superhero fiction

The first time I met the Joker

I recently saw the Joker movie, which is a fantastic and nuanced film that explores the character of Joker as well issues around mental health and class. When I saw the movie it got me thinking about the first time I met the Joker and my ongoing fascination with his character. It happened when I saw the first 80’s Batman movie, where Jack Nicholson was the Joker. Before seeing that movie, I didn’t know who Batman or the Joker were because I wasn’t reading comics then, but watching the movie made a powerful impression on me. I wasn’t sure who to root for, because what Joker represented in that movie wasn’t just a bad guy, but someone who rebelled against the systems of authority that were in place. And I could identify with that, because I grew up in a fairly strict home, where I was grounded at the drop of a hat (among other things).

A few years later I was introduced to the Joker again, this time through Batman the animated series. The cartoon Joker was both sinister and funny and its fair to say my favorite episodes were the ones where Batman was pitted against Joker. It wasn’t until later that I really began to see the darker side of Joker, both in comics, film and short stories. It was then I began to recognize why perhaps the Joker wasn’t a character I wanted to root for.

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Where my love of superheroes comes from

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My love of superhero fiction started with the one superhero who doesn’t have superpowers: Batman. I thought it was fascinating how this person could fight off bad guys and go toe to toe with superpowered heroes and villains and hold his own. Batman has his gadgets and technology, but most importantly he has his brains.

Lately I’ve been starting to read superhero fiction, which isn’t comic books. I actually didn’t know there was superhero fiction outside of the comic books, but I had decided to finish my superhero novel, Learning How to Fly, and so when I went to publish it, I was surprised to see that there are a lot of other superhero fiction books out there. At that point, I realized I should start reading some of this superhero fiction and what I found so far has been really good. I’m glad that my fiction is part of this amazing genre of work.

I’ve been reading the Omega Hero series by Darius Brasher, and I’m looking forward to reading even more superhero fiction, which I’ll share on here as I keep reading it. In the Omega Hero series, Theo discovers he’s a superhero and not just an average one. He’s an omega hero, with powers off the charts, provided he can learn how to use them. I’ve enjoyed the first two books immensely and the third has taken things in an even better direction because of how the author has pushed the main character to explore what it means to be a hero..

Part of what I enjoy about superhero fiction is how the superhero genre has evolved. It used to be very black and white, with supervillains and superheroes, but superhero fiction has become more nuanced. Heroes aren’t always heroes and villains can become something better. And then there’s the anti-heroes, who in some ways are my favorites because they’re shades of gray.

In my superhero series, I share the journey of how a superhero learns what being a hero really is. You can get the free novella below, where I share a story about how an empath has to use his powers creatively if he wants to survive the night against criminals.

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Learning How to Fly is now available!

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If he wants to be a superhero, he has to learn how to fly…

Nelson Eberly didn’t think it could get any worse for his career as a superhero.

He has to take Remedial Flying and learn how to fly or lose his superhero license and join the Weather Bureau.

But a class in remedial flying is just the beginning of his problems.

His girlfriend thinks he’s self-obsessed, and his mom won’t get off his case about not living up to the family legacy of being a superhero.

When Nelson is framed for a crime he didn’t commit and sent to the Defining Center of Adjustments, everything Nelson thinks he knows about being a superhero will be challenged by the sinister duo Director G and Pretty Boy.

Does Nelson have what it takes to be a superhero?

Can he learn how to fly?

If Nelson can’t get his act as a superhero together and realize that what makes a hero isn’t the costume the hero wears, but the actions the hero takes, he might lose more than his career as a superhero.

He might lose his life and everyone important to him.

You’ll love this superhero fiction adventure, because everyone loves an underdog story.

Get it now.