Captain Freedom

by G. Xavier Robillard

Freedom's fifteen minutes are over! Software pirates! Mostly extinct dinosaurs! Giant barbarians! Crooning criminals! Captain Freedom's beat them all, saved the world, and looked fantastic doing it—but he couldn't fend off middle management. The Superhero lifestyle is all that Captain Freedom has ever known. What's he supposed to do now? Enter politics? Write a children's book? Freedom's in a bad way and he's only a stint in rehab away from a lifetime of celebrity reality shows. But with the guidance of his new life coach, maybe Freedom can stumble in a new direction—even if it means having to make peace with his parents . . . or finally commit to a single long-term archenemy.

Genres: Fiction, Humor, Fantasy, Superheroes, Satire, Comics, Fashion

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 23, 2009

About the author

Robillard's book Captain Freedom, published by Harper, was a semifinalist for the 2010 Thurber Prize for American Humor. He's written for Comedy Central, McSweeney's, NPR and a lot of dead websites. Robillard performs comedy around the country, and lives in Portland, Oregon, where he teaches writing and programs man-eating robots.

Reviews

[J.A. · Rating 2 out of 5]

For all of its unconventional prowess, the superhero trope has a tough time standing on its head. That is what G. Xavier Robillard has attempted to do with Captain Freedom with only middling success. There are some amusing elements to the story, as one would expect from an online humor writer, yet the overall effect is somewhat like watching a middle-aged man trying to win a bet by standing on his head. You might chuckle the first few times he tips over, but eventually your attention drifts away from this self-described "fame whore."

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

I felt like this was a really cheap Chuck Palahniuk book. I see Robillard's intentions and ideas and I obviously found them interesting otherwise I wouldn't have read the book, but his execution was pretty subpar. Captain Freedom is an extremely shallow character, not just personality wise, but in the amount of information the reader can perceive. He doesn't feel real at all, just a person with a name. The active tense the book is written in doesn't make it any more exciting or involving, because it was, again, shallow. The lack of detail made it hard to stay interested. Take Freedom's battle with a huge dragon-esque monster. It was just like, "I arrive and see the dragon. He quotes Shakespeare at me. I find him ridiculous. I punch things and bury him under tons of rock." I understand that the prose reflects the character's lack of depth and emotional content, that it's a commentary on how superficial society is blah blah blah...I just did not find the book that funny or interesting. I had to make myself finish it.

[Troy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Quite a few people, whose opinions I respect, didn't like this book and stopped reading around page 30. I slogged on. It wasn't that bad, really. The metaphors came fast and furious. The main character was alternately a moron and bland. I pressed ahead. The comic book cliches were many and varied, but it seemed that the author was going out of his way to be funny, like he had a 20-pun-a-page limit he had to reach. I say that he was co-signed by Neal Pollack and the McSweeney's crowd, and while that didn't disqualify his book from potentially being good, I knew right away that I, as a comic book reader, was not the target market for this book.

I made it to page 200 or so where the author gave up. Instead of rewarding me with a decent denouement, a sense of impending closure, he decided to take a dump and not give a damn anymore. My comics knowledge, already shat upon, was treated with the utmost of disdain as the character proceeds to speed through some simply unbelievable character changes, settings, and plot"twists."

I put the book down in disgust. Bah.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read an uncorrected proof of this book, so maybe some things have been improved. But, on the whole, I thought Robillard tried too hard. Every single line was either a metaphor, an innuendo, a direct or indirect reference to some aspect of pop culture or politics, or a flat-out joke. And after about the fifth paragraph, it becomes very stale.

I appreciate the effort, and the premise itself was funny: a washed-up, out-of-work Superhero writing his memoir, but Captain Freedom was too much of an airhead for me. He (or, rather, his ghostwriter) narrates everything in the present tense, and that also begins to grate after awhile. Much of the narration felt stitled to me, and not cohesive as a whole work. A series of short stories might have been better structure-wise, but I also think a less self-absorbed, less ditzy protagonist might have made me enjoy it a bit more.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You can't fight me,” he sneers. “You don't have insurance anymore.”
“I've got COBRA.”

