- Title: Welcome to Gotham Academy
- Author: Becky Cloonan
- Artist: Karl Kerschl, Brenden Fletcher
- Characters: Olive Silverlock, Maps
- Publication Date: 2015
- Publisher: DC Comics
- Date Reviewed on GoodReads: 02/05/2017
**Spoiler Alert** Gotham Academy Vol. 1 – Welcome to Gotham Academy is set in an exclusive prep school in Gotham City, one that is sponsored by Bruce Wayne, and was established by his parents. Olive Silverlock is a scholarship student with a secret – her mother was caught by Batman and is incarcerated in Arkham Asylum – this is a secret we find out at the end of the book. While reading the book we know Olive has a mortal fear of bats, something happened to her over the summer, and there is also something in her past that has something to do with her mother. At school, Olive is assigned to nanny a new student, Maps, who is her ex-boyfriend’s younger sister. Despite that, Olive and Maps become friends, and with a few other friends they decide to investigate the closed-off North Hall. One of the bullying girls is also interested in the hall, leading a small cult of girls who are trying to raise the spirit of one of Gotham’s illusterous former citizens, Millie Jane Cobblepot. Olive, having read Millie Jane’s diary, is also fascinated with her – and strongly identifies with her.
Olive, Maps, and their friends continue to investigate – they find Killer Croc, now somewhat domesticated, hiding in the school walls behind the girl’s dorm. There is no ghost – one of the guys at the school had set it up to get the bully to stop obsessing. Olive discovers the mysterious guy who’s interested in her is affected by the Kurt Langstrom bat virus. But Olive and Maps also become good friends. Olive also becomes “just friends” with her ex-boyfriend without as much trouble as she anticipated.
This is a good start to what will probably be a fun series. It reminded me a lot of the old, classic, Scooby Doo television series – and I mean that in the best possible way. Recommended.
Bitch with Wi-fi 