What happens when superheroes and villains stop being polite… and start getting real? That is what Austin Grossman, author of “Soon I WIll Be Invincible” hopes to answer in his tale of the inner workings of the superpowered.
The story is told from the perspective of criminal mastermind, Doctor Impossible, and a heroine working her way up in the world who goes by the name Fatale. From chapter to chapter you bounce back and forth between the two characters perspectives as they each weave their way down paths that are inevitably bound to cross with each other. The supreme hero of the day, CoreFire (think Superman), has gone missing and the heroes are convinced that Doctor Impossible, #1 nemesis of CoreFire, had something to do with it. When we first meet the good Doctor he locked up, but he quickly informs us that no prison can hold him. We soon learn that his assertion proves to be quite correct, and so begins the chase of the heroes to solve the mystery of CoreFire, and stop Doctor Impossible before he can take over the world.
That story is what pushes the events of the book along, however, it really isn’t the whole story. In actuality, it is a rather thinly laid plot line that seems to exist to only find ways for our characters to interact. The real meat and potatoes of the book is the close up look we get at inner minds of the people with powers, and we are quick to find that they’re not the stoic figures of hope and justice that we thought they were.
Fatale is a woman that stumbled into her powers in a very disturbing way. A victim of a brutal car accident, her body has been replaced, turning a once normal woman into a cybernetic weapon. After spending years working with government types and doing small time hero work on her own, she gets recruited by The Champions, the elite superhero group of the day. The Champions are essentially a copy of DC’s Justice League. Even if you’re unfamiliar with comics, I think you will quickly realize that Blackwolf is essentially Batman.
Once inside the group, Fatale sees that the heroes she’s worshiped from afar are not without their own problems. They fight, they fall in love, and they worry about how they fit into the world. Most importantly, when confronted with a problem, they don’t always know what to do. Their success at saving the world often comes not just from their epic battles, but also from doing simple legwork and research. Which brings us to the man that they are hunting….
Doctor Impossible is the reason to read the book. He is the villain, and he is at times keenly self-aware of his position and his lot in life. Throughout the story we see the man that heroes fear reflecting back on his life and the choices he’s made, and how with just a few slight changes, he could be the one people look to when they need saving. He is the strongest character in the book by far. However, I feel that in the latter half of the book the character changed from being strong, yet neurotic to just plain goofy and pathetic. While finishing his story in the book I was left with images of The Monarch from The Venture Brothers (an excellent show… please watch it) floating in my mind’s eye.
All in all, there isn’t anything terribly wrong with the book. I do think it loses steam and that the last act wraps up a little too conveniently. If anything, the real big problem with the book is that when it comes to deconstructing heroes and villains, comic books themselves have done a better job. Powers from Brian Michael Bendis is an excellent read that involves two police officers working in the superpower crimes division. The Boys by Garth Ennis is an extremely raunchy and raucous take down of the superhero archetype. Lastly, Astro City by Kurt Busiek is a wonderfully enjoyable series that looks in on lives of the residents of a city seemingly overflowing with all things superpowered.
Essentially, if you’re not interested in getting into some comic book series and are just looking for a post-Iron Man superhero fix, this book could be just what you’re looking for. Though not without its faults, it still manages to deliver some nicely paced action, as well as a few genuinely funny moments. It should be noted that it is a quick read, so you might want to check for it at the library (in other words, “rent it.”)
“Soon I Will Be Invincible” – official site
Ice Station Impossible – Austin Grossman’s blog