Batman Overdrive

Gr 3–5—Detailing the origins of the Batmobile, Fontana tells a story of family legacy, vigilante justice, and high-tech detective work—with more than a few action spectacles. Teenage Bruce Wayne is set on restoring his late father's black '66 Crusader (complete with a bat flying out from under the hood) and taking his war on crime to the next level. Fast friendships with the mischievous Selina Kyle and gearhead Mateo Diaz propel them into a mob mystery, unearthing Wayne family secrets in the process. DiChiara's layouts give Bruce and company plenty of room to take on auto repair and stealth missions, along with clear framing for hand-to-hand combat and car chases. The teenage cast's expressions and dialogue veer toward the childish ("Ooooh, farts" is one of the book's catch phrases). Young readers get to have their dark knight and analyze him, too—Selina notes Bruce's privilege, and Alfred and Mateo challenge the budding young superhero's lone-wolf image. Sycamore's cartoon illustrations rely on blues and tans for more calm scenes and alarming reds and oranges when danger is afoot. Violence includes swordplay, smoke bombs, and martial arts, all bloodless—even a flashback to Martha's and Thomas Wayne's murders restricts the use of red to a single panel. VERDICT Giving Bruce Wayne cool friends and some personal growth, Fontana tricks out the Bat mythos, crafting a high-octane adventure that young Batfans will love.—Thomas Maluck, Richland Library, SC Copyright 2020 School Library Journal.

Teenage loner, pre-Batman Bruce Wayne hones his detective and combat skills as he scours the underbelly of Gotham looking for clues, and begins building the Batmobile while still processing the pain of his parents' death.

Who was Bruce Wayne before Batman?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. Feeling responsible for their deaths, Bruce is determined to find out who was really behind this crime in order to absolve himself of the guilt he feels. As part of his crusade and in tribute to his loving father, Bruce decides to rebuild his dad's first car. But Bruce quickly discovers that he can't do this alone, and it forces him to open himself up to new friendships and challenges, ultimately leading him to what he desires most: freedom! From the writer Shea Fontana (DC Super Hero Girls, Wonder Woman) and artist Marcelo DiChiara (DC Super Hero Girls, Teen Titans Go!), Batman: Overdrive is a heartfelt story touching on the importance of friendship, trust, and forgiveness.