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DC Unveils Two New Batman-Inspired Comics


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DC Comics/Entertainment Weekly

This is unexpected and completely a pleasant surprise: DC Comics just broke news of two brand new comics tangentially revolving around Batman over at Entertainment Weekly:

In Arkham Manor, stately Wayne Manor gets made over into the local psycho dungeon, and, perhaps predictably, some inmates wind up dead. Things are a bit less bleak in Gotham Academy, a new monthly teen drama set at Gotham City’s most prestigious prep school. (Bruce Wayne is a benefactor; other familiar characters may pop up in Academy’s twisted, teenybopping universe.)

Arkham Manor is written by Gerry Duggan and drawn by Shawn Crystal, while Gotham Academy is written by Becky Cloonan and Brendan Fletcher and drawn by Karl Kerschl. EW is excited to share an exclusive first look at the two new series. Check out the issue No. 1 covers below; Gotham Academy hits on October 1, while Arkham Manor arrives on October 22.

I want to hear what you have to say about these in the comments. Meanwhile, hit the jump for my thoughts on all of this, as well as the debut image from Gotham Academy and a look at a Batman comic that demands to be made.

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DC Comics/Entertainment Weekly


Your mileage may vary, but both of these feel like fun, inspired ideas to me. Arkham Manor has a striking premise, and the teaser of Shawn Crystal’s moody art helps make the book feel — at least at this point — rich with potential. As for the apparently lighter Gotham Academy, there is always room for more YA comics, especially ones with dynamic female leads. I can’t wait to learn more about these titles in the coming weeks and months ahead.

That said, I must admit a twinge of sadness that DC still hasn’t enlisted Afterlife with Archie artist Francesco Francavilla to write and illustrate his dream project, the grindhouse-inspired Batman 1972:

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Seems like a no-brainer, doesn’t it? But at this point I suppose I should just be grateful that they haven’t announced another company-wide relaunch.