Bruce Wayne: Not Super: The Bat-Catastrophe

by Stuart Gibbs, Berat Pekmezci (Illustrator), Wes Abbott (Letterer)

New York Times bestselling author Stuart Gibbs (Spy School) brings his signature wit and heart to the second installment of Bruce Wayne: Not Super - a laugh-out-loud, lesson-packed adventure perfect for middle grade readers who love heroes with humor.

When Jack Napier and his hulking sidekick Bane are recruited by Hugo Strange for a high-stakes heist at Gotham City Bank, Bruce will get a second chance to prove he has what it takes to defend the streets of Gotham. But Bruce gets more than he bargained for when he catches Selina helping Jack. Coming from a school full of heroes and villains, he should have known she would be more than she seems! And now Bruce will have to find a way to stop them all before they can accomplish their plan.

160 pages, Paperback

Expected publication September 1, 2026

Reviews

[Ben A · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I read the first volume of Bruce Wayne: Not Super, I remarked that it would make a great series and three years later I got my wish with this second adventure. The Bat-Catastrophe moves the story along in great ways and is the perfect entry into these characters. I’m only hoping we don’t have to wait another three years for a third volume.

Special Thanks to DC Comics and Netgalley for the digital ARC. This was given to me for an honest review.

[Relena_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been reading a lot of the DC titles for contemporary middle grades readers and I think this one was the most successful so far.

While readers will benefit from a working knowledge of DC, this is a wholly original story where the heroes and villains are all reimagined as tweens/teens who would be welcome in a modern middle school. The conceit here of attempting to form factions of crime-fighters and villains at school allows for try-out montages that get us through multiple character introductions quickly.

This Bruce's willingness to tell everyone he's Batman is especially funny, as is Super-Man's immediate valorization.

The art here is bright and Middle Grades friendly, while also working in a classic enough palate that all characters are recognizable.

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC and I look forward to more.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

As long as you are OK with the many changes to the Batman myth, this middle school aged graphic novel is a ton of fun. This Bruce Wayne is trying to make it as Batman while in middle school. A middle school where all of the super-powered characters of DC also go to school. When Professor Hugo Strange prompts Jack Napier and Bane to rob a bank, Batman and Robin are on the case. The writing is irreverent and fun, perfect for kids and adults who like lighter toned comics.

[Itza · Rating 5 out of 5]

adorable plot, great starter comic for young readers. i love the little running gag where everyone calls Batman a different animal.

loved the bat-sound enchancers panel, super cool color scheme and funny too! i died when alfred drove and dropped him off cause he doesn’t have a license yet