DC's "Gotham Academy" Issue #1

"Gotham Academy" is a drama series with foundations rooted in the original Batman storyline. This comic series has several contributors, including two authors, one artist, one colour specialist, one letterer, and two cover artists. The first issue is one that leaves readers with a lot of open-ended questions, including how the original Batman theme fits in. Olive Silverlock is the main character and narrator of the comic, who is currently starting a new semester at her private school; Gotham Academy. According to her and other characters, she has changed over the course of the summer, but it isn't apparent as to why. By leaving this question unanswered and the question of Batman's importance, readers are coursed into the next issue in the series.


The intertextual references are apparent, not only through text, but through visuals as well. This is a way that the team of creators creates meaning in the comics medium. The appearance of Bruce Wayne in the comic is a reference that can only be understood by those who have previous knowledge of Batman. The way the Olive addresses Bruce Wayne, or Mr. Wayne, suggests that some importance is placed within his character. This allows those who cannot identify Bruce Wayne with Batman, some understanding that he holds some significance to the storyline - even though he does not come up much in the first issue.

The other references to Batman include the use of his signature sign. This visual use of intertextuality allows for more people to understand the reference, as the Batman sign has become more universal because of commercialism. Olive shows disregard for what the sign represents in her world, but again it is unclear as to why. Because the Batman sign is associated with justice and heroism, it allows readers to understand that her discontent may be associated with these principles. 

The creators use of colours are interesting as well. The whole comic has dark, ominous colours throughout the background, as well as the foreground. The only time the colourist chooses to use a more warm, heroic tone is when he paints the Batman logo in the Gotham skyline. This allows readers to understand the tone of the issue just by acknowledging the use colour. The colourist also uses the colour green on MAPs, the younger secondary character. The colour green is usually associated with youth, inexperience and innocence, which MAP's displays throughout the issue. 

The letterer of this issue, along with the artist, have created a page in which the text can be seen as image. This allows for emphasis on the sound that the bell is making in this panel sequence. In the last panel on this page, the use of lettering is important as well, as her scream is really stressed through the use of capital lettering and jagged text. These lines create a sense of instability, which falling as an act does to a person. The panels in this spread are consistently horizontal, which work with the action in the scene; Olive pulling MAPs over towards her.                                               The art style of this comic comments on the nature and geared audience. Although this is not a superhero comic, it does belong in the superhero world. The clear cut lines and cartoon style evoke the essence of a superhero narrative, and create an expectation for readers. The name of the comic itself sets up expectation as well; the use of the name Gotham allows readers to identify this with the Batman genre and gage a sense of what is to be expected throughout the series. 

This spread is at the beginning of the issue. The use of caption boxes is used frequently as a way to introduce the main character, Olive, into the narrative. The use of paneling here is really interesting; a splash page, with the panels being rooms in the building portrayed in the splash. The first panel where Olive and MAPs are stepping out of the boarder suggests movement, and pulls them down towards the ground where their path is outlined through the use of red lines. This page also comments on the mood of the school and Olive's life; rather bleak and mysterious. 

In conclusion, might it be noted that for such a simple storyline, it is evident that there is a lot of thought and creativity put into the layout, colouring, lettering and art style in this comic. It is interesting because it is unclear in the first issue how Olive and her story fit into the superhero's world, but that pulls the reader towards the next issue.