Batmanand Gotham fans are in for a major treat, asDChas officially announced the return of the belovedGotham Academyseries. Best of all, the original creative team is back at the helm, promising the same captivating storytelling and charm that made the first run such a standout.
Brenden Fletcher, Becky Cloonan, and Karl Kerschl are reuniting, with artist Marco Ferrari joining the lineup to launch the brand-new six-issue prequel seriesGotham Academy: First Year.The series is set to debut on July 06, 2025, perfectly timed to kick off the Spooky Season.
With Ferrari bringing a fresh visual take on the eerie, secret-filled prep school hidden in Gotham City, fans can also look forward to uncovering untold stories and reconnecting with favorite characters from the original series.
Gotham Academy: First YearUncovers Olive Silverlock’s Dark Origins
Haunted Hallways, Hidden Secrets, and a Shocking Batman Villain Await
Gotham Academy: First Yeartakes place before the events of the original series and explores the backstory of Olive Silverlock, a shy student from the Narrows who arrives at Gotham Academy after a traumatic event involving her mother and a mysterious connection to the Dark Knight himself. Readers will enter the academy alongside Olive as she begins this unsettling new chapter.
The plot centers on Olive learning to navigate her eerie new surroundings, where elite students, buried secrets, and haunted hallways are just the beginning. Along her journey, she’ll cross paths with Arkham Asylum, eccentric billionaires, and for the first time in the series, one ofBatman’s most iconic villains. As Fletcher teases,“This is Olive’s first year, the summer before it all started, and it’s packed with new mysteries and familiar faces.”
While Ferrari will handle the interior art,fans can look forward to Kerschl returning to illustrate the main covers for all six issues. Variant covers will be provided by Dustin Nguyen and Sweeney Boo. A sneak peek at some of these covers appears throughout this article, offering an exciting glimpse of the adventures to come.
Gotham Academy: First YearGraphic Novel Release Set for 2026
Olive Silverlock’s Expanded Origin Promises a Fresh Take on a Fan-Favorite Series
Fans hoping to addGotham Academy: First Yearto their permanent collection are in luck.All six issues will be collected in a Young Adult graphic novel edition on June 13, 2025.While the wait is still long, knowing a collected version is coming gives readers a chance to plan ahead. Whether you’re a longtime fan, a new reader, or an educator looking to stock a classroom shelf, this edition will make a meaningful and accessible addition.
Given the originalGotham Academyseries was a breakout success, it’s no surprise DC is returning to this world. What makes this prequel especially compelling is the deeper focus on Olive Silverlock, one of the most intriguing characters from the original run. Her expanded backstory not only adds new emotional layers, but it also givesDCreaders a fresh lens through which to revisit the original series.
Gotham Academy: Year Oneis available July 28, 2025, from DC Comics!
