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The Oracle Code
The #1 New York Times bestselling author Marieke Nijkamp (This Is Where It Ends) and artist Manuel Preitano unveil a graphic novel that explores the dark corridors of Barbara Gordon's first mystery: herself.
After a gunshot leaves her paralyzed, Barbara Gordon enters the Arkham Center for Independence, where Gotham's teens undergo physical and mental rehabilitation. Now using a wheelchair, Barbara must adapt to a new normal, but she cannot shake the feeling that something is dangerously amiss. Within these walls, strange sounds escape at night; patients go missing; and Barbara begins to put together pieces of what she believes to be a larger puzzle.
But is this suspicion simply a result of her trauma? Fellow patients try to connect with Barbara, but she pushes them away, and she'd rather spend time with ghost stories than participate in her daily exercises. Even Barbara's own judgment is in question.
In The Oracle Code, universal truths cannot be escaped, and Barbara Gordon must battle the phantoms of her past before they swarm her future.
After a gunshot leaves her paralyzed, Barbara Gordon enters the Arkham Center for Independence, where Gotham's teens undergo physical and mental rehabilitation. Now using a wheelchair, Barbara must adapt to a new normal, but she cannot shake the feeling that something is dangerously amiss. Within these walls, strange sounds escape at night; patients go missing; and Barbara begins to put together pieces of what she believes to be a larger puzzle.
But is this suspicion simply a result of her trauma? Fellow patients try to connect with Barbara, but she pushes them away, and she'd rather spend time with ghost stories than participate in her daily exercises. Even Barbara's own judgment is in question.
In The Oracle Code, universal truths cannot be escaped, and Barbara Gordon must battle the phantoms of her past before they swarm her future.
208 pages, Paperback
First published March 10, 2020
51 people are currently reading
6841 people want to read
About the author
Marieke Nijkamp
69 books2,199 followersMarieke Nijkamp a storyteller, dreamer, globe-trotter, geek.
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Please note I don't respond to friend requests or messages on GR, but you're always welcome to tweet or email me. :)
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Please note I don't respond to friend requests or messages on GR, but you're always welcome to tweet or email me. :)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 623 reviews
September 5, 2020
"I hate this." -- Barbara Gordon, on page 19
Oh 'Babs,' you're making it too easy to fashion a snarky or cutting line about how I didn't really enjoy your new YA-themed graphic novel The Oracle Code. It was sort of a shame, too - I repeatedly make mention in GR reviews that Black Canary, Zatanna, and Barbara Gordon (a.k.a the original Batgirl, a.k.a Oracle, a.k.a. Joe the Cop on the 'What's Going Down' episode of That's My Mama . . . just kidding on that last one - or am I???) are some of my very favorite DC characters, especially when paired with a solid scribe like the outstanding Ms. Gail Simone. It's too bad that teenage Babs is ill-served here by this thin and boring supernatural-ish / sleuthing storyline and its cardboard villains, which ultimately had as much depth (and was about as memorable) as the average Scooby-Doo cartoon. While there were a few well-written moments concerning Babs' uneven emotional state with her adjustment to life in a wheelchair, the remainder of this 'reimagining' of her origin was dull.
Oh 'Babs,' you're making it too easy to fashion a snarky or cutting line about how I didn't really enjoy your new YA-themed graphic novel The Oracle Code. It was sort of a shame, too - I repeatedly make mention in GR reviews that Black Canary, Zatanna, and Barbara Gordon (a.k.a the original Batgirl, a.k.a Oracle, a.k.a. Joe the Cop on the 'What's Going Down' episode of That's My Mama . . . just kidding on that last one - or am I???) are some of my very favorite DC characters, especially when paired with a solid scribe like the outstanding Ms. Gail Simone. It's too bad that teenage Babs is ill-served here by this thin and boring supernatural-ish / sleuthing storyline and its cardboard villains, which ultimately had as much depth (and was about as memorable) as the average Scooby-Doo cartoon. While there were a few well-written moments concerning Babs' uneven emotional state with her adjustment to life in a wheelchair, the remainder of this 'reimagining' of her origin was dull.
March 1, 2020
A YA retelling of Barbara Gordon's origin as Oracle. Barbara is hanging out with her friend Ben and suffers an accident or is shot (The storytelling is very unclear on this point as she is shown falling off a rooftop but then it's referenced that she was shot later on in the story.) and is paralyzed from the waist down. Arkham has been reimagined as a rehabilitation center where one goes to learn to live with their new circumstances. The majority of the book is Babs trying to process what she's went through and deal with her feelings. The mystery angle of this book feels somewhat tacked on. It's given little time until the end where it all just blossoms out of nowhere.
Manuel Preitano's art is serviceable. The colors are used to show who your eyes should focus on in a panel. Only the characters of interest are in full color while everyone else is meant to fade into the background by splashing them all in the same color.
Received a review copy from DC and Edelweiss. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
Manuel Preitano's art is serviceable. The colors are used to show who your eyes should focus on in a panel. Only the characters of interest are in full color while everyone else is meant to fade into the background by splashing them all in the same color.
Received a review copy from DC and Edelweiss. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
June 27, 2020
I absolutely loved this book. Even though it’s targeted at young adults, this book takes in such a NUANCED conversation around disability. We watch Barbara transition from before and after her debilitation and watch as she struggles with her own self identity once she is a wheelchair user. But the parts of her that make her Barbara Gordon never changed and the author makes that clear. Through the support of other disabled kids she relearns who she is. Meanwhile the mystery plot is actually what challenges the medical model of disability and pushes back against notions of cure. It shows the horrors of institutionalization and just a small fraction of what the world does to disabled people, especially those who have no community to support them. It’s beautifully animated and just such a wholesome cast of characters. Yay for disabled people writing disabled narratives. 10/10 would read again (and I have bc I bought it)
April 9, 2020
i have a lot of conflicting feelings about this one.
on the one hand: this was a cute little story. it had an intriguing mystery, and the art was good. i think a lot of people, especially preteens, would find this enjoyable.
on the other hand.... something about this interpretation of Barbara felt off. i had a hard time separating this from every other batgirl & oracle comic i’ve read out there. i don’t know how i feel about all the changes to her origin story, though i do understand why some of them were done. her relationship with her father bothered me.
on the whole, this was ok. i think i was just expecting something different. and that’s on me.
on the one hand: this was a cute little story. it had an intriguing mystery, and the art was good. i think a lot of people, especially preteens, would find this enjoyable.
on the other hand.... something about this interpretation of Barbara felt off. i had a hard time separating this from every other batgirl & oracle comic i’ve read out there. i don’t know how i feel about all the changes to her origin story, though i do understand why some of them were done. her relationship with her father bothered me.
on the whole, this was ok. i think i was just expecting something different. and that’s on me.
December 6, 2022
I wasn't sure if I would be into this at first because I don't usually have much of an attachment to Babs, but wow, I loved this so much! The book starts off with Barbara in a really rough place, mentally. She's angry and scared and hurting because she's just been seriously injured and is learning to adapt to life using a wheelchair, so she lashes out a lot and keeps people at a distance. She quickly starts lowering those walls, though, and I loved her as she came out of her shell and began to form friendships with the other kids at the ACI. I really enjoyed the mystery and the slightly spooky elements to it, too. I'm so glad I picked this up and I highly recommend it.
✨ Representation: Babs uses a wheelchair, multiple side characters are disabled (including portrayals of wheelchair and crutch usage, spinal injuries, meningitis-related disabilities, and more), and multiple side characters are BIPOC including a primary side character who is Black and another primary side character who is Asian
✨ Content warnings for:
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✨ Representation: Babs uses a wheelchair, multiple side characters are disabled (including portrayals of wheelchair and crutch usage, spinal injuries, meningitis-related disabilities, and more), and multiple side characters are BIPOC including a primary side character who is Black and another primary side character who is Asian
✨ Content warnings for:
———
twitter | booktok | bookstagram | blog
March 11, 2020
I have been increasingly interested in these YA DC Comics adaptations and when I saw The Oracle Code I knew I had to read it. I am not as well versed in the DC universe, but The Oracle Code is a compelling read either way! I adored the disability representation and the overwhelming message that disabled people do not require fixing to be considered whole.
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
The Oracle Code is not only a story about that feeling in the pit of our stomach, but also about Barbara's tendency to isolate herself. Always focused on the mystery and the next challenge, Barbara was injured in a police chase, resulting in her use of a wheelchair, and is now recovering in Arkham Center for Independence. But as soon as Barbara arrives, she knows everything isn't what it seems. Barbara must not only deal with her PTSD from the accident, but also the need to uncover the truth and adjust to her new life.
I was instantly struck by the color scheme for The Oracle Code.It is striking, in shades of blue and green. And I loved the drawing style from Manuel Preitano. But I love The Oracle Code for its disability representation. Not only does it feature ownvoices disability representation from Nijkamp, but it deals with this harmful message that disabled people need fixing. And The Oracle Code takes a strong stance against that message. Their disabilities are not something that needs to be healed or fixed. It is such a strong and fantastic message to have in YA books, graphic novels, and the DC universe.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
The Oracle Code is not only a story about that feeling in the pit of our stomach, but also about Barbara's tendency to isolate herself. Always focused on the mystery and the next challenge, Barbara was injured in a police chase, resulting in her use of a wheelchair, and is now recovering in Arkham Center for Independence. But as soon as Barbara arrives, she knows everything isn't what it seems. Barbara must not only deal with her PTSD from the accident, but also the need to uncover the truth and adjust to her new life.
I was instantly struck by the color scheme for The Oracle Code.It is striking, in shades of blue and green. And I loved the drawing style from Manuel Preitano. But I love The Oracle Code for its disability representation. Not only does it feature ownvoices disability representation from Nijkamp, but it deals with this harmful message that disabled people need fixing. And The Oracle Code takes a strong stance against that message. Their disabilities are not something that needs to be healed or fixed. It is such a strong and fantastic message to have in YA books, graphic novels, and the DC universe.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
May 6, 2020
Thank you DC Comics for the gifted review copy in exchange for an honest review!
I’ve read quite a few of the young adult releases from DC Comics and this one is definitely one of my favorites!
The plot was so different and definitely a mystery I too tried solving. I loved following Barbara Gordon’s journey and especially towards healing. Loved that the author brought to us disability representation, and proved that people with disabilities don’t need to be fixed to be seen as whole. To me this is one of the most important representations that definitely should be available in books and other media. This book is from an own voice author so I’m sure many will appreciate this book and see themselves represented in this.
