Batman: Overdrive

by Shea Fontana, Marcelo Di Chiara (Illustrator)

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.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Dc Comics, Superheroes, Batman, Middle Grade, Young Adult

136 pages, Paperback

First published March 3, 2020

About the author

Shea Fontana is a writer for film, television and graphic novels. Her credits include developing and writing the DC Super Hero Girls animated shorts, TV specials, movies and graphic novels; Polly Pocket (developed and story editor), Doc McStuffins, The 7D, Whisker Haven Tales with the Palace Pets (wrote show bible and first season), Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz (story editor), the new Muppet Babies series; two Disney on Ice shows where she wrote new material for the worlds of Mickey Mouse, Inside Out, Disney Princesses, Finding Dori, Frozen, and other Disney and Pixar properties; and the feature film, Crowning Jules. She has also written for top comic titles including Justice League, Wonder Woman, Batman: Overdrive (coming 2019), Catwoman/Looney Tunes, and contributed anthology pieces starring Deathstroke and Teen Titans.

Her DC Super Hero Girls graphic novels have been New York Times Best Sellers. Her debut graphic novel, Finals Crisis, was honored with Diamond's 2016 Gem Award for Best All-Ages Graphic Novel, and DC Super Hero Girls: Past Times at Super Hero High won the 2017 Gem Award for Best All-Ages Graphic Novel as well as the Comixology Reader's Pick award for Best All-Ages Graphic Novel of 2017. DC Super Hero Girls won the 2018 Ringo Award for Best Kids Comic or Graphic Novel. She was listed 61st on Bleeding Cool’s Power List of Comics for 2018. The London Free Press declared her “not afraid to be corny,” which is an accurate assessment of her persona both on and off the page.

She lives in sunny Los Angeles where she enjoys hiking, hanging out with her beagle, Ziggy, and changing her hair color. Using the secret identity “Shea Q. Off,” Shea played roller derby until her angry knees forced her into early retirement.

Reviews

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Batman gets a Fast & Furious makeover in this graphic novel for kids. Bruce Wayne is fixing up his dad's old car to turn into his Batmobile. He makes some friends along the way in Mateo and Selina Kyle. Of course, there's a car theft ring in town as well. The art's simple and bright. I'm sure the story will be a winner with kids.

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

Batman's origin gets mashed up with the Fast and Furious franchise and given a Disney channel spin, as a 15-year-old Bruce Wayne teams up with Mateo "Doc" Diaz and Selina "Cat" Kyle to restore his dead father's cool classic car and solve his parents' murder. Prime suspects include Carmine Falcone and Alfred Pennyworth(!), because, y'know, no one over went wrong saying, "The butler did it!"

A breathless, brainless tale with lots of car chases, martial arts, and familiar faces with brand-new backstories. It'll probably be popular with its target audience.

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young Bruce Wayne is weeks away from getting his driver's license, and decides to repair his father's classic car, and maybe give it some upgrades, and maybe start calling it the Batmobile. Bruce is tracking a car theft ring, and hoping they will lead to clues about his parents' murders. He is isolated and alone, but as he searches junkyards for replacement parts and tracks the car thefts, he befriends two teens that he is certain he can trust... until he can't.

I loved this graphic novel! Batman has never been my favorite superhero- too dark for me- but I really enjoyed reading about a young Bruce who is just forming his identity as a hero and learning from his early mistakes. Bruce is charming and just so cool. He takes too many risks and has a lot of anger inside though. It was great to see his character growing and developing as he dealt with some of those issues.

I especially loved the scenes with the butler, Alfred. He is so serene and calm. His relationship with Bruce is full of conflict, but eventually Bruce works through his fears, his anxiety, and his rebellion, and the two have a renewed relationship of trust and family love.

I loved the illustrations, and the use of bright and dark colors in the artwork to enhance the mood of each scene. Each character has a distinct look, and I appreciated how expressive their faces are. The art tells the story just as much as the text does. I also appreciate how clear the action scenes are. You can tell very clearly exactly what movements people are making as they chase, fight, and punch each other.

The story line is emotional, mysterious, and full of clues and adventure! I liked the way themes of forgiveness, inner peace, identity, and friendship are incorporated with each relationship and decision that the characters make.

A very cool introduction to Batman's origin story, and I hope there are many more books in this series! This graphic novel is perfect for middle grade and YA readers!


Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone knows that Batman and Bruce Wayne are the same guy, but do you really know the Caped Crusader's story? This comic book delves into the Dark Knight's early years, showing how he went from rich orphan to vigilante, and the creation of the Batmobile. While some of this may be old hat to most superhero fans--I can't begin to count how many different versions of Thomas and Martha Wayne's murders than I've seen or read--it was still an enjoyable read.

[Khurram · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story, aimed a young readers, but nothing wrong with that. I do like the way Young Bruce Wayne is portrayed. He acts like a rich entitled teenage, because he us a rich entitled teenager.

The authors got tte characters obsessive behaviour right and well as the teenage ego to help it along. I do like the way the new Bat family comes together. Unlike the true and brooding Batman, this version of Bruce has an actual shot of being happy.

A good lighter, and brighter version of Bruce/Young Batman. The cars are a great way to entice younger readers into the book as well. Not the Bruce/Batman I am more familiar with, but a good story that really came together for me at the end. Could the version actually gave a happy ending?

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for a free review copy of this.

This is a great introduction to the Batman lore if someone is unfamiliar with it. This would be a great jumping off point for kids to get started reading Batman if they've never read it before. I really liked the dynamic between Bruce, Selina, and Mateo. They all had something different to bring to the friendship and they meshed well with each other. I also enjoyed the storyline. It flowed nicely but not everything was wrapped up in a bow at the end of the story. I think that this book is a great start if you have a kid in your life that wants to get into comics but is daunted by everything that's out there. Highly recommend this for that reason alone, but it is also a great comic.

[Sesana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite a different take on Batman's origin story. Yes, Bruce is still an orphaned billionaire being raised by his butler, but this time he's a teenager when he decides to become a vigilante, and he's rebelling against poor Alfred. Yes, this book is just as much about Bruce's relationship with Alfred as it is anything else, and Bruce's rebellion does make sense, in a general sense and as seen here. It's also good to see Bruce accidentally make friends. In general, Fontana did a good job of softening Bruce's edges without losing the essence of the character.

[Guilherme Smee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mais um quadrinho da linha Kids da DC Comics, dessa vez apresentando o Batman em sua juventude, além de vários personagens do universo do homem-morcego versão young e alguns novos. A história se desenvolve em torno de uma das traquitanas morceguísticas mais famosas do mundo: o batmóvel. Claro, esta é uma versão da história de Batman e, através dela a origem do herói está ligada à tunagem de um carro que já foi tanto do mordomo Alfred quanto do pai de Bruce Wayne, Thomas. Todos os personagens dirigem carros e tudo na história envolve veículos, ou seja, uma história em quadrinhos perfeitas para aquelas crianças que são apaixonadas por carrinhos e quetais. O roteiro fica a cargo de Shea Fontana, que também é a escritora das HQs de DC Super-Hero Girls e os desenhos são de responsabilidade do brasileiro Marcelo DiChiara, que traz ares estilo Ben10 para esta graphic novel infantil. Batman: Ultrpassagem é um quadrinho bstante divertido e que vai agradar tanto os velhotes fãs do morcego quanto as crianças que etão começando a interagir com o universo de Gotham City.

[K Whatsherface · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun little revamp of batman before he was batman. Also we get great father alfred moments. This was fun

[Randi (Rampant Reading Reviews) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of Batman: Overdrive from Netgalley so I could share my thoughts with you!

Batman: Overdrive follows a teenage Bruce Wayne as he struggles to find a way to live up to the legacy his parents left them when they were killed. Bruce is nearly sixteen, and has decided that it’s time for him to start taking responsibility for his position in the world. After discovering his father’s old car sitting broken and useless in the garage, Bruce suddenly feels as though he has found his mission. With the help of a few friends, Bruce begins to work to repair the vehicle, so that he can begin to follow his father’s lead in helping Gotham become a safer place to live. Before Bruce can begin to make Gotham better, though, he must first learn to control his own anger that simmers beneath the surface.

You can get your copy of Batman: Overdrive on March 3rd from DC Comics!

This was a Batman story different from any of the (numerous) others I have read, primarily because of its focus on cars and driving! Shae Fontana really captures the moody vibe I would expect from a teenage Batman. At times I grew rather irritated with his attitude, but I suppose this was a tool to help show growth in him later in the story. Marcelo Di Chiara’s are was an interesting choice, and was quite unique! The characters proportions struck me as a tad bit strange at times, but I still enjoyed reading!

My Recommendation-
If you’ve got a middle grade reader interested in superheroes or cars, Batman: Overdrive would be a good pick! This wasn’t my personal favorite, but I think with the right reader this story could have a great impact!

[Mandyhello · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good tween retelling of Bruce Wayne becoming Batman. Alfred-forward which is always the way to go

[tony dillard jr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Batman has almost always had his Batmobile. Now you can learn the origins of the world’s most iconic superhero sportster in the pages of the new graphic novel Batman: Overdrive!

Batman: Overdrive
Written by Shea Fontana
Illustrated by Marcelo DiChiara
Published by DC Comics
Pages: 136
Retail: $9.99

If you are familiar with Batman, then his origin story should be old hat. As a youngster, Bruce Wayne watches as a robbery gone wrong takes the lives of his parents. Now an orphan, Bruce channels his rage into one day finding the killer. Through intense physical and mental training, Bruce becomes The Batman, the world’s greatest detective.

But how did Batman get his Batmobile?

That question is answered in this all-new graphic novel by Shea Fontana (DC Superhero Girls) and Marcelo DiChiara (Smallville). Batman: Overdrive is framed similarly to the Fox TV series, Gotham. Both have a teenaged Bruce Wayne becoming acquainted with many of the characters years before he would when he becomes Batman. Yet like Gotham, as much as such a plot makes my brain itch. Shea Fontana makes it work.

We don’t see Bruce Wayne being directly involved in the origins of villains such as Two-Face, Mister Freeze or The Joker. Instead, Bruce engages in characters that for the most part could be in Gotham City pre-Batman. Of course, there’s Selina Kyle as an orphaned cat burglar roaming the streets of Gotham City. Pamela Isley and Harleen Quinzel are here too. The only character I objected to was in the inclusion of a teen version of Lady Shiva. I think it would have made more sense having that character be Katana instead.

Overdrive introduces fans to an all-new character in Mateo Diaz. An expert mechanic, it’s him that inspires Bruce to soup up his Batmobile into a fearsome automobile fortress. Whereas Lucius Fox is the real character who did this in the comics, Fox is also too old for a 15-year old Bruce to be going out in the middle of the night to fight crime with. Plus, Mateo was a very well written character that I would like to see pop up in the pages of the adult Batman books.

The main focus of this book is the relationship between Bruce and Alfred. It’s uneasy as Bruce doubts his butler’s sincerity as a caregiver. A real mystery is uncovered when Bruce discovers evidence that Alfred used to work for crime boss Carmine Falcone at one point! Could Batman’s faithful butler actually be behind the death of Thomas and Martha Wayne?

If you love cars, you will love this book. There’s dozens of great automobiles and several Bullit-level car chases in this graphic novel. In fact, I think I like Marcelo DiChiara’s illustrations of the machinery way more than I did of the characters. They looked a little too generic for me. But those cars! Even the Mateo’s hunk o’ junk VW Beetle looks pretty sweet.

Batman: Overdrive gives small little nods to the rich 80-year plus history of the Dark Knight. But there’s several Easter egg nods to the 1966 Batman TV show that I enjoyed the most. This graphic novel doesn’t seek to rewrite the history of Batman. But it does modify it just as Bruce and Mateo do with the ‘66 Crusader that is destined to become The Caped Crusader’s most trusted ally!

An entertaining book that builds on decades of comic book lore while not being stale. This is a graphic novel that Batman fans of all generations will love!

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bruce Wayne can't wait to turn 16, get his driver's license and be free from Alfred's wheels. It has been 8 years since his parents' deaths, and Bruce is convinced the real criminal is still out there. He wants to be able to drive around and do his own sleuthing. He decides to rebuild his dad's first car, and reluctantly agrees to let the guy at the scrap yard, Mateo, help him out. Eventually, another team member wiggles her way into joining the remodeling job crew, Selina. But will having the car rebuilt and going vigilante bring Bruce what he really needs?

