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Kill Your Heroes
Eddie Marr never planned to be a supervillain, but it seemed like a surefire way to become rich and famous. All he had to do was come up with a flashy costume, a signature gimmick, and commit a couple of high profile (yet nonviolent) crimes. Eddie figured he’d eventually get caught and spend a year or two in a minimum security prison. Then he’d write a tell-all book, do the talk show circuit, and parlay that into a regular TV hosting gig. But the best laid plans… As the Puzzler, Eddie was strictly a C List supervillain. He matched wits with Dark Revenger, a grim and gritty, street-level superhero. Eddie always managed to get away unscathed, but one night, things go horribly wrong and the Dark Revenger is dead. It’s one thing to steal the Mona Lisa. But killing a world famous superhero? That’s hard time with the worst of the worst. Most people would cash out, change their identity, and go on the run. But Eddie knows there’s no running if you’re responsible for the death of an A List superhero. The only chance Eddie has in staying out of prison, and staying alive, is to take the Dark Revenger’s place and not let the rest of the world know the original is dead. Eddie can do it. He’s got the physical ability and the tech savvy. He even looks good in the costume. It’s the ultra-serious, crime-fighting part he has trouble with. (Seriously, does the Dark Revenger need to be so “dark” all the time?) Then the world’s premiere superhero team, the Majestic 12, needs help with a seemingly impossible One of their own has been murdered and they need “the world’s greatest detective” (a.k.a. the Dark Revenger) to solve it. He’s not the hero we need. He’s not the hero we deserve. He’s not really a hero at all. Kill Your Heroes
286 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 2, 2021
126 people are currently reading
316 people want to read
About the author
Slade Grayson
8 books22 followersSlade Grayson is a reformed supervillain and author of the spy novel, BLAKE TWENTY-THREE, the werewolf/suspense novel, AUTUMN MOON, the horror/action novel, I AM THE NIGHT, and the fun superhero novel, KILL YOUR HEROES. There are more coming.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
August 17, 2021
I love superhero goodness in prose form, and this book comes with the package. A great variety of superpowers; a backstory to their sudden appearance on the planet; a moral range to the Powered People - white hats, gray hats, and black hats; a down-right awesome mystery.
So why two stars? "That's what she said." ... It is a running gag throughout the story by the main character who describes in his mind (since first person point-of-view) every female he meets boobs first and chance for him to get her into bed second ... then as a human being. As a female, the constant barrage of treating females as less than human made the story nearly unreadable. (If you think this may be overreacting, imagine a superhero story where the main character always talks about the "small.jokes of men" with a look down then to the side with a smirk - not once but a dozen times. It is demeaning.) While I understand this misogynistic behavior is to show the main character is a bad - or at least morally gray - guy, at the same time fun-loving and amusing, it is as not funny or cute. The book is a mess of "male" in-jokes, leaving half the population on the outside going "why are you joking at our expense?" Yes, comics are traditionally read more by men; but as Captain Marvel and Wonder Woman and Black Widow indicate, women are a STRONG portion of comic readers. We are used to seeing men in the center stage - but we hang out because we like the genre. Don't go treating us only as props.
So great superhero story if you can get through the senseless misogynistic microaggressions.
(Read through Kindle Unlimited)
So why two stars? "That's what she said." ... It is a running gag throughout the story by the main character who describes in his mind (since first person point-of-view) every female he meets boobs first and chance for him to get her into bed second ... then as a human being. As a female, the constant barrage of treating females as less than human made the story nearly unreadable. (If you think this may be overreacting, imagine a superhero story where the main character always talks about the "small.jokes of men" with a look down then to the side with a smirk - not once but a dozen times. It is demeaning.) While I understand this misogynistic behavior is to show the main character is a bad - or at least morally gray - guy, at the same time fun-loving and amusing, it is as not funny or cute. The book is a mess of "male" in-jokes, leaving half the population on the outside going "why are you joking at our expense?" Yes, comics are traditionally read more by men; but as Captain Marvel and Wonder Woman and Black Widow indicate, women are a STRONG portion of comic readers. We are used to seeing men in the center stage - but we hang out because we like the genre. Don't go treating us only as props.
So great superhero story if you can get through the senseless misogynistic microaggressions.
(Read through Kindle Unlimited)
August 16, 2021
Surprisingly good
I was surprised by how this turned out. The main character is such an egotistical ass, likable but not a lot of depth, but as the story goes on he seems to grow as a person. It’s pretty subtle, until the big events when it’s obvious and he seems like a different person but looking back the clues were there, so it wasn’t as drastic of a change as it seemed. I will admit it was hard to get into it for at least the first half, just because of how he’s written, but the ending left me with emotions and I’m really happy I finished it.
The plot line was very good. Halfway through there’s a big event that left me thinking it could’ve been it’s own book, but with how it really ended I’m glad they kept it all together.
All in all, I really liked this book. Fun superhero book with an intriguing story and fun characters, and I really liked the very end.
I was surprised by how this turned out. The main character is such an egotistical ass, likable but not a lot of depth, but as the story goes on he seems to grow as a person. It’s pretty subtle, until the big events when it’s obvious and he seems like a different person but looking back the clues were there, so it wasn’t as drastic of a change as it seemed. I will admit it was hard to get into it for at least the first half, just because of how he’s written, but the ending left me with emotions and I’m really happy I finished it.
The plot line was very good. Halfway through there’s a big event that left me thinking it could’ve been it’s own book, but with how it really ended I’m glad they kept it all together.
All in all, I really liked this book. Fun superhero book with an intriguing story and fun characters, and I really liked the very end.
February 16, 2023
Irreverent with heart.
There are legit laugh-out-loud moments in Kill Your Heroes. The premise is 24 carat gold. However, what really makes the book sing is its heart. I've reread the ending at least 3 times and I love it. It's so good that I'm not sure I want a sequel but you better believe I'll be reading more of Slade Grayson's (no one believes that's your real name buddy) work!
There are legit laugh-out-loud moments in Kill Your Heroes. The premise is 24 carat gold. However, what really makes the book sing is its heart. I've reread the ending at least 3 times and I love it. It's so good that I'm not sure I want a sequel but you better believe I'll be reading more of Slade Grayson's (no one believes that's your real name buddy) work!
March 17, 2022
great superhero fiction
Not what you expect. Well written. Narcissistic protagonist grows on you and grows up. Several twists. Looking for his other books based on the writing here
Not what you expect. Well written. Narcissistic protagonist grows on you and grows up. Several twists. Looking for his other books based on the writing here
August 4, 2021
Good ending painful beginning
If you push through the start of the book there is an interesting super hero story in their with a good redemption arc.
If you push through the start of the book there is an interesting super hero story in their with a good redemption arc.
March 27, 2022
These are manly tears I Shed!
The premise was unique to me so I gave it a read and I loved how much character was put into the 1st person narrative. It was just a good fun book.
The premise was unique to me so I gave it a read and I loved how much character was put into the 1st person narrative. It was just a good fun book.
February 2, 2023
Oddly enjoyed it. I was put off by the main character at first, but like other readers he grew on me.
December 7, 2021
It's not easy to find a fresh and fun spin on the superhero genre these days, but Slade Grayson has pulled it off. Picture a grim-and-gritty, vigilante-style superhero like Christian Bale's Batman. Now imagine that through a chain of circumstances, someone with a personality completely ill-suited to that role has to take over for him. Meet Eddie, a likeable, skirt-chasing jerk of a low-level villain, who's not quite as slick as he'd like to believe. After accidentally bumping off the "Dark Revenger," Eddie has to put on his costume and take on his persona in order to avoid facing the repercussions. The book gets a lot of comic mileage out of the easy-going Eddie -- with his knack for always saying the wrong thing -- trying to fit the edgy and dark superhero mode. But it's more than just a one-joke premise. The story proves surprisingly complex as Eddie discovers he might be part of a larger game. "Kill Your Heroes" affectionately dismantles genre tropes while never losing the sight of the excitement and wonder that make superheroes fun to begin with.
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March 15, 2025DNF. I get the impression this author wanted to make a comic but couldn't draw, or afford an artist, so turned the idea into a novel. There is a lot of expositional worldbuilding. Here is a chapter labeled 'exposition.' Skipped it, and descriptions in the next chapter... managed to get to 14%, but there's just nothing here that's worth my time.
September 24, 2021
Villain gets the girl
Usually with these stories, you don’t get a whole lot of character growth. But you could Puzzler slowly changing as the novel progressed. This was a fun read, little cliched but a fun read. And there were some nice plot twists too.
Usually with these stories, you don’t get a whole lot of character growth. But you could Puzzler slowly changing as the novel progressed. This was a fun read, little cliched but a fun read. And there were some nice plot twists too.
April 4, 2023
Great story
The hero became a likable character and the time line of the narration made the story very interesting. I read the last half like a maniac to see how it al ended.
The hero became a likable character and the time line of the narration made the story very interesting. I read the last half like a maniac to see how it al ended.
November 3, 2021
Great tale of transformation.
Like the premise and the storytelling. Fun to read and the occasional perspective switch works pretty well. Thanks for the fun book.
Like the premise and the storytelling. Fun to read and the occasional perspective switch works pretty well. Thanks for the fun book.
February 16, 2022
Old style.
This story harkens back to the days of comics when everything was not dark, grim, and dismal. The good guys can actually win. I enjoyed this tale of redemption.
This story harkens back to the days of comics when everything was not dark, grim, and dismal. The good guys can actually win. I enjoyed this tale of redemption.
February 13, 2022
Fun story
I really enjoyed this cape story. Had a few twists that make it different from the run of the mill adventure.
I really enjoyed this cape story. Had a few twists that make it different from the run of the mill adventure.
June 8, 2022
This book was so much more than I ever expected it to be. Imagine the Joker kills Batman by accident and then puts on his mantle and pretends to be batman for real? And now imagine the Joker is not completely mad (just a bit) but really tries his best not to blow his cover? Thats the story of this book, or lets say just the beginning. It was funny and pretty good and smart.
June 6, 2022
Meta-commentary Insanity You Don't Want to Put Down
From constant references and jokes about real-world comic heroes, to its own insane plot points, this book was one I simply had to finish once I started
From constant references and jokes about real-world comic heroes, to its own insane plot points, this book was one I simply had to finish once I started
May 25, 2021
As someone who has read everything Slade Grayson has published, I realized after reading KILL YOUR HEROES that one of the things I like most about his writing is he respects my intelligence as a reader. In this one, Slade is wading into the well-trodden territory of superheroes, and he’s not only writing with the understanding that his readers are coming to this story with a lot of exposure to superhero storytelling and culture, but he’s also embracing that. KILL YOUR HEROES is a novel that takes everything you already know and love about superheroes and weaves that into the storytelling in an almost metafictional way. It’s clear from reading KILL YOUR HEROES that Slade is a lover of comic book superheroes, notably the classics, so this is a novel by a superhero lover for superhero lovers.
If there is one thing that might work against the immediate success of this book, it’s the current landscape of superhero stories. Specifically, no matter which side of the Marvel-vs.-DC divide you stand on, there’s a particular level of dark and broodiness that these stories have evolved into, and Slade has specifically designed the engine of KILL YOUR HEROES to contradict—maybe even criticize—that.
That is to say, I think, while you can pick this book up, enjoy and have fun with the story, be riveted and thrilled, the brilliance of KILL YOUR HEROES is in its context. Maybe you pick up this book and read about the Dark Revenger and the Puzzler and immediately understand their analogs to the comic book superheroes and supervillains that you love, and then you have expectations about the way the story is going to go, and then it just doesn’t do that. It begins in your comfort zone, triggering your familiarity in a way that instantly builds out the world, and I think Slade does this to, in a sense, get it out of the way so he can get to the story he really wants to tell. (That isn’t to say he neglects the world building and backstories, though; every major hero and villain has a fully developed backstory on the page.)
Some readers might be disappointed KILL YOUR HEROES isn’t a book that fits neatly into a slot they may already have lined up for it from the beginning, but I think the readers who approach it with the understanding that, while the book hits you up front with the idea Slade is doing something conventional, he’s doing something quite unique, those readers might find KILL YOUR HEROES is packaging an amazingly insightful narrative core into a story aesthetic we can be comfortable with.
I once heard Justin Cronin say the way he approached his Passage trilogy was that he felt he was sneaking literature to the masses, and while KILL YOUR HEROES is nothing like Cronin’s epic apocalyptic tale, I think that’s what Slade has done here. There’s something profound in the guts of this one, and what’s amazing is it lives in the relationship each reader will have with the book. I think Slade has really compelling ideas about superhero literature, and I think KILL YOUR HEROES is less a manifesto or treatise and more a catalyst for readers to understand those ideas.
All of that said, it’s apparent from the way Slade conducts himself in this novel (I mean, just read his about page, which other writers fill up with self-centered publishing credits and accolades) that he doesn’t want you to take this book too seriously. He wants you to read it and enjoy it. I very much did, but beyond that, I’ll be thinking of KILL YOUR HEROES for a long time not because of what it does with superhero stories but what it says about them.
If there is one thing that might work against the immediate success of this book, it’s the current landscape of superhero stories. Specifically, no matter which side of the Marvel-vs.-DC divide you stand on, there’s a particular level of dark and broodiness that these stories have evolved into, and Slade has specifically designed the engine of KILL YOUR HEROES to contradict—maybe even criticize—that.
That is to say, I think, while you can pick this book up, enjoy and have fun with the story, be riveted and thrilled, the brilliance of KILL YOUR HEROES is in its context. Maybe you pick up this book and read about the Dark Revenger and the Puzzler and immediately understand their analogs to the comic book superheroes and supervillains that you love, and then you have expectations about the way the story is going to go, and then it just doesn’t do that. It begins in your comfort zone, triggering your familiarity in a way that instantly builds out the world, and I think Slade does this to, in a sense, get it out of the way so he can get to the story he really wants to tell. (That isn’t to say he neglects the world building and backstories, though; every major hero and villain has a fully developed backstory on the page.)
Some readers might be disappointed KILL YOUR HEROES isn’t a book that fits neatly into a slot they may already have lined up for it from the beginning, but I think the readers who approach it with the understanding that, while the book hits you up front with the idea Slade is doing something conventional, he’s doing something quite unique, those readers might find KILL YOUR HEROES is packaging an amazingly insightful narrative core into a story aesthetic we can be comfortable with.
I once heard Justin Cronin say the way he approached his Passage trilogy was that he felt he was sneaking literature to the masses, and while KILL YOUR HEROES is nothing like Cronin’s epic apocalyptic tale, I think that’s what Slade has done here. There’s something profound in the guts of this one, and what’s amazing is it lives in the relationship each reader will have with the book. I think Slade has really compelling ideas about superhero literature, and I think KILL YOUR HEROES is less a manifesto or treatise and more a catalyst for readers to understand those ideas.
All of that said, it’s apparent from the way Slade conducts himself in this novel (I mean, just read his about page, which other writers fill up with self-centered publishing credits and accolades) that he doesn’t want you to take this book too seriously. He wants you to read it and enjoy it. I very much did, but beyond that, I’ll be thinking of KILL YOUR HEROES for a long time not because of what it does with superhero stories but what it says about them.
May 17, 2022
Wildly entertaining even thou the ending was a bit .. meh.
January 8, 2024
In this superhero action story we follow Eddie's journey who is secretly the superhero called Dark Revenger. However, there is a catch, Eddie is actually a B list supervillain who took out the actual Dark Revenger by accident. Now, the famous superhero team of the world Majestic 12 wants the Dark Revnger's help to find out supervillain Master Mind. Will Eddie be able to keep up his act as the Dark Revenger or will his cover be blown? To find out you should definitely give this book a try.
The book was quite good though it was a bit slow paced at first but after they reach Master Mind's base the story gets very exciting. Also, the mc's narcissm and "that's what she said" jokes become too often, but he gets a redemption in the last part of the book. And absolutely loved the twist within the twist about who is the real villain. Overall, it was a fun read and if you like sci fi and superhero stuff, this book is for you.
The book was quite good though it was a bit slow paced at first but after they reach Master Mind's base the story gets very exciting. Also, the mc's narcissm and "that's what she said" jokes become too often, but he gets a redemption in the last part of the book. And absolutely loved the twist within the twist about who is the real villain. Overall, it was a fun read and if you like sci fi and superhero stuff, this book is for you.
January 15, 2022
DNF at 12%
I don't like the shape nor the content of what little I managed to read from this book.
It reads like parts of an undeveloped manuscript and story planning notes. For example, there is a chapter named Exposition where the author wrote... the exposition, you guessed it. Last I heard, the exposition is supposed to be integrated in the story, and not just thrown out there in a chapter to be done with. I understand creative liberties, but there are reasons people don't do that. It simply doesn't draw in the reader, it didn't make me want to know more about the world or the setting of this book, it didn't make that word feel real or believable. There even is a list-type introduction of some characters and their backstory, the only thing missing are bullet points.
I'm pretty sure it was meant to be funny, maybe it's supposed to be a parody, I guess I didn't get the joke.
Talking about unbelievable characters, all the women the main character describes felt plastic. Like they were dolls with slightly different body proportions and quirks to tell them apart, and the main character gets creepy about it. There is nothing endearing in such a perverted character, especially when we have to read about what he thinks of this or that woman's body in every detail all the time. His internal quips and attempts at being funny fall flat, and the whole story (the little that I read) feels like a self-insert indulgent parody.
It's a real shame, since the premise looked so interesting. I love anti-heroes, and the identity theft twist seemed like it had a lot of potential. A real shame indeed.
I don't like the shape nor the content of what little I managed to read from this book.
It reads like parts of an undeveloped manuscript and story planning notes. For example, there is a chapter named Exposition where the author wrote... the exposition, you guessed it. Last I heard, the exposition is supposed to be integrated in the story, and not just thrown out there in a chapter to be done with. I understand creative liberties, but there are reasons people don't do that. It simply doesn't draw in the reader, it didn't make me want to know more about the world or the setting of this book, it didn't make that word feel real or believable. There even is a list-type introduction of some characters and their backstory, the only thing missing are bullet points.
I'm pretty sure it was meant to be funny, maybe it's supposed to be a parody, I guess I didn't get the joke.
Talking about unbelievable characters, all the women the main character describes felt plastic. Like they were dolls with slightly different body proportions and quirks to tell them apart, and the main character gets creepy about it. There is nothing endearing in such a perverted character, especially when we have to read about what he thinks of this or that woman's body in every detail all the time. His internal quips and attempts at being funny fall flat, and the whole story (the little that I read) feels like a self-insert indulgent parody.
It's a real shame, since the premise looked so interesting. I love anti-heroes, and the identity theft twist seemed like it had a lot of potential. A real shame indeed.
December 27, 2021
This book was all over for me, ratings wise. I got 10% in and I thought the protagonist was narcissistic, misogynistic or perhaps just womanizing, and a complete ass. Now in general, to enjoy a book I don't need to like the protagonist but this protagonist was just too much. So I thought I was going to put down the book. But then I came here and read the other reviews again and based on them I decided to give the book a second chance. When I got to ~50% in the book was much more enjoyable. By this point, I could see some redeeming qualities in the protagonist. And the book just kept getting better and better. The ending was 5/5 for me. If it wasn't for the beginning the book would be fantastic. As it is, I would say it's okay at best, 3.5/5 stars.
If there was a second book I would absolutely read it. That being said, I think I liked the ending so much because the author wrapped up all the plotlines and finished the story. There is no cliffhanger; the story is complete. I will also read more books from the author.
If there was a second book I would absolutely read it. That being said, I think I liked the ending so much because the author wrapped up all the plotlines and finished the story. There is no cliffhanger; the story is complete. I will also read more books from the author.
May 3, 2022
"That's what she said"
The cliche corny humor becomes a bit nostalgic by the end of the book and somewhat endearing in the epilogue. Already hoping there's some kind of sequel. The writing itself could be better but works for what this books presents and the twist at the end was a good one. Love the dark revenge twist as well especially when it poses the what if question: what if this happened to the riddler and he joined the justice league.
The cliche corny humor becomes a bit nostalgic by the end of the book and somewhat endearing in the epilogue. Already hoping there's some kind of sequel. The writing itself could be better but works for what this books presents and the twist at the end was a good one. Love the dark revenge twist as well especially when it poses the what if question: what if this happened to the riddler and he joined the justice league.
June 13, 2022
Reading this turned out to be a rather intriguing experience. At first, I really thought that it would be a DNF before the third chapter; after all, why would I be willing to munch my way through the misadventures of a rather unpleasant, narcissistic sort-of loser with a sort-of super power and a definite weakness for women?
I decided that the writing was good enough to continue reading and my goodness, I'm glad that I did. The author used the very clever trick of completing story one around the middle of the book and seamlessly moving on with story two. The result is a clever plot with loads of snarky dialogue, plenty of action and me definitely wanting more and hoping for a sequel.
I decided that the writing was good enough to continue reading and my goodness, I'm glad that I did. The author used the very clever trick of completing story one around the middle of the book and seamlessly moving on with story two. The result is a clever plot with loads of snarky dialogue, plenty of action and me definitely wanting more and hoping for a sequel.
May 20, 2021
So got two chapters in and no, just no.
I do not like pompous, quasi-famous people who are only known for being well known. A story based on someone who aspires to be that does not interest me. I do not like the main character, I do not care what he does, I will not waste time reading about him. If you like pervy, paparazzi based news about vapid debutante then this book is for you. Otherwise don't waste your time.
I do not like pompous, quasi-famous people who are only known for being well known. A story based on someone who aspires to be that does not interest me. I do not like the main character, I do not care what he does, I will not waste time reading about him. If you like pervy, paparazzi based news about vapid debutante then this book is for you. Otherwise don't waste your time.
May 31, 2021
Good take on the genre
It’s an interesting story for people who like super hero stories. It manages to eek out somewhere between campy overdone and sweet. I’d say it’s closer to the campy side, but it has its moments.
It was different than what I expected and I enjoyed it a lot. The premise is more interesting than it sounds. Read it if you think you might like a super hero story with a little bit of a built in mystery as well.
It’s an interesting story for people who like super hero stories. It manages to eek out somewhere between campy overdone and sweet. I’d say it’s closer to the campy side, but it has its moments.
It was different than what I expected and I enjoyed it a lot. The premise is more interesting than it sounds. Read it if you think you might like a super hero story with a little bit of a built in mystery as well.
November 1, 2021
This was a tough one to rate. The story line was good, decent characters, and a decent ending as well. But....
I could not get into the writing. The adult'ish/child'ish jokes missed the mark. It seemed like some of it was written by a cringy teenager trying to sound cool. And the book wasnt quite long enough for great character development.
For a quick read, I would recommend it as a filler. Other than that, it left a lot to be desired.
I could not get into the writing. The adult'ish/child'ish jokes missed the mark. It seemed like some of it was written by a cringy teenager trying to sound cool. And the book wasnt quite long enough for great character development.
For a quick read, I would recommend it as a filler. Other than that, it left a lot to be desired.
October 26, 2022
Spoiler free
Honestly, not what I expected - in the best possible way.
The characters are 3 dimensional, complex and well defined.
The plot is well executed and provides a great take and personal flavor to the super hero genre.
It stands alone well on it's own, but I'd certainly be interested in a sequel or checking out the author's other works.
Honestly, not what I expected - in the best possible way.
The characters are 3 dimensional, complex and well defined.
The plot is well executed and provides a great take and personal flavor to the super hero genre.
It stands alone well on it's own, but I'd certainly be interested in a sequel or checking out the author's other works.
May 26, 2023
More 4.5 but a different feeling story in the world of superheroes and villains.
December 16, 2023
I stopped reading this book one chapter in because I really disliked the main character. He's obnoxiously narcissistic and just incredibly annoying. But I had bought the book so I went back to it and forced myself to give it a second chance. I'm glad I did. The character remains incredibly annoying until he finally starts maturing toward the end of the book, but pushing that problem to the side, this is a very good superhero story and there were a lot of surprises that actually surprised me—and a surprise the author convinced me I was wrong about before springing it again. The villain is also a lot of fun, and the heroes get to be suitably heroic.
The plot revolves around the Puzzler, a two-bit fake villain trying to set himself up for a talk show on TV and million-dollar bestseller book who accidentally gets into a situation where he kills the famous superhero, the Dark Revenger. This isn't the sort of crime he feels he can successfully walk away from, so he decides to impersonate the Dark Revenger instead and become a crime fighting superhero to keep himself out of jail. The problem is that a world threatening crisis is about to break and the real heroes come to Dark Revenger seeking his help.
There is a lot of action in the novel, and the mystery surrounding how the Puzzler came to kill the Dark Revenger is a good one. I thought the author was going to crash and blow it in the end, but he actually brought the story to a smooth landing.
The plot revolves around the Puzzler, a two-bit fake villain trying to set himself up for a talk show on TV and million-dollar bestseller book who accidentally gets into a situation where he kills the famous superhero, the Dark Revenger. This isn't the sort of crime he feels he can successfully walk away from, so he decides to impersonate the Dark Revenger instead and become a crime fighting superhero to keep himself out of jail. The problem is that a world threatening crisis is about to break and the real heroes come to Dark Revenger seeking his help.
There is a lot of action in the novel, and the mystery surrounding how the Puzzler came to kill the Dark Revenger is a good one. I thought the author was going to crash and blow it in the end, but he actually brought the story to a smooth landing.
February 8, 2026
I like this quite a lot. It’s been a while since I last read a superhero novel, so it was cool to find another one, especially one this enjoyable.
Grayson is clearly a comic book reader, because he employs the tropes well and I see bits of stories here rearranged in a fun new way. There’s a little bit of the Guardian story from Alpha Flight mixed with Watchmen, a touch of the Justice League, an ersatz Batman/Joker, plus characters like The Riddler and an X-Man or two. It’s interesting how giving things a slight 1/4 twist can make them feel fresh. Grayson has added some new stuff of his own to complete the story.
Reading his bio, he insists that his name is actually Slade Grayson. I’m not sure I believe that, seeing as how the Teen Titans’ archenemy is Deathstroke, whose real name is Slade Wilson, and the team leader is Robin, aka Dick Grayson. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt, since I suppose there have been weirder coincidences.
Speaking of, this is the second book I’ve read this week featuring the 1947 Roswell UFO crash as the inciting incident for the background of the story. Which is weird, since I chose these books at random from my TBR list.
Anyway, if you like superhero stories, give this one a try.
Grayson is clearly a comic book reader, because he employs the tropes well and I see bits of stories here rearranged in a fun new way. There’s a little bit of the Guardian story from Alpha Flight mixed with Watchmen, a touch of the Justice League, an ersatz Batman/Joker, plus characters like The Riddler and an X-Man or two. It’s interesting how giving things a slight 1/4 twist can make them feel fresh. Grayson has added some new stuff of his own to complete the story.
Reading his bio, he insists that his name is actually Slade Grayson. I’m not sure I believe that, seeing as how the Teen Titans’ archenemy is Deathstroke, whose real name is Slade Wilson, and the team leader is Robin, aka Dick Grayson. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt, since I suppose there have been weirder coincidences.
Speaking of, this is the second book I’ve read this week featuring the 1947 Roswell UFO crash as the inciting incident for the background of the story. Which is weird, since I chose these books at random from my TBR list.
Anyway, if you like superhero stories, give this one a try.
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