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SuperGuy
The Generic Alternative: Less Superhero Hype, Same Superhero Quality
Superheroes are common in Oliver's world. He doesn't pay them much attention since he's just trying to survive his city government internship and the latest useless--but time-sensitive--project that's been dropped on him. Then he mistakenly takes the super serum the Milwaukee mayor wrote into the budget to help his slumping re-election campaign. Now Oliver is dealing with an annoyed police chief, a surging crime wave, paparazzi, a super villain, a bit of romance, and the creepy ladies of the Milwaukee Flower and Garden Society. You expect the super villains to be trouble, but you never expect the bigger problem to be getting your city-issued car replaced after you've reduced it to a burning hunk of metal your first day on the job. If Oliver can survive the endless on-the-job training sessions, the awkwardness of the extremely generic but very tight suit, and getting thrown through the occasional wall or two, he might just have time to stop the bad guy from enslaving the world. No biggie.
Superheroes are common in Oliver's world. He doesn't pay them much attention since he's just trying to survive his city government internship and the latest useless--but time-sensitive--project that's been dropped on him. Then he mistakenly takes the super serum the Milwaukee mayor wrote into the budget to help his slumping re-election campaign. Now Oliver is dealing with an annoyed police chief, a surging crime wave, paparazzi, a super villain, a bit of romance, and the creepy ladies of the Milwaukee Flower and Garden Society. You expect the super villains to be trouble, but you never expect the bigger problem to be getting your city-issued car replaced after you've reduced it to a burning hunk of metal your first day on the job. If Oliver can survive the endless on-the-job training sessions, the awkwardness of the extremely generic but very tight suit, and getting thrown through the occasional wall or two, he might just have time to stop the bad guy from enslaving the world. No biggie.
- GenresSuperheroes
332 pages, Paperback
First published April 11, 2017
12 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Kurt Clopton
7 books7 followersKurt Clopton works full time as a professional Olde Tyme photo model, specializing in wide brim hats and saloon backgrounds. He grew up in the Midwest and attended Luther College where he earned his undergraduate degree in Art and English. In an attempt to accumulate a debilitating amount of debt, he also has a Master of Arts degree in English from Iowa State University. Kurt spends most of his spare time perfecting his mediocrity at tennis and guitar, and the rest of it watching instructional YouTube videos on how to fix whatever he has most recently broken.
Kurt lives in Wisconsin with his secret second family when he is not on the road “traveling for work”.
Kurt lives in Wisconsin with his secret second family when he is not on the road “traveling for work”.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 12, 2017
SuperGuy is SuperFunny, from the banter with the bad guy to the liasons with the would-be love interest. SuperGuy is full of fabulous one-liners just like Oliver Olsen himself.
"It could have just been some guy trying to corner the market on light beer, but we got somebody trying to take over the world." Similarly, SuperGuy goes above and beyond; entertaining to the last page.
"It could have just been some guy trying to corner the market on light beer, but we got somebody trying to take over the world." Similarly, SuperGuy goes above and beyond; entertaining to the last page.
March 11, 2017
This made me laugh so hard that I read it multiple times, and each time it surprised me and cracked me up again. Great story, great characters, and a great voice!
March 12, 2017
At heart, SuperGuy is a workplace comedy, albeit one that takes hilarious advantage of every superhero cliché in the toolbox. The story opens with the hero already in dire, ridiculous peril, then makes use of an extended flashback to convey SuperGuy's origin story. And what a story it is, a workplace comedy in its own right. Through the alliances, petty rivalries and small-scale power struggles in the offices of city government, overeducated but unemployable intern Oliver Olson accidentally becomes SuperGuy when the mayor decides to fill a budgeted hero position in order to secure re-election.
As a real if low-budget and modestly-powered (but not modestly-costumed) hero, Oliver has to quickly adjust to his new position, which has its own set of rules, alliances and rivalries. While still learning what his powers are and how to control them, SuperGuy is forced into conflict with a bona fide supervillain, a brainiac with plans for world domination . . . and a serious crush on a diner waitress. I won't give away how SuperGuy gets out of that opening peril, but the stage appears to be set for the next exciting episode.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
As a real if low-budget and modestly-powered (but not modestly-costumed) hero, Oliver has to quickly adjust to his new position, which has its own set of rules, alliances and rivalries. While still learning what his powers are and how to control them, SuperGuy is forced into conflict with a bona fide supervillain, a brainiac with plans for world domination . . . and a serious crush on a diner waitress. I won't give away how SuperGuy gets out of that opening peril, but the stage appears to be set for the next exciting episode.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
March 11, 2017
In SuperGuy, Klopton introduces us to an ordinary world filled with mundane people and all their tedious routines, including the nice, but completely unremarkable, Oliver Olson. Except things aren't quite as generic as they seem on the surface, because in a world where superheroes are commonplace, "normal" takes on a whole new meaning. Relatable but quirky characters in amusing relationships and outlandish situations create a zany, upbeat story that provides a humor-filled escape from the trivialities of everyday life. Nondescript becomes distinctive and monotonous becomes entertaining as SuperGuy prepares to battle his first super villain ...and to walk the streets of Milwaukee in a skintight body suit. Had me laughing from beginning to end!