Ok, trivia question Batman super fans. How many different variations of Batman's origin story are out there? I can think of a couple off the top of my head and that's with never having really read any of the comics, just watching the old TV show and some movies. Well, this one adds another one. But I like it. It also gives Alfred more of a backstory than I've ever heard of before (though again, I haven't read any other Batman comics). It was a good look at how we need others and how grief can do strange things to your perspective if you don't have some good people around you to keep you grounded. They also obviously had fun imagining how some of Bruce's gadgets could have come about, and a non-traumatized bat inspiration. This is shelved as middle grade several places, but considering all the main characters are solidly in their teens I'm shelving it in YA in our library. Hand this to Batman fans maybe not ready for the adult comics.

Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. The Wayne parents' shooting is implied but not actually shown on page (the scene fades to black and just a "Bang" word is shown). There's some martial arts fight scenes (Bruce is taking a class) and run ins with bad guys, but that's mostly talking and driving very little actual violence on page.

[Ben Truong · Rating 3 out of 5]

Batman: Overdrive is a graphic novel written by Shea Fontana and illustrated by Marcelo Di Chiara. It retells the story about Bruce Wayne fixing up an old car, which could be the precursor to the Batmobile.

Obsessed with finding the answers to the mystery behind his parents' murders, Bruce Wayne doesn't have many friends. He spends his days brooding and being waited upon by his butler, Alfred Pennyworth. However, Bruce is looking forward to getting his driver's license on his sixteenth birthday. Bruce was inspired by a picture of his father standing beside a 1966 Crusader and decides to restore the vehicle after finding it in storage.

In doing so, Bruce meets teen mechanic Mateo Diaz and the mysterious Selina Kyle. As the trio works to repair the Crusader the teens develop a friendship and uncover startling revelations about the Wayne murders.

Batman: Overdrive is written and constructed moderately well. While the action is crisp and the characterization is strong with interesting characters and the introduction of Mateo Diaz, the mystery needed to be solve was rather weak. Despite this, it is an irrepressibly fun book that gives us a unique take on Bruce Wayne backed up by some highly entertaining car chase action and a strong supporting cast.

All in all, Batman: Overdrive is a somewhat interesting retelling of Bruce Wayne as Batman and his infamous car in the Batmobile.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars for a cute "Otherwords-type" Batman Origins story.

I'm not going to lie, I had a hard time with Bruce being such a D**k to Alfred in the beginning, but the other reviewers said it well..Bruce is a teenager. He's bit of an entitled rich A-hole, but, there is a lot of character growth here, and I do think Shea Fontana did get Bruce's character down really well (from the obsession to the brooding to the trauma of losing his parents).

I do kinda hate how in all these new "Otherworld" type OG stories all the characters are together in a way that makes it feel really not authentic, i.e like how Lady Shiva, Harley, Selina & Pam are all part of a girl's orphanage run by the Falcone's & they all take Karate at the same place Bruce does. I honestly think the story could have done without the named villains, and they could have been random girls and not the future Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy & Lady Shiva and the story would have been the same for me. I did like Selina though (I'm a bit of a Cat/Bat-fan). <3
I also liked the introduction of Mateo. He was a great friend and side character.

The ending was sweet & besides for the rough patches (of Bruce being a D**k), I really enjoyed this baby Batman graphic novel.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Batman: Overdrive" is the prequel story to the worldwide phenomenon known as our current Batman. "Overdrive" starts three weeks before Bruce Wayne's sixteenth birthday; his parents have been dead for the past eight years, but that doesn't mean it's any less difficult for him. Keeping himself busy with self-defense classes has sparked an interest in his life and has made him think of possibly taking this hobby a step further. Bruce has always had a special interest in his parents' murder case, but after a string of car thefts, he feels like he is destined to do more with his resources and power as the heir of the Wayne estate. Making a few friends along the way, they work together to form the ultimate crime-fighting group and help mold Bruce Wayne into the Batman he is currently known to be.
Written in sequential art format, the story is simple to follow for almost any age of reader. The pictures are dark, much like the subject of the story. The length is just right and allows for the right amount of action, excitement, and self-growth to take place. This story is recommended for any fans of the Batman series, or DC comics in general.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was not a huge fan of this book. It was kind of obvious that it was made for a younger audience, and don't get me wrong like it's good for a kid but I've read quite a few graphic novels directed at a younger audience and they were more enjoyable to read than this. It might've been from how Bruce was betrayed in this, even though he usually is a brat in his teens, but if I saw this kid in the street before the ending of the book I would want to fight him tbh. LIke he was such a snot also just ugh. This just wasn't as fun to read as the other young adult graphic novels that DC has put out lately sadly.

