Archvillain, by Barry Lyga (Scholastic, 2010)

When a plasma storm hits the field behind Bouring Middle School, two things happen. The first: a mysterious kid soon known as Mighty Mike appears, imbued with amazing superpowers and the desire to perform heroic deeds with them, despite his … Continue reading

Shades of Gray, by Jackie Kessler and Caitlin Kittredge (Ballantine Books, 2010)

The superhuman revolution has begun. With the disruption of the system that was secretly brainwashing the extrahumans of Corp-Co and turning them into obedient superheroes, the superhumans who once protected the Americas of the future have turned to terrorizing it. … Continue reading

City of Souls and Cheat the Grave, by Vicki Pettersson (Eos, 2009/2010)

The secret war between the Zodiac troops of Shadow and Light continues unabated, with Las Vegas as both battlefield and prize. As always, stuck right in the middle is Joanna Archer, whose uniquely mixed heritage casts her as a prophesied … Continue reading

Dying Bites and Death Blows, by D.D. Barant (St. Martin's, 2009/2010)

FBI profiler Jace Valchek has spent her life learning how the criminally insane think, to the point where she’s an expert. And because of that experience, she’s just been abruptly reassigned to work with the NSA. Just … not the … Continue reading

Jinx, by Jennifer Estep (Berkley Sensation, 2008)

In the city of Bigtime, New York, superheroes and ubervillains are a common phenomenon, sightings of them almost routine. With costumed stalwarts such as the Fearless Five, Johnny Angel, Swifte, or even Granny Cane prowling the streets to keep them … Continue reading

Captain Freedom, by G. Xavier Robillard (Harper, 2009)

Who is Captain Freedom? From his humble beginnings as an impressionable sidekick named Liberty Bill, to his glory days as savior of the world, to his forced retirement and subsequent adventures, this tell-all book, recounted in his own words, peels … Continue reading

Black and White, by Jackie Kessler and Caitlin Kittredge (Ballantine Spectra, 2009)

Once they were the best of friends. Now they’re implacable enemies. Joannie “Jet” Greene is a certified hero who uses her powers over shadow and darkness to protect New Chicago. Callie “Iridium” Bradford has used her powers over light to … Continue reading

Superpowers, by David J. Schwartz (Three Rivers Press, 2008)

Who remembers the Madison All-Stars? For a short time in 2001, Madison, Wisconsin, was the home to a group of five super-powered college students, banded together in a shared attempt to understand their powers and change the world for the … Continue reading

Shadows Fall, by Simon R. Green (Roc, 1994)

Somewhere off the beaten path of society and civilization, there lies the mysterious town of Shadows Fall. The elephants’ graveyard of the imagination, it’s where gods and heroes, legends and monsters, myths and childhood companions all go when their time … Continue reading

Wild Cards: Inside Straight, edited by George R.R. Martin (Tor, 2008)

Sixty years ago, the world was transformed by the accidental release of a deadly alien virus over New York City, which forever altered the human potential. For most who contract Xenovirus Takis-A, also known as the wild card, all they … Continue reading