Full disclosure, I read a lot of comic books (well graphic novels, and even comic books I read the trade paperback form; so yeah). A lot of them are about superheroes but I dabble in other stories as long as they seem to promise a good plot/story.
That being said, I usually prefer reading about superhero stories in the comic book/graphic novel format. I tend to not pick up books about superheroes, since they're not really the format I prefer those stories. But you know, exceptions crop up. Like this one.
An amazon summary with some reviews ommitted at the end because this is forever long, "As witty as it is heartpounding, this fresh take on the beloved superhero genre is all about finding your own way to shine even when it seems everyone else around you is, well... super.
Never trust a guy in spandex.
In Abby Hamilton’s world, superheroes do more than just stop crime and save cats stuck in trees―they also drink milk straight from the carton and hog the television remote. Abby’s older brother moonlights as the famous Red Comet, but without powers of her own, following in his footsteps has never crossed her mind.
That is, until the city’s newest vigilante comes bursting into her life.
After saving Abby from an attempted mugging, Morriston’s fledgling supervillain Iron Phantom convinces her that he’s not as evil as everyone says, and that their city is under a vicious new threat. As Abby follows him deeper into their city’s darkest secrets, she comes to learn that heroes can’t always be trusted, and sometimes it’s the good guys who wear black.
Chosen by readers like you for Macmillan's young adult imprint Swoon Reads, The Supervillain and Me is a hilarious, sweet, and action-packed novel by debut author Danielle Banas that proves no one is perfect, not even superheroes." AMAZON LINK OF JUSTICE
Abby's brother, Connor, is the Red Comet. The Red Comet is a very famous superhero in Morriston, where crime is on the rise despite Red Comet's best efforts. Red Comet also works with Fish Boy, and together they do what they can to keep the city safe.
One night, Abby is headed home, and she's almost mugged...except a guy with powers in black spandex shows up and saves her. He doesn't really have a name, but he makes sure she's okay.
A few days later...the same guy is on the news for setting fire to city hall. It turns out Abby's hero, may actually be a supervillain; something Morriston hasn't seen before. The news dubs him, the Iron Phantom.
Meanwhile, Abby is trying out for the lead in the school play. She's super passionate about theater, it's her senior year, so she wants a lead role. She also kind of wants to give her Dad and her brother something to see that's special about her. More, something to set her apart from her brother. So much of their lives revolve around Connor and his powers that Abby just wants a little slice of their family life for herself.
The Iron Phantom shows up in Abby's bedroom with a plea for help. She's the daughter of the mayor, so Iron Phantom is kind of hoping that she'll be able to do some sleuthing for him. ...but she's not sure if he's a hero or a villain.
That's enough summary.
So, I kind of loved the exploration of the gray area that heroes/villains function within. It also helps that there was a lot of Abby's normal life, a balance of her best friend at play, and tons of humor throughout. For a superhero plot, I thought it was a great balance of action, events, but also a hint of a mystery. If there were more books written like this about heroes, I would probably start reading the more.
I was a little hesitant about Abby's relationship with Iron Phantom because he saves her, but then shows up in her bedroom. I just find that a very odd way to begin any kind of...well anything. It felt very reminiscent of Twilight and Edward getting into Bella's bedroom.... so it kind of sketched me out at first. But then...Abby took some...precautions (like keeping a knife under her pillow) so I was pretty reassured that her sense of self preservation was intact.
I did appreciate how the story concluded as I could easily see this being a standalone novel, or the start of a series. I kind of super appreciated how the characters stories concluded, but I don't want to reveal any spoilers. So I'll leave it at that.
Happy reading!
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