Written by Derek Fridolfs & Illustrated by Dustin Nguyen
SUMMARY:
Published by Scholastic Inc. and DC Comics in 2016, this 176-page adventure re-imagines Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman as new ten-or-eleven year old students attending Gotham City’s private Ducard Academy.
Primarily narrated by Bruce Wayne, his new friends/classmates/kindred spirits Clark Kent, and Diana Prince join him investigating sinister shenanigans afoot at the school. In particular, their corrupt instructors encourage the students (especially Lex Luthor and a wacky Joe Kerr) to generally misbehave as they please. Not only is their principal’s identity a well-kept secret, Bruce’s detective work indicates that the students are being primed for something called the mysterious ‘Nanda Parbat.’ Provided they can evade detention and still get their homework done, it’s up to future Justice Leaguers Bruce, Diana, and Clark to expose the mystery lurking within The Ducard Academy.
Note: This title is available in both hardcover and paperback formats.
REVIEW:
For elementary school super-hero fans, this book is really a can’t-miss prospect. Writer Derek Fridolfs delightfully packages DC’s three biggest names as precocious pre-teens without reducing them to caricatures. Even more so, the clever little details and inside jokes Fridolfs throws in (i.e. the three idols Bruce has pictures of in his locker; P.E. Coach Zod insisting his students kneel before him, etc.) range from subtly insightful to LOL humor. Though it won’t impede one’s reading, some DC references will appeal only to older fans, who, for instance, would recognize the academy’s unseen namesake (Henri Ducard) from Batman’s backstory. Or, for that matter, recognize the civilian names of various DC super-villains.
Yet, Fridolfs’ enjoyably spot-on text couldn’t succeed without illustrator Dustin Nguyen’s kiddie visuals (dialogue panels, diagrams, maps, etc). While the cartoony black-and-white graphic novel approach is a genre standard, a lack of color does make it more difficult to decipher exactly which DC background characters are in some of Nguyen’s panels.
Still, this book’s appeal is confirmed through glimpses poignantly reminding readers that, no matter his inner Batman, this Bruce is still an orphaned and lonely little boy being raised by Alfred. To a lesser degree, the same applies to a more temper-prone Diana coping with her heckling female classmates. While Fridolfs & Nguyen’s depiction of Clark is the least surprising, they still likably imbue this Boy of Steel as the humblest and most optimistically naïve of the trio. Balancing an endearing storyline and charming artwork (i.e. the cover image), DC Comics Super Hero Society # 1: Study Hall of Justice proves a gem to read.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
The last page offers brief bios on the creative team.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8½ Stars
