Written by Derek Fridolfs & Illustrated by Dustin Nguyen
SUMMARY:
Published by Scholastic Inc. and DC Comics in 2017, this 176-page adventure re-imagines Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman as pre-teen students in Gotham City.
Primarily narrated by Clark Kent, the trio reunites at Evergreen Summer Camp, along with eighteen other DC Comics pre-teens — some of whom appeared in the first book: Study Hall of Justice. As their fellow campers mysteriously vanish, one by one, Clark, Bruce, and Diana investigate the camp counselors’ indifference to the growing crisis. Yet, an old foe may be awaiting the kids, as perhaps this case really is a job for Superman.
Notes: This title is available in both hardcover and paperback formats. Also, in a continuity shift, Poison Ivy/Pamela Isley is now one of the pre-teens rather than an adult teacher, as depicted in the first book.
REVIEW:
Like the first book (Study Hall of Justice), collaborators Derek Fridolfs & Dustin Nguyen conjure up an endearing premise for summer camp hijinks, DC Comics-style. Tinged with the right dosage of humor, this storyline makes a fun read for elementary school super-hero fans. Due to its large cast, an unfortunate detriment is that Nguyen’s black-and-white visuals makes it harder to distinguish the characters from one another. More so, it isn’t spelled out until late in the book exactly who all these future DC heroes and villains actually are. Unseen cameos by Lois Lane and Vic Sage/Question are also confusing, as to whether or not they are among the current campers or had previously been there.
Confirming Lois as an ex-camper is made evident later on, but a ‘Sage Advice’ journal entry doesn’t make sense. It implies that Vic Sage is a kid, but a later story reference confirms him as the adult private detective he is in Study Hall of Justice. Another puzzlement is Zatanna Zatara’s unexplained fate. Lastly, the Fort Solitude treehouse itself contributes too little. It would have made an effective device, had it been incorporated as a sanctuary earlier into the story. Despite these plotting hiccups, Fort Solitude still delivers another engaging look at DC’s future Justice League.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
As with the last two books, the final page reprints brief bios on the creative team.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7 Stars
