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Blackjack #3
Blackjack Dead or Alive
Blackjack has managed to save the world and cheat death, but his dark past is always there, waiting for him. Now, faced with his most formidable enemy, Blackjack must find a way to stay alive as everyone, hero and villain alike come looking to kill him
- GenresSuperheroesUrban Fantasy
505 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 9, 2015
46 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 25, 2016
At first, I was thinking of writing utterly disappointed with this book, but I felt that wouldn't give justice to the book. It was good and bad. However, what sealed the deal for me, was the guilt that Blackjack felt. It didn't seem to really make sense, he did some bad things, but the whole heroes were just to put it politely, were assholes. His reaction and their reactions don't make sense. He should feel more angry at them and they should feel more sorry for what they did. Furthermore, the author seems to really make it a point that they are losers and that Blackjack knows that. Than again, if you read a little on the author and the protagonist seems to forget. However, you still remember that they are class act jerks.
I didn't like how Blackjack also couldn't seem to win some battles. Another thing that niggled me was the battle in Australia from the earlier book, if I remember correctly, he was attacked because there was a bounty on his head, and the people attacking him were mercenaries and low-lifes. Instead though, in this book, Blackjack feels guilty. It doesn't match up. Another thing that didn't match up was helping Retcon. Retcon was trying to save the world, not destroy it. It only went wrong when he was brought down with grief at his daughter's death.
I was hoping from this book to have less guilt, more action and maybe some respect for the protagonist.
Despite that all, I did like certain parts like with Bubu. But what I couldn't reconcile was the fact that the author seemed to forget his style of writing or the characteristics of Blackjack.
I didn't like how Blackjack also couldn't seem to win some battles. Another thing that niggled me was the battle in Australia from the earlier book, if I remember correctly, he was attacked because there was a bounty on his head, and the people attacking him were mercenaries and low-lifes. Instead though, in this book, Blackjack feels guilty. It doesn't match up. Another thing that didn't match up was helping Retcon. Retcon was trying to save the world, not destroy it. It only went wrong when he was brought down with grief at his daughter's death.
I was hoping from this book to have less guilt, more action and maybe some respect for the protagonist.
Despite that all, I did like certain parts like with Bubu. But what I couldn't reconcile was the fact that the author seemed to forget his style of writing or the characteristics of Blackjack.
October 27, 2015
Great series
Can you back off the self-hate/recrimination already? A couple of times it felt like filler to extend the length of the book. A great plot point to help recover would be for him to get a spot on the council. Can you imagine some of the scenes where he rubs it all in there face? Would definitely liven up the meetings I'm sure, kind of a blacklist-esque aspect.
Can you back off the self-hate/recrimination already? A couple of times it felt like filler to extend the length of the book. A great plot point to help recover would be for him to get a spot on the council. Can you imagine some of the scenes where he rubs it all in there face? Would definitely liven up the meetings I'm sure, kind of a blacklist-esque aspect.
October 18, 2015
Blackjack was damaged badly at the end of the last book in this series and even he needs time to heal from injuries so severe. However, he’s still a wanted villain even after he recovers and his options for life outside jail are slim but whatever happens Blackjack does not want to go back to jail and his enemies are about to widen his options.
I have to say I enjoyed this book a lot more than the previous book in this series. Many readers may be somewhat disconcerted by the lack of real action in the first half of the book but for me it was actually refreshing and interesting to see Blackjack use his brain rather than his brawn. Its sometime easy to forget in amongst all the punching that he’s also an engineering genius.
Blackjack is trying to turn his life around. He’ll always have his villain past and his misdeeds to haunt him but its not the life he ever really wanted but he now realises he is the only person who can really change his future…..if he can use the small window of opportunity he has to do so. I’m still looking forward to the next book in the series, though I do hope it doesn’t take as long as this one to come along. I’ve enjoyed this series enough to wish it was available in a print version though that doesn’t seem to be coming along any time soon.
I have to say I enjoyed this book a lot more than the previous book in this series. Many readers may be somewhat disconcerted by the lack of real action in the first half of the book but for me it was actually refreshing and interesting to see Blackjack use his brain rather than his brawn. Its sometime easy to forget in amongst all the punching that he’s also an engineering genius.
Blackjack is trying to turn his life around. He’ll always have his villain past and his misdeeds to haunt him but its not the life he ever really wanted but he now realises he is the only person who can really change his future…..if he can use the small window of opportunity he has to do so. I’m still looking forward to the next book in the series, though I do hope it doesn’t take as long as this one to come along. I’ve enjoyed this series enough to wish it was available in a print version though that doesn’t seem to be coming along any time soon.
February 21, 2018
BLACKJACK is a series I very much enjoy and hope eventually gets on audiobook. It's one of my favorite supervillain series and that's a bigger subgenre of superheroes and fantasy than you'd expect. It's the story of a super-tough, super-smart archer who has the problem of being unable to employ his abilities effectively--also the fact he's internationally hated due to being blamed for the deaths of many heroes (he was only guilty of one).
The third book opens with Blackjack in basically the same situation as Julian Assange in that he's stuck living inside the base of the Justice League equivalent as the rest of the world wants to hang him from a tree. Blackjack ends up being turned over to the authorities, which sours him on the superheroes, only to be "rescued" by people trying to kill him. Deciding to lay low, he ends up in Romania where he finds it's remarkably easy to become a big wig there when you already have millions stashed away. Just don't try to buy Dracula's castle.
