Killing Capes

by Scott Mathy

The Powers have existed in New Haven for as long as anyone can remember. The eternal conflict between hero and villain plays out with little regard for the lives of normal citizens. The powerless worship and fear their gods in equal measure.

For Dwight, work is all about preserving the balance. When one of the “Capes” gets out of line, it's his job to put them down. It's only a minor inconvenience that he has no powers of his own and his partner is a brutish sociopath.

Armed with nothing more than a flexible conscience and questionable training, Dwight must face the horrors of a nightmarish boss, super-powered ex-wife, and fanboy roommate. Taking down some of the most powerful beings in New Haven may be the least complicated part of his day.

161 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 21, 2016

About the author

I've taught writing at every grade level for almost a decade. My first book was finished as part of the 2015 NaNoWriMo competition. Looking back, my editor had her work cut out for her.

As a student of all things pop-culture, I work with what is available. Every missed opportunity I see in whatever I'm consuming becomes a part of my writing.

I live in Normal, Illinois with my wife and dog.

Reviews

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fresh look at Superheros

What a great new perspective on the superhero craze. It was refreshing to read a story from a "normal" person's viewpoint.

The characters were interesting and believable. I enjoyed the balance of male/female characters. I especially liked the characters of Lia and Rampage. Too often the female characters are added as fluff when the main character is male. That was not the case with this novel. All characters had depth and were well written. I found myself siding with different characters as I read each chapter.

The story itself was entertaining and moved along without any dry spells. I was immersed in the progression of the relationships between the characters. It was easy to identify with Dwight (main character) since he himself had no special powers. He made the job of "superhero hitman" seem like a completely normal career. His relationships with his ex-wife and his roommate also made him common enough to identify with. As the story played out, there was a realistic sense of right and wrong. Not all decisions are black and white and not all situations are as they seem.

I would highly recommend this book to people who enjoy sci-fi/fantasy. It would also appeal to people who enjoy more realistic fiction. It contains sarcasm and humor and is truly an interesting read. The writing is well thought out and flows nicely. The overall concept is fresh and not just another superhero story. I look forward to another novel from this author.

[Trevor McGuire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't say enough good things about this book. Mechanically, there is a minimal dramatis personae, which makes the story and characters engaging and easy to follow. The characters are developed just enough that everything important is revealed, but with that character development intricately intertwined with the story development.

The story is very straightforward, but still original. Some might say it borrows too heavily from some ideas of the X-men, but I think it is still sufficiently different to stand on its own. I think what I liked best about the story is the plausibility of it. While we don't have superpowers, and while we don't have aliens among us, if we did, I can imagine a scenario like that of Killing Capes arising.

I look forward to seeing the result of Mathy's work for this year's NaNoWriMo; hopefully I can read more about Dwight and New Haven!

[Hope Janisco · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent book with excellent character development, waiting for the next book!