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Gotham High
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!
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!
208 pages, Paperback
First published April 7, 2020
About the author
Melissa de la Cruz
146 books15.5k followersMelissa de la Cruz is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of many critically acclaimed and award-winning novels for teens including The Au Pairs series, the Blue Bloods series, the Ashleys series, the Angels on Sunset Boulevard series and the semi-autobiographical novel Fresh off the Boat.
Her books for adults include the novel Cat’s Meow, the anthology Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys and the tongue-in-chic handbooks How to Become Famous in Two Weeks or Less and The Fashionista Files: Adventures in Four-inch heels and Faux-Pas.
She has worked as a fashion and beauty editor and has written for many publications including The New York Times, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Allure, The San Francisco Chronicle, McSweeney’s, Teen Vogue, CosmoGirl! and Seventeen. She has also appeared as an expert on fashion, trends and fame for CNN, E! and FoxNews.
Melissa grew up in Manila and moved to San Francisco with her family, where she graduated high school salutatorian from The Convent of the Sacred Heart. She majored in art history and English at Columbia University (and minored in nightclubs and shopping!).
She now divides her time between New York and Los Angeles, where she lives in the Hollywood Hills with her husband and daughter.
Her books for adults include the novel Cat’s Meow, the anthology Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys and the tongue-in-chic handbooks How to Become Famous in Two Weeks or Less and The Fashionista Files: Adventures in Four-inch heels and Faux-Pas.
She has worked as a fashion and beauty editor and has written for many publications including The New York Times, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Allure, The San Francisco Chronicle, McSweeney’s, Teen Vogue, CosmoGirl! and Seventeen. She has also appeared as an expert on fashion, trends and fame for CNN, E! and FoxNews.
Melissa grew up in Manila and moved to San Francisco with her family, where she graduated high school salutatorian from The Convent of the Sacred Heart. She majored in art history and English at Columbia University (and minored in nightclubs and shopping!).
She now divides her time between New York and Los Angeles, where she lives in the Hollywood Hills with her husband and daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 632 reviews
April 16, 2021
Una nueva visión de Gotham que no podría ser más acertada.
Desde que me enteré que iba a salir una nueva versión de algunos de los personajes míticos del universo DC, en este caso más concretamente de la pandilla Batman, Joker, etc., no podía tener más ganas. Además, con Melissa de la Cruz detrás de la historia esto solo podía significar una cosa: representación. Y así ha sido.
Mirad, os cuento. La autora hace poco reveló que tras la salida de esta primera parte de la serie tuvo que marcharse de redes sociales debido a los cambios que había realizado respecto al background de algunos personajes, entre ellos, el de Bruce Wayne. La comunidad online cerrada de mente e intransigente vio como ofensivo que una autora, no solo mujer, sino asiática, presentara una visión de Bruce Wayne de ascendencia también asiática, una Selina (Catwoman) de color, etc. La autora recibió tanto odio que tuvo que marcharse de redes sociales. Y honestamente, me da mucha rabia, porque nada de ello es forzado y además, es perfectamente entendible. Mismos personajes, mismos objetivos y conflictos, pero diferente historia de fondo. Además, qué narices, es necesario reescribir historias que todo el mundo conoce desde hace décadas para llegar a nuevos públicos y extender así dichas historias.
Para mí, Gotham High, hace lo que tiene que hacer: introducir de una forma mucho más actual personajes clásicos del imaginario colectivo. Y lo hace muy bien además. Ninguna de esas críticas tienen sentido, ya que de hecho, la nueva dimensión que ofrece Melissa de la Cruz hacen que los personajes crezcan. Por no mencionar que en el libro es evidente la crítica al capitalismo o las diferencias entre las clases sociales.
La lectura me ha resultado entretenida, adictiva y llena de giros. El manejo de diálogos y acción han sido de lo mejorcito, y la forma de narrar del narrador (valga la redundancia) me ha gustado bastante por jugar tan bien con el misterio, la ironía y el sarcasmo. Te hace cómplice de alguna manera de lo que sucede en las páginas de la novela gráfica. Los personajes, además, siento que funcionan muy bien entre ellos, con buenas dinámicas y conflictos internos y externos que hacen que todo encaje como un engranaje perfecto. Estoy DESEANDO conocer qué sucede en la siguiente parte, para poder saber más de personajes como Hiedra.
No olvidemos que esto no es una novela narrativa, sino un cómic/novela gráfica. No puedo olvidarme de la gran labor de las demás personas que hacen que esta historia pueda existir. Concretamente, me gustaría centrarme en Miquel Muerto (colorista) y en Thomas Pitilli (ilustrador). Creo que los dos consiguen transmitir justo lo que la historia necesita. Respeto a Pitilli, me gusta el uso que le da a las viñetas. A veces, por muy buenos dibujos que se hagan, el uso de las viñetas parece anticuado. En este caso, al ser una historia dinámica y fresca, Thomas juega muy bien con romper las convenciones. No tiene miedo a crear espacios diferentes o a usar el formato de la página como otra manera de contar la historia. Tiene además una forma que me encanta de presentar a los personajes, con expresiones faciales muy conseguidas y estilizadas.
Respecto al color, creo que Muerto hace un trabajo excelente. Gran parte de la carga narrativa no explícita viene a través del color, y más en una novela gráfica. No solo durante la novela tenemos diferentes 'sets' de iluminación o gamas de colores, sino que en general su color es vibrante y destaca muchísimo. Gotham High es de estos libros que si le echas un vistazo te convence solo por cómo es presentado, y repito que gran parte de este mérito se lo tiene que llevar Miquel Muerto.
En definitiva: una muy buena lectura, fresca, divertida y con un misterio bien llevado. La calidad del dibujo y color son increíbles, y la editorial que lo trae a España hace unas ediciones brutales. Deseando saber más en las siguientes entregas.
Desde que me enteré que iba a salir una nueva versión de algunos de los personajes míticos del universo DC, en este caso más concretamente de la pandilla Batman, Joker, etc., no podía tener más ganas. Además, con Melissa de la Cruz detrás de la historia esto solo podía significar una cosa: representación. Y así ha sido.
Mirad, os cuento. La autora hace poco reveló que tras la salida de esta primera parte de la serie tuvo que marcharse de redes sociales debido a los cambios que había realizado respecto al background de algunos personajes, entre ellos, el de Bruce Wayne. La comunidad online cerrada de mente e intransigente vio como ofensivo que una autora, no solo mujer, sino asiática, presentara una visión de Bruce Wayne de ascendencia también asiática, una Selina (Catwoman) de color, etc. La autora recibió tanto odio que tuvo que marcharse de redes sociales. Y honestamente, me da mucha rabia, porque nada de ello es forzado y además, es perfectamente entendible. Mismos personajes, mismos objetivos y conflictos, pero diferente historia de fondo. Además, qué narices, es necesario reescribir historias que todo el mundo conoce desde hace décadas para llegar a nuevos públicos y extender así dichas historias.
