Early Reader Review: Batman: Overdrive by Shea Fontana, Illustrated by Marcelo Di Chiara

Source: From the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Batman: Overdrive by Shea Fontana, Illustrated by Marcelo Di Chiara
Publisher: CD Comics
Publication Date:  March 3, 2020

 

Format: Paperback

Rating:






Goodreads Synopsis: 

Batman: Overdrive tells the story of how a young, pre-Batman Bruce Wayne came to build the Batmobile while still processing the pain and guilt of his parents' death, and how he comes to understand that he doesn't have to walk through life on his own.

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 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. His quest for freedom while still clinging to the past is revealed in his effort to rebuild his dad's first car. 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 writer Shea Fontana and artist Marcelo DiChiara is a heartfelt story touching on the importance of friendship, trust, and forgiveness.

Review: 
Batman: Overdrive is a fun new story of Batman as a teen, dealing with the grief of losing his parents, and the strict rules that Alfred has placed for his safety. This graphic novel is geared for readers age 7-11, and touches on a lot of lessons. There is a focus on friendship, grief, and trust. Young Bruce Wayne is impulsive and wants to do what he wants to do without really thinking about the consequences or the trouble he is causing others, in typical teen fashion. He learns that he needs to have allies to succeed and he comes to find that the help around him is much needed and should be appreciated. 

I really enjoyed the fast-paced story, and even when Bruce is an annoying head-strong teen, the character development was very well done. The illustration throughout the book was vibrant and I believe that the story line overall will be appealing to the age group it is geared toward.  Bruce does show some maturity in the end and I think that the younger audience will learn from him and the actions he takes. 

If you are already a fan of the Batman world, or you are tying to share the experience with your kids in a more reserved fashion, this will be a great book and series to add to your collection. There still is violence, which is expected in a hero story, so don't be surprised by that. There are also heavier topics like murder and grief, so just make sure your younger readers are emotionally and mentally prepared for those things.