[Craig Pearson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this graphic novel. Over the years theree have been many attempts, both in print and the movies, to explain and describe the origins of Batman. This story actually revolves around the origins of the Batmobile and Bruce Wayne's relationship with Alfred, his butler/mentor. This graphic novel is clearly and simply written. The graphics a bright and not confusing. It is up to the reader who has knowledge of Batman to decide how this story fits into the pantheon of Bruce Wayne history.

[Katt Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Young Bruce Wayne is filled with anger and angst - which is standard for his origin story in becoming Batman. The rest of this book is not.

In this story we see Bruce the detective, and the builder of the Batmobile. But you also see some softening around the edges as he makes friends and includes him in trying to solve the mysteries he's pulled into. An interesting take on things, that never quite rings true. Still, it's fresh and pulls the story in a new direction. I'd honestly like to know if there's more books in this particular series to see where it goes from here.

[Eyal Suseela · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars overall.

This was a sweet story of Bruce Wayne's younger days. Kind of predictable, but also super heartwarming. I like stories that give Alfred his due, and also that show Bruce Wayne as the emotionally-dense-moron he can be. I enjoyed the story on its own, but I really liked the artwork-the choice of colors throughout and the expressiveness of the main characters faces moved this from a 3-star to a 4-star.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 4 out of 5]

This graphic novel recreates Bruce Wayne's backstory in a fun, exciting, and different way. People who are very invested in a particular image of Batman may not like this, since the author makes lots of creative choices that aren't in line with typically accepted canon, but I enjoyed this a lot. It's very clever, has great twists, and packs an emotional punch. I especially enjoyed the fresh take on Alfred, and found this engaging from beginning to end.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice little read. It was a pretty good modern, kid-friendly take on a Batman origin story. It had some nice callbacks to actual canon, like a stuffed T-Rex in their monitor room. Bruce came off as more than a little annoying, but, let’s be real… that’s a part of growing up. You have to learn to appreciate things—just like Bruce does with Alfred in this book. And this story really understood that—the Alfred father/son relationship with Bruce Wayne. There were some lovely heartwarming moments.

[Lizz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good intro to Bruce/Batman for kids. You meet a lot of the standard players and rogues gallery, so if you have an older kid who’s looking to start on Batman stuff, this isn’t a bad place to begin. As someone whose favorite part of Batman is usually Alfred, and Bruce and Alfred’s relationship, I enjoyed that aspect of the story a lot.

[Louis Skye · Rating 3 out of 5]

A retelling of the Batman origin story. I love Alfred in this book, and the art is cute, but Bruce being a whiny, selfish brat in every iteration is getting annoying. He straight up puts people’s lives in danger from being self-absorbed in this book.
Didn’t feel like the story did that much different with the mythology. The recurring theme of getting a driver’s license was a bit weird, honestly.

[Joy ;) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book wasn’t bad, but it’s not on my favorites list.

It was worlds better than Gotham High, but not as great as I expected. Bruce was pretty cringe a lot of the time but what can I say, he’s Bruce Wayne
Overall, it was entertaining. I wouldn’t read it again, but it kept me involved in the story, despite it being slightly predictable.
7/10 good for middle schoolers

[blueygurl2016 · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, on one panel they misspelled thief. Second of all, I don’t think we needed another piece of Batman media that deals with him and his parents’ murders. This book was just okay. I liked the relationship he had with Alfred and with Selina Kyle. Mateo was a pretty good new character as well.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like how this focused in on the Batmobile - this story gets told so many times and it was a fun twist, especially with the mechanical side of the story. I did notice a few errors and the story felt like it was written pretty young, but it was still enjoyable.

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Angsty teenage Batman graphic novel. About what you’d expect. I’ve never loved Batman/Bruce Wayne as a character so I liked this about as much as I could have expected but it was a quick, fluffy read for me.

[James Calefato · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting read. A bit slow at the start but if you stick with it, it’s a very interesting what if style story. Leave all your pre conceptions about Batman behind and read this with a fresh mind. The art style is very engaging and nice. A good addition to any Batman & DC library.

[Ethan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book the chapters reparent what happens next it started from training to truth to cool car to allies to batman batman finds out who killed and helped kill his parents so read the book to find out.