So far into its run Gotham Academy has been one of the biggest surprises coming out of DC Comics in years.  It features a group of characters that are ostensibly connected to the DC universe, but who are also mostly on their own.  In the first issues, Batman (or Bruce Wayne) has shown up from time to time, but the story has focused mostly on the Academy itself with Olive as its main feature.  She has been portrayed as a complex character, one that is striving to do well at school while also dealing with a recent tragedy.  The introduction of Killer Croc brought the series back into the DC Universe, albeit only a little, though the events of the previous issue produce more connections, directly through the inclusion of Batman.

This issue deals with the fallout of those events, included a short battle between Batman and Croc, but the focus lies where it should, on Olive.  While she deals with the after effects of the revelations about her mother by Croc, she realizes that she is part of a bigger story, one which ties the Academy into a deeper story.  This was a nice moment for the series, which gave Gotham Academy a bit of a Morning Glories vibe, although it was also short lived.  In what will be a common occurrence for all of DC Comics leading into Convergence, this issue also felt a little bit like one which is the final issue of the a series.  This gave it a bit of a somber attitude as it tried to wrap up some plot details with a degree of finality, even if the series is still scheduled to return in June.

The series still stands out as one to watch at DC, only it must be noted that once again a big DC wide crossover is thrown into the mix and will have an impact on this series.  It would seem as though the series is teetering on some kind of a breaking point as the epilogue throws a bit more Batman into the Academy, which might work for the series and it might not.  Nonetheless this issue works where it needs to, and while it might not be as strong as others in the series, its quality is still above what to expect from other series.

Story: Becky Cloonan and Brendan Fletcher Art: Karl Kerschl
Story: 8.4 Art: 8.4 Overall: 8.4 Recommendation: Buy