This starts off pretty well; one wonders why Olive is putting up with her awful new room-mate, while being quietly confident that it'll make sense in the end, which it does. Meanwhile, the general creepiness of the enormous old school, with its gothic architecture and secret passages, its odd teachers and mysteries and off-limits areas, continues to make a wonderful counterpoint to the adorable teen leads. But then the conclusion leans a little too apocalyptic, with one character suddenly lapsing into an outright villainy that doesn't seem congruent with what's gone before, while another plot thread is resolved by a twist which I'm alread starting to find overused in stand-alone works but definitely feels like cheating in an ongoing series. And the set-up for the next (and, I believe, final?) volume doesn't massively entice me. But still, compared to the grim New 52 and the tediously meat-and-potatoes Rebirth, the brief interstitial period which produced books like this should be celebrated as a brief renaissance for DC.

The next volume is not published until December, and that is gross. And mean. And desperately unfair.

I love this series more than I ever thought I would, which is so funny to me. I'm not a big DCU fan, comics or movies. I've just seemingly developed into a Marvel girl. But the characters in this series are so fantastic, and so loveable.

This volume is absolutely jam packed with action, including action you don't even realize is happening until you get to the end. The Detective Club is alive and kicking, but Olive is distracted making new friends and wondering if her mind is slipping.

The internal battle Olive goes through can best be summed up as Nature vs Nurture. Which, after you read this volume, you will appreciate that. Maybe.

You start the volume thinking we're dealing with a specific type of villain, but it goes so much deeper than that, and the reveal of what is actually going on was a fantastic jolt of surprise. We even get some delicious flashbacks, which I would love to read more about that history. Yes please in the next volume.

There's a recurring theme through this series, especially around Olive, of friendship, and friends who are family, and how important that relationship is. It's tripled here, and it's used in the most amazing way. These kids are family. With Bruce Wayne as the absentee dad.

Seriously, he is such a douche.

I haven't read any of the previous Gotham Academy books but was excited when I got the chance to. The comic follows a group of friends as they solve mysteries in their unconventional school. The comic is about friendship (some of the friends have some powers?) and solving mysteries. This book gave me a Scooby Do like feel but with much better illustrations. I really enjoyed all the different character's personalities and the trouble they seemed to get in to (and somehow out of). The comic does jump around a bit, but I think it adds to the fun of it all.

This was the first book in the series that I have read .  I thought that diving into the second book in the series was going to leave me with a bunch of questions . It didn't though  I started reading and it was just like I knew what was going on . Its going to back to high school but with a big twist . Meet the super naturals and their prep school . 
     These are well written stories that actually have some parts of what happens in a real high school . We have the cliques the feeling of not belonging and there is an introduction to homosexuality through out the book . Well written I must say . You start to feel for the characters and actually fall for a few of them . 
    The characters are well written and you can't help but fall in love with a few of them like Pom and Olive .  Then there are other characters that you will not like and there are reasons behind them . I mean you can't love all the characters all the time . You always pick and choose the characters you love . 
     The graphics in the novel are great , the colour alone jump out at you when you start to read . The story lines were good the action never stops and the dialogue between characters is funny . Nothing is as it seems at Gotham Academy and the writers prove that on every page . This is a great addition to the rebirth universe and ties into the other stories . So if you are wanting a good comic for you and your kids this summer check it out . You will not be disappointed .

A fantastic new installment in the Gotham Academy series. The characters are fantastic and the plot is full of mystery and adventure. I think my favorite thing though is the art. This is one of the best designed series I have ever come across. This book was no different. I'm excited what is next for Gotham Academy because this book just took a dark turn.

Gotham Academy: Second Semester Vol 1 is the second arc of the YA-oriented series for DC and picks up after the winter break for the kids at GA.

