but I would love to see more books inhabit this world. I give this book a 4.5/5. I really enjoyed it, but there's some pretty classic tropes that play out. It's a fun graphic novel for those both familiar and not with Batman.


--PAUL