Gotham Academy, Vol. 1: Welcome to Gotham Academy – Becky Cloonan, Brenden Fletcher, Karl Kerschl (Illustrations)

First the good news – the illustrations were awesome! It’s got a female main character! And her sidekick ‘Maps’ Mizoguchi is great fun too. It’s entertaining enough but the storyline was rather confusing (one of those where they land you in the middle of things and hint at events that happened in the past and I guess you’re supposed to put two and two together). I think I may have been misled (by myself probably) as I half-expected Gotham Academy to be a place where superheroes are made. Well, it’s not, it’s a prestigious school that just happens to be located in Gotham. And Batman makes an appearance here and there.

Of course my library only has volume one so I don’t know if I will read more of this series!

El Deafo – Cece Bell

I’ve been wanting to read this for a while now but never seem to have picked up this comic, which is aimed at middle grade kids. It’s based on the author’s own experience growing up hearing impaired, the result of a brief illness. Cece has to use a Phonic Ear which helps her hear her teacher – not just in the classroom but everywhere, from the teachers’ room to the bathroom. It’s like having a superpower. It’s a fun story for all ages and touches on many universal issues like being different, making friends, fitting in.

Zodiac Starforce: By the Power of Astra – Kevin Panetta, Paulina Ganucheau (Illustrator)
So. Much. Fun.

Teenaged girls who have cool outfits and magical superpowers that seem to have something to do with their zodiac signs. And best of all, great diversity! The artwork is just candy-coloured awesomeness. Is there more? Can there please be more?

Ann Tenna – Marisa Acocella Marchetto

Whereas this one. It was just not for me. I didn’t like the style of the artwork. And the main character is the star and owner of a gossip site, known for her hidden cameras. I guess it has to do with all this fakeness of the world and whatnot but I wouldn’t know as I gave up on it. I have better books to read!
Sabrina

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Vol. 1: The Crucible – Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Robert Hack (Illustrations)

Ok I was not expecting this bloody and very dark story at all. The Sabrina in this story is Sabrina the Teenage Witch and while I didn’t read the comics, I definitely watched the TV series with Melissa Joan Hart (yeah you did too). Sabrina, as you may know, is a half-witch, her mother is mortal and her father a witch. She lives with her two aunts and a cat named Salem. So that part is pretty much the same. Then throw in lots of gore and blood, the undead and what not, and illustrate it all in that very macabre and heavy sepia-toned artwork by Robert Hack, which somehow amps up the 60s period setting and the ominous mood. It’s horror at its best, so definitely not for those of the faint of heart.