Gotham Academy: Second Semester #7 Review — I am Jack’s Complete Lack of Surprise
Where do I even start with Gotham Academy: Second Semester #7? Do I start by saying that I’m genuinely pleased that they seem to be bringing several lingering plot threads into one cohesive narrative? Or do I start by saying they just used one of the more tired cliches of storytelling? Is it more appropriate to preface that complaint by acknowledging the author managed to pull it off? Maybe I should just get on my knees and thank Trigon that this issue brings the entire series into focus?
I don’t know if someone at DC had a stern talking to with the team behind Gotham Academy, or if maybe the discombobulated narrative was all part of the plan. All I do know is that Gotham Academy: Second Semester #7 is not only the best issue in the entire series, it’s just all around good. Damn good, as Agent Cooper would say. Despite basically ripping off Fight Club in its entire narrative structure. But more on that in a minute, because so many things finally make sense.
First off, I’ve complained that the thread with Pomeline trying to summon the ghost of a dead Cobblepot was dropped almost entirely before Second Semester started. Also, Eric’s weird stuttering and nervous behavior around the symbols at Gotham Academy always felt like a weird, tacked-on plot element. Eric’s evolution into the Symbolist was cute and funny in last issue, but as they delve deeper into this crypt, things start to make sense; these symbols are very much sigils. There really is some malevolent force or history lurking beneath the well-manicured lawn of Gotham Academy.
Before I get to complimentary, let me say I’m still not certain why Pom wants to find this corpse. She keeps speaking of some “birthright” and as of now, it’s still unclear what she thinks this is. It’s not the mountain of treasure, and if it’s supposed to be knowledge, the only knowledge she gains is learning that Olive is a descendant of Amity Arkham. That’s interesting, but I’m not sure Pom needed to learn that.
All of that aside, let’s talk Olive. I’ve complained, many times, that I’m sick of the “Olive has powers, but we won’t care for a few more issues” back and forth that the series has dragged out. To be honest, I still don’t love how that has been handled within the context of the series, but this issue seems to be putting an end to the “Eh, we’ll get back to that” mentality. Oh, Olive has fire powers all right, and that’s not the worst of it.
But first: Amy. Yet another thing I’ve complained about has been Amy, Olive’s new roommate. She appears and disappears throughout the narrative when it’s convenient, and the other characters don’t seem to react to her, despite her asshole behavior. In fact, Olive has been the only person really interacting with her, and she’s been oddly non-responsive to Amy’s shitty behavior. In fact, one might say she’s almost as passive in their relationship as Edward Norton’s narrator was to Pitt’s Tyler Durden. Convenient because Amy is a figment of Olive’s imagination.
Look, the “this character never really existed” thing has been done to death, and it is a rather hackneyed approach. And yet, I have to give credit that as soon as it’s revealed Amy doesn’t really exist — as we think of existence — so many plot points and oddities suddenly came into focus. There was never an asshole roommate, but rather a literal devil on Olive’s shoulder, convincing her to do these things. An asshole who, unlike Tyler Durden, is not a split personality so much as the ghost of Amity Arkham, here to claim Olive as she did her mother.
Random observations: I’ll also point out that while this did make me gasp and smile, this blew my daughter’s mind. Obviously, she’s too young to have seen any of the classic movies where this plot is used, and I don’t mind this being her first introduction to it. Also, Becky Cloonan’s cover is simply amazing.
Where the story goes from here, I have no idea. Pomeline and Colton have been put to sleep by unnatural means, Olive is in the process of becoming her mother, and Batman is quite aware of her struggles. For the first time in a very many issues, I’m excited to see where this goes. I just pray that this is the start of a cohesive vision and direction for the series, because goddammit, I want to know what happens next.
Author(s): Becky Cloonan, Brenden Fletcher, Karl Kerschl
Artist(s): MSASSYK, Adam Archer
Publisher: DC Comics
Publish Date: 03/08/17
Acquired via Purchase