We had ghost stories and mysteries to solve in this one as Barbara moves into Arkham Center of Independence after her injury. I believe this book taught a lot of important things aside from what I already mentioned above. The importance of our get feeling and how most of the time that feeling is definitely to be trusted. We got to see Barbara go through her healing process and as she discovered what was most important about herself. She also formed friendships as she adjusted to her new life.
The story was wonderful in every way! definitely felt a lot of different things reading this one. And the art work was simply the best thing ever! the artist is incredible. The art style was gorgeous and the I loved the use of colors and how the artist mostly showed in each panel who we should focus on.
Overall, I adored this graphic novel and i can’t recommend this enough!
I’ve read quite a few of the young adult releases from DC Comics and this one is definitely one of my favorites!
The plot was so different and definitely a mystery I too tried solving. I loved following Barbara Gordon’s journey and especially towards healing. Loved that the author brought to us disability representation, and proved that people with disabilities don’t need to be fixed to be seen as whole. To me this is one of the most important representations that definitely should be available in books and other media. This book is from an own voice author so I’m sure many will appreciate this book and see themselves represented in this.
We had ghost stories and mysteries to solve in this one as Barbara moves into Arkham Center of Independence after her injury. I believe this book taught a lot of important things aside from what I already mentioned above. The importance of our get feeling and how most of the time that feeling is definitely to be trusted. We got to see Barbara go through her healing process and as she discovered what was most important about herself. She also formed friendships as she adjusted to her new life.
The story was wonderful in every way! definitely felt a lot of different things reading this one. And the art work was simply the best thing ever! the artist is incredible. The art style was gorgeous and the I loved the use of colors and how the artist mostly showed in each panel who we should focus on.
Overall, I adored this graphic novel and i can’t recommend this enough!
February 29, 2020
This is a young adult version of the Barbara Gordon mythos of Batgirl fame. Although she is no longer paralyzed, in the comic books, there was a time that she was, and she solved crimes from her wheelchair, being a hacker.
In this version, she is a teenager, and is partially paralyzed, and has to solve the mystery of the rehabilitation hospital where she is recovering.
A sort of Nancy Drew take on a teenage Barbara Gordon, there are interesting twists and turns, and Barbara tries to find out what is happening at a hospital where people have disappeared.
Nicely done.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
In this version, she is a teenager, and is partially paralyzed, and has to solve the mystery of the rehabilitation hospital where she is recovering.
A sort of Nancy Drew take on a teenage Barbara Gordon, there are interesting twists and turns, and Barbara tries to find out what is happening at a hospital where people have disappeared.
Nicely done.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
April 23, 2020
Badly written. The truly insipid voiceover narration and awful dialogue make it a chore to read. Then, we're given such a tired and overused plot: our protagonist moves into a creepy boarding institution where she meets a girl who speaks cryptically about disappearing children before disappearing herself. Oh, whatever shall we do, Nancy Drew?
This version of Barbara Gordon exists in a world where she is the daughter of James Gordon but seems to have never been Batgirl. She's just a thrill seeking teen hacker who gets shot under circumstances that are not fully explained and finds herself undergoing mental and physical therapy in a wheelchair at the aforementioned creepy rehabilitation center. This iteration has some of the trappings, but is not really recognizable as the Babs I have known and loved.
This version of Barbara Gordon exists in a world where she is the daughter of James Gordon but seems to have never been Batgirl. She's just a thrill seeking teen hacker who gets shot under circumstances that are not fully explained and finds herself undergoing mental and physical therapy in a wheelchair at the aforementioned creepy rehabilitation center. This iteration has some of the trappings, but is not really recognizable as the Babs I have known and loved.
March 16, 2021
I liked the emotional exploration here and the disability representation was refreshing to see. But the threads that connected the dots in this mystery were so tenuous it rendered the plot mediocre and the theme of being lost and losing were too overplayed that it became cringe-inducing by the end.
A valiant attempt but it was too short with limited substance and ended up falling short of something special.
A valiant attempt but it was too short with limited substance and ended up falling short of something special.
May 1, 2020
Originally published on The Nerd Daily | Review by Sarah C
In the new young adult DC Comics Universe series, The Oracle Code takes us to Gotham City to see a younger Barbara Gordan as the Oracle. I am not too familiar with all of the characters and timeline in this universe, and the good thing about this book is that you don’t have to be!
After an unfortunate shooting and fall, a partially paralysed Barbara (or Babs, as she prefers to be known) is taken to the Arkham Center for Independence. It’s not somewhere she wants to be and she has a hard time adjusting. She just wants to be back home hacking with her friend Benjamin. She’s an excellent hacker, skilled at solving puzzles, and cracking codes. It’s these skills she has to remember and use to try and solve the situation she finds herself in. As she struggles through therapy, she eventually makes friends. One of these is Jenna, who keeps her up at night as she tells her stories of her old life and about previous patients. After Jenna disappears, it gives Babs a puzzle to solve and a purpose. She is told that Jenna has just left the facility, but Babs knows in her gut that something is not right. Babs has to learn to follow her instincts again, as well as learn to trust others if she is to get to the bottom of the mystery.