Para mí, Gotham High, hace lo que tiene que hacer: introducir de una forma mucho más actual personajes clásicos del imaginario colectivo. Y lo hace muy bien además. Ninguna de esas críticas tienen sentido, ya que de hecho, la nueva dimensión que ofrece Melissa de la Cruz hacen que los personajes crezcan. Por no mencionar que en el libro es evidente la crítica al capitalismo o las diferencias entre las clases sociales.
La lectura me ha resultado entretenida, adictiva y llena de giros. El manejo de diálogos y acción han sido de lo mejorcito, y la forma de narrar del narrador (valga la redundancia) me ha gustado bastante por jugar tan bien con el misterio, la ironía y el sarcasmo. Te hace cómplice de alguna manera de lo que sucede en las páginas de la novela gráfica. Los personajes, además, siento que funcionan muy bien entre ellos, con buenas dinámicas y conflictos internos y externos que hacen que todo encaje como un engranaje perfecto. Estoy DESEANDO conocer qué sucede en la siguiente parte, para poder saber más de personajes como Hiedra.
No olvidemos que esto no es una novela narrativa, sino un cómic/novela gráfica. No puedo olvidarme de la gran labor de las demás personas que hacen que esta historia pueda existir. Concretamente, me gustaría centrarme en Miquel Muerto (colorista) y en Thomas Pitilli (ilustrador). Creo que los dos consiguen transmitir justo lo que la historia necesita. Respeto a Pitilli, me gusta el uso que le da a las viñetas. A veces, por muy buenos dibujos que se hagan, el uso de las viñetas parece anticuado. En este caso, al ser una historia dinámica y fresca, Thomas juega muy bien con romper las convenciones. No tiene miedo a crear espacios diferentes o a usar el formato de la página como otra manera de contar la historia. Tiene además una forma que me encanta de presentar a los personajes, con expresiones faciales muy conseguidas y estilizadas.
Respecto al color, creo que Muerto hace un trabajo excelente. Gran parte de la carga narrativa no explícita viene a través del color, y más en una novela gráfica. No solo durante la novela tenemos diferentes 'sets' de iluminación o gamas de colores, sino que en general su color es vibrante y destaca muchísimo. Gotham High es de estos libros que si le echas un vistazo te convence solo por cómo es presentado, y repito que gran parte de este mérito se lo tiene que llevar Miquel Muerto.
En definitiva: una muy buena lectura, fresca, divertida y con un misterio bien llevado. La calidad del dibujo y color son increíbles, y la editorial que lo trae a España hace unas ediciones brutales. Deseando saber más en las siguientes entregas.
July 19, 2020
Artwork: 5 ⭐
Story: 2.5 ⭐
** UNPOPULAR OPINION ALERT **
I'm gonna be the first to address the elephant in the room! Did anyone else not see a problem with Bruce Wayne being Chinese?! Seriously..his name may as well have been changed to Bruce Wang.
Let me break it down to you:
- Bruce Wayne is Chinese or half Chinese.
-Martha, Bruce's mom, is from Hong Kong and Chinese. WTF?
- Alfred (the uncle & butler) is also Chinese, but has a white last name?
-Selina Kyle is Hispanic (nothing wrong with that)
-Ivy is Korean?
While I appreciated the cultural diversity and all for ethnic representation, this was SO not the way to do it! I kinda hated this version to be honest. Allow me to explain.
First of all, I'm Asian..so the idea of a Chinese Batman is just weird & wrong! Even for me!! I grew up with Bruce Wayne always being white, and should have stayed that way in my opinion.
The story itself was good, but I had a hard time getting past the cultural change and stereotypes. Had this been an entirely different cast of characters, that just so happened to take place at Gotham High, then sure. This would have worked.
But I don't think this will appeal to any of those who are fans of the original dark knight.
Who ever gave the green light on this version..what the fuck were you smoking?!!
Story: 2.5 ⭐
** UNPOPULAR OPINION ALERT **
I'm gonna be the first to address the elephant in the room! Did anyone else not see a problem with Bruce Wayne being Chinese?! Seriously..his name may as well have been changed to Bruce Wang.
Let me break it down to you:
- Bruce Wayne is Chinese or half Chinese.
-Martha, Bruce's mom, is from Hong Kong and Chinese. WTF?
- Alfred (the uncle & butler) is also Chinese, but has a white last name?
-Selina Kyle is Hispanic (nothing wrong with that)
-Ivy is Korean?
While I appreciated the cultural diversity and all for ethnic representation, this was SO not the way to do it! I kinda hated this version to be honest. Allow me to explain.
First of all, I'm Asian..so the idea of a Chinese Batman is just weird & wrong! Even for me!! I grew up with Bruce Wayne always being white, and should have stayed that way in my opinion.
The story itself was good, but I had a hard time getting past the cultural change and stereotypes. Had this been an entirely different cast of characters, that just so happened to take place at Gotham High, then sure. This would have worked.
But I don't think this will appeal to any of those who are fans of the original dark knight.
Who ever gave the green light on this version..what the fuck were you smoking?!!
March 25, 2020
I received a copy of this book for free from DC Comics.
I give this book 3.5 stars which rounds up to 4.
This graphic novel takes the iconic Batman characters and puts them in a high school setting. It reminded me a lot of the show, Riverdale. There’s mystery and lots of high school drama.
What I really loved was the diversity. Bruce Wayne’s mom is from Hong Kong, which makes him half Asian. I found that so refreshing. There’s been so many versions of Bruce Wayne over the years and they are always white. It was cool seeing a Bruce Wayne that was different. Now I really want to see an Asian Bruce Wayne on tv or in a movie. I also loved that Alfred is now Uncle Alfred, Bruce’s gay Asian uncle (he even has a husband).
The storyline wasn’t mind blowing in any way. It’s fairly simple and straightforward. It went by really fast and could have used a little bit more of development towards the end.
The artwork, on the other hand, was amazing. It really popped and worked well with the young adult vibe of the book.
Overall, this was a quick and entertaining graphic novel with beautiful artwork. If you are open to a different interpretation of Batman, give this one a try!
I give this book 3.5 stars which rounds up to 4.
This graphic novel takes the iconic Batman characters and puts them in a high school setting. It reminded me a lot of the show, Riverdale. There’s mystery and lots of high school drama.