That exchange, delivered during a mid-air melee, sums up the comedic blend of “Captain Freedom,” the new novel by G. Xavier Robillard. Secret lairs and teenage sidekicks share space with product endorsement deals and online archenemy-matching services. Heroics are evaluated by their impact on the comic-book company bottom line. And if you need to go back in time to spoil a nefarious plot, it's no problem to rent a run-down time machine from a skeezy Enterprise knock-off. (The release form contains a warning not to do anything to affect the course of history, but it also notes, “This rule is total bullshit, but you agree to it anyway, just as you agree to pay your work for any office supplies that you use for personal reasons.”)

Captain Freedom is the kind of guy who'd steal all of the office supplies he could get his hands on, even as he saves Cleveland in the process. The book approaches his life as a gag-a-minute memoir, using its oblivious slacker hero to bring to life as many superhero gags as possible, from remote tropical islands that host volcanic bases to the perils of the hero's weakness (in this case, soy).

Robillard offer an Inside-Hollywood style appraisal of the superhero game, spending time with each of the institutions that shape a young crimefighter. Captain Freedom learns his craft at the Vineyard School for Excellentness. Sidekicks have to pass the CAPE (Criminal Abatement Preparatory Exam) before they can patrol the streets. A bureaucratic body, the Comics Code Authority, holds hearings to ensure that heroes measure up to the standards of their calling. And the coveted International Justice Prize, issued by the Hall of Justice in Norway, represents the pinnacle of any hero's career.

The book has a lot of fun exploring the absurdities of its setting, offering a lighter tone than other novels in the hero-humor genre, such as Austin Grossman's “Soon I Will Be Invincible” or Robert Mayer's classic “Superfolks.” “Captain Freedom” isn't as tightly plotted as these offerings, but it's more happy to roam its surroundings in search of laughs, sending the Captain to Mars, Area 51 and, in one of the book's funniest sections, rehab.

There are some problems. The memoir framework seems forced in early chapters, and promising themes can be dropped when succeeding chapters move onto entirely different subjects. The book begins to drift at the end, rushing through a “chosen one” scenario and Captain Freedom's abortive career in politics. But even in the soft spots, Robillard keeps the jokes coming, making “Captain Freedom” a fun, breezy read, especially for fans of the genre.

Quotes

“Oh, I'll get proof.” His determined tone makes me suspect he'll embark on a lifelong quest to bring about my downfall. But I doubt it; he never took the Lifetime Vendetta elective.

I miss the crazy old coot. My life coach, Lionel, thinks that I'm still craving the Chief's approval. But that's shrink talk. I'm just bummed that he never got to know how awesome I am.

I never should have dated Lightspeed. You never combine business and pleasure. I know that. It's like shitting where you eat. And then eating it.

The bouncer, Lt. Bill Smoker, has been working the velvet rope and chain-link fence for years. The job has taken its toll: there are only so many times you can say not to a space dragon without worrying that you're becoming racist.

[Brandon · Rating 1 out of 5]

I skimmed the last few chapters because I couldn't wait to be done with this awful, awful book.

Purchased while in Portland at Powell's Book Store last February, the titular character relates his adventures through a first-person narrative. Robillard's book caught my eye for a few reasons: it's about superheroes, it was cheap, and Christopher Moore gave it a plug on the cover.

With my affinity for stories about jerks with superpowers, I thought it would be right up my alley. Unfortunately, Moore led me astray. Superhero fiction can work very well, so that's not the issue here; Austin Grossman's Soon I Will Be Invincible and Tom DeHaven's It's Superman are both examples of terrific superhero novels. This one, though, features a completely unlikeable protagonist (and not in the way the author intends) with pacing that's all over the place, both things that are essential to my enjoyment of the genre.

To start, G. Xavier Robillard can't make up his mind. He attempts to straddle the line between absurdist satire and comedic action story. I likened his style early on to a combination of John Swartzwelder and Christopher Moore, but only in the attempt and not in the execution. Swartzwelder's books are full of non sequiturs that are actually funny. Moore creates organically humorous moments and includes cute, character-driven dialogue that rings true. Robillard attempts to mix the two styles and it creates this completely incongruous, slow-moving and uncohesive story.

Captain Freedom is supposed to be a jerk - something that can work for a main character - but there's nothing redeeming that about him that made me want to spend 272 pages with the guy. Satire is supposed to be funny and reveal something about what is being satirized, but this is boring and says nothing about the superhero genre, comics or the nature of celebrity that hasn't already been said by other, better writers a long time ago. Our hero is not funny, he's completely inept, and he's not relatable. And this goes for more than just Captain Freedom, too, as none of the rest of the cast are any better.

I hate being completely negative, but there's nothing in the course of the novel that gives me even an inkling of the author's potential to write something better later on.

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

G. Xavier Robillard is—or, rather, was—a Boston-based blogger, it says here. He has since relocated to, of all places, Portland, Oregon. Captain Freedom is his first novel.

So, okay, it's not as polished or as deep as Michael Chabon's brilliant The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Klay, and to a great extent it treads the same ground as earlier humorously psychoanalytical superhero novels, such as the ones by Minister Faust (From the Notebooks of Dr. Brain) and Austin Grossman (Soon I Will Be Invincible). Heck, I even did a bit of this myself, back in the 1990s. So we're not really breaking new ground here in the ongoing deconstruction of super-powerful "underwear perverts."

Not to mention which, Captain Freedom himself is an unlikeable schlub, a dissolute second-tier crime fighter whose narcissism (sweeping enough to be another superpower in its own right) is only briefly interrupted by episodes of crushing self-pity brought on by his lack of a proper nemesis.

Still, though, I kinda liked him, and the book.

You can tell the author's used to writing short pieces; the novel's episodic, easy to read in stolen moments (which is, of course, something of a plus), although its various components do not really fit into an entirely seamless whole. But there are frequent chuckles and entertaining turns of phrase. It's a light read, but by no means a bad one.

[Seth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is very fun. It's uneven and often derivative, but that's kind of the point: it's in the "throw a joke a second and some are bound to stick" tradition and in the "broad and easy satire by forcing modern life into stock genre" genre, making it a light read filled with some good comic ideas and some light and easy social satire.

The book is billed as the memoir of Captain Freedom, a has-been superhero telling his rags-to-riches-to-washed-up-but-still-rich life story, taking us through his days as a sidekick ("Liberty Bill") to his early hero days, to being the top hero around, and then down to being a nobody and trying to claw his way up.

The recurring theme is around heroism versus self-interest; Captain Freedom is so convinced people only do heroic things for the fame--and the heroes around his agree--that he isn't even able to be cynical. His sidekick, DJ, has a better grasp of the world but no better view of people and the assembly-line, Hollywood studio system-inspired hero industry does nothing to change their minds.

The plot, weak as it is, falls apart a few times and the flashbacks and memoir structure isn't well handled, but none of that gets in the way in this type of book.

I like these light satires and I wish they were more common these days (they come in and out of fashion like most things). Don't expect too much going in, but enjoy the observations and the jokes.

It helps to know a little something about comics, at least in broad terms, but it isn't any more necessary than knowing about psychology is to watching The President's Analyst.

[Bjorn Sorensen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wished this had been more broadly likeable, because the premise feels fresh and the jokes are sophisticated and expertly timed. The superhero trope is such a symbolic way to address modern America - to fly through the air making fun of everyone, or to be not that smart of a Superman and be ground down by corporate machinations. I was almost able to be carefree enough to keep reading, but I needed a little bit more to go on - at least a likeable character or two and a clear overall plot. Then there was some straining of plausibility. The protagonist (Cpt. America) visits an orphanage with his first sidekick, Whizbang, who is computerized yet somehow can move around and pick up things. Then an orphan pulls out a gun and shoots out 'Whizzy's' power source. A 14-year-old with a loaded gun in an orphanage who Captain Freedom then adopts... The story goes by so fast. Without credulity, the protagonist's conflicts are much less real, so I had a hard time pulling for him. And, like his mother, he doesn't seem to have any redeeming qualities, so after a few chapters I just stopped caring about what befells him (and what he befalls). Which is too bad, because the jokes are frequent and stellar and the social commentary important - a much greater value than most live comedy.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is hilarious! The plot lags a bit in the middle, but the number of laughs through the rest of the story make up for it. I love social satire, and this is a genuinely funny book that satirizes everything from corporate America to the fashion industry to Area 51-government conspiracy theories. It's also a spoof of the comic book genre, and begins when the protagonist, Captain Freedom, is forced into early retirement by his corporate sponsors. His popularity is waning, due to the fact that Freedom has bounced through several drug binges and bouts of rehab and has been caught in multiple unflattering photos by the paparazzi. (Worst of all, McDonald's ditched his Happy Meal toy.) The only thing Captain Freedom prizes more than his record-breaking number of foiled bank robberies is his celebrity status, and he will do anything to make sure he stays front and center in the public eye. (Side note: My favorite character is his sidekick, DJ, whose superpower is being able to mentally channel radio waves and knock his enemies senseless. Light rock from the '70s is the most lethal.)

This is a book people will either love or hate, but if you like screwball satire, you'll probably love it.

[Paul Pessolano · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a takeoff on all the superheroes out there making the world safe for humanity.

Captain Freedom is on the top of the comic book world, until he gets fired. He must now reinvent himself. He was a standalone superhero but feels he must get up to date by getting himself a sidekick. After all, Batman has Robin, the Green Hornet has Kato, and Laurel has Hardy.

Whatever!!!!!!

Robillard, using Captain Freedom, takes on politics, the office, celebrities, Hollywood, and other superheroes. There are parts of this book that are very funny, there are some parts that are cute, and there are some parts that fail miserably. I was especially disappointed in DJ, his sidekick. I don't think there was anything funny about DJ, and his character had a lot to be desired.

I will say that those of you who read Graphic Novels and are into the "Superhero" thing may find this an enjoyable read - even with its faults. To his credit, Captain Freedom does save the world on several occasions, however, he only received credit for one. This can be very upsetting to a true superhero.

It is a very easy read and does have its moments - unfortunately it did not have enough of them to sustain my interest.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this book until about 1/2 way through. At about the 1/2 way point the humor remained the same and it got a bit tired for me. However, I think that if you're a huge comic book/super hero fan then you would probably love this one all the way through.

[Marta Boksenbaum · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really fun and a good read. I enjoyed both loving and hating Captain Freedom who is just a superhero trying to make it in the capital superhero business. I really liked the social commentary and utter ridiculousness of the book. I definitely would recommend it.

[Kemper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amusing read that has some pretty good satire of both superheroes and America's celebrity culture. Reminded me of a lot of John Swartzwelder's style of humor.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A geeky fun light read that Nicole knew I would love. :)

[Kristina · Rating 1 out of 5]

not funny. and really stupid. interesting plot, but it just isn't well executed.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Younger Heroes look at me with envy- anyone in their occupation dreams of hitting the silver screen, as long as the star who plays them isn’t Ben Affleck.”

-Captain Freedom, page 116

“Coming to Earth on the back of a comet, Mark Smith is Captain Freedom, here to save the nation again.”
“I don’t like the name of my alter ego.”
“How ’bout John Ryan?” asks one producer.
“Wade Stone?” asks another.
“How about something a little ethnic?”
“Captain, it’s summer blockbuster time. There can be no ethnicity.”

-Captain Freedom, page 110

Tzadik Friedman, aka Captain Freedom, is a superhero who is facing a midlife crisis. The entire novel is filled with jokes, mocking 1990s-2000s America and the world in general. I am old enough to get the majority of them, but I feel that anyone younger really won’t. The countless popculture and political references could date the novel in the future, but I guess this book isn’t meant to be timeless. I don’t know why this book has such a low rating on Goodreads. I enjoyed it so much! I found an old Advanced Reader’s copy at the SF Rasputin’s on Haight for $0.50. Published in 2009, I feel that it's needed right now, since the superhero hype we had back in 2009 has now become a super hero craze. And the Ben Affleck quote is now relevant again, isn’t that funny? Said no Batman fan ever.

The first half of the book annoyed me a little bit; it felt like it was desperately trying to throw every possible joke to capture my attention. The author, G. Xavier Robillard (cool name) is an Internet blogger, and I felt like this kind of showed in how determined the book was to hold the audience. A book reader is usually more committed that an Internet one. But by the second half, the jokes were less cluttered and Freedom was more sympathetic. Overall, plot points felt disjointed and episodic (perhaps this was done on purpose, since its mocking comic books), especially in the beginning, but I got used to it. Some of the jokes I didn’t get, but so many made me laugh out loud. I wasn’t expecting much, since I bought it for $0.50, so I was pleasantly surprised. And I needed a break from the heaviness of Lasher.

Captain Freedom’s life isn’t really going as planned. He’s kind of the stereotypical celebrity: fame and fashion obsessed, slightly addicted to drugs, and a partyer. The first three chapters are about how Freedom gets fired from Gotham Comix, due to his own idiocy, though he doesn’t see it that way. His life coach suggests that he write a memoir. We are introduced to his powers: super strength, flight, weather prediction, and breathing in space (though he doesn’t count that one). Now, we flashback to Freedom’s earlier life and see how he got here.