The mystery felt quite sinister in places, and kept me glued to the pages, I read the whole novel in one sitting. I thought it was a pretty chunky book for a graphic novel though, so you could break your reading down into smaller pieces if you wanted to. That is, if you can pull yourself away!
As with any graphic novel, a mention has to go to the artwork. I think its really skilled in capturing Babs’s facial expressions well. This makes her easy to read and understand how she’s feeling. The rest of the illustrations are good as well. There is a repetition of puzzle pieces in the artwork, which I think is there to symbolise how Babs’s mind works as she puts things together. As a hacker, she visualises things as puzzles to solve. There is a nice balance of light and dark scenes, as some take place in the day and some at night. The darker scenes work well to portray a creepy atmosphere. Sometimes, characters or background is faded out to focus on who is talking, or to show what Babs’s is thinking about. Another thing I like was that when Jenna tells her short stories, they are done in a different style of art that I find a great balance of sweet, but ghoulish.
There is great representation for disability and disabled characters in The Oracle Code. Their depiction is handled well and with honesty. The message is that the characters do not need to be “fixed” and their disabilities do not make them any less whole. We see the characters struggle, and we see them sad, or experience their frustration at times, but we also get to see them be positive too. There needs to be more disabled representation in books, and I love that The Oracle Code doesn’t just include disabled characters, but makes them the main characters and the heroes too.
The Oracle Code is good for a wide range of audiences. I would recommend to DC Fans, comic book fans, and anyone who loves a good origin story. However, this is a really powerful book for teens, and disabled teens, regardless of whether they are well versed with DC Universe or not.
In the new young adult DC Comics Universe series, The Oracle Code takes us to Gotham City to see a younger Barbara Gordan as the Oracle. I am not too familiar with all of the characters and timeline in this universe, and the good thing about this book is that you don’t have to be!
After an unfortunate shooting and fall, a partially paralysed Barbara (or Babs, as she prefers to be known) is taken to the Arkham Center for Independence. It’s not somewhere she wants to be and she has a hard time adjusting. She just wants to be back home hacking with her friend Benjamin. She’s an excellent hacker, skilled at solving puzzles, and cracking codes. It’s these skills she has to remember and use to try and solve the situation she finds herself in. As she struggles through therapy, she eventually makes friends. One of these is Jenna, who keeps her up at night as she tells her stories of her old life and about previous patients. After Jenna disappears, it gives Babs a puzzle to solve and a purpose. She is told that Jenna has just left the facility, but Babs knows in her gut that something is not right. Babs has to learn to follow her instincts again, as well as learn to trust others if she is to get to the bottom of the mystery.
The mystery felt quite sinister in places, and kept me glued to the pages, I read the whole novel in one sitting. I thought it was a pretty chunky book for a graphic novel though, so you could break your reading down into smaller pieces if you wanted to. That is, if you can pull yourself away!
As with any graphic novel, a mention has to go to the artwork. I think its really skilled in capturing Babs’s facial expressions well. This makes her easy to read and understand how she’s feeling. The rest of the illustrations are good as well. There is a repetition of puzzle pieces in the artwork, which I think is there to symbolise how Babs’s mind works as she puts things together. As a hacker, she visualises things as puzzles to solve. There is a nice balance of light and dark scenes, as some take place in the day and some at night. The darker scenes work well to portray a creepy atmosphere. Sometimes, characters or background is faded out to focus on who is talking, or to show what Babs’s is thinking about. Another thing I like was that when Jenna tells her short stories, they are done in a different style of art that I find a great balance of sweet, but ghoulish.
There is great representation for disability and disabled characters in The Oracle Code. Their depiction is handled well and with honesty. The message is that the characters do not need to be “fixed” and their disabilities do not make them any less whole. We see the characters struggle, and we see them sad, or experience their frustration at times, but we also get to see them be positive too. There needs to be more disabled representation in books, and I love that The Oracle Code doesn’t just include disabled characters, but makes them the main characters and the heroes too.
The Oracle Code is good for a wide range of audiences. I would recommend to DC Fans, comic book fans, and anyone who loves a good origin story. However, this is a really powerful book for teens, and disabled teens, regardless of whether they are well versed with DC Universe or not.
August 7, 2020
I don't read graphic novels all that often, but there are a few that I love, and this one, I DEVOURED. It's about Barbara Gordon when she was a teen, and for context, I've literally never read any comics about her before apart from the DC Super Hero Girl MG graphic novels (which present her as a very different character in very different circumstances). However! None of that got in the way of me absolutely loving this book from the first few pages onwards, and it worked perfectly as a standalone.
In this story, she's been paralyzed from the waist down after being shot as a bystander to a violent crime. She's always been an adventurous hacker who loves solving puzzles, but now she feels frozen in every way, and feels just as "broken" as she's told she is by far too many of the adults around her. The story begins with her being sent by her father to a residential institution focused on kids' recovery - both physical and psychological - in the wake of acquired disabilities. She is furious at being stuck there. She doesn't want to trust any of the other kids there who reach out in friendship and try to show her that her life hasn't ended just because of her newly acquired disability.
But then she gets sucked in by a dangerous new puzzle, because kids are going missing in the creepy halls of the building...and it's going to take all of her hacking skills AND her new friendships to work out the mystery.