What I really loved was the diversity. Bruce Wayne’s mom is from Hong Kong, which makes him half Asian. I found that so refreshing. There’s been so many versions of Bruce Wayne over the years and they are always white. It was cool seeing a Bruce Wayne that was different. Now I really want to see an Asian Bruce Wayne on tv or in a movie. I also loved that Alfred is now Uncle Alfred, Bruce’s gay Asian uncle (he even has a husband).
The storyline wasn’t mind blowing in any way. It’s fairly simple and straightforward. It went by really fast and could have used a little bit more of development towards the end.
The artwork, on the other hand, was amazing. It really popped and worked well with the young adult vibe of the book.
Overall, this was a quick and entertaining graphic novel with beautiful artwork. If you are open to a different interpretation of Batman, give this one a try!
May 1, 2020
I'd call this an Elseworlds tale, but there's not much at all Batman related. It's more a trashy teen drama like Riverdale only retaining the names of the original characters. All of the characters have had their ethnicity reimagined to make the book more inclusive. Bruce Wayne is now half-Asian, Selina Kyle is now Hispanic, Alfred is now Bruce's gay Asian uncle, etc. Honestly, if they didn't use the character's names, you'd never know this was based on Batman at all and I think that's my problem with a lot of the DC Ink books. They're written by YA authors that have never read any of the source material (Y'know comic books!). If you're going to base a comic on Batman, it should have something to do with Batman or at least the Batman mythos. As a trashy teen drama, this is fine. But that's all it is.
August 19, 2020
"There's nothing enjoyable about high school . . . " -- teenage Bruce Wayne, on page 161
Well, Mr. soon-to-be-Dark Knight, that's where we disagree -- I personally felt it was junior high (or middle school, depending on your district's set-up) that was terrifically unenjoyable. But I digress -- Gotham High presents teenage versions of the off-duty alter egos of Batman, Catwoman, the Joker, Poison Ivy and Two-Face as (with the exception of Ivy, however) classmates at the titular institute for higher learning. It was a lot of blah adolescent melodrama with not much crimefighting action, and I wasn't a fan of this 're-imagining' of the longstanding characters. (Also, their cynicism was off-the-charts high, almost like they were hardened middle-aged adults and not teens. I guess we can chalk it up to the trauma in the lives, but still . . . ) This probably would've been a better book if it was presenting as an original or standalone story, without hitching its wagon to the DC Universe.
Well, Mr. soon-to-be-Dark Knight, that's where we disagree -- I personally felt it was junior high (or middle school, depending on your district's set-up) that was terrifically unenjoyable. But I digress -- Gotham High presents teenage versions of the off-duty alter egos of Batman, Catwoman, the Joker, Poison Ivy and Two-Face as (with the exception of Ivy, however) classmates at the titular institute for higher learning. It was a lot of blah adolescent melodrama with not much crimefighting action, and I wasn't a fan of this 're-imagining' of the longstanding characters. (Also, their cynicism was off-the-charts high, almost like they were hardened middle-aged adults and not teens. I guess we can chalk it up to the trauma in the lives, but still . . . ) This probably would've been a better book if it was presenting as an original or standalone story, without hitching its wagon to the DC Universe.
April 7, 2020
I’m sad to give this a 3, because the illustrations are just that beautiful. The art is so bright and fun, and it doesn’t (in my opinion) deserve to have less than a great rating. That being said... I couldn’t rate this higher, because there were a few things that I found problematic in this one. I did enjoy the bones of the story overall. Sort of the Robin Hood trope blended against the vigilante in training trope. Bruce is in that mode of save everyone in his high school/city and the “villain” characters, are just trying to get by the best way they know how. I feel like I have a hard time truly rooting against the people who are doing the “bad” things, because their reasoning is usually to help someone else. I don’t want to say too much and spoil the entire story, but yeah. If you’ve enjoyed Batman/Gotham characters and plot lines over time and want to see the characters as teenagers, with stereotypical YA plots of their other world comic plots, then you will enjoy this graphic novel!
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February 21, 2020
This was one of the graphic novels that I picked up at ALA that I was really excited to read. I enjoy all things Gotham and Melissa de la Cruz is a force to be reckoned with. This combination should have been explosive but it irritated me more than anything.
There were too many things that bothered me, things that I couldn't look past and that made this unbearable. We are living in a time where women can use their minds and speak up and not have to live in the past. So why is the only main female character written as if she is still living in the 50/60's? And the stereotypes are hard not to notice and it was nauseating. Things just felt fake throughout and I was glad when it was over.
The one thing that I liked about it was some of the art and how it was displayed on the pages. Also, the coloring was very intense and popped.
This is one that I wouldn't recommend. Don’t waste your time on this one.
There were too many things that bothered me, things that I couldn't look past and that made this unbearable. We are living in a time where women can use their minds and speak up and not have to live in the past. So why is the only main female character written as if she is still living in the 50/60's? And the stereotypes are hard not to notice and it was nauseating. Things just felt fake throughout and I was glad when it was over.
The one thing that I liked about it was some of the art and how it was displayed on the pages. Also, the coloring was very intense and popped.
This is one that I wouldn't recommend. Don’t waste your time on this one.
November 12, 2021
High school where villains are made. I keep changing my mind of this I did like this book. It is not Batman but an acceptable and enjoyable Elseworld. I would have given this this 3.5 stars but I think it deserved the a round up.
The are work is good, I liked the modernisation and ethnic mixing of the characters. I like the bit of Batman lore in the book. I don't mind that Bruce is more swagger than stealth as this is set in high school.
The parts I did not like about the book is the mystery element was pretty obvious I was hoping I was wrong to add a twist to it. Bruce I'd not subtle about his investigation and the all the adults seem to be enabling him. The GCPD is a useful as ever.
An enjoyable book. Much of the un-Batman like behaviour can be put down to Bruce's age and being in high school, but there are enough Batman bit I the making. Not a bad stand alone story, (this how I know I liked it) though I would not mind a sequel.
The are work is good, I liked the modernisation and ethnic mixing of the characters. I like the bit of Batman lore in the book. I don't mind that Bruce is more swagger than stealth as this is set in high school.
The parts I did not like about the book is the mystery element was pretty obvious I was hoping I was wrong to add a twist to it. Bruce I'd not subtle about his investigation and the all the adults seem to be enabling him. The GCPD is a useful as ever.
An enjoyable book. Much of the un-Batman like behaviour can be put down to Bruce's age and being in high school, but there are enough Batman bit I the making. Not a bad stand alone story, (this how I know I liked it) though I would not mind a sequel.
September 17, 2020
"Batman in high school"?!? I definitely want to try that. Sadly, the Batman part is just a gimmick and it probably would have worked much better without that heritage as a promise. At least for me.
The art is gorgeous and the graphic novel elements are outstanding (layout matters, as does framing, and all the rest of those graphical elements) and smooth as silk. So it has that going for it.