(Non-spoiler series blurb for those who missed the first arc: our main character is Olive Silverlock, a returning scholarship student at Gotham Academy. Olive suffered a pretty traumatic event over the summer which resulted in her mother being institutionalized. Her best friend is Mia "Maps" Mizoguchi, an enthusiastic and inquisitive freshman bent on uncovering all the secrets, real or imagined, at their slightly spooky school. The series is set in Gotham, so we get a couple of Batfam appearances, but the stories don't center on them. Other characters include Olive's ex and Mia's big brother, Kyle Mizoguchi, school delinquent Colton Rivera, and head mean girl Pomeline Fritch.)

Olive Silverlock returns to Gotham Academy to find herself assigned a new roommate who proves to be more of a handful than her friends. Amy is set on making mischief, often leaving Olive holding the bag for her trouble. Maps is a bit put out that her plan to share a room with Olive have been put on hold by the new arrival, but she's on to a new mystery: the new "witch club" on campus is making people act really strange. And, of course, we get a huge revelation about Silverlock legacy and what that means for Olive.

There's a lot of love about the Gotham Academy series. Olive, Maps, Kyle, Colton, and Pomeline are likable kids. The book feels like a slightly edgier version of the Scooby Gang (1.0, not Buffy), but the kids are still recognizable <em>as kids</em>. I like that it's a low-stakes story and that it's not closely tied to the larger Batfamily stories. Olive isn't trying to save the world, or even Gotham; she's just trying to make it through sophomore year. Given the cliffhanger of an ending, this might be enough of a struggle.

Though the tone of this volume is not quite as peppy as the first arc, the Gotham Academy books remain something I would have no trouble putting in the hands of a young reader. My 8 year old is currently enjoying DC Super Hero Girls and this would be a nice next step when she's ready for something beyond that series.

This volume collects Gotham Academy: Second Semester #1-3, 5-8. I received an advance copy of this volume for review from the publisher via NetGalley.

I am not sure if Gotham Academy Second Semester is a spin off series for Gotham Academy or a continuation of the overarching story. All of our main characters return to a new semester. I was a bit hesitant to read this one since I was really disappointed with Gotham Academy Vol. 3, but ended up really enjoying this one. The plot and tension of this volume is a slow burn. Olive has a new roommate that starts to have a negative effect on her. We also have a small mystery where students have been brainwashed and kidnapped by a disgruntled teacher. At first glance I thought the graphic novel was pretty average since I figured the mystery early on but as I read on I was glad to discover a twist in the last half of the story. We get more background information on Olive's family history, what fuels her dark side, and there is a new romance development that I'm very curious to see where it goes. Luckily, the romance is not a love triangle. The volume does end on a cliffhanger so it might be a while to read what happens next. Gotham Academy Second Semester returns to the dark, gothic mystery setting that first grabbed my attention and made me curious about this series. I am glad that it is back on track.

Note: Although I am posting my review to Netgalley earlier than the publication date, the review will not be posted on any of my platforms until the publication date as required by specifications sent out to reviewers DC Entertainment.

I didn't much care for where this series is headed now. Most of the volume was good, but didn't like how it ended. Probably won't be picking up the rest of the series!

I absolutely love this comic series! My boyfriend introduced me to the first semester and I just adored it right away. The writing is fantastic - the dialogue between characters is so funny. And the art is always great and easy to follow. It's just so well written overall, I think. So much action and mysteries everywhere; nothing is ever what it seems at Gotham Academy.

The characters are so well written, and I absolutely adore Olive, Pom and Colton. I'm not so keen on some of the others, but that was probably the intended reaction. Not all characters are made to be loved.

This comic ties into others in the Rebirth universe - such as We Are Robin - and features famous characters like Batman, Damian, Clayface and Killer Croc (not all in this particular volume, though). So whether you're a big superhero comic fan or not, I think everyone can appreciate and enjoy this comic.

The Detective Club is on their way to discovering the true past of Gotham - and Olive's real heritage. Unexpected allies and foes are found along the way, including Batman himself - Olive's least favourite hero of all.