I'm just in awe of how many different things this graphic novel does so well. It's an incredibly powerful, cathartic and empowering story of a girl adjusting to new disability and finding her own strength. (I cried at the absolutely perfect ending, because it resonated for me SO much.) It's an incredibly creepy and effective mystery story. And - I assume! - it's also providing backstory for her later adventures in the adult DC Comics universe.
I absolutely loved it and would read infinite numbers of sequels to this graphic novel by the same team.
In this story, she's been paralyzed from the waist down after being shot as a bystander to a violent crime. She's always been an adventurous hacker who loves solving puzzles, but now she feels frozen in every way, and feels just as "broken" as she's told she is by far too many of the adults around her. The story begins with her being sent by her father to a residential institution focused on kids' recovery - both physical and psychological - in the wake of acquired disabilities. She is furious at being stuck there. She doesn't want to trust any of the other kids there who reach out in friendship and try to show her that her life hasn't ended just because of her newly acquired disability.
But then she gets sucked in by a dangerous new puzzle, because kids are going missing in the creepy halls of the building...and it's going to take all of her hacking skills AND her new friendships to work out the mystery.
I'm just in awe of how many different things this graphic novel does so well. It's an incredibly powerful, cathartic and empowering story of a girl adjusting to new disability and finding her own strength. (I cried at the absolutely perfect ending, because it resonated for me SO much.) It's an incredibly creepy and effective mystery story. And - I assume! - it's also providing backstory for her later adventures in the adult DC Comics universe.
I absolutely loved it and would read infinite numbers of sequels to this graphic novel by the same team.
February 18, 2021
Premise:
Barbara Gordon was a young girl who has talent as a hacker and she was paralyzed after getting shot (not by the Joker). Her father sent her to a facility for disabled youths for treatment and Babs was very unhappy about it. Was there something more about this facility than what met the eyes?
I think it's an okay-ish re imagining of Barbara Gordon's pre-Oracle coming of age story/YA story with a bit of conspiracy/mystery thrown in. The artwork is lovely, the characters are reasonable, the mystery isn't anything too difficult but it isn't dumb neither. Although I'm dumbfounded by the fact that Babs didn't guard the secret that she is a hacker with more care. I don't think hacking is something you can causally reveal to your new friends. So, 3. 8 stars.
Barbara Gordon was a young girl who has talent as a hacker and she was paralyzed after getting shot (not by the Joker). Her father sent her to a facility for disabled youths for treatment and Babs was very unhappy about it. Was there something more about this facility than what met the eyes?
Dad once told me that even a hopeless situation doesn't always stop him. Not because he believes there'll be a miracle, but because giving up feels too final.
I think it's an okay-ish re imagining of Barbara Gordon's pre-Oracle coming of age story/YA story with a bit of conspiracy/mystery thrown in. The artwork is lovely, the characters are reasonable, the mystery isn't anything too difficult but it isn't dumb neither. Although I'm dumbfounded by the fact that Babs didn't guard the secret that she is a hacker with more care. I don't think hacking is something you can causally reveal to your new friends. So, 3. 8 stars.
November 4, 2020
3.5 stars
September 28, 2020
"But there are only ghosts and secrets here."
The Oracle Code is the first book I've read by Marieke, and I enjoyed this graphic novel. This is a YA book about Barbara Gordon as Oracle, and I don't think I've ever read a graphic novel in which Oracle is the main character. This book has a creepy hospital setup, and I liked the mystery. Barbara is adjusting to life with her wheelchair in this story, and she goes through a lot in this book. I would definitely check out another book if this ever becomes a series.
The Oracle Code is the first book I've read by Marieke, and I enjoyed this graphic novel. This is a YA book about Barbara Gordon as Oracle, and I don't think I've ever read a graphic novel in which Oracle is the main character. This book has a creepy hospital setup, and I liked the mystery. Barbara is adjusting to life with her wheelchair in this story, and she goes through a lot in this book. I would definitely check out another book if this ever becomes a series.
March 13, 2020
A thoughtful and engaging origin story for Barbara Gordon/Oracle.
(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC for review through Netgalley. Trigger warning for medical abuse. Caution: this review contains vague spoilers.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9s0Zi...
Teenager Barbara Gordon - daughter of police commissioner James Gordon and hacker extraordinaire - is running toward the scene of a crime when she's shot and paralyzed from the waist down. Six weeks into her recovery, Commissioner Gordon sends his daughter to the Arkham Center for Independence, where she'll undergo physical and mental rehabilitation. Ghosted by her longtime friend Benjamin, Barbara is reluctant to get too close to anyone - everyone leaves you in the end, after all. Luckily, fellow classmates Yeong, Issy, and Jena refuse to let Barbara be, and an unexpected mystery further helps draw Barbara out of her shell.
The ACI is as creepy as it is opulent; at night, the halls echo with cryptic sounds and the shadows of residents who have long since disappeared. Jena, teller of ghost stories whispered in the wee hours of the night, begs Barbara for help finding her missing twin brother. Dr. Maxwell insists that Michael died in the fire that severely injured his sister, and that Jena's mind is too fragile to accept the truth. Though she's reluctant to get sucked into another mystery, Jenna's sudden disappearance tips her hand. Friends are precious, and she's not about to let another one slip through her fingers. Before you can say "Birds of Prey," Barbara is brain-deep in a corporate conspiracy that involves child trafficking and human experimentation.
