We’re in the final week of coverage for April’s Quarantine Book Club, so you know what that means… The announcement of our May schedule! Some of you sent in requests, so we wanted to make sure we considered and included those requests. We also received some general questions and requests about young reader titles. Due to Covid-19, many kids around the globe are home-schooling, and that means many parents are now teachers. Since some of you asked, and with May being the final month of school for many kids, we are dedicating two weeks of this month to books that are targeted towards younger audiences. So, if you’re looking to give your kiddo or tween a reading assignment, you can have them read one or all of these books, and have them join our conversation!
Also, as a reminder, if you plan on purchasing any of these books, we strongly encourage you to source them from your local comic book shop if possible. They could definitely use the support right now if they’re still open. If you don’t have an LCS in your area, these books can also be found on platforms such as Comixology, DC Universe, Hoopla, or can be ordered through Amazon.
May 1, 2020
Batman: Overdrive
Driven to solve the mystery of his parents’ murders, teenage loner Bruce Wayne hones his detective and combat skills as he scours the underbelly of Gotham City looking for clues. Feeling responsible, Bruce is eager to find someone to pin the blame on so he can absolve himself of the guilt he feels. As he rebuilds his dad’s first car, his quest for freedom-while still clinging to the past-becomes clear. Finding the correct parts forces Bruce to open himself up to new friendships and challenges, ultimately leading him to what he desires most: freedom!
Batman: Overdrive, by New York Times bestselling writer Shea Fontana (DC Super Hero Girls) and artist Marcelo DiChiara, is a heartfelt story touching on the importance of friendship, trust, and forgiveness.
AND
Batman: Nightwalker
A ruthless new gang of criminals known only as Nightwalkers is terrorizing Gotham, and the city’s elite are being taken out one by one. On the way home from his 18th birthday party, newly minted billionaire Bruce Wayne makes an impulsive choice that puts him in their crosshairs and lands him in Arkham Asylum, the once-infamous mental hospital. There, he meets Madeleine Wallace, a brilliant killer…and Bruce’s only hope. Madeleine is the mystery Bruce must unravel, but is he convincing her to divulge her secrets, or is he feeding her the information she needs to bring Gotham City to its knees?
Adapted by Stuart Moore and illustrated by Chris Wildgoose, this graphic novel presents a thrilling new take on Batman before he donned the cape and cowl.
May 8, 2020
Batman & the Monster Men
Batman spent a year fighting organized crime, but nothing thus far in his early career as the Caped Crusader has prepared him for the new menace facing Gotham: super-powered villains!
May 15, 2020
Dear Justice League
The greatest heroes in the DC Comics universe, the Justice League, answer mail from their biggest fans–kids!–courtesy of Michael Northrop, New York Times bestselling author of TombQuest, and artist Gustavo Duarte.
Does Superman ever make mistakes? What was Wonder Woman’s eleventh birthday like? Does Aquaman smell like fish? In this new middle-grade graphic novel, iconic heroes are asked questions both big and small, and when they are not busy saving the world, the Justice League even finds time to respond. Their honest and humorous answers will surprise and delight readers of any age, as it turns out that being a superhero is not too different from being a kid.
Full of feats, follies, and colorful illustrations, Dear Justice League gives readers the inside scoop into everyday heroics, no matter who wears the cape!
AND
Shadow of the Batgirl
Cassandra Cain, teenage assassin, isn’t exactly Batgirl material…not yet, at least. But with Batgirl missing from Gotham City, can Cassandra defy her destiny and take on a heroic mantle of her very own? She’ll have to go through an identity crisis of epic proportions to find out.
After a soul-shattering moment that sends Cass reeling, she’ll attempt to answer this question the only way she knows how: learning everything she possibly can about her favorite hero-Batgirl. But Batgirl hasn’t been seen in Gotham for years, and when Cass’s father threatens the world she has grown to love, she’ll have to step out of the shadows and overcome her greatest obstacle-that voice inside her head telling her she can never be a hero.
Sarah Kuhn, author of Heroine Complex and I Love You So Mochi, takes on one of her favorite heroes for a new audience of readers. Featuring the edgy art style of Nicole Goux, Shadow of the Batgirl tells the harrowing story of a girl who overcomes the odds to find her unique identity.
May 22, 2020
Batman: Gates of Gotham
At the turn of the century, three prominent families shaped the construction of modern-day Gotham City. Now, a madman with three-hundred pounds of explosives and a century-old grudge is threatening to bring it all crashing down. Beginning with the simultaneous destruction of some of Gotham’s oldest bridges, the mysterious villain is targeting the holdings and legacies of Gotham’s most notable families–including the Waynes.
To uncover the truth behind the villainous Architect and his link to the city’s violent past, Batman unites with Robin, Red Robin and Batman Inc.’s Hong Kong operative the Black Bat. But can they stop their new foe’s plans before it’s too late? The future of Gotham started with an explosion, and it could end the very same way…
The critically acclaimed scribe of BATMAN Scott Snyder teams with hot young writer Kyle Higgins (Nightwing) and Ryan Parrot for a mystery that stretches back to the earliest days of Gotham, with art by the all-star team of Trevor McCarthy, Dustin Nguyen, Graham Nolan and Derec Donovan.
May 29, 2020
The Batman Chronicles: The Gauntlet
It’s a tale from Batman and Robin’s past! Before Dick Grayson can don the Robin costume as Batman’s partner, he must pass a final challenge: elude Batman for an entire night within the confines of Gotham City. But his game of hide-and-seek becomes deadly when Robin stops what appears to be a simple mugging and inadvertently intercepts key information. Now he’s the target of a ruthless mob boss, his deadly gang of thugs, the GCPD and, of course, Batman himself, who races to find his young ward before it’s too late.
Happy reading! Make sure you check back each Friday to join the conversation. In case you’ve missed it, we’ve already held discussions for Batman: Prey, Batman: Ego, and Batman: The Cult. Our discussion for Batman: Dark Knight, Dark City will post tomorrow!
