Young Gotham: A New Generation of Heroes

Grayson Vol. 1: Agents of Spyral (The New 52), by Tim Seeley, Mikel Janin, Tom King
When Dick Grayson was adopted by Bruce Wayne, he became the first and most famous Robin. Later, stepping out from Batman’s shadow, he became Nightwing. Now, his secret identity revealed to the world, he’s believed dead, without a costume or mask to hide behind. This book has Grayson going undercover within the mysterious spy organization Spyral. He’s on his own, and it’s a whole new world of spy-vs-spy action for the original kid sidekick.

Batgirl Vol. 1: The Batgirl of Burnside (The New 52), by Brenden Fletcher, Cameron Stewart, and Babs Tarr
There’s not much room for fun in grim, brooding Gotham City. That’s why Batgirl is such a breath of fresh air. Barbara Gordon is a young, tech-savvy superhero with a hip new costume and a knack for using computers and social media (along with major butt-kicking skills) to stop crime in Gotham’s super-trendy Burnside community. When she’s not out protecting the people, she’s got classes and dates to worry about, but also a whole new crew of friends to help keep her grounded. Batgirl is smart and fun for readers of any age, with plenty of drama and superhero action.

Gotham Academy Vol. 1: Welcome to Gotham Academy (The New 52), by Becky Cloonan, Brendan Fletcher, and Karl Kerschel
Gotham City trains a new generation of heroes in this off-beat Batman spinoff. Set at über-prestigious Gotham Academy, this book stars the adventurous Olive Silverlock, her best friend “Maps” Mizoguchi, and a whole crew of friends and frenemies as they navigate the tricky prep-school social scene while investigating secret societies, super-villains, and ghosts that roam the halls. The long, weird history of Gotham is a backdrop, but this story of mystery that stalks the halls of a private school has as much in common with Harry Potter as with traditional Batman tales.

Scooby-Doo Team-Up, by Sholly Fisch and Dario Brizuela
The heroes of Gotham City are definitely lightening up, but for those who think things are still too serious, you can’t go wrong with Scooby and the gang. Here, they head to Gotham to join forces with Batman, Robin, and Ace the Bathound in a series of mysteries and adventures that will take them all over the D.C. universe. With cameos by many big-name heroes and villains, these are fast-paced stories in classic Scooby-style.

Teen Titans Go! Vol. 1: Party, Party!, by Sholly Fisch and Lea Hernandez
The Titans of Teen Titans Go! like to fight crime, sure. They’ll definitely stop the bad guys…eventually. But they’d just as soon hang out at Titans Tower having a pizza party or showing off their killer dance moves. This book spins out of the mega-popular TV series starring Robin, Starfire, Cyborg, and the gang, and kicks off with a literal food fight as some of the team’s favorite snacks come to life. These stories perfectly capture the tone of the all-ages, anime-inspired cartoon: wild, funny, and completely unhinged.
Which new hero is your favorite?
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