Another good aspect in this is the inclusion of homosexuality - which is brilliantly weaved in without defining the character or affecting the plot. I'm not going to give away who the character is, but I so think they could've chosen a better "crush". (Let's just say it's one of my favourite characters falling for one of my not-so-favourites.)

This has definitely encouraged my new-found love of comics to grow, and I'm going to read on right away. 5 stars. A fantastic comic.

Gothan Academy Second Semester, Volume 2, is a frustrating book: all the elements are there for something that should be really great but just never seems to coalesce. Choppy storytelling, odd characterizations, and maguffins that baffle rather than tease make it hard to find any credible belief in the 'twist' at the end. But then again, the art is quite beautiful and one has to appreciate the 'Buffy meets Scooby Doo' approach.

Synopsis: Olive gets a new roommate but she's quite a handful. And when students go missing, including Maps, her brother forms a posse to find his missing sister. Pom, meanwhile, is getting close the source of her family's power and history - but she's not the only person searching and things are going to get very complicated soon. Pom and Olive are more closely related in history than either supposed.

The interesting thing about Gotham Academy is that the characters are incredibly selfish and often very hard to really like. Each seems to be pursuing their own ends, often at the expense of their friends. I had a hard time liking any of the characters even though I do want them to find the 'secrets' each houses. In all honesty, there's some really nasty and reprehensible actions by our heroes, some voluntary and some not. It's hard to believe people accept it and don't question what's going on. I'm not sure I want to read a story about friends not helping each other and insulting those who do.

The art, as always, is brilliant. Stylized but friendly, the color schemes of varying warm and then cool tones is quite stunning. If I liked the characters or the story better, I think I would absolutely love Gotham Academy. But the whole "Harry Potter" homage (read: rip off) got old fast, as if the writer was alternately dismissing yet also capitalizing on that fan base. The ugly message in the pretty picture was disingenuous.

Those interested in Olive's past will finally get some closure as we learn a lot more about her. The story ends on a cliffhanger to set up Volume 2. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

Incredible art and an interesting insight into the ominous beginnings of Gotham city!

I love the fresh take on the Batman universe. Following the children of famous and infamous characters in the universe at the Gotham academy is a lot more entertaining than it sounds. The kids get themselves into all sorts of trouble, normal and paranormal, and have to learn how to save their city without harming the friends they've grown to love. This is a series I will now be following, and devouring each book as it's released.

This is the first Gotham Academy volume I have read. Frankly. it makes me want to pick up the previous series and whatever comes out next. The artwork is fantastic, and the story really held my attention. Olive Silverlock quickly made my favourite female comic book characters list. This title would be particularly good for YA collections.

Before reading this book the only Gotham Academy book I'd read was the Lumberjanes crossover which was fun, but not my favourite. However, I loved this book! The story was gripping and I can't wait to find out what happens next! The background art was beautiful and the characters were very engaging. There is also a very exciting plot twist part way through! I will definitely be reading more Gotham Academy comics in future!

Gotham Academy is a fabulous series that can be read both by kids and grown-ups. This is the third volume I've read in this series and I totally loved it. Honestly, I could sit down and re-read it, both for the stories and for the wonderful art.

For those of you that don't know anything about Gotham Academy will I tell you this: It's a school with strange teachers, secret passengers, kids with abilities (not all of them, but some) and now and then a guy called Bruce Wayne shows up.

My favorite character is Maps, she is a young Asian girl that reminds me of Jubilee from Marvel and she loves adventures and mysteries. Of course, I like the rest of the characters to Silverlock, Kyle, etc. But, it's just something about this spunky kid that makes me truly love this series.

The art is marvelous, this is the kind of art that I really, really love and I've added some screen caps for you all to see (on my review on my blog and Goodreads)

Engaging graphic novel that fits well into the DC comics universe.

Fun and a nice continuation of this series.love the colors and the characters.

One of the best volumes of this series yet, things are really heating up! Some of the mysteries surrounding Gotham Academy and Olive start to finally get answered. Fast paced but still with the amazing characters we've known to come and love and watch grow. Highly recommend.