Playing Catch Up

First, let me address Hero, albeit in brief. I certainly enjoyed the story, especially the gay aspects of it, and the superhero storyline just adds to the package. Unfortunately, it has been a while since I read it (and I should have blogged about it sooner, I know). I think any gay man can certainly understand Thom's plight (the gay part, not necessarily the superhero part), and Moore makes this story accessible to young adults and older readers alike, primarily by attaching archetypal superheroes with alternate names (you can tell which character is based on Wonder Woman, for example). I wish I had more to say about the book, but I'm not one for explanatory posts, rehashing plot elements (sorry Randy!). I'd rather this not become akin to an essay my students would write, using parenthetical citations or quotes from the novel. Suffice it to say, Hero was a great read for me, and I would certainly read other books by Moore.

Now, on to Soon I Will Be Invincible. First, let me say that I think this novel is creative in its use of two narrators, Fatale (a female cyborg) and Jonathan (aka Doctor Impossible), which certainly adds to the personalizing of the story for the reader. I teach many books with narrative shifts, and they do make the book a more interesting, captivating experience. That said, I enjoyed the novel quite a bit, but I did find it a little predictable, and perhaps that was its intention. Similar to Hero, it's not a dark, complex read like American Gods by Gaiman, but rather an almost tongue-in-cheek look at the quintessential hero/villain story. CoreFire (a Superman character) ultimately fights against Doctor Impossible (a very Lex Luthor-like individual, especially in the past years of Justice League/JLU), but the story is anticlimactic in that it's not CoreFire who takes down his arch foe, but rather Lily, the Lois Lane character who knew both CF and DI before they were CF and DI. Certainly a fun read, especially some of the over-the-top comments made by Jonathan as the "supervillain." Also, Grossman uses archetypal characters who resemble more established heroes (Blackwolf reminds me of Batman) which also connects with readers who can identify someone from another publication.

Both novels were a welcomed change from the literature I read for school and provided me with the necessary distraction from the day-to-day experiences of a teacher on summer break. I look forward to reading books by Moore and Grossman in the future, and I plan on suggesting them both to my students, for the emerging homosexual or archvillain in all of us ;)

Soon I Will Be Invincible

Translating one genre into another is difficult, and more often than not, you end up turning off the fans of genre one while failing to capture genre two. Instead of crossover appeal, you have lost an audience. This is especially true with cult genres like comic books. Comic fans are very protective, and wary of outsiders. Likewise, the general reading public gives little weight to the literary merit of the ‘Funny Papers.’
In the last few years however, comics have attracted the talents of established fiction writers like Brad Meltzer, Greg Rucka, and Jodi Picoult. The comic fans have found their way to sample fiction works by these authors and fiction fans have begun to pick up their comic work.
Austin Grossman has taken this a step further in Soon I Will Be Invincible, his debut novel. A work of fiction with no interior art, the story is none the less a perfect comic caper. Invincible is the story of Dr. Impossible, the world’s greatest villain, and the superhero team known as The Champions. Grossman employs a first person narrative, but from opposing sides; half the novel is told from Dr. Impossible’s perspective, while the other is told from the point of view of Fatale, the newest member of The Champions. Zigzagging back and forth between the two, the plot is tight, and fast paced, sucking the reader in from page one. The action sequences are superb and show Grossman’s command of language.
Grossman’s secret weapons, however, are his characterizations. People with ridiculous names like Damsel and Blackwolf (and crazy outfits to match) are revealed to be all too human, with inner conflict, socialization issues and occasionally a sense of humor. Damsel and Blackwolf come from the Fleetwood Mac School of Relationship Adjustments. Divorced and still fighting on the same team, they try to adjust to working with someone you don’t want to be around anymore. While there aren’t any Top 40 hits penned by them, the duality of their situation does permeate the exchange they have, and create a more realistic portrait of both of them.
Dr. Impossible is exactly what you would imagine a Super Villain to be: Maniacal, Hyper-Intelligent, and Theatrical. Underneath the surface however, he is a grad school flunkie. More intelligent than his instructors, he nevertheless screws up his one chance at his greatest experiment and in the process creates his nemesis: Core Fire. Impossible’s inner monologue is filled with jealousy, rage and a lot of humor. He wants the world to take him seriously, but sometimes he admits the ridiculousness of his occupation. It’s an insight rarely found in a traditional comic book.
These are the things that will appeal to the general reader, a great story told through a fast paced plot and excellent characterization.
Invincible does not abandon its comic roots though. Many comic fans will rejoice in the plot itself (the team is trying to thwart Impossible’s latest scheme to take over the world) and the wry wit comics are becoming known for. Without spoiling a major scene, there is a hilarious exchange between Impossible and his arch-nemesis CoreFire.
A tough balancing act is accomplished as the novel winds to its inevitable conclusion. The reader cannot help but marvel at how completely Grossman has created a new world. It’s kind of jarring to come back to reality when it is all over. That is the hallmark of a great writer. One hopes Soon I Will Be Invincible will usher in a slew of new books by Austin Grossman in the future.