I wonder how I'd have reacted if it hadn't been a Batman story. I mean, I only picked it up because it was, so in that sense, the marketing worked. Only then it told a story that undermined that expectation completely. And I'll say why because I'm a huge nerd (though not a comic nerd, really) and can't stop myself.
This isn't so much Dark Knight as it is Blind Idiot.
I'm giving this a second star because the graphic novel part of this story is outstanding. Seriously. And not just because it is gorgeous. But Batman this is not.
A note about Chaste: There's sex and that's another area where Bruce gets played. But it's very discrete with only some kissing on page. Good choice, I think.
The art is gorgeous and the graphic novel elements are outstanding (layout matters, as does framing, and all the rest of those graphical elements) and smooth as silk. So it has that going for it.
I wonder how I'd have reacted if it hadn't been a Batman story. I mean, I only picked it up because it was, so in that sense, the marketing worked. Only then it told a story that undermined that expectation completely. And I'll say why because I'm a huge nerd (though not a comic nerd, really) and can't stop myself.
This isn't so much Dark Knight as it is Blind Idiot.
I'm giving this a second star because the graphic novel part of this story is outstanding. Seriously. And not just because it is gorgeous. But Batman this is not.
A note about Chaste: There's sex and that's another area where Bruce gets played. But it's very discrete with only some kissing on page. Good choice, I think.
August 5, 2020
Pointless waste of time.
In this Elseworlds story, Bruce Wayne is a billionaire Chinese American teenager who gets expelled from his private prep school and has to attend Gotham's public high school. There he reconnects with an old friend, down-on-her-luck girl-next-door Selina Garcia Kyle, and meets a Jack Napier, a card sharp from low class roots. There's a romantic triangle and, of course, a kidnapping ring that needs to be taken down.
This never turns into a superhero fest with costumes, instead taking a teen detectives direction. There are heavy-handed associations to the original comic book incarnations of the characters with, for instance, Napier winning his card games with hands full of jacks (J-J-J-J) and everyone insulting him as an utter "joke."
I thought at first it was interesting to make the usual Batman cast more diverse, until I realized it really didn't make any difference to the characters or story. Changing everyone back to their usual pale selves would require few changes to the script. If they were going for the effect of the Hamilton musical's colorblind casting, I think they needed to back it up with something more than a cheesy plot that would probably be quite comfortable on Riverdale or one of the other CW teen soaps.
In this Elseworlds story, Bruce Wayne is a billionaire Chinese American teenager who gets expelled from his private prep school and has to attend Gotham's public high school. There he reconnects with an old friend, down-on-her-luck girl-next-door Selina Garcia Kyle, and meets a Jack Napier, a card sharp from low class roots. There's a romantic triangle and, of course, a kidnapping ring that needs to be taken down.
This never turns into a superhero fest with costumes, instead taking a teen detectives direction. There are heavy-handed associations to the original comic book incarnations of the characters with, for instance, Napier winning his card games with hands full of jacks (J-J-J-J) and everyone insulting him as an utter "joke."
I thought at first it was interesting to make the usual Batman cast more diverse, until I realized it really didn't make any difference to the characters or story. Changing everyone back to their usual pale selves would require few changes to the script. If they were going for the effect of the Hamilton musical's colorblind casting, I think they needed to back it up with something more than a cheesy plot that would probably be quite comfortable on Riverdale or one of the other CW teen soaps.
April 3, 2020
Gotham High tells the story of Bruce Wayne as a teen in high school with a cast of characters that will suddenly become well too familiar. De La Cruz wrote this fast paced and highly entertaining graphic novel reimagined for old fans and new.
In this world, Bruce Wayne is half Chinese, with his uncle Alfred from Hong Kong managing his billion dollar trust fund, Catwoman Selina as part Latina and Ivy as Korean.
Their back story was introduced which included a love triangle, kidnapping, hardships and poverty that shaped their characters prior to developing their alter egos as Batman, Catwoman, Joker and Ivy
The illustrations by Thomas Pitilli was on point with the right amount of dark and gothic element, appropriate for what you may imagine the atmosphere of Gotham City and Gotham High would be. The artistic choices on the characters, the outfits and the background detail push the story to a different level adding to the dark and enthralling story line.
Overall I enjoyed this creative retelling and ready for the next installments.
Thank you @DCcomics for providing a free copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
In this world, Bruce Wayne is half Chinese, with his uncle Alfred from Hong Kong managing his billion dollar trust fund, Catwoman Selina as part Latina and Ivy as Korean.
Their back story was introduced which included a love triangle, kidnapping, hardships and poverty that shaped their characters prior to developing their alter egos as Batman, Catwoman, Joker and Ivy
The illustrations by Thomas Pitilli was on point with the right amount of dark and gothic element, appropriate for what you may imagine the atmosphere of Gotham City and Gotham High would be. The artistic choices on the characters, the outfits and the background detail push the story to a different level adding to the dark and enthralling story line.
Overall I enjoyed this creative retelling and ready for the next installments.
Thank you @DCcomics for providing a free copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
January 26, 2020
After sleeping on this, I’ve decided I don’t like how they portray women in this book. Manipulative and conniving and lying. I don’t like it. Downgraded to 2 stars. Original review below.
Meh, not great. Takes a lot of liberties with the original characters. Not bad, but not really my fav. 3, it was ok, stars.
Meh, not great. Takes a lot of liberties with the original characters. Not bad, but not really my fav. 3, it was ok, stars.
May 2, 2020
Bruce Wayne is partial Chinese - now we all know where he gets his bat soup from.
Just reading this gave me an apoplexy:
And here's an excerpt of her being interviewed by Entertainment Weekly:
ʰᵃʰᵃ ʷʰᵃᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ᶠᵘᶜᵏ ᵃʳᵉ ʸᵒᵘ ᵒⁿ, ˡᵃᵈʸ?
I've no words. Butler-uncle. Just... what. Why?
Man, oh man.
NO BRAINER, INDEED.
Setting aside my anger and blatant hatred that this is supposedly Batman characters that'snothing short of blasphemous just a shitty re-imagining, the story's nothing short of trash, it's a straightforward YA graphic novel with cardboard-cutout characters and overused YA tropes served with a huge helping of drama.
If you like vapid, CW-esque-Riverdale-drama-bonanzas with characters who happen to bear names of popular comic book characters from the DC universe, this is the comic for you.
Everyone's hyping over the 'amazing' art, but it's really a no bueno in my books. Pretty color palettes but nothing amazing about the art style - messy and weirdly doughy-looking with unpalatable facial expressions and facial structure.
my man Bruce be lookin wack right here:
Just reading this gave me an apoplexy:
DC Comics' new graphic novel Gotham High reimagines a teenage Bruce Wayne — along with young versions of Catwoman, a.k.a. Selina Kyle, and the Joker, a.k.a. Jack Napier — in a world that feels more on par with Gossip Girl and Crazy Rich Asians than anything that's come before in the canon.
After Bruce, a rich Chinese-American loner, gets kicked out of his boarding school, he returns to Gotham City to find his home and former friends are nothing like he left them. Former girl-next-door Selina is now the queen bee of Gotham High, ruling over everyone with a dark side no one knows about, and class clown Jack will do anything to get the last laugh. And when a string of kidnappings seem to target Bruce, he finds himself embroiled in a dangerous love triangle with the very people he suspects are at the center of it.
And here's an excerpt of her being interviewed by Entertainment Weekly:
She explains, “Bruce Wayne is the billionaire. He’s the richest man alive. So I thought, wouldn’t it be fun if his family was Chinese and from Hong Kong? That made it feel real.”
ʰᵃʰᵃ ʷʰᵃᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ᶠᵘᶜᵏ ᵃʳᵉ ʸᵒᵘ ᵒⁿ, ˡᵃᵈʸ?
I’m part-Chinese, my brother lives in Hong Kong, so I thought it would be great to put what I know into Bruce Wayne. I just wanted him to be a little bit more representative of my background and giving him an authentic family – Alfred is not just his butler but also his uncle, his gay uncle from Hong Kong. It gives it this fabulous Crazy Rich Asians sheen to it.
I've no words. Butler-uncle. Just... what. Why?
I had this haircut and it’s the same haircut we ended up giving the Joker. It became a great reference throughout the process since I just had to look at myself. [Laughs] In a weird way, the Joker character is the most like me.
Man, oh man.
I pitched a kind of Gossip Girl Batman, and in my mind I wanted to reinvent Chuck Bass. He’s still Bruce Wayne, it’s not the Great Gatsby, so he’s still brooding, he’s still a loner, he still has all that iconic Batman personality. You can’t mess with that much. But making him Chinese was a no-brainer — everyone was on board from the beginning.
NO BRAIN
Setting aside my anger and blatant hatred that this is supposedly Batman characters that's
If you like vapid, CW-esque-Riverdale-drama-bonanzas with characters who happen to bear names of popular comic book characters from the DC universe, this is the comic for you.
Everyone's hyping over the 'amazing' art, but it's really a no bueno in my books. Pretty color palettes but nothing amazing about the art style - messy and weirdly doughy-looking with unpalatable facial expressions and facial structure.
my man Bruce be lookin wack right here:
April 7, 2020
*Special thanks to DC Comics for letting me read an advanced copy of Gotham High in exchange for an honest review.
Gotham High is a YA graphic novel by Melissa de la Cruz that follows the lives of highschoolers Selina Kyle, Bruce Wayne, and Jack Napier. This novel is a part of DC’s new “DC Ink” line of graphic novels tailored for young adult audiences. Gotham High presents a fresh and fun reimagining of some of DC Comics’ beloved characters before they became the iconic characters we know today! It’s got love, action, drama, angst, and basically everything you would want in a young adult book.
The graphic novel is set in “Gotham High”, a public high school for some of Gotham’s young residents. At the center of the story is Selina Garcia Kyle, the narrator, who is taking care of her father with Alzheimer’s. The plot begins with Bruce Wayne and the circumstances that led to his recent enrollment in Gotham High. Bruce eventually reconnects with his childhood friend Selina, and befriends one of Selina’s closest friends, Jack Napier.
One of the things that I loved about Gotham High is that we got to see other cool DC characters sprinkled throughout the story. As a DC fan I felt it was really fun to try and see which of my fave heroes I could spot attending “Gotham High”. I’m also really proud of DC Comics and Melissa de la Cruz for diversifying this story! Not only is it including amazing representation for LGBT+ and people of color, but it also adds fun new layers and dimensions to the characters.
I also want to point out that the art by Thomas Pitilli is really gorgeous! One thing that I really fell in love with, that I didn’t expect, is the scenery of Gotham! Pitilli draws some really beautiful artwork of Gotham when Bruce takes Selina out on a date *swoon*. One cool thing that I also noticed is that the background colors are painted in bright hues of green when Jack Napier is around, pink and purple when Selina Kyle is present, and blues when the story follows Bruce Wayne. These color choices and art style make the story flow really smooth, and I thought that was a brilliant touch.
Overall I really liked Gotham High and I would be really interested in a sequel. The vibe of this graphic novel is definitely Crazy Rich Asians meets the CW’s Riverdale! I think if you like teen dramas or ever imagined your favorite characters in a “high school alternate universe” then you should pick this up! Gotham High is out now and available on Amazon so make sure to get yourself a copy of this cool new take on DC Comics’ heroes and villains.
My rating: 5/5
Also, be sure to check out the rest of the graphic novels in the DC Ink line!
Gotham High is a YA graphic novel by Melissa de la Cruz that follows the lives of highschoolers Selina Kyle, Bruce Wayne, and Jack Napier. This novel is a part of DC’s new “DC Ink” line of graphic novels tailored for young adult audiences. Gotham High presents a fresh and fun reimagining of some of DC Comics’ beloved characters before they became the iconic characters we know today! It’s got love, action, drama, angst, and basically everything you would want in a young adult book.
The graphic novel is set in “Gotham High”, a public high school for some of Gotham’s young residents. At the center of the story is Selina Garcia Kyle, the narrator, who is taking care of her father with Alzheimer’s. The plot begins with Bruce Wayne and the circumstances that led to his recent enrollment in Gotham High. Bruce eventually reconnects with his childhood friend Selina, and befriends one of Selina’s closest friends, Jack Napier.
One of the things that I loved about Gotham High is that we got to see other cool DC characters sprinkled throughout the story. As a DC fan I felt it was really fun to try and see which of my fave heroes I could spot attending “Gotham High”. I’m also really proud of DC Comics and Melissa de la Cruz for diversifying this story! Not only is it including amazing representation for LGBT+ and people of color, but it also adds fun new layers and dimensions to the characters.
I also want to point out that the art by Thomas Pitilli is really gorgeous! One thing that I really fell in love with, that I didn’t expect, is the scenery of Gotham! Pitilli draws some really beautiful artwork of Gotham when Bruce takes Selina out on a date *swoon*. One cool thing that I also noticed is that the background colors are painted in bright hues of green when Jack Napier is around, pink and purple when Selina Kyle is present, and blues when the story follows Bruce Wayne. These color choices and art style make the story flow really smooth, and I thought that was a brilliant touch.
Overall I really liked Gotham High and I would be really interested in a sequel. The vibe of this graphic novel is definitely Crazy Rich Asians meets the CW’s Riverdale! I think if you like teen dramas or ever imagined your favorite characters in a “high school alternate universe” then you should pick this up! Gotham High is out now and available on Amazon so make sure to get yourself a copy of this cool new take on DC Comics’ heroes and villains.
My rating: 5/5
Also, be sure to check out the rest of the graphic novels in the DC Ink line!
Read
April 1, 20201/4/20
This was disappointing, I unfortunately didn't enjoy it. The storyline was lacklustre, the narrator lacked a lot of depth and logic - stereotype of a woman who is extremely manipulative, self-absorbed and just plain nasty who enjoys men to suffer. Beside that all the other characters were rather detestable in a way (they didn't feel like real, smart or logical characters to me) that didn't make me excited about the narrative.
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This was disappointing, I unfortunately didn't enjoy it. The storyline was lacklustre, the narrator lacked a lot of depth and logic - stereotype of a woman who is extremely manipulative, self-absorbed and just plain nasty who enjoys men to suffer. Beside that all the other characters were rather detestable in a way (they didn't feel like real, smart or logical characters to me) that didn't make me excited about the narrative.
You can find me on
Youtube | Instagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Website
April 27, 2020
I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. I wish I hadn't. Batman basically gets the Riverdale treatment.
Read
July 23, 2022jacky is the only reason i finished it.
July 28, 2020
So, I have no idea what I just read. My partner, who loves Batman, says this is terrible and they and I quote: "Butt fucked the characters." I told him some of the stuff that happened and he just shook his head and begged me to stop telling him. Now, I don't normally read this kind of stuff but I've been branching out, and, if you've been around here long enough you'll know that I love Blue Bloods by this author. A great series! You should read it! So I wanted to try this...
Oh Lord, here we go.
So, I'm trying to figure out how to start this without just ripping this graphic novel into pieces. Honestly, I feel like the perfect way to describe this book is an SJW checklist. That's all this felt like to me, not a story that you want to get lost in but a list that hit all the boxes that people are looking for now just so you'll be convinced to buy it. But there's no story to keep you gripped once you start reading.
But this boils down to the true problem I have with some books that are geared towards the SJW crowd. They often forget to tell a story! It's all just one talking point to the next or just showing you this diverse character and then doing nothing else with them. Just to show off what they know people want to see, but it's like a tease. They give us these things but only halfway.
When did we stop telling a story?
So Batman is now a brooding Asian-American that is trying to solve who keeps kidnapping rich kids from his school. Joker is some weird white trash guy that's way too into Catwoman. And Catwoman just wants to get money to help her father. But don't even get me started on Selina! She's a bitch! Sorry for the language but she is. She plays both the boys and then proceeds to let them think she killed herself for money for her very sick father.
Even when Bruce offers to help with her father, she won't accept it because she has to do this on her own! She's an independent woman! Don't you dare forget it! And that means, as a strong woman, she can't take help from anyone! Heaven forbid!
I love a strong female character! I mean, I read mainly female led stories for this reason, BUT, when did being a strong woman mean you have to be mean to everyone and never accept help? That's what I've seen in some stories recently and it just doesn't sit well with me. I don't care how strong you are, everyone is going to need help at least once in life.
This could have been something very good but I just felt it was trying to tick boxes off a spreadsheet rather than tell a story. I don't understand why it's hard to create a story that still flicks off their lists and gives everyone what they want. For this graphic novel, it was too much to ask I guess.
Don't even get me started on the love triangle... nope. We're not going there! I'll also skip on the art but it's not the best either.
So, we're just going to end this here, I don't recommend this graphic novel. I don't think this is going to save comics either. Sorry.
The Butterfly Reader
Oh Lord, here we go.
So, I'm trying to figure out how to start this without just ripping this graphic novel into pieces. Honestly, I feel like the perfect way to describe this book is an SJW checklist. That's all this felt like to me, not a story that you want to get lost in but a list that hit all the boxes that people are looking for now just so you'll be convinced to buy it. But there's no story to keep you gripped once you start reading.
But this boils down to the true problem I have with some books that are geared towards the SJW crowd. They often forget to tell a story! It's all just one talking point to the next or just showing you this diverse character and then doing nothing else with them. Just to show off what they know people want to see, but it's like a tease. They give us these things but only halfway.
When did we stop telling a story?
So Batman is now a brooding Asian-American that is trying to solve who keeps kidnapping rich kids from his school. Joker is some weird white trash guy that's way too into Catwoman. And Catwoman just wants to get money to help her father. But don't even get me started on Selina! She's a bitch! Sorry for the language but she is. She plays both the boys and then proceeds to let them think she killed herself for money for her very sick father.
Even when Bruce offers to help with her father, she won't accept it because she has to do this on her own! She's an independent woman! Don't you dare forget it! And that means, as a strong woman, she can't take help from anyone! Heaven forbid!
I love a strong female character! I mean, I read mainly female led stories for this reason, BUT, when did being a strong woman mean you have to be mean to everyone and never accept help? That's what I've seen in some stories recently and it just doesn't sit well with me. I don't care how strong you are, everyone is going to need help at least once in life.
This could have been something very good but I just felt it was trying to tick boxes off a spreadsheet rather than tell a story. I don't understand why it's hard to create a story that still flicks off their lists and gives everyone what they want. For this graphic novel, it was too much to ask I guess.
Don't even get me started on the love triangle... nope. We're not going there! I'll also skip on the art but it's not the best either.
So, we're just going to end this here, I don't recommend this graphic novel. I don't think this is going to save comics either. Sorry.
The Butterfly Reader
November 24, 2020
Thank you DC Ink for the gifted review copy in exchange for an honest review!
This was a book with such a great twist!
Ever thought about what it would be like to have Bruce Wayne, Selina Kyle and Jack Napier in high school? well, look no further because this is the graphic novel for you. It was different than the stories we grew up used to especially about the lives of these characters.
There was also the diversity in this which was unexpected but was also a pleasant surprise and definitely made the story a lot different. Bruce Wayne was introduces as half Chinese and so was Alfred who happens to be his uncle in this one. Selina is a Latina while Poison Ivy was Korean. Even Barbara Gordon was featured as an African-American in this one. I honestly found the diversity wonderful. The artwork was amazing! I always end up falling in love with art style in these graphic novels. I've been drawn to the style and colors in all the DC Ink novels I've read so far and this one was also wonderful. The story was a tad bit predictable but the story was fast and definitely a quick read.
The story is aimed towards a young adult audience so most of the story is around high school life. There was quite a bit of drama involved. There was still a darkish vibe to the whole thing so it did stay true to the DC Universe's overall theme. I'm really glad that I got the chance to read this! Absolutely loving the DC Ink releases and so looking forward to more of them!
This was a book with such a great twist!
Ever thought about what it would be like to have Bruce Wayne, Selina Kyle and Jack Napier in high school? well, look no further because this is the graphic novel for you. It was different than the stories we grew up used to especially about the lives of these characters.
There was also the diversity in this which was unexpected but was also a pleasant surprise and definitely made the story a lot different. Bruce Wayne was introduces as half Chinese and so was Alfred who happens to be his uncle in this one. Selina is a Latina while Poison Ivy was Korean. Even Barbara Gordon was featured as an African-American in this one. I honestly found the diversity wonderful. The artwork was amazing! I always end up falling in love with art style in these graphic novels. I've been drawn to the style and colors in all the DC Ink novels I've read so far and this one was also wonderful. The story was a tad bit predictable but the story was fast and definitely a quick read.
The story is aimed towards a young adult audience so most of the story is around high school life. There was quite a bit of drama involved. There was still a darkish vibe to the whole thing so it did stay true to the DC Universe's overall theme. I'm really glad that I got the chance to read this! Absolutely loving the DC Ink releases and so looking forward to more of them!
January 6, 2021
Full review/discussion HERE.
I love this reimagining and the diversity, but it was super cliche and predictable. Gotham High embraces all of the worst qualities of teen soaps like Riverdale, but it definitely has a trashy fun element to it. The diversity in this book is going to make so many straight, white fanboys angry— and that may be the only thing I actually loved about it. What fanfiction site did this originate from again? 2.2/5 stars.
I love this reimagining and the diversity, but it was super cliche and predictable. Gotham High embraces all of the worst qualities of teen soaps like Riverdale, but it definitely has a trashy fun element to it. The diversity in this book is going to make so many straight, white fanboys angry— and that may be the only thing I actually loved about it. What fanfiction site did this originate from again? 2.2/5 stars.
April 7, 2020
2.5/5 ⭐️
Thank you so much to DC Comics for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest opinion!
If you guys didn’t know, I’ve been a fan of graphic novels and comics for a while now so when I was invited to review Gotham High by Melissa de la Cruz and illustrated by Thomas Pitilli, I literally jumped up in the train!
What you need to know first is that this story reads like a completely new AU which took a lot of liberties with the original canon of characters we have come to know throughout the years. In this novel, Selina Kyle is the narrator and we follow her, Bruce Wayne and Jack Napier while they are all in high school. The plot was a bit predictable but the mystery behind it was interesting to follow. Moreover, a lot of YA tropes are used in this book. The diversity projected onto these characters was interesting but for me it felt a bit too much at once at times and the author took a lot of liberties with all the characters. I also wish Selina had received a better character arc but I do have to say that it was fun to follow her as a teenager. Finally, I really loved the illustrations and the color palette used in this book really made the pages pop.
My Bookstagram
Thank you so much to DC Comics for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest opinion!
If you guys didn’t know, I’ve been a fan of graphic novels and comics for a while now so when I was invited to review Gotham High by Melissa de la Cruz and illustrated by Thomas Pitilli, I literally jumped up in the train!
What you need to know first is that this story reads like a completely new AU which took a lot of liberties with the original canon of characters we have come to know throughout the years. In this novel, Selina Kyle is the narrator and we follow her, Bruce Wayne and Jack Napier while they are all in high school. The plot was a bit predictable but the mystery behind it was interesting to follow. Moreover, a lot of YA tropes are used in this book. The diversity projected onto these characters was interesting but for me it felt a bit too much at once at times and the author took a lot of liberties with all the characters. I also wish Selina had received a better character arc but I do have to say that it was fun to follow her as a teenager. Finally, I really loved the illustrations and the color palette used in this book really made the pages pop.
My Bookstagram
September 11, 2020
I don't think I've ever enjoyed a Batman story so much! I usually find them too weird or too "insider." ("What, you haven't read 200+ of the most seminal Batman comics? How dare you even try to read this one!")
But this was a great, slick YA reimagining, giving it a modern spin that I really loved. Bruce's mother was Chinese, a superstar, whose loss is mourned by her fans as well as her son. Her brother, Alfred, is now responsible for Bruce, who has studied martial arts, speaks Mandarin, and has been kicked out of his posh boarding school for fighting. So now he's back at Gotham High, where girl-next-door Selina Kyle is slinking around, hiding her secrets, and slacker Jack Napier is in love with her and has a bit of a bro crush on Bruce as well.
Works as both a YA novel, and a Batman story, and the art is perfection!
But this was a great, slick YA reimagining, giving it a modern spin that I really loved. Bruce's mother was Chinese, a superstar, whose loss is mourned by her fans as well as her son. Her brother, Alfred, is now responsible for Bruce, who has studied martial arts, speaks Mandarin, and has been kicked out of his posh boarding school for fighting. So now he's back at Gotham High, where girl-next-door Selina Kyle is slinking around, hiding her secrets, and slacker Jack Napier is in love with her and has a bit of a bro crush on Bruce as well.
Works as both a YA novel, and a Batman story, and the art is perfection!
January 17, 2021
3,5⭐️
Esperaba algo más de acción, me ha gustado pero no ha sido de mis favoritos. Me he quedado con ganas de saber más de los personajes y profundizar más en la historia, pero ha sido muy entretenido.
Esperaba algo más de acción, me ha gustado pero no ha sido de mis favoritos. Me he quedado con ganas de saber más de los personajes y profundizar más en la historia, pero ha sido muy entretenido.
June 7, 2024
Growing up, I was a huge Batman fan, so when I saw a graphic novel version set in high school, I had to give it a try. I was excited to see all the characters I know and love in a different setting and at a different time in their lives. Aside from that, I didn't know anything about the story going into it.
In this iteration of the Batman universe, the characters are much more diverse. Bruce Wayne himself is half Chinese. Alfred is upgraded from a butler to Bruce Wayne's married, gay uncle. Selina Kyle is Selina Garcia Kyle, Ivy is Korean, and "Barbie" Gordon is black.
The art in Gotham High did not disappoint. It's colorful, vibrant, and beautiful. If I had based my rating on that alone, it would have been 5 stars.
As for the story itself, it kept me turning the pages, but in my opinion, it felt disjointed and rushed at times. It would have been much better and more impactful with a little more detail and development. I was confused by some choices in the storytelling, but unfortunately, I can't clarify any further because of spoilers. That being said, it was cool to see this author's take on teenage versions of some of my favorite characters.
Bruce, Selina, and Jack all have heavy issues to deal with regarding their parents, and they're all trying to manage in their own ways. Bruce is back in town after being kicked out of boarding school and is reunited with his childhood best friend/crush, Selina. She invites him to a party where he makes friends with Jack, and from there, the story takes off with poker games, mysterious kidnappings, more parties, and a love triangle.
My favorite character throughout the entire story was Jack (the Joker), which surprised me. He came across as a much better person than either Bruce or Selina, and in my opinion, they didn't deserve his friendship or anything else. I don't want to say more than that, because I don't want to give anything away.
Overall, I did have a fun time reading Gotham High. It wasn't what I hoped it would be, but it was an entertaining read nonetheless. If you're a Batman fan, I would temper your expectations, but if you're curious, it's not a bad way to spend a lunch break.
In this iteration of the Batman universe, the characters are much more diverse. Bruce Wayne himself is half Chinese. Alfred is upgraded from a butler to Bruce Wayne's married, gay uncle. Selina Kyle is Selina Garcia Kyle, Ivy is Korean, and "Barbie" Gordon is black.
The art in Gotham High did not disappoint. It's colorful, vibrant, and beautiful. If I had based my rating on that alone, it would have been 5 stars.
As for the story itself, it kept me turning the pages, but in my opinion, it felt disjointed and rushed at times. It would have been much better and more impactful with a little more detail and development. I was confused by some choices in the storytelling, but unfortunately, I can't clarify any further because of spoilers. That being said, it was cool to see this author's take on teenage versions of some of my favorite characters.
Bruce, Selina, and Jack all have heavy issues to deal with regarding their parents, and they're all trying to manage in their own ways. Bruce is back in town after being kicked out of boarding school and is reunited with his childhood best friend/crush, Selina. She invites him to a party where he makes friends with Jack, and from there, the story takes off with poker games, mysterious kidnappings, more parties, and a love triangle.
My favorite character throughout the entire story was Jack (the Joker), which surprised me. He came across as a much better person than either Bruce or Selina, and in my opinion, they didn't deserve his friendship or anything else. I don't want to say more than that, because I don't want to give anything away.
Overall, I did have a fun time reading Gotham High. It wasn't what I hoped it would be, but it was an entertaining read nonetheless. If you're a Batman fan, I would temper your expectations, but if you're curious, it's not a bad way to spend a lunch break.
August 19, 2022
Like many of the other DC Ink stand-alone graphic novels aimed at Young Adults, this story is not to be considered canon, and is very much a “what if?” reimagining of many of the characters from Gotham we have come to know. However based on the many comments below, I guess my enjoyment of this tale is not the popular opinion, as I personally found this to be a fresh re-imagined character-driven story about Bruce Wayne in high school circa 2020. It’s light popcorn CW entertainment aimed at the Gen Z crowd and I enjoyed it.
November 27, 2019
Token and stereotyped characters, pancake-flavored vaping, and a manipulative female villain who gets her kicks from playing guys against each other. Switch the vape pen with a cigarette and this could have been written in 1960. Why remake it if you're not going to dig a little deeper than problematic tropes?
June 1, 2020
poc dc ?? sign me tf up 💕💕💕
May 6, 2020
BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 3/5
Thanks so much to DC Ink for letting me review an early copy through Netgalley
Thanks so much to DC Ink for providing me with an early copy for honest review.
This was an okay, enjoyable read for me. I won't say that anything about it really blew me out of the water, but it was fine. I enjoyed the art style and coloring, although I sometimes wished Bruce had more detail in his face. His main look seemed to be a very angular face and black hair with swish. I felt like the other characters had more detail put into their appearance then Bruce did. It was still good art though and nice colors. The story was interesting enough. It never said Batman to me though. This could have been any dark, YA high school book, it had that feel to it over a teenage Batman story. Jack didn't scream Joker. Ivy was very, very background. Selena did have that murky character feel, but she was really it.
I also didn't really understand the choice to change character races. It didn't bother me, but I just didn't really see why. I also didn't really get why butler Alfred became Uncle Alfred. I think it helps shape Batman's character that he doesn't really have an older family figure checking up on him. Alfred as a butler is there to take care of him, but isn't really in a position to tell him what to do, if that makes sense. He can make suggestions, offer advice, but he's not in charge of Bruce Wayne.
The overall plot was okay. There was a little bit of danger in it. It was a very fast story.
Gotham High was fine. If you're looking for something quick, I'd say give it a read, but if you are a true Batman fan, I don't think this story will do anything for you. It didn't give me that caped crusader feel. Granted, I don't know every minute detail of Batman's life and backstory, but Batman has a feel to it and this story didn't capture that for me
September 16, 2023
Didn't love it, didn't dislike it!
March 14, 2020
3.5 stars
I love the art in this graphic novel, I love the diversity and I love the trashy(and I mean this in the best possible way) Gossip Girl-esque feel of this book. It was fun and easy to read and I truly felt like I was reading a book about a group of teenagers in high school.
Unfortunately what I didn't like was the way the female characters were depicted in this book. They're conniving, manipulative and honestly not portrayed in a positive light at all meanwhile the male characters are depicted as these gullible, soft heroes who get treated horribly by women. Honestly I would've assumed this was written by a man with how it so obviously sets up for the "a beautiful girl broke my heart and now I use that as an excuse to treat everyone around me like shit, but especially other women". I just feel like they didn't need to go down that route. You're doing a remake, why did you have to make the females seems so shitty and yet the heroes are sweet, perfect specimens--even creepy Jake is played out to be a victim by the end and you're left feeling bad for him even though he's a huge creep. And yet, while we do get some background on Selina and where her motivations come from, the route the author decided to go with this character is one I find will be unpopular for many.
If this is going to become a series (which it seems to be set to be), I'd definitely check out the second one for the art alone but hopefully these characters get some much needed character development and depth.
arc given in exchange for an honest review.
I love the art in this graphic novel, I love the diversity and I love the trashy(and I mean this in the best possible way) Gossip Girl-esque feel of this book. It was fun and easy to read and I truly felt like I was reading a book about a group of teenagers in high school.
Unfortunately what I didn't like was the way the female characters were depicted in this book. They're conniving, manipulative and honestly not portrayed in a positive light at all meanwhile the male characters are depicted as these gullible, soft heroes who get treated horribly by women. Honestly I would've assumed this was written by a man with how it so obviously sets up for the "a beautiful girl broke my heart and now I use that as an excuse to treat everyone around me like shit, but especially other women". I just feel like they didn't need to go down that route. You're doing a remake, why did you have to make the females seems so shitty and yet the heroes are sweet, perfect specimens--even creepy Jake is played out to be a victim by the end and you're left feeling bad for him even though he's a huge creep. And yet, while we do get some background on Selina and where her motivations come from, the route the author decided to go with this character is one I find will be unpopular for many.
If this is going to become a series (which it seems to be set to be), I'd definitely check out the second one for the art alone but hopefully these characters get some much needed character development and depth.
arc given in exchange for an honest review.
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