ALA Booklist (Sun Dec 01 00:00:00 CST 2019)

For more than six decades, Batman's youth remained untrammeled narrative territory. Now, it's an industry unto itself as superhero publishers challenge the very concept of market saturation with products like this graphic novel adaptation of a novel that adapts a mythology drawn from comics, TV, and movies. Batman is particularly ripe for coming-of-age tales, given his early trauma and his brooding appeal. Here, 18-year-old Bruce Wayne, on the verge of inheriting his parents' vast empire, fumbles an early attempt at crime-fighting and ends up with community service in the dreaded Arkham Asylum. There, he makes a connection with Madeline, the leader of an anarchist gang targeting Gotham's rich and powerful. Like Bruce, she's hiding many secrets and plans, and Lu and adapter Moore hit some enjoyable notes finding parallels between them as they match wits and traumas, simultaneously poking some relevant questions about privilege. Already own the novel? The striking black-and-white art creates a rich noir tone, while bursts of yellow create a crisp counterpoint that cleverly suggests the hues of an imminent costume.

Kirkus Reviews (Sun Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

A pre-Batman Bruce Wayne takes his first strides toward becoming the Caped Crusader.In this graphic adaptation of the novel by the same name, 18-year-old newly minted billionaire Wayne wrestles with increasingly adult issues: how to control his newfound power in managing his deceased parents' fortune, facing the unknown once high school ends, and an intense call to defend the city he loves. When a nefarious group known as the Nightwalkers descends upon Gotham City, reigning terror upon the rich, Bruce begins his first foray into vigilantism. Unimpressed by his attempts, he is reprimanded by the GCPD and sent to work at Arkham Asylum, where he befriends enigmatic inmate Madeleine, a Nightwalker with a dark past. Like most Batman tales, the lines between good and evil are nebulous, and as Bruce struggles with issues like economic inequality, he learns he must define those boundaries himself. With electric pacing and dynamic black-and-white illustrations punctuated with bright splashes of yellow, Moore's (The Zodiac Legacy, 2017, etc.) adaptation of Lu's (Wildcard, 2018, etc.) novel is a visual delight with all the cinematic panache one would expect from the superhero franchise. Focusing upon Wayne before he fully adopted his Batman persona, this makes for a fine jumping in point for both seasoned fans and newcomers alike. Wayne presents as white, but secondary characters are ethnically diverse.A worthy addition to the expansive Batman corpus. (Graphic fiction. 12-adult)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

This satisfactory adaptation of Lu-s eponymous novel by Eisner Award-winner Moore (Captain Ginger) presents the moral dilemmas of a young Bruce Wayne battling crime without the aid of his bat-themed costume and gadgetry. Just as Bruce turns 18 and inherits his fortune, a new gang, the -Nightwalkers,- begins to kill and steal from Gotham-s wealthiest citizens. When Bruce-s interference in a police chase ends in a car crash, he is charged with several crimes and sentenced to community service at Arkham Asylum. This rather inappropriate placement allows Lu and Moore to depict Bruce on the receiving end of objectification by the inmates, and sets up a meeting between him and Madeleine Wallace, a beautiful 18-year-old Nightwalker inmate. After a breakout from Arkham, Bruce dons a prototype armor suit to take down the baddies, adding more action sequences to the story-s early focus on interpersonal relationships. The art by Wildgoose (Batgirl) shows expressive, sharply featured characters in neon yellow-accented grayscale. While some may wonder where the batarangs and Batmobile are, readers should enjoy watching the proto-hero learn what is required to fight crime. Ages 13-17. (Oct.)

School Library Journal (Sun Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

Gr 7 Up-Bruce Wayne is Batman in all but name in this adaptation of Lu's YA novel. Though a self-conscious teenager at 18, he nonetheless gives chase to criminals and checks in with Lucius Fox about the WayneTech company. His daring exploits land him in community service at Arkham Asylum, where women inmates catcall him daily. Detective Draccon of the Gotham City Police keeps a watchful eye over him, including calling out his billionaire privilege. She and Bruce are on separate trails of the Nightwalkers, a group of violent activists who rob and murder the ultra-rich. An Arkham inmate, Madeleine, seems to play Bruce for a fool but also feeds him clues about the Nightwalkers' plans and makes pointed critiques of the one percent. The two share a budding romance, veiled in mind games. Fans of the Dark Knight will recognize Easter eggs aplenty, including the Draculords from DC's YA series "Gotham Academy." Other figures from Batman's storied past, such as Harvey Dent and Alfred Pennyworth, make winking contributions to the story alongside would-be rival Richard Price, generic friend Dianne, and strong-arm Arkham warden Dr. Zoe James. The artwork is almost entirely black-and-white; yellow highlights indicate danger, making action scenes pop and subtly highlighting otherwise innocuous objects. Wildgoose's illustrations adeptly depict awkward adolescent exchanges as well as tense interrogations and violent standoffs. VERDICT Bat-fans will find no shortage of hooks to grab their attention, while the central mystery is a fun cat-and-mouse game in itself. Thomas Maluck, Richland Library, SC