The Interns

by Roland Mann

249 pages, Hardcover

Published March 2, 2026

About the author

Roland Mann is a writer, editor, speaker, and professor. As writer, he is best known for his work on Cat & Mouse, a comic which ran for nearly two years, garnered critical acclaim and led Roland to other work. Other titles Roland wrote include Rocket Ranger, Miss Fury, Planet of the Apes: Blood of the Apes, Krey and Demon’s Tails.

As editor, Roland is best known for his time as a Malibu/Marvel Comics editor where he edited The Protectors line of comics and many Ultraverse titles. While there, he developed a knack for finding and promoting new and budding creative talent. Roland also served as Editor and Publisher of Silverline, a line of independent comics that included such titles as Switchblade and The Scary Book.

Roland received a Master of Fine Arts in Writing from Spalding University, a Master’s degree in English from the University of North Alabama, and a
Bachelor of Science in Creative Writing from the University of Southern Mississippi. In addition to his work in comics, Roland has been a newspaper editor and an advertising flunky, but more recently he has taught English at the university level. He is also a frequent speaker at writing workshops/conferences where many find his sessions encouraging.

Roland is on the Faculty at Full Sail University where he teaches Creative Writing.

Reviews

[Ava · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed The Interns. Going into it, I expected a typical superhero story, but it turned out to be much more fun and relatable than I anticipated. Caleb’s situation had me laughing more than once. He has spent years preparing to become a great superhero, only to end up in Oxford, Mississippi, stuck with the name “Charger” and a costume that doesn’t exactly scream legendary hero.

What I liked most was how human Caleb felt. Beneath the superhero training, he’s still a teenager trying to figure out who he is, deal with awkward situations, friendships, heartbreak, and the pressure of living up to expectations. That made his character easy to connect with.

The small-town setting also gave the story a different feel from the usual superhero adventures. The humor, local characters, suspicious police, nosy neighbors, and everyday Southern traditions added plenty of personality.

I also appreciated that the story isn’t only about fighting villains. There’s a bigger question underneath it all about what actually makes someone a hero, and I thought that gave the book more heart.

Overall, The Interns was entertaining, funny, and surprisingly warm. It’s a light, enjoyable superhero read with plenty of personality, and I’d happily recommend it to readers who like humor mixed with action and coming-of-age stories.

[Bill Sawyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read

I don't know what I text, but it wasn't this. I am so glad I read it. Honestly, I can't wait to see what is next. There are clearly lots of stories here to be told. Awesome first book. Read it!!