June 18, 2017
Hilariously funny - this book is filled with witty sarcasm, unwitting heroism and the funniest and most accurate social criticism of Midwest politics I've ever read. SuperGuy is a new kind of hero for today!
April 14, 2017
With wit and humor, SuperGuy tells the story of Oliver, who, due to poor timing and bit of poor planning, finds himself a 29-year-old balding intern for the City of Milwaukee. Concurrently, the Mayor of Milwaukee, down in the polls, decides it’s time to fill its superhero position. Through a bit of all too realistic institutional stupidity, the all-important vial of Super Serum ends up with Oliver, maybe even in time to save the world . . .
SuperGuy is pure enjoyment. Do you have the basic superhero package and need to convince your mayor to spring for flight? Then read this book! The mixing of real world practicality with the story of nerd-turned-superhero is not to be missed. My only disappointment is the current lack of a sequel.
SuperGuy is pure enjoyment. Do you have the basic superhero package and need to convince your mayor to spring for flight? Then read this book! The mixing of real world practicality with the story of nerd-turned-superhero is not to be missed. My only disappointment is the current lack of a sequel.
April 26, 2017
As a geek girl who loves to read comics and graphic novels and who enjoys cosplay and going to cons, I had high hopes for this novel. I was not disappointed. Snickered my way through it, enjoying all the delightful awkwardness. I hope there's more to come. Great world-building.
April 22, 2017
Good book! Fresh and humorous take on the whole Super Hero thing. I enjoyed the perspective and the book. Excellent first work for the new author!
April 15, 2017
Sarcastic but never cynical, SuperGuy tosses the reader into a world where superheroes are just a serum away. Unfortunately, so are the supervillains. As a newly minted superhero, Oliver has a lot to learn into to be the hero Milwaukee deserves. Written in the tonal tradition of A. Lee Martinez with a dash of Christopher Moore, SuperGuy is delightful and entertaining.
October 23, 2017
4.5 stars from : TOP PICK From Underground Book Reviews.
Here’s the great thing about SuperGuy… the premise smells like KickAss and the Greatest American Hero combined, but it’s neither. It comes out as something better.
The slapstick and violence are actually tastefully minimized. The superhero cliches are handled well with perfectly selected, coordinated lampshades. I can’t stress how well the internal logic of the superhero and government relationships are handled, but then all the relationships are handled super well. Every human interaction is funny but without cost to the internal logic of this universe’s rules. You can believe in everyone in this story.
It’s rare for me to find a novel where the humor is handled so deftly and so consistently. It’s a smooth ride of smirks and chuckles and if there’s a flaw in the story, it might be that there are no big superbelly laugh payoffs. But, it’s not really that type of funny.
I like the romance in the story and I like that it’s soft and not a heavy plot point. I like that the girl he is seeing is a better and stronger superhero than he is. I like that he respects her and that he goes to her for help and (most especially) I like that he does it without whining.
“…read the complete review at UndergroundBookReviews(dot)org.”
Here’s the great thing about SuperGuy… the premise smells like KickAss and the Greatest American Hero combined, but it’s neither. It comes out as something better.
The slapstick and violence are actually tastefully minimized. The superhero cliches are handled well with perfectly selected, coordinated lampshades. I can’t stress how well the internal logic of the superhero and government relationships are handled, but then all the relationships are handled super well. Every human interaction is funny but without cost to the internal logic of this universe’s rules. You can believe in everyone in this story.
It’s rare for me to find a novel where the humor is handled so deftly and so consistently. It’s a smooth ride of smirks and chuckles and if there’s a flaw in the story, it might be that there are no big superbelly laugh payoffs. But, it’s not really that type of funny.
I like the romance in the story and I like that it’s soft and not a heavy plot point. I like that the girl he is seeing is a better and stronger superhero than he is. I like that he respects her and that he goes to her for help and (most especially) I like that he does it without whining.
“…read the complete review at UndergroundBookReviews(dot)org.”
March 16, 2018
Somehow SuperGuy manages to tell the story of "your average superhero". Oliver has to manage life's little annoyances while also trying to grow into his role as Milwaukee's latest savior in spandex. If you love comics but are tired of the same old same old, this is a refreshing reminder of just how enjoyable a superhero story can be.
July 13, 2021
Cereal Killer!
First book I ever read in which the superhero starts out the first chapter suspended over a vat of acid in a cereal factory of evil. How a prematurely bald, over-aged intern wound up clad in Spandex dangling from three super-chains as a laser relentlessly cut through them is a five-star story!
First book I ever read in which the superhero starts out the first chapter suspended over a vat of acid in a cereal factory of evil. How a prematurely bald, over-aged intern wound up clad in Spandex dangling from three super-chains as a laser relentlessly cut through them is a five-star story!
January 22, 2020
Very fun and enjoyed it the entire time. I'm not the biggest reader but I was excited to come back and read this book.
February 16, 2024
3.5 rounded up for wit. There are no stakes for the hero and it feels a bit glib because of it.
January 20, 2025
A fun, easy read. SuperGuy really is generic and the series was pretty good. It did feel like it stuttered here and there, but I recomend!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews