Staying in? Looking for a new read? DC has you covered with Gotham High, a new young adult (YA) graphic novel written by Melissa de la Cruz, one of the most popular voices in YA literature, with stunning illustrations from Riverdale comics artist Thomas Pitilli. The book hits stores and online retailers everywhere books are sold on April 7, and DC has debuted the official book trailer.
In Gotham High, del la Cruz and Pitilli bring their signature style to DC to put a contemporary twist on Gotham City, following Bruce Wayne, Selina Kyle, and Jack Napier, and more classic Batman characters, in high school, before they take on their iconic mantles. Complete with love triangles, epic parties, and betrayals at every turn, Gotham High is a thrilling teen drama.
The 2019 convention for the American Library Association (ALA) kicked off with huge news that DC was consolidating its line under three “brands.” That left many to wonder about the future of the DC Zoom and DC Ink graphic novel lines. Launched last year, the new graphic novel imprints were focused on the young adult and middle grade readers and have been hits so far. DC followed up those concerns with an announcement of a slate of graphic novel releases aimed at those young adult and middle grade readers.
These graphic novels continue the focus on stories not part of DC’s ongoing continuity making them accessible to new fans. The releases also focus on the original mandate of YA titles being about “everyday aspirations, struggles, and triumphs,” while the middle grade releases being focused on stories about “friends, family, and growing up.”
Spring 2020 Lineup
Young Adult Titles
Wonder Woman: Warbringer – Written by Leigh Bardugo and illustrated by Kit Seaton (January 2020)
Gotham High – Written by Melissa de la Cruz and illustrated by Thomas Pitilli (February 2020)
The Oracle Code – Written by Marieke Nijkamp and illustrated by Manuel Preitano (March 2020)
Shadow of the Batgirl – Written by Sarah Kuhn and illustrated by Nicole Goux (April 2020)
During the DC Ink panel at BookCon 2019 with authors Kami Garcia, Danielle Paige, Lauren Myracle, and Mariko Tamaki, DC made several exciting announcements for the publisher’s upcoming YA graphic novels, revealing a new trailer and title for the highly anticipated Teen Titans series, and the artists and covers for the Spring 2020 slate.
In anticipation of its July 2, 2019, release DC debuted an official trailer for Teen Titans: Raven during the panel. Written by New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia and illustrated by fan-favorite artist Gabriel Picolo, Teen Titans: Raven follows 17-year-old Rachel Roth as she moves to New Orleans to live with her foster mother’s family after a tragic accident. Raven’s past and present collide when strange things happen during her final year of high school. Garcia’s debut graphic novel is the first book in her multi-part Teen Titans series with popular artist Gabriel Picolo.
Panel attendees were also treated to the first look at Garcia and Picolo’s next Teen Titans installment, Teen Titans: Beast Boy. Ahead of its 2020 release, a sneak preview of the book will be available in Teen Titans: Raven when the book goes on sale.
To cap off an already exciting panel, DC ended the discussion announcing the artists for previously announced YA graphic novels debuting in Spring 2020 and gave fans a first look at the covers. Full creative teams for the Spring 2020 YA graphic novel lineup are below.
You’re never too young to be a hero…or to read about them! DC Entertainmentrecently announced two new graphic novel lines, DC Ink, which is geared towards Young Adult readers, and DC Zoom, which targets Middle Graders.
Recently, fans and professionals at ALA learned a lot more about these exciting books—which feature DC’s most popular heroes and are written by prominent YA and middle grade authors—when DC hosted a panel to help launch the two lines.
The video has lots of details about these two graphic novel lines with lots of new art and features bestselling authors like Ridley Pearson, Meg Cabot, Melissa De La Cruz, Danielle Paige, Michael Northrop, Minh Le, and more, all sharing new information about their upcoming DC projects.
DC Zoom and DC Ink are the two new graphic novel imprints announced by DC Entertainment this weekend. DC Zoom will feature stories for middle school readers while DC Ink will be focused on young adults.
The new imprints will also team up with young adult writers including Laurie Halse Anderson, Melissa de la Cruz, Michael Northrop, and Ridley Pearsen.
DC Ink will kick off with two graphic novels, one featuring Harley Quinn being written by Mariko Tamaki and art by Steve Pugh. The other will feature Mera and will be written by Danielle Paige with an artist yet to be announced. DC Zoom will debut with DC Super Hero Girls: Search for Atlantis by Shea Fontana and Yancey Labat.
Also announced was Gene Luen Yang‘s book, Superman Smashes the Klan. The title sounds like a throwback to the classic Superman radio show which took on the Klan. Ridley Pearson will write a Super Sons graphic novel featuring Jonathan Kent and Damian Wayne. Pearson’s story will tackle climate change and introduce a new character named Candice, who discovers she belongs to an African dynasty.
The announced lineup reflects the female readers of middle grade and Y.A. novels. They’ll be free from complicated continuity.
The focus isn’t superhero stories but character studies. The middle grader focused adventures will be “characters who are figuring out the world around them, including dealing with parents and teachers” while the young adult graphic novels will focus on “questions of personal identity, with budding heroes deciding what paths they will take.”
The softcover Zoom graphic novels will cost $9.99 for 128 pages with the Ink books retailing for $16.99 for 192 pages.