We live in the age of reboots. Is there a TV series from the ’80s and ’90s that does not have some new version on a streaming service or even a network (I’m not taking shots here, just stating facts. I’m an old, and have been enjoying the Matlock reboot starring Kathy Bates). But as is often the case, comics did it first and did it best. There are plenty of cult favorite comic series that have disappeared from the shelves only to reappear years later. Case in point: Eight years after the last issue was released, the YA-focused Gotham Academy is back with a new volume.
Set at an elite prep school in Gotham City, this series follows the usual drama of a high school (romance, friendship, grades) but adds in the spice of Batman’s hometown (crocodile men living in the tunnels under the school, moms who may be supervillains, ghosts). The original series was a lot of fun (the first arc is comfortably ensconced at #227 on BatChat’s Big Board), and for those unfamiliar, no worries! This is a prequel, so no previous knowledge is required.
Check out what DC has to say below.
Pack your notebooks (utility belts), sharpen your pencils (batarangs), and watch your back! DC’s beloved school of mystery and moonlit mischief is opening its doors once again! Today, DC Comics proudly announced Gotham Academy: First Year, a six-issue comic book series marking the long-awaited return of the fan-favorite Gotham-based teen saga!
Launching on October 1, 2025, the new comic book series reunites the original creative team of Brenden Fletcher, Karl Kerschl, and Becky Cloonan, whose inventive storytelling first introduced readers to Gotham City’s most prestigious prep school and its unforgettable student body. Joining them for this new chapter is interior artist Marco Ferrari, whose expressive and atmospheric visuals bring fresh depth to the academy’s haunted hallways. Returning to cover duties, Kerschl provides main covers for all six issues, channeling the signature visual flair that helped define the original run.
“I’m so excited to return to the world of Gotham Academy with Becky and Karl,” says Fletcher. “It’s a joy to be back with the original team, and to welcome the incredibly talented Marco Ferrari to the fold. His work brings such life to these characters and to the halls of the Academy itself.”
Gotham Academy: First Year continues the critically acclaimed story of Gotham Academy’s young students, perfect for longtime fans and new readers alike. Mystery and mayhem await Olive Silverlock, a shy, working-class teen from Gotham’s Narrows, as she navigates school life in a super-powered world, offering a unique perspective on Gotham through the eyes of a youngster as scared of its heroes as its villains. In addition to visits to Arkham Asylum and surprise appearances from billionaire weirdos, you never know who—or what—you might meet wandering the halls of Gotham Academy.
“We went back to where it all began,” says Fletcher. “Gotham Academy: First Year takes us into Olive Silverlock’s pivotal first year—the mysterious summer before it all started—and introduces one of Batman’s most iconic villains to the series for the very first time. We can’t wait for readers old and new to join us this October, exactly 11 years to the day since the original series debuted!”
Set before the events of the original series, First Year traces Olive’s reluctant arrival at the school after a traumatic event involving her mother—and a fateful handoff between Commissioner Gordon and Bruce Wayne. Shuffled from crisis into campus life, Olive must adapt to cliques, secrets, and a system that’s less supportive than it seems.
Underlying everything, Olive has a problem—and it’s shaped like Gotham’s most famous vigilante: Batman. But how will she process the weight of her past while navigating school politics, unexpected friendships, and a growing connection to Gotham’s darker mysteries? Who will she share her first kiss with? And why is everyone obsessed with… maps? What’s with these rich kids? Does Gotham Academy have a cartography class??
GOTHAM ACADEMY: FIRST YEAR #1
- On Sale October 1, 2025
- Written by Brenden Fletcher, Karl Kerschl, and Becky Cloonan
- Art by Marco Ferrari, Eva de la Cruz (colors) and Steve Wands (letters)
- Main cover by Karl Kerschl
- Variant covers by Dustin Nguyen and Sweeney Boo
- 40 pages
- Cover price: $4.99 US
Praise for Gotham Academy:
Widely regarded as one of DC’s most inventive and heartfelt titles, Gotham Academy earned praise for its moody atmosphere, expressive art, and emotionally grounded storytelling. IGN called it “a fresh take on the Bat mythos, driven by Karl Kerschl’s fantastic art.” Newsarama hailed it as “DC’s strongest young adult-oriented title,” applauding its “gorgeously eerie scenes” and “serious staying power.”
ComicBook.com celebrated the debut as “really, truly, genuinely exciting,” spotlighting Olive and Maps as “fully realized human beings” whose friendship anchors the series with humor and heart. Black Nerd Problems wrote, “Olive’s story is compelling, but the way her friends love her is part of the reason readers love her so much,” praising the dynamic that became the emotional backbone of the series.
Collected Editions for New and Returning Students:
After the monthly run of Gotham Academy: First Year concludes, the story will be collected into a Young Adult graphic novel edition, arriving in bookstores and libraries on August 4, 2026. Perfect for classrooms and gift-giving, this collected volume packages all six issues in an accessible format for readers of all ages.
For those eager to explore Gotham Academy’s original run, the fan-favorite trade paperback edition of Gotham Academy—ISBN 9781779521712—is already available wherever books are sold. An action-packed teen drama set in the shadow of Batman and the madness of Gotham City, the series introduced readers to a prep school with a spooky campus, oddball teachers, and rich benefactors always dropping by… like that weirdo Bruce Wayne.
Together, these editions offer the perfect way to enroll in Olive and Maps’ unforgettable world—whether you’re new to the series or a returning alumnus.
Matt Lazorwitz read his first comic at the age of 5. It was Who's Who in the DC Universe #2, featuring characters whose names begin with B, which explains so much about his Batman obsession. He writes about comics he loves, and co-hosts the podcasts BatChat with Matt & Will and The ComicsXF Interview Podcast.