The story is still very entertaining but suffers a bit from the fact Blackjack is going a bit overboard with his mourning and regret over his actions as a supervillain. Which is realistic because, hey, he killed some innocent people including the equivalent of the Flash but not quite as fun as when he's living the high life as a Romanian gangster.
I also wasn't too fond of Apogee's handling as she's gone from being the very fascinating moral heart to a flip-flopper who can't make up her mind whether Blackjack is someone she hates or loves. Also, I'm not at all interested in Blackjack trying to save the racist murderer who just so happens to be the father of one of his victims.
Mr. Haha is a good villain as is Brutal and Blackjack 2.0. We definitely are getting some interesting new characters introduced in this world as well as set ups for future conflicts. I'm glad the series has moved away from the Lightbringers to more earthly antagonists. The only problem is BJ is so powerful it's difficult to believe many local supers can challenge him.
Despite this, the book is incredibly entertaining for the vast majority of its run and I loved the character of Burpo that serves as BJ's fixer while he's in Romania. I'm going to continue reading this series and isn't that the best endorsement of them all?
8/10
The third book opens with Blackjack in basically the same situation as Julian Assange in that he's stuck living inside the base of the Justice League equivalent as the rest of the world wants to hang him from a tree. Blackjack ends up being turned over to the authorities, which sours him on the superheroes, only to be "rescued" by people trying to kill him. Deciding to lay low, he ends up in Romania where he finds it's remarkably easy to become a big wig there when you already have millions stashed away. Just don't try to buy Dracula's castle.
The story is still very entertaining but suffers a bit from the fact Blackjack is going a bit overboard with his mourning and regret over his actions as a supervillain. Which is realistic because, hey, he killed some innocent people including the equivalent of the Flash but not quite as fun as when he's living the high life as a Romanian gangster.
I also wasn't too fond of Apogee's handling as she's gone from being the very fascinating moral heart to a flip-flopper who can't make up her mind whether Blackjack is someone she hates or loves. Also, I'm not at all interested in Blackjack trying to save the racist murderer who just so happens to be the father of one of his victims.
Mr. Haha is a good villain as is Brutal and Blackjack 2.0. We definitely are getting some interesting new characters introduced in this world as well as set ups for future conflicts. I'm glad the series has moved away from the Lightbringers to more earthly antagonists. The only problem is BJ is so powerful it's difficult to believe many local supers can challenge him.
Despite this, the book is incredibly entertaining for the vast majority of its run and I loved the character of Burpo that serves as BJ's fixer while he's in Romania. I'm going to continue reading this series and isn't that the best endorsement of them all?
8/10
October 17, 2017
Review to come.
October 27, 2015
Better that book two, less childish than book one
Blackjack is back, just as arrogant, self centered, and insecure as always.
The story is actually pretty good, and has none of the waste of book two. For half of the book, the proofreading is solid (not perfect) and the hyperbole is minimized. Apogee is actually a character rather than the protagonist's mental disorder.
The second half is not as tightly focused, nor as well edited. The antagonist motivations are never well explained, even in the explanation scenes. I am reading web serials that explore all these themes with more technical skill and less douchey protagonists.
So, here is where I get off the Blackjack train. There is a lot left in the world, but the author isn't good enough to make it interesting without reverting our mental adolescent into a tamper driven man child. There are a couple of take aways, but not enough to give me any interest in whatever comes next.
Blackjack is back, just as arrogant, self centered, and insecure as always.
The story is actually pretty good, and has none of the waste of book two. For half of the book, the proofreading is solid (not perfect) and the hyperbole is minimized. Apogee is actually a character rather than the protagonist's mental disorder.
The second half is not as tightly focused, nor as well edited. The antagonist motivations are never well explained, even in the explanation scenes. I am reading web serials that explore all these themes with more technical skill and less douchey protagonists.
So, here is where I get off the Blackjack train. There is a lot left in the world, but the author isn't good enough to make it interesting without reverting our mental adolescent into a tamper driven man child. There are a couple of take aways, but not enough to give me any interest in whatever comes next.
January 15, 2017
Definitely my favorite of the three books currently available. The characters continue to be the driving force for me in this series. But to be honest, those are my most favorite kind of books and the easiest for me to completely lose myself in. As with previous installments in the series, I did find my eyes glazing over a bit at the extensive techno-babble and the swing-by-swing fight scenes (which were mercifully fewer in number in this book), hence why I can only give it 4/5 stars. And to be quite honest, that's probably not even really a fault with the book so much as just a preference of my own. But fuck it, it's my review and I do what I want. Looking forward to the next installment, whenever it happens!
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January 26, 2017Excellent, just like the last two
I think I like this series, because I like the MC, please come out with book 4 soonest. Additionally, what's with all the crying, please do not tell me all the punishment is turning him into a delicate snowflake. Weak man, weak!
I think I like this series, because I like the MC, please come out with book 4 soonest. Additionally, what's with all the crying, please do not tell me all the punishment is turning him into a delicate snowflake. Weak man, weak!
October 23, 2015
I liked this book a lot. The writing was much better than the first two although still a little bit of room for improvement.
August 4, 2019
Love this series
This is the 2nd or 3rd time ive re- read the series. This and D-list Supervillian are classic.
Buy these! Enjoy
This is the 2nd or 3rd time ive re- read the series. This and D-list Supervillian are classic.
Buy these! Enjoy
February 13, 2016
Another good novel in the Blackjack series. Love the approach to superheroes/villains. Hope Apogee and Blackjack make it in the long run.
Looking forward to the next one.
Looking forward to the next one.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews