A review by its_justine
Gotham High by Melissa de la Cruz

4.0

Gotham High is an imaginative and lively Young Adult graphic novel penned by author Melissa de la Cruz and illustrated by artist Thomas Pitilli. It depicts alternate, contemporary takes on the origins of Gotham’s most notorious denizens set in a high school setting, and is a cautionary tale of the dangers of jealousy and manipulation. It promotes the idea that although people can come from drastically different backgrounds, each may suffer silently due to a variety of reasons that plague them. Inventive storytelling accompanied by gorgeous illustrations, this is a brisk, fun read that I enjoyed more than expected.

De la Cruz tells a story that pays homage to the Gotham we all know and love, but with modern twists that allow for today’s younger audience to easily relate to. Narrated with a tone dripping of deviousness, Selina Garcia Kyle, our young Catwoman, transports us to a city dominated by corruption and hard social lines. In addition to the focus on her machinations, the other two key players are Bruce Wayne, the billionaire lone vigilante, and John (Jack) Napier, the prankster from a broken home. The dynamics between these three characters are what essentially drive the story forward, however it’s the little creative nods to traditional Batman elements that make this graphic novel pop; Harvey Dent flipping his coin, Jack with his lucky deck of cards, mention of The Caped Crusader, Ivy working in an apothecary shop, even Uncle Alfred and Principal Gordon. The attention to detail is excellent.

The story itself is straightforward and addresses the fundamental themes and tropes of teenage life, but in the stylized and embellished manner expected of superhero stories. The author touches upon cruel bullying, less-than-ideal living conditions at home, finding one’s place, and a little bit of romance with a lot of drama. For such a quick read, it does, at times, fall short on developing many of the ideas presented, and its breakneck pacing also has the tendency to make things unclear. However, these little hiccups didn’t detract me from thoroughly enjoying as I flipped through the book’s pages.

Thomas Pitilli’s clean and vibrant illustrations bring this story to life in the most beautiful of ways. Everything from minute consistency to spot on color theory to evoke the emotions being conveyed, it’s difficult to find any flaws worthy of note. The imagery perfectly captures the original tale being told, and he goes above and beyond with these striking visuals. Storytelling in this particular medium is not one I’m very familiar with, as I’m more of a traditional novel reader, but the artwork alone has sparked an interest to delve deeper into the world of graphic novels.

Gotham High is a fast, entertaining read targeting those craving a fresh interpretation of the histories of characters that have become staples in the world of entertainment. With the help of stunning illustrations, this story of mystery and vigilantism practically jumps off the pages from start to finish. If you’re on the hunt for a tale of diversity, betrayal, and finding allies in the most unexpected of places, then I suggest you give this one a try.

My Rating: I give this a solid 3.5/5, but will round up to 4.

Note: A huge thank you to DC Comics for the complementary advance copy of this book.

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See this review and others at Whispers & Wonder
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