Austin Grossman’s debut novel gives readers a look behind the scenes of superhero adventures. Here, villains and heroes equally share the spotlight.
Dr. Impossible, a supervillain genius, narrates his attempts at world domination with equal parts brilliance, frustration, and humor. Fatale, a cyborg heroine with amnesia, balances the story from the other side.
Grossman’s novel examines the daily struggles in the lives of super beings, mixing action and personal drama seamlessly. It explores classic superhero conventions while thoughtfully questioning why heroes and villains do what they do.
“Vicious” unfolds in a darker, morally ambiguous landscape. College friends Victor and Eli discover how to gain extraordinary abilities, but this discovery comes at great cost. Schwab portrays two complex characters that blur the line between hero and villain.
The novel’s narrative jumps skillfully between past and present, expertly weaving together their intense rivalry. Schwab’s work investigates themes of ambition, power, and morality, presenting superhuman abilities as more curse than gift.
The novel asks whether a superhero is defined solely by ability, or by their choices in using such immense power.
Hope Corrigan, a college student, gains superhero powers after miraculously surviving a terrorist attack. “Wearing the Cape” charts her transformation from ordinary girl to superhero Astra, a member of Chicago’s iconic superhero team.
The novel introduces a world familiar with superheroes, following Hope as she trains to embrace her new identity and responsibilities. Harmon integrates themes like fate and courage into a classic superhero adventure.
Hope’s realistic journey, filled with personal and public challenges, shows what it takes to grow into the role of a genuine superhero.
“Steelheart” is set in a chilling world where individuals called Epics have developed superhuman powers—but no heroes exist to balance them. David, the protagonist, saw the invincible Epic known as Steelheart kill his father years ago.
Determined to fight back, he joins the Reckoners, a rebel group attempting to take down these superpowered tyrants. As David and his group face down opponents with nearly limitless powers, readers see a fresh angle on superpowers as vehicles of tyranny rather than heroism.
Sanderson creates intense action scenes alongside vivid characters fighting impossible odds.
“Hench” focuses on Anna, an ordinary temp worker who becomes a henchperson for various supervillains. Through her eyes, readers see an entirely different side to superhero narratives—the collateral damage heroes often produce.
After suffering a severe injury caused by a reckless superhero, Anna grows determined to highlight heroes’ destructive impacts. Walschots delivers sharp social commentary with dark humor, sharply highlighting topics like accountability and justice.
With keen insight and compelling characters, “Hench” takes a fresh and unusual approach to the superhero genre.
Set in the Golden Age of comic books, Michael Chabon’s novel follows cousins Josef Kavalier and Sammy Clay as they create their own superhero stories. Josef is a Jewish refugee, an escape artist trying to save his family from Nazi persecution.
Sammy struggles with internal questions of identity and acceptance. Their fictional superhero, The Escapist, symbolizes hopes, dreams, and ambitions.
Although not directly about superheroes themselves, the novel beautifully illustrates how creating superhero tales can empower, inspire, and liberate both writers and readers during dark times of despair.
When teenager Danny Tozer unexpectedly inherits the powers of the superhero Dreadnought, her life completely changes. Danny’s transformation into a super-powered guardian also physically transitions her into her true gender identity.
April Daniels explores themes of self-discovery and acceptance amid thrilling superhero battles. Beyond flashy fight sequences, Danny’s challenges include navigating prejudice and managing personal relationships.
“Dreadnought” provides readers with a heartfelt narration of a young hero struggling for self-acceptance and purpose, cleverly demonstrating how superheroes can resonate deeply with real-world experiences.
Celia West is the adult daughter of legendary superhero parents. Though lacking powers herself, Celia tries to distance herself from her family’s famous legacy. When danger strikes her city, she is forced back into the heroic circles she’s desperately avoided.
Vaughn’s realistic take on family dynamics adds a fresh spin to superhero storytelling. The novel raises thoughtful questions about family pressure, legacy, and identity.
Vaughn uniquely portrays superhero families as complex and flawed, showing how living in the shadow of great heroes isn’t always easy.
Set in a society ruled by superhero-like figures known as Renegades, this novel showcases a unique conflict between order and freedom. Nova, the bold protagonist, infiltrates the Renegades—a group she sees as oppressors rather than heroes.
Meyer cleverly relies on dual narratives to juxtapose conflicting perspectives. The novel examines themes of justice, morality, and power structures in superhero fiction.
With vibrant characters, gripping battles, and complex dilemmas, “Renegades” redefines the superhero narrative by questioning who truly determines right and wrong.
In Samit Basu’s novel, passengers on a flight mysteriously gain distinct superhuman powers. These abilities reflect each character’s personality and subconscious desires, leading to chaotic and dramatic outcomes.
Set mainly in India, “Turbulence” vividly portrays the joys and chaos caused by sudden superhuman abilities. Addressing social issues like activism, politics, and celebrity culture, Basu uses the superhero genre to explore broader human themes.
The whimsical yet insightful tone gives “Turbulence” a fresh narrative energy, offering readers a version of normal individuals thrust into extraordinary circumstances.
“Ex-Heroes” blends superhero stories with horror and post-apocalyptic elements. After a zombie outbreak devastates humanity, superheroes band together to protect the survivors holed up in Los Angeles. Clines delivers crisp dialogue and engaging combat scenes throughout the book.
The novel combines heroic narratives with grim horror imagery, examining the burdens heroes face during threats that even superpowers struggle to confront.
Realistic interactions among heroes convey emotional depth, crafting a readable hybrid of traditional superhero tropes and horror apocalypse storytelling.
Featuring a collaborative universe developed by numerous authors, the “Wild Cards” series delivers fresh, innovative superhero stories. An alien virus inflicts a diverse range of mutations or abilities on infected individuals.
This long-running series examines themes like political intrigue, social prejudice, and heroism. With each installment introducing vibrant characters, the anthology format provides multiple voices and perspectives, enriching the expansive universe.
“Wild Cards” cleverly balances real-world themes and superhero fantasy, revealing how humanity reacts to abruptly receiving unexpected powers and responsibilities.
“Super Adjacent” offers a lighter spin on superhero tales, focusing on the ordinary friends and loved ones adjacent to superheroes. The protagonists explore personal identity, friendship, and romance amid heroic chaos.
Kappes excels at integrating relatable, grounded characters into extraordinary superhero situations. Readers see superheroes from the supporting cast’s angle, giving fresh insight into everyday lives shaped by living alongside larger-than-life figures.
Balancing humor, fun, and heartfelt moments, “Super Adjacent” reflects a unique, entertaining flavor of superhero novels.