The Oracle Code » Marieke Nijkamp

Illustrated cover of The Oracle Code, featuring a red-haired white girl wearing a grey-and-yellow hoodie, in a wheelchair.

Cover art: Manuel Preitano

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.

Colors by Jordie Bellaire ☙ Letters by Clayton Cowles

☙

Get your copy of The Oracle Code at any of the following places (and wherever books are sold):
ISBN-10: 1401290663 | ISBN-13: 978-1401290665

☙

Publishers

Reviews

Blurbs

Honors

Extras

Content Warnings

English Publisher: DC Comics	German Der Oracle Code Publisher: Panini Verlag Translator: Sanni Kentopf	Polish Kod Oracle Publisher: Egmont Translation: tk	Portuguese (Brazil) O Código Oráculo Publisher: Panini Brazil Translator: Dandara Palankof
Russian Код Оракула Publisher: Rosman Translator: tk	Spanish Código Oráculo Publisher: Hidra Translator: Jaime Valero

A refreshingly disability-positive superhero origin story.
– Kirkus

In this fast-paced and thoughtfully crafted mystery, Nijkamp gives comic book lovers a refreshing take on Barbara Gordon’s journey to becoming Oracle. (…) This strong and empowering addition to DC’s growing line of origin stories will resonate with superhero fans while also enticing newcomers.
– School Library Journal

This sharp-edged mystery nods to the Batman universe while centering Barbara, grounding her story, and granting her agency. Preitano excels at depicting emotion, particularly anger, through faces and body language to portray an intent young woman learning to move forward from trauma. Nijkamp repeatedly explores the idea that people with disabilities needn’t be “fixed,” along the way considering how stories can be used to reveal hard-to-communicate truths.
– Publishers Weekly

Nijkamp is freed from continuity here to create a complete and emotionally compelling journey for a character who needs to reclaim her life and identity, and overall, readers will find in Barbara a deeply human understanding. Preitano drenches the dark mansion in creepiness, particularly via several stylized story-within-a-story interludes, but keeps the personalities of the characters, their vulnerabilities and strength, front and center.
– Booklist

The Oracle Code is a propulsive collaboration for both novice readers of superhero comics and those well-versed in this arena.
– Shelf Awareness

The latest DC original graphic novel weaves a spellbinding mystery about trauma, recovery and rediscovery set within an immersive new vision of Gotham City.
– CBR

The Oracle Code is an incredibly raw and powerful story, one that shows that being disabled is not the same thing as being lost or being broken, and that to be disabled doesn’t mean you need to be fixed. It’s a beautiful and emotional story with equally gorgeous artwork, one that I wholeheartedly recommend to any fan of Barbara Gordon, graphic novels or great storytelling. Believe me, this is one you don’t want to miss out on.
– Hypable

The Oracle Code is everything I wanted and hoped it would be. It does Oracle justice and ground Barbara in a way that feels relatable and real. This is a must-read for fans of Barbara Gordon but more importantly, this is a must-read for disabled fans. I truly believe this book is for us and because of that, I will always treasure it.
– But Why Tho?

The Oracle Code is a creepy mystery adventure that’s thoughtful about sudden changes to physical capabilities.
– Foreword Reviews

This is, hands down, the best Barbara Gordon story I’ve ever read. It’s also one of the best graphic novels I’ve ever read.
– GeekDad

The Oracle Code is a brilliant and heartfelt YA reimagining of Barbara Gordon’s heroic journey.
– AIPT

☙

[R]emarkable. HIGHLY recommended.
— Gail Simone

[THE ORACLE CODE] is a lovely designed, emotional grounded and driven piece of work. (…) It’s an Oracle story like nothing I’ve ever seen before, and I can only applaud.
— Kieron Gillen

A brilliant Barbara Gordon YA mystery story about finding your strength and trusting yourself. (…) [An] instant DC classic.
Big Bang Comics

An iconic graphic novel from a beloved DC character, Nijkamp delivers an unforgettable origin story. It does a phenomenal job examining the realities disabled individuals experience while also presenting a classic mystery sure to delight fans of DC comics and realistic fiction. With plenty of comic easter eggs laced throughout, The Oracle Code is simply a triumph.
— Lindsay, RJ Julia (staff pick)

☙ THE ORACLE CODE is a Diamond Bestselling graphic novel.

☙ THE ORACLE CODE is a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection.

☙ THE ORACLE CODE is a 2021 Great Graphic Novels for Teens pick.

☙ THE ORACLE CODE is a 2021 Maverick Graphic Novels Reading List pick.

☙ THE ORACLE CODE is a 2021-2022 Black-Eyed Susan Book Award nominee.

☙ THE ORACLE CODE is a 2021 Madison Library District Choice Award nominee.

☙ THE ORACLE CODE is one of the New York Times‘s 28 Ways To Learn About Disability Culture.

☙ THE ORACLE CODE is one of Kirkus‘s Graphic Novels: Real Books for Real Readers

☙ THE ORACLE CODE is one of Buzzfeed‘s Best YA and Graphic Novels of 2020.

☙ THE ORACLE CODE is one of Nerdist‘s Best Comics of 2020.

☙ THE ORACLE CODE is one of Book Riot‘s Best Comics We’ve Read.

☙ THE ORACLE CODE is one of CBR‘s 10 Best YA Comics.

☙ THE ORACLE CODE is one of Vogue Magazine‘s Best Films, Books, and Shows Spotlighting Experiences of Disability.

☙

☙ Check out the official The Oracle Code trailer!

☙ Check out the SDCC panel Batgirls!

☙

– Gun violence
– Institutionalized ableism
– Medical experimentation
– Abuse
– Horror stories

☙