Warning: possible spoilers for Bruce Wayne: Not Super ahead!
Young Bruce Wayne must contend with not having powers in a new Young Adult graphic novel arriving next Spring. Titled Bruce Wayne: Not Super and targeted at a middle-grade reader audience, the book follows Bruce’s adventures at an exclusive school for the “gifted.” There, he must navigate not only the high school experience, but also find his place alongside his super-powered classmates. Written by Stuart Gibbs and illustrated by Berat Pekmezci, the book goes on sale in print and digital February 7, 2023.
In recent years, DC Comics has released graphic novels aimed at middle-grade and young adult readers, showcasing age-appropriate stories of some of the publisher’s biggest icons. Previous entries have focused on not only heavy hitters such as Batman and Wonder Woman, but also lesser-known, “off the beaten path” characters such as Swamp Thing and even John Constantine. These graphic novels, touching on themes relevant to kids, have proven popular with not only their target demographics, but critics as well. The forthcoming Bruce Wayne: Not Super looks to keep the streak going, treating readers to a fresh new take on Batman’s origin.
In a press release from DC, the publisher treated fans to a first look at the original graphic novel, including plot details as well as a look at the cover art. 13-year old Bruce Wayne enrolls at a prep school for the gifted, where his classmates have superpowers. A fish out of water, Bruce must find his place alongside those who outclass him in many ways. Complicating matters are fellow students Jack Napier and Bane, who are bullying younger students, including Dick Grayson. It falls on Bruce to stand up for Dick and the rest of his classmates and to find a way to stop Napier and Bane–without the aid of superpowers. The press release went on to say Bruce Wayne: Not Super was “filled with a lot of humor,” and would be a fresh take on not only Batman’s origin, but the entire Justice League as well.
Batman has lasted for over 80 years, with countless takes across a wide variety of media on his origin, and Bruce Wayne: Not Super may be the most unique. Although comic fans the world over know who Bruce Wayne truly is, the name “Batman” is not in the title, shifting the focus onto young Bruce Wayne. This version of Bruce Wayne is years away from becoming Batman, but the qualities that drive him are already in place. Bruce wants to save others, and make the world a better place. Batman has a reputation as one of the most resourceful heroes in the DC Universe, with multiple ways of defeating his foes–even those who outrank him in power. Batman knows that in a majority of the fights he goes into that he is outgunned, and instead he must out think and outmaneuver his opponents; some of the best Batman stories have followed this mold and Bruce Wayne: Not Super presents a novel take on this classic trope. By re-imagining Batman and his friends as teenagers, Gibbs and Pekmezci, are creating a unique Batman story that will speak to younger readers.
Comic fans the world over know Batman’s origin; it has been interpreted and re-interpreted many times over and now DC is giving readers a fresh new spin in Bruce Wayne: Not Super.
Bruce Wayne: Not Super will be released from DC Comics on February 7th, 2023.
Source: DC Comics