We found out how he cheated on his CAPE test, became a sidekick for Chief Justice, gets promoted, finds his second sidekick DJ after the first one, Whizbang (I laughed so hard during this chapter), and saves the world four times. The villains were humorous, though the fight scenes were sometimes confusing on what is going on.

I loved when Freedom searches for his archenemy online, making fun of online dating. I loved the Black Frank/Velet Fog and Loofah parts. There’s a constant “gay joke” when it comes to Freedom looking for his archenemy. It was hilarious when he got his secret identity stolen by the Twizzler. He goes to Mars, gets his own movie (hilarious!), fights piracy and pirates, and is nominated for the International Justice Prize (but fails the mandatory drug test).
When Freedom writes a children’s book, he gets investigated by the Comics Code Authority (for revealing a superhero’s secret identity in the Acknowledgements, kind of like Bush), the CCA forces him to spy on Gotham Comix. This is why Freedom eventually gets fired. Now, we are brought back to the present at about 2/3s of the book. This was when Freedom begins to have his mid-life crisis. The majority of the book occurs from Freedom’s mid/late thirties to his late forties. After having a breakdown on NPR, he tries to figure out his origin story. He discovers that he is half alien and his father is imprisoned in Area 51. Freedom rescues him, only to be abandoned by Dad and later Freedom’s old flame, the supervillain assassin, Kaeko. So Freedom pours all his energy into making a fashion line, partying, becoming the leader of an evil secret order, getting elected as California’s governor, admitting that he is a metrosexual, and becoming the Secretary of the Homeland Security.

I got attached to Freedom throughout the last third of the book. As he faced life as an older superhero/celebrity, desperately wanting fame but afraid of becoming the press’s punchline, and struggling with addiction, I really began to sympathize with him. I got it; I understood how he felt, looking back and wondering if he should have been a paleontologist. I was sad when the book ended, because I got emotionally involved in this idiotic guy’s life. This book was gaudy, flashy, and random, kind of like the main character. I enjoyed it, and it was a funny satire/farce about American culture. When looking at all of the negative reviews, I can definitely say that it is underrated.

[Kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Captain Freedom just wants a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Is that too much to ask after saving the world four times? G. Xavier Robillard’s debut novel tells the story of an unappreciated superhero’s quest for truth, justice, and, most importantly, recognition.

He has sponsorships, comic books, and a movie deal, but Captain Freedom’s career as a superhero is dwindling. After being fired by Gotham Comix, Freedom’s world is turned upside down, which leads him down the stereotypical path of a fallen celebrity—drugs, alcohol, and rehab. As he struggles to avoid the “has-been” status, a life coach helps Freedom examine his past failures, analyze his origin story, and confront the commitment issue that may have led to his decline: his lack of an archenemy.

The world created by Robillard is no different from our own; just pretend “superhero” was another job option right out of college. The world of Captain Freedom blends perfectly into the rich history of American pop culture—Erik Estrada Pez dispensers nearly cause global domination by a fleet of stone soldiers; modern pirates live on an island called Kazaa and steal copyrighted music and movies; and Enterprise adds time machines to their leasing inventory. Captain Freedom is an entertaining character, because is thirst for celebrity status outweighs all the actual superhero powers he possesses. When the comic books and movies aren’t enough, he writes children books and becomes governor of California (where else?) in his quest to protect and promote the Captain Freedom brand. In his eyes, too much celebrity is never a bad thing.

The story of Captain Freedom began as a short piece on National Public Radio and has since developed into the satirical memoir of a character that represents the excess of American culture. Robillard spares nothing—Hollywood, politics, global warming, Homeland Security, aliens, piracy, fashion, even NPR—in this humorous statement on celebrity obsession and hyper-media. Captain Freedom will keep you chuckling at how far one person will go to stay in the spotlight and how his biggest villain may end up being upper management.

[Mark Oppenlander · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm so ambivalent about this book. But perhaps that is appropriate.

"Captain Freedom" is a satirical novel, written in the form of a memoir, about a superhero of the same name. Freedom lives in an alternate reality where becoming a superhero simply entails being gifted with some random power (Freedom can fly, has lightning fast reflexes, and can predict the weather), going to the right high school (imagine an arts magnet high school for super heroes) and then being picked up by a sponsor (e.g. Gotham Comix). Written in first person, "Captain Freedom" recounts the metrosexual protagonist's slow but steady rise to fame, the obstacles he faces as one of the most popular heroes of his time and then his eventual spiral away from the spotlight in a path of ever-widening self-destruction. The story is extremely fast-paced and episodic. Blogger and debut novelist G. Xavier Robillard seems ready to throw everything at this book, even the kitchen sink. There is snark, satire, slapstick, bad puns and more snark.

I found parts of this funny, and other parts a bit dull. I was hoping for a send-up of comic books and superheroes. But this is actually a nasty diatribe on our obsession with celebrity culture. All one has to do is imagine that Freedom is not a superhero, but rather a movie star, rock musician or famous athlete and all of Robillard's barbs about his protagonist's life coach, identity crisis or drug habit start to make sense. Robillard is not angry about our fascination with superheroes; he is upset about the way we turn famous people into superheroes, endowing them with special powers and granting them a god-like existence, above society, the law and even, at times, morality.

In the end, I think I found Robillard's view of human nature a bit too dark and cynical. I want to believe that we are smarter than Robillard suggests and that we don't just admire and swoon over whatever larger than life figure come our way. But then, we just elected Donald Trump as our next President here in the US, so what do I know?

Probably a two and a half star book when all is said and done, but I did laugh out loud a couple of times so I rounded up to three.

[Wendi WDM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh the hilarity!

This may be a satire, but I've always wondered what the life of a superhero was like, the real life, the life outside of the Batman and Superman movies - who is the man behind the hero?

"It's all starting to come together. But I'm in shock. A Jewish Superhero? I've never heard of such a thing."

Meet Tzadik X/12-Friedman - a Jewish superhero who's powers include successfully predicting the weather (this from his alien father from the planet Astra-Zeneca) and flying. He enjoys recreational drugs, playing with dinosaurs, and creating his own line of fashion called Freedomware.

He is in search of many things - what to do when he is forced into retirement by his comic book company and finding his arch nemesis, a difficulty for us all, I think.

While on the way to finding himself he writes an autobiography, finds his father, becomes the leader of the Hair Club for Men (or the Club for Growth "We're trying to attract women as well.") which is a secret society along the lines of the Knights Templar and the Illuminati. He also has a stint as the Governor of California and then settles into a nice quite retirement working as the head of Homeland Security.

The book is a quick fun read. Each chapter is it's own story so you can pick it up and put it down whenever you want and not feel like you're dangling on the edge of a cliffhanger.

Captain Freedom is a mix between The Tick (my personal favorite comic book anti-hero) and Superman, but mostly The Tick. He's not all that bright, but he loves to cook.

It's a really hilarious book for anyone who's been a fan of comic books. A definite pick up and read!

[Steven Morton · Rating 4 out of 5]

It might be because I have read alot of superhero satires (Marshall Law, The Boys) and watch alot of TV shows satirizing superheroes (The Venture Bros) so this book I thought was very good on this level as a superhero satire. Freedom is a jerk and self conscious but he admits he is not ashamed of it so you (the reader) is not expecting redemption or a lightbulb go off for Freedom to know he needs to be better and that is fine because it made me laugh harder. Robillard does some great world building and I loved the footnotes he had throughout the book. I love that the author kept the satire going having Freedom "write" the acknowledgments at the end of the book. I encourage people to give this book another read and enjoy it for what it is a funny and well thought out satire.

[╟ ♫ Tima ♪ ╣ ♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite honestly, the only thing that made me pick up this book in January was its endorsement by one of my favorite authors, Christopher Moore.

This book was incredibly funny, unique and many times I found myself actually chuckling out loud. I did feel like the plot was very thinly put together and would not stand alone on its own. Its saving grace is the great humor of G. Xavier Robillard's novice writing.

Basic, unhelpful summary that does not book justice: This is essentially a story of a Superhero who has piqued and is now the equivalent of American Reality TV stars. A pitiful train wreck that grasps at any attempts to remain in the public's loving eye. Or was that Soon I Will Be Invincible? The two books keep getting mixed up in my head because they were so similar in their storyline attempts.

I would say that if someone gave you this book, you found it on the street or for a very cheap price at a thrift store - you should read it. Otherwise, your life won't suffer for not reading it.

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book better than I did. It's kind of clever in premise, but I found it's execution kind of lacking. It's the story of Captain Freedom obviously. It kind of crosses the third wall in that he is a superhero who works for the comic book that writes of his superhero adventures except that he really lives them out but also has his own will so that he is not just doing stuff that people are writing him to do. His actions eventually get him fired from Gotham Comics and most of the book is his backstory about how he got to where he ended up. As I mentioned the concept is kind of clever, but the writing isn't that good in my opinion and the book relies way too heavily on pop culture references, which can be kind of amusing but will make it so that in a couple years no one will get the jokes.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was cute, amusing at best. I didn't laugh out loud at anything involved in this superhero satire, though I didn't hate anything about it either. Robillard's humor is not terribly sophisticated, but he likewise doesn't go for obvious punchlines too often ("Supermodels"). He did manage to keep the entire book, including the Acknowledgements, all in character, that character being a moderately clueless superhero looking for a way to earn a living after the comic book publisher he works for fires him. A better deconstruction of the genre in print form can be found in Soon I Will be Invincible, though that book isn't really meant to be as much a comedy as Captain Freedom's adventures.

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did Superman ever have to worry about killer assassins—who were ex-girlfriends?

The career of a Superhero isn’t what it’s cracked up to be. Whether dealing with filling out timesheets for Upper Management, sullen sidekicks, mopey former television celebrities, villainous Supermodels and one of the most ridiculous secret weaknesses ever, Captain Freedom’s life is fraught with headaches.

Mr. Robillard’s protagonist is very much a man of the modern world and readers will identify with the various problems that land on his doorstep. Delineating a new slant on the super-powered theme, Mr. Robillard’s treatment is both hilarious and poignant, showing that, underneath the Spandex and Kevlar, Superheroes are people too.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread #2 - Although I last read this book in 2009, I couldn't remember a thing about the plot. Considering I'd given it a 5 star rating then, I figured I needed a refresher, and it seems that my tastes have changed a bit since my first read. The style is quick and clever, which must have been what most appealed to me originally. I like how the super hero genre is turned on its head, along with the infusion of pop culture references and the mundanities of everyday life. However, this time around, I didn't enjoy the glibness, the stupidity of our superhero, and the (intended) superficiality of everything. It's a fun book, but I was in the mood for more substance than it had to offer. Worth another read, but be sure to be in a light and laughable mood!

Read #1 - 5 Stars

[Dave · Rating 2 out of 5]

On the front of the book, Christopher Moore says something to the effect of "finally a book that claims to be funny is actually funny." Unfortunately, Christopher Moore hasn't been funny since "Lamb" and this book shares that sense of humor. It does try to be funny. It turns some cute phrases and puts Captain Freedom in some potentially funny positions, but none of them made me laugh. I snickered a few times. I could appreciate that the author was trying, but the book never made it out of the land of ok. I finished it to finish it, not because I cared about the next gag or how Captain Freedom might end up in retirement.

As I write this review, I wonder if ok is too high a mark. Enjoy.

[Casey Bennett · Rating 2 out of 5]

A mildly amusing story about the escapades of a superhero who is not all that super. The tone of the book is one of an unenthusiastic narrator, which makes the reader not too enthusiastic to care what's going on. Captain Freedom glides over his heroic feats and the author sprinkles in attempts at wit, but after awhile it just falls flat. The idea of a world in which superheroes exist in a corporate world where they essentially work for a comic book company and have a desire to find their archenemy is a bit unique, but Venture Bros. pulled it off so much better. This novel may have been better as a short story, but, I don't know if that would have made it any funnier. Not very super at all.

[Marjanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would actually give this 2.5 stars. This novel reminds my of a celebrity memoir. It was funny to read a satire of memoirs, with a superhero as the narrator. I liked how the author made being a superhero a job, with HR, middle managers, etc. Unfortunately the story wasn't really funny. It was short enough to keep reading it, and it was mildly entertaining. But there was only one line that made me laugh out loud. I would probably read something similar again, though it really is just fluffy entertainment (which can be fun sometimes).

[Greymalkin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Started off well but then just didn't really go anywhere. It wandered through various scenarios but because the character was so disconnected from reality it was hard to work up much interest in any of them. The end was so pat that it was a letdown. It always had tantalizing hints of something cool going on but that never happened in this book (I was much more interested in what was going on with his sidekick DJ and his ex-Kaeko but we don't get enough of either of them to really know). I liked the idea but it would have been much better written by Terry Prachett or something like that.