Gotham Academy #2

Writer – Becky Cloonan, Brenda Fletcher
Artist – Karl Kerschl
Colours – Geyser, Dave McCaig, John Rauch

Olive is still going at it alone in school, purely by choice due to the missing time she experienced during the summer which frankly, scares her a little.  But, being in a school full of other pupils, it does not make for the most ideal situation when one wants to be left alone and soon she is partnered up with one of the students whom she dislikes, and one who dislikes her as well.  What follows is an eventual trip through the cemetery on a treasure hunt with her ex-boyfriend’s sister Maps and an ending that is maybe a lot more than it seems.  The best and brightest launch from the Batman family of titles continues with the second issue of Gotham Academy and it is a lot of fun.  Cloonan and Fletcher’s script is spot on and really captures that school spirit, both good and bad, bringing back memories of those students you liked and those you hated.  Olive is a fascinating character as she is not your classic loner type, only choosing to do so as she has a mystery about her which has yet to be solved.  Her attitude though does not bother Maps whatsoever as she just sees a friend and that wide-eyed innocence that Maps displays throughout the issue is brought to life by the incomparable Karl Kerschl, whose artwork has never looked better.  With the extremely bright colours that the book also sports and the slight anime feel of the characters, not to mention the great story and art, the book has everything going for it to appeal to the largest possible audience.  Fun, suspenseful and exciting, this is one of the best all-ages books DC is putting out at the moment, as well as one of the best Batman titles too.

5 out of 5

Vampirella #6

Writer – Nancy A. Collins
Artist – Patrick Berkenkotter
Inker – Dennis Crisostomo
Colours – Jorge Sutil

It has finally come down to Vampirella versus Drago for all the marbles.  Even with the betrayal she feels at his hands, Drago is still helping Vampirella for when she defeats him, if she defeats him, she will not only rule the Nosferatu but also have enough power to defeat the Lady of Shadows.  And then, if she survives all of that, she can take care of Chaos before he can take over the world. Nancy A. Collins delivers an exciting finale to her first arc on the book, one that features a perfect blend of horror and action as Vampirella must overcome trial after trial.  Patrick Berkenkotter’s artwork is stunning throughout this issue, from the aerial battle between Vampirella and Drago to the scene in that shadowy nether-realm where our heroine accepts Umbra’s embrace only to take her life in the next instant.  They are some of the most absolutely stunning pencils that the book has sported so far and you find yourself wanting to go back and re-read the story again just to look at them.  Collins also sets up a new status quo with this issue for Vampirella which finds her more powerful than ever physically, having been imbued with the blood of Lilith’s children as well as materialistically, now having a kingdom of her very own.  What she plans to do with it or where she goes from here is unknown, but it will be intriguing to find out.

4.5 out of 5