I'm really digging this new DC YA series; if anything, it provides a handy entry point into the DC 'verse for newbies like myself. (I love comics, but the decades-long history of so many DC and Marvel characters can prove overwhelming. Mostly I just stick to newer series, like Sex Criminals, Pretty Deadly, Bitch Planet, and the like.) I was lucky enough to review Shadow of the Batgirl (in which an older Barbara Gordon plays a role as Cassandra Cain's boss/mentor), and The Oracle Code lives up the expectations set by its predecessor.
The storyline is engaging enough, but it's really the characters who stand out here. YA author Marieke Nijkamp - who identifies as queer, non-binary, and disabled - writes Barbara, Yeong, Issy, and Jena with compassion and care. There's a great exchange between the eeeevil scientists and the margnalized teens in which the teens challenge their doctors' assessment of them as "broken" people in need of "fixing." (Is there a white savior analog that can be applied to the ableds? If so, this is a prime example of IT.) Hopefully you'll also catch how the doctors try to gaslight Barbara when she starts sniffing around, insisting that she believe them instead of her own two eyes and ginormous brain.
Barbara's squad - as well as the residents and staff at ACI - is diverse as heck and thus reflective of reality, which I appreciate. And the brief few panels of wheelchair basketball are great.
And now I shall go back to counting the days until Superman Smashes the Klan (Gene Luen Yang) and Wonder Woman: Tempest Tossed (Laurie Halse Anderson) hit the shelves!
http://www.easyvegan.info/2020/03/19/...
(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC for review through Netgalley. Trigger warning for medical abuse. Caution: this review contains vague spoilers.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9s0Zi...
Teenager Barbara Gordon - daughter of police commissioner James Gordon and hacker extraordinaire - is running toward the scene of a crime when she's shot and paralyzed from the waist down. Six weeks into her recovery, Commissioner Gordon sends his daughter to the Arkham Center for Independence, where she'll undergo physical and mental rehabilitation. Ghosted by her longtime friend Benjamin, Barbara is reluctant to get too close to anyone - everyone leaves you in the end, after all. Luckily, fellow classmates Yeong, Issy, and Jena refuse to let Barbara be, and an unexpected mystery further helps draw Barbara out of her shell.
The ACI is as creepy as it is opulent; at night, the halls echo with cryptic sounds and the shadows of residents who have long since disappeared. Jena, teller of ghost stories whispered in the wee hours of the night, begs Barbara for help finding her missing twin brother. Dr. Maxwell insists that Michael died in the fire that severely injured his sister, and that Jena's mind is too fragile to accept the truth. Though she's reluctant to get sucked into another mystery, Jenna's sudden disappearance tips her hand. Friends are precious, and she's not about to let another one slip through her fingers. Before you can say "Birds of Prey," Barbara is brain-deep in a corporate conspiracy that involves child trafficking and human experimentation.
I'm really digging this new DC YA series; if anything, it provides a handy entry point into the DC 'verse for newbies like myself. (I love comics, but the decades-long history of so many DC and Marvel characters can prove overwhelming. Mostly I just stick to newer series, like Sex Criminals, Pretty Deadly, Bitch Planet, and the like.) I was lucky enough to review Shadow of the Batgirl (in which an older Barbara Gordon plays a role as Cassandra Cain's boss/mentor), and The Oracle Code lives up the expectations set by its predecessor.
The storyline is engaging enough, but it's really the characters who stand out here. YA author Marieke Nijkamp - who identifies as queer, non-binary, and disabled - writes Barbara, Yeong, Issy, and Jena with compassion and care. There's a great exchange between the eeeevil scientists and the margnalized teens in which the teens challenge their doctors' assessment of them as "broken" people in need of "fixing." (Is there a white savior analog that can be applied to the ableds? If so, this is a prime example of IT.) Hopefully you'll also catch how the doctors try to gaslight Barbara when she starts sniffing around, insisting that she believe them instead of her own two eyes and ginormous brain.
Barbara's squad - as well as the residents and staff at ACI - is diverse as heck and thus reflective of reality, which I appreciate. And the brief few panels of wheelchair basketball are great.
And now I shall go back to counting the days until Superman Smashes the Klan (Gene Luen Yang) and Wonder Woman: Tempest Tossed (Laurie Halse Anderson) hit the shelves!
http://www.easyvegan.info/2020/03/19/...
March 25, 2020
Loved this! A great teen mystery with an #OwnVoices disabled character.
March 9, 2024
3.5 stars. Read via library.
March 7, 2020
Hello Again!
I have recently been enjoying a lot of DC comics and this was the next one that I read! Before reading any of these comics (you can see other previous reviews here on my site or on my Goodreads page) I honestly knew little to nothing about the DC universe of its characters. My husband and I played the batman games together on the Playstation a few years ago and I have seen all of the newer films but that is about it (aside from watching Flash on the CW, which I am behind on but I used to binge that show in college). After reading this one I have already picked up two others that I will be talking about soon but I am loving learning all about these different DC characters, it has been super fun.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Barbara Gordon was left paralyzed after a gunshot wound and is now moving into the Arkham Center for Independence to help her relearn many day to day skills. Here Barbara will live with many other teens that are working on their own rehabilitation. However, once Barbara has arrived and settled she starts to feel like things are not right and that there is something more going on here. Barbara meets another teen staying at the Center who survived a fire with her brother however, her brother goes missing one night and then her! Barbara enlists the help of her other friends at the center to try to find out what happened to the other two teens and what is really going on here at the center.
This might have been my favorite one of these comics yet (now after reading some others it definitely has some competition). I loved the mystery attached to this one and seeing Barbara work to figure out what was really going on. I also thought the art in this comic was really well done and just enhance the story. I found myself scanning the images at times looking for something I might be missing. I am giving this comic five stars on Goodreads and I can not wait to talk about the next one that I read!
**Thank you so much to the publisher who gave me an E-ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
I have recently been enjoying a lot of DC comics and this was the next one that I read! Before reading any of these comics (you can see other previous reviews here on my site or on my Goodreads page) I honestly knew little to nothing about the DC universe of its characters. My husband and I played the batman games together on the Playstation a few years ago and I have seen all of the newer films but that is about it (aside from watching Flash on the CW, which I am behind on but I used to binge that show in college). After reading this one I have already picked up two others that I will be talking about soon but I am loving learning all about these different DC characters, it has been super fun.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Barbara Gordon was left paralyzed after a gunshot wound and is now moving into the Arkham Center for Independence to help her relearn many day to day skills. Here Barbara will live with many other teens that are working on their own rehabilitation. However, once Barbara has arrived and settled she starts to feel like things are not right and that there is something more going on here. Barbara meets another teen staying at the Center who survived a fire with her brother however, her brother goes missing one night and then her! Barbara enlists the help of her other friends at the center to try to find out what happened to the other two teens and what is really going on here at the center.
This might have been my favorite one of these comics yet (now after reading some others it definitely has some competition). I loved the mystery attached to this one and seeing Barbara work to figure out what was really going on. I also thought the art in this comic was really well done and just enhance the story. I found myself scanning the images at times looking for something I might be missing. I am giving this comic five stars on Goodreads and I can not wait to talk about the next one that I read!
**Thank you so much to the publisher who gave me an E-ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 23, 2023
Окей, это совершенно отличная новелла из серии "Детский Детектив" в интерьерах Готэма. Юная хакерша Барбара Гордон вмешивается в вооруженное ограбление, получает пулю и оказывается сначала в кресле-коляске, а потом в Аркххэмском реабилитационном центре, чтобы восстановиться физически и ментально после события, перевернувшего ее жизнь с ног на голову.
Центр илитный и замечательный, персонал доброжелательный, но это же Аркхэм - а значит страшные истории, пересказываемые по ночам и пропадающие (или нет?) пациенты, и снисходительные взрослые не хотят слушать, а значит придется докопаться до сути самой. Ну и параллельно с детективной историей развивается еще и история принятия Барбарой того, что с ней случилось и принятия себя в этих новых обстоятельствах. Авторке все это знакомо, как я понял, не с чужих слов.
Арт тоже очень приятный, немного отдаленно напомнило мне Аху. И порадовало огромное количество мелких отсылок и пасхалок, разбросанных художником по страницам.
В целом новелла напомнила любимою мной Gotham Academy.
Центр илитный и замечательный, персонал доброжелательный, но это же Аркхэм - а значит страшные истории, пересказываемые по ночам и пропадающие (или нет?) пациенты, и снисходительные взрослые не хотят слушать, а значит придется докопаться до сути самой. Ну и параллельно с детективной историей развивается еще и история принятия Барбарой того, что с ней случилось и принятия себя в этих новых обстоятельствах. Авторке все это знакомо, как я понял, не с чужих слов.
Арт тоже очень приятный, немного отдаленно напомнило мне Аху. И порадовало огромное количество мелких отсылок и пасхалок, разбросанных художником по страницам.
В целом новелла напомнила любимою мной Gotham Academy.
February 24, 2020
Not only is the plot of this graphic novel so well developed, but the way it is told is fantastic. Barbara uses the metaphor of a puzzle to describe many of the problems facing her in her life. Her life in the wheelchair since the accident, her friend Ben who won’t text her back, the ghosts who may roam the halls, and the odd history she has uncovered. These are all pieces that she tries to put together in a coherent picture of healing.
The artwork features phenomenal shadow work and a palette of colors that include purples and blues and bright reds. It’s a range of color that I’m not used to in comics, but works very effectively in this piece. I also like how the style changes at points to illustrate the difference between reality and the stories the characters tell each other.
This is a powerful work because it focuses on the after effects of the accident. It reveals the pain and frustration, and also the resilience.
4.5 out of 5 stars
For my full review: https://paulspicks.blog/2020/02/23/th...
For all my reviews: https://paulspicks.blog
The artwork features phenomenal shadow work and a palette of colors that include purples and blues and bright reds. It’s a range of color that I’m not used to in comics, but works very effectively in this piece. I also like how the style changes at points to illustrate the difference between reality and the stories the characters tell each other.
This is a powerful work because it focuses on the after effects of the accident. It reveals the pain and frustration, and also the resilience.
4.5 out of 5 stars
For my full review: https://paulspicks.blog/2020/02/23/th...
For all my reviews: https://paulspicks.blog
September 7, 2020
Nice to read a YA book that puts disability front and center. Like many differently abled who read this, I feel seen.
