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The Adventures of Darius Logan #1
Super Justice Force
Darius Logan is an orphaned teenager in serious trouble. Facing time in prison, he instead enters Second Chance, a rehabilitation program for ex-criminals operated by Super Justice Force, the worldâ s greatest team of superheroes. Working side-by-side with reformed supercriminalsâ and the superheroes he idolized as a childâ Darius creates a new life for himself. But when the forces of evil threaten to destroy everything around him, can a kid with no superpowers do anything to save the day? A refreshing new take on superhero mythology, Darius Super Justice Force is the two-fisted tale of an ordinary young manâ s coming-of-age in an extraordinary world of professional do-gooders and sinister villains. â Here is undeniable proof that pictures arenâ t required to tell a great superhero story.â â Brian Michael Bendis, Ultimate Spider-Man, Powers
- GenresYoung Adult
264 pages, Paperback
First published March 11, 2011
2 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 26, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. It is a good read and draws you in. I was lucky to purchase this from the author, David Walker, at Emerald City Comicon this past year. He called this story "his baby" and it shows in the story he developed. If you like super hero stories, this is one for you.
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May 30, 2021I need more of this story!!!
This is an awesome story!! I know Mr. Walker is busy, but I'd love a follow up to this novel.
This is an awesome story!! I know Mr. Walker is busy, but I'd love a follow up to this novel.
March 11, 2012
I grew up reading comic books and will usually pick up a comic-book influenced book in a heartbeat. In a few cases, I've ended up disappointed. This is not one of those cases.
Darius Logan is an orphan, a victim of what is popularly known as "The Attack." In an attempt to create protectors to keep the Earth safe from alien invaders, the government accidentally created a menace over which an evil mastermind was able to take control. Thousands died, including Darius's parents.
It hasn't been easy for him, shifted from foster home to foster home. He's gradually slid into the wrong side of the law and, in a single incident, landed himself in seriously hot water. But thanks to the intervention of one of the most powerful superheroes on the planet, he's been given a second chance.
The heroes don't see prisons as being agents of rehabilitation. In fact, they see them as quite the opposite. They believe that early intervention may help people like Darius, and they mean to use him as the test case to prove it's possible.
Thus he's inducted into the Second Chance program, one that's already been successful in reforming even some of the worst super-criminals. The Second Chance program gave former prisoners jobs involved in running the day-to-day operations of the Super Justice Force's headquarters. For those who tested well, they could even eventually end up in positions of authority within the organization.
When Darius discovers that his best friend inside, and the uncle of his love interest, used to be a major villain, he's a bit nonplussed. But over time he develops a friendship and then a feeling of kinship with these people. For the first time in his life since his parents died, he feels part of something.
The fellow in charge of security there at the headquarters, on the other hand, has it in for Darius, and does his level best to get him kicked out of the program. He doesn't believe in rehabilitation and sees Darius as a threat to the status quo.
In the end, Darius's loyalties are put to the test, and he has to decide between following the rules and doing the right thing. At least he understands that there's a difference.
I enjoyed this book immensely. Darius is a great protagonist, a young man who's made a serious mistake but was, initially, simply trying to survive. It doesn't go a lot into the tribulations of foster children, but it does address some definite problems with the system.
I grew up reading comic books. It was the comic books that got me reading before I'd even gotten into school. I love the notion of superheroes, people who can tackle the types of things ordinary humans can't handle. Not only super-powered villains, but natural disasters and alien invasions. There's no doubt that these things influence my own novels.
Author D.F. Walker has managed to create a new continuum that borrows from the ones with which we're already familiar, yet adds his own impressions to it. This is a world that could easily expand to fill several series of comic books, should anyone be interested in making the attempt. And, unlike the last superhero book I read, doesn't rely on simply changing a few things about known heroes in order to create second-rate simulations. While one might recognize a few traits here and there, the characters' back stories are their own, not borrowed from elsewhere and altered slightly. This is a complex world with its own history.
I'm giving this book 4 1/2 sages out of a possible 5. Worth reading for any comic book fan in particular, but also entertaining for those who just like good speculative fiction.
Darius Logan is an orphan, a victim of what is popularly known as "The Attack." In an attempt to create protectors to keep the Earth safe from alien invaders, the government accidentally created a menace over which an evil mastermind was able to take control. Thousands died, including Darius's parents.
It hasn't been easy for him, shifted from foster home to foster home. He's gradually slid into the wrong side of the law and, in a single incident, landed himself in seriously hot water. But thanks to the intervention of one of the most powerful superheroes on the planet, he's been given a second chance.
The heroes don't see prisons as being agents of rehabilitation. In fact, they see them as quite the opposite. They believe that early intervention may help people like Darius, and they mean to use him as the test case to prove it's possible.
Thus he's inducted into the Second Chance program, one that's already been successful in reforming even some of the worst super-criminals. The Second Chance program gave former prisoners jobs involved in running the day-to-day operations of the Super Justice Force's headquarters. For those who tested well, they could even eventually end up in positions of authority within the organization.
When Darius discovers that his best friend inside, and the uncle of his love interest, used to be a major villain, he's a bit nonplussed. But over time he develops a friendship and then a feeling of kinship with these people. For the first time in his life since his parents died, he feels part of something.
The fellow in charge of security there at the headquarters, on the other hand, has it in for Darius, and does his level best to get him kicked out of the program. He doesn't believe in rehabilitation and sees Darius as a threat to the status quo.
In the end, Darius's loyalties are put to the test, and he has to decide between following the rules and doing the right thing. At least he understands that there's a difference.
I enjoyed this book immensely. Darius is a great protagonist, a young man who's made a serious mistake but was, initially, simply trying to survive. It doesn't go a lot into the tribulations of foster children, but it does address some definite problems with the system.
I grew up reading comic books. It was the comic books that got me reading before I'd even gotten into school. I love the notion of superheroes, people who can tackle the types of things ordinary humans can't handle. Not only super-powered villains, but natural disasters and alien invasions. There's no doubt that these things influence my own novels.
Author D.F. Walker has managed to create a new continuum that borrows from the ones with which we're already familiar, yet adds his own impressions to it. This is a world that could easily expand to fill several series of comic books, should anyone be interested in making the attempt. And, unlike the last superhero book I read, doesn't rely on simply changing a few things about known heroes in order to create second-rate simulations. While one might recognize a few traits here and there, the characters' back stories are their own, not borrowed from elsewhere and altered slightly. This is a complex world with its own history.
I'm giving this book 4 1/2 sages out of a possible 5. Worth reading for any comic book fan in particular, but also entertaining for those who just like good speculative fiction.
July 17, 2011
This book combines the best traits of comic book storytelling and novel storytelling and puts the readers in the perspective not of the superhero, but of one of us readers. It's the story of Darius Logan, a boy, made criminal by circumstance and given a second chance in a program of the same name. In Second Chance he gets an opportunity to work with the superheroes he's idolized all his life and make something of himself. However, certain things are not working in his favor and he'll have to do all he can to keep in the program, out of trouble and fight against a growing threat.
Walker has created a vivid world miraculously fleshing out a full superhero universe in one novel. For the few flaws...I found it odd that there were a few, (a least one) inexplicable instances that story switched from Darius' perspective to that of another character; it was distracting and pointless to the crux of the story. Also Darius while it's debatable how likable Darius is, (I found him quite childish and whiney), it's easy to empathize with his awe and amazement, to feel his burdens and to experience his journey. And where Darius could get tedious, the other characters were more than fabulous. Walker also successfully created an odious villain, almost unbearable to read for the frustration he created.
I'm hoping to see more from this world Walker has created.
All in all he's reminisce of Jason Todd...in a good way. And for anyone who loves superhero comics and novels, this book is totally worth it.
Walker has created a vivid world miraculously fleshing out a full superhero universe in one novel. For the few flaws...I found it odd that there were a few, (a least one) inexplicable instances that story switched from Darius' perspective to that of another character; it was distracting and pointless to the crux of the story. Also Darius while it's debatable how likable Darius is, (I found him quite childish and whiney), it's easy to empathize with his awe and amazement, to feel his burdens and to experience his journey. And where Darius could get tedious, the other characters were more than fabulous. Walker also successfully created an odious villain, almost unbearable to read for the frustration he created.
I'm hoping to see more from this world Walker has created.
All in all he's reminisce of Jason Todd...in a good way. And for anyone who loves superhero comics and novels, this book is totally worth it.
September 16, 2012
This is a well-written superhero story that stars a non-powered protagonist. Similar to comics like Marvels, Kingdom Come and Astro City, the reader is dropped into the world of superheroes, villains, aliens and conspiracies already in progress. The simultaneously wide-eyed and jaded Darius Logan serves as a medium through which the reader can absorb this rich and fascinating universe crafted masterfully by Walker. The author takes his time laying the groundwork of the larger world Darius inhabits, in particular the environment of Super Justice Force headquarters where Darius serves as support staff.
Walker paints a picture of Darius and the many other characters that he cross make up the supporting cast. What impresses me the most is that he manages to do all of it in the course of telling a good story. I never felt bogged down with details. I never asked myself "why is he bothering to tell me this?" Walker tells his story in such a way that each reveal helps keep the story moving instead of slowing it down.
"Darius Logan: Super Justice Force" ends in such a way that I am satisfied with what I read, but I also want to know (and read!) what comes next. I'm pretty sure anyone who has ever enjoyed superheroes in any medium would enjoy this book. It gets my highest recommendation.
Walker paints a picture of Darius and the many other characters that he cross make up the supporting cast. What impresses me the most is that he manages to do all of it in the course of telling a good story. I never felt bogged down with details. I never asked myself "why is he bothering to tell me this?" Walker tells his story in such a way that each reveal helps keep the story moving instead of slowing it down.
"Darius Logan: Super Justice Force" ends in such a way that I am satisfied with what I read, but I also want to know (and read!) what comes next. I'm pretty sure anyone who has ever enjoyed superheroes in any medium would enjoy this book. It gets my highest recommendation.
May 13, 2012
The Overlook Little Free Library is adding books from local, self published authors and this gem came to us for the young reader.
It is very good tale, but the best part is it can hold the interest of teenage readers who struggle with finding something at their level that is not too "Dick & Jane."
Alex enjoyed the book, which isn't hard for him to do, even tho he does struggle with the task.
It is very good tale, but the best part is it can hold the interest of teenage readers who struggle with finding something at their level that is not too "Dick & Jane."
Alex enjoyed the book, which isn't hard for him to do, even tho he does struggle with the task.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews