Releasing this week is a new title from DC Comics called "Gotham Academy" that explores a different side of the city, one seen through the wide, yet cynical eyes of the teenagers living in the bustling, faux New York where bizarre things happen on a daily, if not hourly, basis.
This is the kind of "person on the street" or "between the cracks" style of comic storytelling that celebrated writer Kurt Busiek ("Marvels," "Astro City") excelled at for years. But Busiek isn't scripting this book. The creative chores will be handled by Becky Cloonan, Brendan Fletcher (writers) and Karl Kerschl (artist), who describe the book as "'The Breakfast Club' meets 'The Addams Family' meets 'Harry Potter.'"
The official synopsis for the series is as follows:
"WELCOME TO GOTHAM ACADEMY! Gotham City's most prestigious prep school is a very weird place. It's got a spooky campus, oddball teachers, and rich benefactors always dropping by...like that weirdo Bruce Wayne. But nothing is as strange is the students!
Like, what's up with Olive Silverlock? Is she crazy or what? Where did she go last summer? And what's the deal with her creepy mom? And how come that Freshman MAPS is always following her around? And is she still going out with Kyle? P.S. Did you hear the rumor about the ghost in the North Hall?!
GOTHAM ACADEMY is a new, monthly teen drama set in the shadow of Batman and the craziness of Gotham City, with new characters and old plus a secret tie to Gotham's past..."
Also, here is an interview from this year's SDCC with the "Gotham Academy" creative team where they give a bit more insight into their motivations for creating this series, and their creative process as a whole. Thanks to Geek Tyrant for the tip on this one.