January 28, 2020
I love this and can't wait to add it to the graphic medicine collection. I think it's something both the intended audience (younger teens) and the health profession both need.
Received an advance copy at ALA Midwinter 2020.
Received an advance copy at ALA Midwinter 2020.
March 2, 2020
I received an ARC of this via netgalley in exchange for an honest review
DC does it again! I'm having so much fun reading all of these DC YA graphic novels!
The Oracle Code was definitely a favorite and of all of them it feels the most concrete one.
The story does not feel rushed at all and its actually pretty detail oriented for a comic.
This graphic novel follows Barbara Gordon after getting shot and having to go through recovery from her physical
disabilities but also her emotional ones. She feels like shes lost her life and her friends and I feel like she was perfectly portrayed in this story. I will say that this one did have a creepier feel than the rest of the YA graphic novels and I absolutely loved it. The art style is another thing I loved! There are different styles in this one so be ready for a pleasant surprise.
I would absolutely recommend The Oracle Code! 5/5 stars from me!
DC does it again! I'm having so much fun reading all of these DC YA graphic novels!
The Oracle Code was definitely a favorite and of all of them it feels the most concrete one.
The story does not feel rushed at all and its actually pretty detail oriented for a comic.
This graphic novel follows Barbara Gordon after getting shot and having to go through recovery from her physical
disabilities but also her emotional ones. She feels like shes lost her life and her friends and I feel like she was perfectly portrayed in this story. I will say that this one did have a creepier feel than the rest of the YA graphic novels and I absolutely loved it. The art style is another thing I loved! There are different styles in this one so be ready for a pleasant surprise.
I would absolutely recommend The Oracle Code! 5/5 stars from me!
December 13, 2022
Read for Goodreads Read Harder 2023 - disability representation is wonderful, smart, compassionate (and not sappy), instructive, and I imagine empowering. This is actually a nice piece of advocacy promotion for middle grade readers, which I was not expecting. I am not a comics reader so I am not sure I am the best judge, but I did actually really like the art here.
April 8, 2020
Woow this one was also amazing. Loved the artwork and the story and strong portrayal of Barbara Gordon while suffering from her disability.
August 26, 2021
Siguiendo la lectura de Wonder Woman: Hacia la tormenta ha caído este otro, en un estilo similar.
Aquí tenemos el nuevo origen de Oráculo para público actual, como una hacker de Gotham que intentando ayudar en un atraco recibe un disparo que la deja inválida. Su padre la lleva a un centro de rehabilitación llamado Arkham (nada bueno puede salir con ese nombre) en el que conoce nuevas amigas en situación similar a la suya. Cuando va desapareciendo gente, no podrá más que resolver el puzzle.
Me gusta el toque de thriller que tiene, aunque se ve venir de lejos el final, pero es interesante, y la propia Bárbara está muy bien escrita con sus dudas y sus miedos.
--------------
Following the reading of Wonder Woman: Towards the storm this one is written in a similar style.
Here we have the new origin of Oracle for current audiences, as a Gotham hacker who, trying to help in a robbery, receives a shot that renders her in a wheel chair. Her father takes her to a rehabilitation center called Arkham (nothing good can come out with that name) where she meets new friends in a similar situation to hers. When people starts disappearing, the only thing she can do is solve the puzzle.
I like the touch of a thriller that it has, although the end can be seen coming from far away, but it is interesting, and Barbara herself is very well written with her doubts and fears.
Aquí tenemos el nuevo origen de Oráculo para público actual, como una hacker de Gotham que intentando ayudar en un atraco recibe un disparo que la deja inválida. Su padre la lleva a un centro de rehabilitación llamado Arkham (nada bueno puede salir con ese nombre) en el que conoce nuevas amigas en situación similar a la suya. Cuando va desapareciendo gente, no podrá más que resolver el puzzle.
Me gusta el toque de thriller que tiene, aunque se ve venir de lejos el final, pero es interesante, y la propia Bárbara está muy bien escrita con sus dudas y sus miedos.
--------------
Following the reading of Wonder Woman: Towards the storm this one is written in a similar style.
Here we have the new origin of Oracle for current audiences, as a Gotham hacker who, trying to help in a robbery, receives a shot that renders her in a wheel chair. Her father takes her to a rehabilitation center called Arkham (nothing good can come out with that name) where she meets new friends in a similar situation to hers. When people starts disappearing, the only thing she can do is solve the puzzle.
I like the touch of a thriller that it has, although the end can be seen coming from far away, but it is interesting, and Barbara herself is very well written with her doubts and fears.
September 2, 2023
Meh. I kind of liked the main character, and her puzzle solving skills. But to me the story just didn’t have much depth.
February 4, 2022
I loved this book because it showed you that you shouldn't ever give up nor ever try to stop helping others when you have a gut feeling something is up. I also loved how her friends stuck by her side even when everything went downhill. I truly loved this book most so far this year.
December 11, 2023
The Oracle Code by Marieke Nijkamp is for the most part a solid YA standalone graphic novel featuring the classic DC character Barbara Gordon. I wasn't all that much of a fan of this particular iteration of the character compared to other outings, but I really appreciated the art style and the mystery itself was decent. I will need to catch up on more of this author's work in the future.
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