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Action Figures #5
Action Figures - Issue Five: Team-Ups
The Hero Squad is finished.
Their friendships damaged in the wake of the King of Pain incident, perhaps beyond repair, the team go their separate ways to lick their wounds and figure out where their respective paths will take them...and if those paths will ever lead back to each other.
"Team-Ups" features a series of individual adventures that partner the Hero Squad with unexpected friends and pit them against some surprising foes. Sara finally learns the price of her betrayal; Matt and Nina Nitro go hunting for superhuman fugitives; Carrie gets a rematch with Manticore that takes a shocking turn; Stuart follows Dr. Enigma into Boston's magical underworld in search of a powerful and dangerous artifact; Missy gets a lesson in taking names and kicking ass from the Entity; and it all leads to Carrie finally learning the truth behind her fantastic powers...but is she willing to pay their terrible cost?
Their friendships damaged in the wake of the King of Pain incident, perhaps beyond repair, the team go their separate ways to lick their wounds and figure out where their respective paths will take them...and if those paths will ever lead back to each other.
"Team-Ups" features a series of individual adventures that partner the Hero Squad with unexpected friends and pit them against some surprising foes. Sara finally learns the price of her betrayal; Matt and Nina Nitro go hunting for superhuman fugitives; Carrie gets a rematch with Manticore that takes a shocking turn; Stuart follows Dr. Enigma into Boston's magical underworld in search of a powerful and dangerous artifact; Missy gets a lesson in taking names and kicking ass from the Entity; and it all leads to Carrie finally learning the truth behind her fantastic powers...but is she willing to pay their terrible cost?
390 pages, Paperback
First published February 3, 2016
4 people are currently reading
6 people want to read
About the author
Michael C. Bailey
29 books35 followersMichael C. Bailey is a professional writer from Falmouth, Massachusetts who kind of hates writing bios.
Michael has been a working writer since 1998 when he simultaneously (and at the same time) sold his first freelance article to Renaissance Magazine and landed a job as a staff reporter for the Enterprise Newspapers. Michael recently ended his time at the Enterprise to focus on his creative writing.
Over the years Michael has contributed several more articles to Renaissance Magazine and other local publications, and has since 2004 been a staff writer for two New England-based renaissance faire production companies: Pastimes Entertainment and the Connecticut Renaissance Faire.
In September 2013, Michael's debut novel "Action Figures" became available on Amazon.com.
Michael has been a working writer since 1998 when he simultaneously (and at the same time) sold his first freelance article to Renaissance Magazine and landed a job as a staff reporter for the Enterprise Newspapers. Michael recently ended his time at the Enterprise to focus on his creative writing.
Over the years Michael has contributed several more articles to Renaissance Magazine and other local publications, and has since 2004 been a staff writer for two New England-based renaissance faire production companies: Pastimes Entertainment and the Connecticut Renaissance Faire.
In September 2013, Michael's debut novel "Action Figures" became available on Amazon.com.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 9, 2016
In the wake of the heavy and intense Cruel Summer, Team-Ups is refreshingly light. The narrative is broken into a series sub-stories, each told from the point of view of its central character. The format offers the opportunity to dig more deeply into the life of each member of the Hero Squad. The plot gives due attention to each lingering question or personal struggle, all weaving through the Squad's journey as they cope with the fallout of the last book's events. The result is a light but satisfying book, perhaps less gripping than its predecessors, but thoroughly enjoyable.
March 6, 2016
This issue was a relief after the last one -- with the team broken up, each of the kids teams up with some of the adult heroes to get more training, and to subtly (or not so subtly) get some counseling about the disasters of the last issue. They start to work out how they really feel about each other, and how they want to move forward. And just when things are starting to edge toward a new normal, an entirely new and unexpected threat raises its head.
Warning, this one ends on a cliffhanger. It was really fun and very thoughtful.
Warning, this one ends on a cliffhanger. It was really fun and very thoughtful.
October 24, 2016
In only a matter of months, I have vacuumed up every word Michael Bailey has written in the Action Figures series. Five books, and I can honestly not remember a series that has made such a fanboy of me ... well, since I was a twelve-year-old reading LOTR for the first time.
I have come to think of the kids of the Hero Squad as people I know personally and care for, and that is due entirely to Michael Bailey's wonderful writing, who effortlessly blends the fantastical with the normal like no author I've read.
Following the events of Book Four, the Hero Squad is fractured, so in Team Ups, Bailey takes turns telling individual stories about the Squad while still keeping it in the first person POV. We get to see the aftermath from the King of Pain fiasco through the eyes of, alternatively, Carrie, Matt, Sara, Missy, and Stuart, as they team up with other members of the superhero community while trying to keep their own crazy personal lives in order. It's a tall order telling so many POVs and still retaining the personality of each, but he does it.
I relished every word of this. And the ending... OMG x infinity. I cannot WAIT for Book Six!
I have come to think of the kids of the Hero Squad as people I know personally and care for, and that is due entirely to Michael Bailey's wonderful writing, who effortlessly blends the fantastical with the normal like no author I've read.
Following the events of Book Four, the Hero Squad is fractured, so in Team Ups, Bailey takes turns telling individual stories about the Squad while still keeping it in the first person POV. We get to see the aftermath from the King of Pain fiasco through the eyes of, alternatively, Carrie, Matt, Sara, Missy, and Stuart, as they team up with other members of the superhero community while trying to keep their own crazy personal lives in order. It's a tall order telling so many POVs and still retaining the personality of each, but he does it.
I relished every word of this. And the ending... OMG x infinity. I cannot WAIT for Book Six!
March 23, 2016
Oh. My God, I think authors just enjoy torturing their readers - do you hear me, Author?
This is a followup to the first four, really enjoyable Action Figures novels, about a set of teenagers who develop super-abilities. This novel is a bit different as it was more of a set of short novellas all strung together teaming up disparate parts of the Hero Squad with others in their own little spotlights, and as such, it was very enjoyable! The cliffhanger ending though made me erupt in a Vader-esque "NOOO!" that startled my cat into hiding.
Can't wait for book six. You evil, evil author. :)
This is a followup to the first four, really enjoyable Action Figures novels, about a set of teenagers who develop super-abilities. This novel is a bit different as it was more of a set of short novellas all strung together teaming up disparate parts of the Hero Squad with others in their own little spotlights, and as such, it was very enjoyable! The cliffhanger ending though made me erupt in a Vader-esque "NOOO!" that startled my cat into hiding.
Can't wait for book six. You evil, evil author. :)
March 25, 2017
Love this series
I thought this series would be lighthearted YA fluff, which is fine since I read a lot of YA for fun. It's fun, but also mature and serious, with the teen supers facing some devastating events both at home and as school and "at work". The really have to prove themselves for the adult superstore taken them seriously, and various characters have to deal with parental divorce, a cheating parent, persona tragedies, tensions that nearly break them up, one coming out, even a psychotic break helped along by a psychic supervillain. Still, they kick ass and grow up in the course of a painful year or so. Give this guy your money. His stories are worth it.
I thought this series would be lighthearted YA fluff, which is fine since I read a lot of YA for fun. It's fun, but also mature and serious, with the teen supers facing some devastating events both at home and as school and "at work". The really have to prove themselves for the adult superstore taken them seriously, and various characters have to deal with parental divorce, a cheating parent, persona tragedies, tensions that nearly break them up, one coming out, even a psychotic break helped along by a psychic supervillain. Still, they kick ass and grow up in the course of a painful year or so. Give this guy your money. His stories are worth it.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews