Review: Gotham High by Melissa de la Cruz and Thomas Pitilli

Title: Gotham High

Author: Melissa de la Cruz

Illustrated by: Thomas Pitilli

Published by: DC Ink

Released: April 7, 2020

Source: Review Copy from Publisher

Synopsis: 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! (Synopsis from Goodreads)

My Thoughts: 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.

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 3/5

Well, here it is