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Book Information

Title: Study Hall of Justice – Secret Hero Society

Author: Derek Fridolfs and Dustin Nguyen

Series: Yes – Book #1

Rating: 4 out of 5

Genres: Graphic Novel, Superhero (DC), Action and Adventure, Mystery, Humor

Publisher & Published Date: Scholastic Inc. 2016, 175 pages

Book Summary

“The team behind DC Comics LIL' GOTHAM takes readers to the halls of Ducard Academy in Gotham City, where a young Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman start their very own Junior Detective Agency! Young Bruce Wayne is the new kid at Ducard Academy, a prep school for gifted middle school students. Bruce finds out pretty quickly that he doesn't fit in: the faculty seems not just to encourage villainous behavior from its students, but reward it. He makes friends with two other outsiders, farm boy Clark Kent and the regal Diana Prince. The three come together to form a detective squad to find out why all of these extraordinary kids have been brought together at Ducard Academy and see just what the faculty is plotting. An all-new series from the Eisner-nominated team behind Batman Lil' Gotham (Dustin Nguyen and Derek Fridolfs), Secret Hero Society uses comics, journal entries, and doodles to reimagine Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman as three students in the same school. They'll try their best to solve their case, but just because you're faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, or an Amazonian princess, it doesn't mean you get to stay up past eleven.”

Book Review

I am a Marvel and DC fan, and I love reading and watching any content about superheroes. Study Hall of Justice is the first installment in the Secret Hero Society series. I happened to stumble across this book when I was in the library and had to check it out. While this is a children's graphic novel, it is still a delightful read about the famous DC Trinity. This reimagining features the Man of Steel, Caped Crusader, and Amazing Amazon as young students at The Ducard Academy.

In this story, the point-of-view is from Bruce Wayne. From the very beginning, he knows something is up at this new school. Most of the students are trouble-makers, bullies, and delinquents, the class topics are odd, and bad behavior is rewarded rather than punished. Bruce meets the friendly Clark Kent and Diana Prince, who also don't fit in but sticks to himself initially as he isn't one to trust easily. However, he soon forms a group with them to investigate the strange and mysterious things happening. Bruce is a bit hesitant to call Clark and Diana friends but eventually warms up to them. The strong bond and friendship between the Big Three are among my favorite aspects of DC Comics (and many other fans, too), so I was super excited to see that portrayed here. It's interesting to see Bruce, Clark, and Diana as kids. While they are not the crime-fighting badass adults we know and love yet, their personalities are still true to who they are: Bruce is intelligent, guarded, and mysterious, Clark is friendly, moral, and hard-working, and Diana is outgoing, compassionate, and driven.

I love all the little details, nods, and references scattered throughout the novel. It will probably go over children's heads, but adults will love the Easter eggs dropped here and there. Some of my favorites include "Kneel before Coach Zod" and "If you're looking for an answer, then we've got the Question." While the plot is cute and straightforward (DC fans will figure out who the mastermind behind the school is pretty quickly), there is plenty of heartwarming and funny moments to keep you reading. One amusing scene is during Halloween when all the students dress up, and we see Bruce, Clark, and Diana comment on each other's costumes. They are all dressed up in their comic book attire, and the following situation occurs. While Clark and Diana laugh and don't understand Bruce's costume, Bruce agonizes that the other two look the same and don't wear masks. It's such a cute nod to the running joke that nobody ever puts together who the alter egos of these heroes are. 

Study Hall of Justice (DC Comics – Secret Hero Society #1) was cute and entertaining. My biggest problem with the novel is the lack of color, as I can't help but feel that it would be more enjoyable and eye-catching. Other than that minor complaint, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It combines elements of a story with illustrations, but I love the vibrancy of comics and other graphic novels. Like different story-graphic novel hybrids such as Diary of a Wimpy Kid, the text messages, flyers, and notes scattered intermittently throughout the pages are an excellent addition to the story's overall tone. It is a perfect option for kids (and adults) who want to read more about the adventures of Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman.

Memorable Quotes

"Friendships are about accepting our differences as well as our similarities. When we do that, we're able to become something greater as a whole than we are apart. A true friend." – Alfred

"…I think I'm being followed, we all might be” - Bruce "You sound kinda paranoid" - Clark "Bruce sounds like Bruce. Xp - Diana

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