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The Spider-Queen
From the ashes of tragedy rises a new hero, destined to bring hope to a world on the brink of chaos. Shannon Kane's world is shattered when her husband, the brilliant chemist Dr. Henry Kane, is brutally assassinated. With his government secrets stolen, and the authorities offering no hope, Shannon takes destiny into her own hands. Embracing her new identity as The Spider-Queen, she dives headfirst into a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with her husband's killers. "The Spider-Queen" is an action-packed superhero adventure brimming with electrifying battles, pulse-pounding chases, and a web of conspiracies that stretch across the globe. As Shannon hones her abilities and uncovers the truth behind her husband's death, she joins forces with the enigmatic British Agent Ninety-Nine. Together, they must navigate a treacherous world where danger lurks around every corner, and no one can be trusted. A thrilling journey of love, loss, and self-discovery awaits, where an ordinary woman rises above her limits and becomes an extraordinary force to be reckoned with. Leap into this adrenaline-fueled adventure, and witness Shannon Kane's transformation into the legendary Spider-Queen!
173 pages, Paperback
Published May 30, 2023
22 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 23, 2023
Summary:
Solid, fast-paced yarn that plays it a little safe.
The good:
The story is well-told; at all times I know what the protagonist wants, where we are, and what's at stake. The action is clearly articulated, and the plot moves briskly. Characters are distinct.
The opportunities:
There were a few areas where this narrative could have been improved. Stylistically, it's very standard. This helps ensure clarity, but there were no points were I was engaged by a compelling turn of phrase, or where I really felt the outside world slip away. The protagonist is emblematic of this, unfortunately. We're told about how amazing her relationship is with her husband but, in practice, it's a generic 'he is a addled brainiac and she's his fussy, nagging sidekick' shtick. This somewhat dampened my engagement with her mission. Further, the villain may as well be absent. I admire the writers' (apparent) intentions to keep the story as grounded as possible, but that left little to escape to. I think there was a real opportunity, with a little rejigging, to rewrite the narrative as a pulp noir thriller, something that harkens to the origins of both the character and the genres that inspired it. A commendable effort.
Solid, fast-paced yarn that plays it a little safe.
The good:
The story is well-told; at all times I know what the protagonist wants, where we are, and what's at stake. The action is clearly articulated, and the plot moves briskly. Characters are distinct.
The opportunities:
There were a few areas where this narrative could have been improved. Stylistically, it's very standard. This helps ensure clarity, but there were no points were I was engaged by a compelling turn of phrase, or where I really felt the outside world slip away. The protagonist is emblematic of this, unfortunately. We're told about how amazing her relationship is with her husband but, in practice, it's a generic 'he is a addled brainiac and she's his fussy, nagging sidekick' shtick. This somewhat dampened my engagement with her mission. Further, the villain may as well be absent. I admire the writers' (apparent) intentions to keep the story as grounded as possible, but that left little to escape to. I think there was a real opportunity, with a little rejigging, to rewrite the narrative as a pulp noir thriller, something that harkens to the origins of both the character and the genres that inspired it. A commendable effort.
September 30, 2024
I have followed Austin Mcconell’s work for awhile with interest and his bargain bin shared universe of public domain characters is perhaps his best idea yet. This book is a breezy origin story that is very enjoyable and gets me excited for further entries in this world. I understand another book will be dropping ahead of the two feature films scheduled for next year, I will definitely read that upon release. I put off reading this for awhile, as the Atlas movie was mainly what caught my eye, but I regret waiting, as this is the perfect prelude to this insane passion project.
June 11, 2023
Fast-paced, exciting revival of a forgotten Golden Age superhero. Loved the final chapter and Austin's voice as a writer, really looking forward to seeing what's next in the Superzeroes universe.
July 8, 2025
Spider Queen is not the only example of a forgotten comic book character brought back into the modern day, DC and Marvel have done that from time to time, heck even the Fairly Odd Parents have done it, but it is an interesting retelling of a frankly originally boring character.
The story follows Dr. Shannon Kane, a scientist working alongside her husband Dr. Henry Kane. They develop various tech and patents for secretive government and private contractors. But when Henry stumbles onto a critical breakthrough, their lab is broken into, the research is stolen, Henry is killed, and Shannon barely escapes.
From there, the story mixes noir conspiracy, biotech intrigue, and espionage tropes. There's a criminal underworld at play, secret contracts from Henry’s past, and the introduction of a mysterious operative known only as Agent 99, whose mission is to protect Shannon and secure the stolen research.
However, while the setup is compelling, the superhero elements feel a bit off... Shannon becomes the titular "Spider Queen" using Henry’s leftover prototypes; spider silk tools, a rudimentary exo-suit, and enhanced vision goggles, but these aren't her own inventions. We’re told of her scientific background, but most of her effectiveness comes from Henry’s legacy, not her own ingenuity. Don’t get me wrong, she’s not useless, but we can see she’s motivated by revenge more than innovation, and that shift in focus leaves her arc feeling less like a scientist's journey and more like a vigilante’s.
Still, the concept is interesting, especially given McConnell’s larger plans involving other revived public domain heroes. I wonder, how will this book connect with that wider universe he’s planning?
The story follows Dr. Shannon Kane, a scientist working alongside her husband Dr. Henry Kane. They develop various tech and patents for secretive government and private contractors. But when Henry stumbles onto a critical breakthrough, their lab is broken into, the research is stolen, Henry is killed, and Shannon barely escapes.
From there, the story mixes noir conspiracy, biotech intrigue, and espionage tropes. There's a criminal underworld at play, secret contracts from Henry’s past, and the introduction of a mysterious operative known only as Agent 99, whose mission is to protect Shannon and secure the stolen research.
However, while the setup is compelling, the superhero elements feel a bit off... Shannon becomes the titular "Spider Queen" using Henry’s leftover prototypes; spider silk tools, a rudimentary exo-suit, and enhanced vision goggles, but these aren't her own inventions. We’re told of her scientific background, but most of her effectiveness comes from Henry’s legacy, not her own ingenuity. Don’t get me wrong, she’s not useless, but we can see she’s motivated by revenge more than innovation, and that shift in focus leaves her arc feeling less like a scientist's journey and more like a vigilante’s.
Still, the concept is interesting, especially given McConnell’s larger plans involving other revived public domain heroes. I wonder, how will this book connect with that wider universe he’s planning?
November 5, 2025
The Spider-Queen by Austin McConnell is more of a revenge story than a traditional superhero tale. Based on a vintage heroine who has entered the public domain, the author has crafted a story loosely inspired by her original origin but modernized for today’s audience. While her name and that of her husband remain intact, the story takes a creative spin.
Unfortunately, the book starts painfully slowly. The first few chapters drag on and could have been much more concise to bring the protagonist into her role as a vigilante faster. By the time she finally embraces her new identity, the story is nearly over. While other reviews describe the book as “fast-paced,” this is only true in the latter half. The action doesn’t really pick up until midway through the book, and things only get truly compelling when the protagonist’s sister enters the scene.
There are, however, a few elements that stretch credibility. A month-long vacation in Amsterdam? What on earth would someone do in that city for an entire month? And five dollars for a hot dog, hamburger, and two drinks? What time period is this supposed to be?
That said, the story isn’t bad. It’s an enjoyable read, but it doesn’t reach greatness either. If you’re looking for a quick and light revenge tale with a dash of superhero vibes, it might be worth your time, but keep your expectations in check.
Unfortunately, the book starts painfully slowly. The first few chapters drag on and could have been much more concise to bring the protagonist into her role as a vigilante faster. By the time she finally embraces her new identity, the story is nearly over. While other reviews describe the book as “fast-paced,” this is only true in the latter half. The action doesn’t really pick up until midway through the book, and things only get truly compelling when the protagonist’s sister enters the scene.
There are, however, a few elements that stretch credibility. A month-long vacation in Amsterdam? What on earth would someone do in that city for an entire month? And five dollars for a hot dog, hamburger, and two drinks? What time period is this supposed to be?
That said, the story isn’t bad. It’s an enjoyable read, but it doesn’t reach greatness either. If you’re looking for a quick and light revenge tale with a dash of superhero vibes, it might be worth your time, but keep your expectations in check.
December 3, 2024
I enjoy Austin McConnell’s YouTube content, and his so called “Superzeroes” universe of public domain superheroes really piqued my interest. I can’t say I had any expectations going into this, but I can say that I absolutely loved this story. Taking a character that predates Spider-Man by twenty years and giving her a modern adaptation based on a brief and forgotten comic run is a brilliant idea. It’s really only loosely based on the comics as this book adds a hefty dose of spy thriller to Shannon Kane’s origin story. It’s a quick read that never lets up on the action once it begins and is incredibly efficient with its use of characters and plot. Here’s hoping we get a continuation as the book ends with an intriguing tease at another “Superzeroes” character.
August 22, 2023
Gets an extra star for the amount of effort one of my favorite content creators put in to reviving a superhero who has been lost to history.
It is a quick, action packed novel that leaves the reader wanting more and I appreciate the door being left open for future stories. I would have liked to get to know Henry and Joel a bit more, to understand their motivations and the choices they make throughout the novel, but Shannon remained an interesting protagonist as she is plunged into a new world. This is what I want from my origin stories.
Looking forward to Atlas and the future of this universe in general!
It is a quick, action packed novel that leaves the reader wanting more and I appreciate the door being left open for future stories. I would have liked to get to know Henry and Joel a bit more, to understand their motivations and the choices they make throughout the novel, but Shannon remained an interesting protagonist as she is plunged into a new world. This is what I want from my origin stories.
Looking forward to Atlas and the future of this universe in general!
July 26, 2023
An absolutely wonderful revival and renewal to the lost story of the Spider-Queen who originally found her story hidden in obscure comics many years ago. This modern character backstory is perfectly executed and wonderfully written. A lovely quick read for those interested in the crossing of comic heroes and science. I'm quite excited and hopeful that the stories continue!
July 12, 2025
This was an interesting read. I've never been particularly fond of superhero stories but this one intrigued me. The writing was decent and I enjoyed how it was fast paced. However, the plot seemed to lack. There was so much potential here but unfortunately, it fell a bit flat for me. Otherwise, a mediocre book that could have been structured a bit better.
June 29, 2023
An enjoyable story about a web-swinger that came before Spider-Man. I’ve been looking for a good story about a “spider-woman like” character, and this book was exactly what I needed. Would highly recommend to any reader who also secretly wishes they could be Spider-Man/Woman.
October 13, 2023
Fun read
I read this straight through. I would like to see another book. The character is well done and tis story just let you how much you do not know and I what to know. So p!ease another book. Give this a chance.
I read this straight through. I would like to see another book. The character is well done and tis story just let you how much you do not know and I what to know. So p!ease another book. Give this a chance.
March 8, 2024
3.5. Overall fun and enjoyable, but not particularly gripping.
August 1, 2024
Listened to the audio book on audible. Excellent read and fun pacing. The characters are engaging and it's a great ride
January 10, 2025
What a fantastic novel. It's on the short side, but it doesn't overstay its welcome. Memorable characters, an engaging plot, and a wonderful setup for future stories. Well done, Austin!
June 21, 2025
A fun as hell quick read. Not gonna set the world on fire but certainly not upset I read it.
April 30, 2024
A short book, but it tells the story well, and the main character Shannon Kane is likeable.
Writing: 3/5
Characters: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Total: 11/15
Writing: 3/5
Characters: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Total: 11/15
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews