Flunky: Pawns and Kings

by Michael Rickard

Say hello to the bad guys—well at least the people who work for the underworld’s costumed villains; the anonymous thugs whose only role is acting as cannon fodder against the world’s mightiest heroes. However, things are about to change…

Every dog has its day – and every criminal has a good side.

Growing up with his friends Paul “Dizzy” Stevens and Ric Evans, life took a unique turn for Jason Storm. His peak was with the New York Yankees as their star pitcher, but after escaping New York City’s destruction on 9/11, his life took a detour through drugs, women and frequent brushes with the law. Paul and Ric had their own struggles, eking out a living as hired guns for the planet’s most dangerous costumed criminals.

Obsessed with the criminal underworld, Jason is reunited with his friends through the oddest of circumstances. When Jason starts dating the niece of superhuman crime lord The Cheshire Cat, he’s got a target on his back when The Cat’s rival, superhuman T-Rex, kidnaps Jason and his new squeeze. And now it’s up to Paul and Ric, tough but human flunkies in a world of super-villains, to save their lifelong friend.

"Flunky" is a unique and thrilling story about the power within all of us. In this captivating tale of crime and redemption, evil superpowers are no match for human loyalty because heroes don’t always wear capes… and they don’t always follow the rules.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

271 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 25, 2018

About the author

Michael W. Rickard II is a former attorney and retired bank robber. He is the author of the books, Wrestling's Greatest Moments, Laughing All the Way to the Bank (Robbery): How an Attorney Survived Prison, Flunky: Pawns and Kings, Don’t Call Me Bush Beans: The Legend of a Three-Legged Cat, and Don’t Call Me Bush Beans 2: I’m Not a Scaredy Cat. Millions have viewed his articles at the wrestling sites Ten-Bell Salute and the YouTube channel WrestleLamia. He is a contributor to Wrestling Merchandise and Memories and The Mid-Atlantic Gateway. He has also written for Pro Sports Extra.

He received a Bachelor of Arts in English literature and writing (with a minor in film studies) from Buffalo State College in 2017. In 2020, he completed his Master's in English from Buffalo State College. He can be reached on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and at www.michaelrickard.com. He lives near Buffalo, New York with his three-legged cat, Chester.

Reviews

[Dayna · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a fun read that still needed meticulous copy editing. (There were typos, missing words & phrases, the wrong possessives, &, on 2 occasions, calling the character by the wrong name.) On a happier note, in the future New Buffalo Sears & Radio Shack - sites of the final battle - seem to have survived bankruptcy & are back in business. I received a Kindle edition from a Goodreads giveaway.

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goodreads Kindle Copy Win

It takes a look at friends who led different paths but end up together. How one obsession with the criminal world ends up affecting them in unexpected ways.

It will take you on an interesting journey.

[Andrew Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flunky: Pawns and Kings is an interesting take on superhero fiction with a strong noir flavor. It focuses on the villainous sides, following a pair of professional henchman, Paul and Ric, and their mutual friend Jason. Jason is a wild child pro athlete who enjoys flirting with the world his two dangerous old friends live in. One of the things I liked was the fact, despite being bad guys who do terrible things for a living, Paul and Ric make a sincere effort to try and keep Jason out of that side of their lives knowing he'll probably get in over his head. And when a birthday night out goes off the rails, he definitely does.

The book moves along at a good pace, rotating between the three main characters. The multiple points of view are handled well with each character having their own distinct voice which is one of the major strengths of the book. The gigantic Paul is not quite all there and tends to be fairly laid back, in sharp contrast with the brutal violence he's capable of particularly when angry. Ric is cold and professional with a mean streak, reminiscent of a classical gangster. The author deftly manages to avoid making him unlikable by having a fair bit of the humor in the book come at his expense. Mr. Richard successfully makes Jason an impulsive screw-up while being genuinely charming and likeable.

All in all, it was well written and enjoyable story, and I'd definitely be interested in a sequel.

[Susan “Sam” · Rating 1 out of 5]

No, no, and no.