Right off the bat, I want to make it clear that I’m not talking about Marvel or DC or any of the popular heroes we’ve come to know and love.
Even though we do, obviously, love them. And regardless of what Edna from The Incredibles thinks, capes are sexy and 100% recommended.
I mean, if it’s good enough for Loki, Thor, and Doctor Strange, who am I to argue? In fact, if Thanos had a cape, maybe he’d have had better luck. Just saying.
While they’re great, I’m also not talking about graphic novels. Mainly because I don’t read graphic novels, so I have no idea about the nature of adult hero books in that realm.
What I really want to know is this: Where are all the superhero books for adults?
They seem to be pretty popular in young adult, but I have a secret: people don’t cross some magical threshold that suddenly makes them stop liking superheroes. I mean, who the heck doesn’t like superheroes? Except villains, I guess, and I’m fine with that because every hero needs a villain.
✦ Superheroes In Young Adult ✦
There’s certainly no shortage of superhero representation in young adult, and, best yet, they come in all sorts of different forms. Not all superheroes are made equal! Here are a few examples of the different flavors of young adult superhero books.
DC/Marvel Universes
Okay, I know I said I wasn’t going to talk about them, but I am. I lied. Sue me. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Don’t actually because I own nothing of value except too many books, and I will fight you to the death over them.
✿ The DC Heroes series
✿ Wonder Woman: Warbringer
✿ Batman: Nightwalker
✿ Catwoman: Soulstealer
✿ Superman: Dawnbreaker
Urban Fantasy with Powers
Not gonna lie, this is one of my favorite types of YA superhero books to read. I actually need more of it. Forever. So if you have recommendations, drop them in the comments. I just can’t get enough of these.
✿ The Reckoners (Steelheart, Firefight, Calamity) by Brandon Sanderson
✿ Renegades (Renegades, Archenemies) by Marissa Meyer
✿ Lorien Legacies by Pittacus Lore
Powers from the Gods
In these books, the characters are usually perfectly (painfully?) normal until the gods intervene. And thank goodness, because how boring would the book be otherwise?! Some of these may be mid-grade, but I’m counting them because it’s close enough and they’d be upper mid-grade anyway.
✿ Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan
✿ Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard by Rick Riordan
✿ Pandava Quartet by Roshani Chokshi
✿ Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia
✦ Superheroes in Adult Literature ✦
They exist! Sometimes. Okay, thanks for coming to my TED Talk.
Obviously, some people write adult superhero literature. Just not enough people, in my opinion. Where are our caped crusaders and mad genius supervillains?! Why do kids get to have all the fun?!
There are books like the Villains series by V.E. Schwab, which plays on the good vs. evil trope and also involves an anti-hero and more nuanced villain. Actually, everyone’s a villain. That’s sort of the point. But also kind of heroes. Because being an adult is complicated, and our heroes should be, too.
Superheroes can be funny, too, like in James Alan Gardner’s Dark/Spark series. With titles like All Those Explosions Were Someone Else’s Fault and They Promised Me The Gun Wasn’t Loaded, how was I supposed to resist?
Then, there are slightly older, lesser known books like Devil’s Cape by Rob Rogers, which is still on my TBR and I haven’t read because I am just one small human without superpowers, sadly.
Aaaand … that’s it? I mean, it’s really not. There’s actually a pretty large section in Kindle Unlimited, but I’ve found that without recommendations from people I know, finding something I really enjoy from KU is more miss than hit. But I feel like adult superhero books are harder to find and really take some digging to uncover them.
✦ Why Adults Deserve Superhero Books ✦
✿ We’re still at that stage where we run around with curtains as capes. We just blame the kids now.
✿ Sometimes, we just want to see good triumph over evil.
✿ Also acceptable: evil triumphing over good, but only if said evil is ridiculously cool.
✿ Disillusioned with life already, so more than happy to root for the villain.
✿ Probably have our own “take over the world” plan.
✿ But are also parents, so saving it is good, too. I mean, I guess … if you have to …
✿ Old enough to understand and appreciate the nuances between good and evil.
✿ Appreciate some complicated characters and anti-heroes.
✿ Want more stories told from the point of view of villains. Villains are relatable.
✿ Never too old to think superpowers are cool.
✿ Will read just about anything if there’s some pew, pew, boom, pew, pew.
✿ Grew up being told we could be anything we wanted. Didn’t realize that didn’t extend to superheroes and supervillains.
This is so true, my mum was told there was ‘something wrong’ with the fact I ran around pretending I was supergirl at preschool so she told the woman to let me be and I’ve always adored superheroes- I even had an ankle length coat as a teenager and I would secretly pretend I was batgirl!
The intense feeling of pride and resonance and belonging I felt seeing Wonder Woman, Black widow (sob), Scarlet Witch, Okoye and all the other female superheroes on screen doesn’t diminish as you age. You’re never too old to pretend you’re wearing a cape.
Superhero books are needed, they are our new mythology.
Oh, sweetie … those people have no idea. xD If that’s the worst you do, you’re golden! I distinctly remember playing Dragonball Z during my early elementary years. Because what else would young kids play, than something that involves not only saving the day but getting to beat each other up in the process? xD
I love the ankle-length coats. I never had anything that cool. I’m so jealous!
So. Much. Yes. Ugh, that scene was brilliant. I mean, Scarlet Witch vs. Thanos was just an epic fight scene to begin with, and then when they all piled together … yeees!
I wonder, now that Marvel is basically enormous, if maybe more publishers will think of picking up work like this. I mean, the Villains series is huge, and the superhero trope is having massive success in the YA realm, and everyone knows there’s a good chunk of YA readers that are adults. Surely, someone will notice, right? xD
Fingers crossed for all the girls little and grown that still dream of being heroes 💜
I don’t know why anyone would want to stop reading books about superheroes! I love reading books with powers. I haven’t seen many that had superheroes in adult fiction but the “chosen one” theme is really popular still in adult fiction. On KU I’ve mostly been read Reverse Harems and thats it recently but now I’m curious to see if I can find a decent superhero story on KU!
If you find one, please do let me know! I’ve got several people on the lookout now, and I love it. xD
I’m usually only a fan of the chosen one if it’s a reluctant hero. I love reluctant heroes. No one charging in like, of course I would be the chosen one! lol. But that’s just me.
I think there are few superhero books for adults because a lot of people still think superheroes are for children. My library, for instance, doesn’t even have separate graphic novel section for adults. And a lot of people see even the MCU as for children, even with the PG-13 ratings. You’d think the popularity of the MCU would have helped change this perspective, but I do think it’s still there.
My library doesn’t have a graphic novel section at all. There’s a very small shelf of (incomplete) manga series and that’s about it.
That’s weird, because I know a ridiculous amount of people who are adults who are into the MCU, so I’ve never really considered it a kids movie. When we went to see Endgame, there were basically no kids there at all. xD So it seems like there’s some disconnect between the consumers and producers (who seem to know who their market is) and whoever is doing the marketing? I don’t know.
It’s definitely an interesting though, though! I hope it starts to turn around at some point, because the MCU and even DCU have shown that there’s clearly a market for this.
Please Sammie, there is cosplay. We do not blame the kids anymore. 😉
But yes we do deserve a bit more on the whole humans with superpowers area.
Shhhhh. Stop giving away all our secrets, Annemieke. xD I still blame the kids, even for cosplay. I’m sure it’s somehow their fault LOL.
I was wondering about just this, when a friend of mine asked for a recommendation for a reading challenge. Believe me, it was hard finding one, because she wanted to read a standalone not a series. I wish there were more standalone in general.
I don’t mind series, but I hear you on wanting more standalones, too. I feel like superhero books sort of lend themselves to series, though, but that’s not always the case. Do you know what book your friend ultimately went with? I’m curious. :3
[…] that post I made asking where all the adult superhero books are? Well, if anyone was also wondering … […]
Hopefully this isn’t too much of a tooting-my-own-horn thing, but my book “Mouse’s Tale” is an adult superhero novel: https://www.amazon.com/Mouses-Tale-Alpha-League-Supers-ebook/dp/B01MV0GAIB
It’s a spinoff of my Kid Sensation superhero series: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0753KQBPM?ref_=series_rw_dp_labf
Not at all! I did ask for more superhero books. Mission accomplished. :3 Thanks for linking these! I’m definitely adding them to my TBR. 🙂
Love the Kid Sensation books. They are one of the things my son and I bond over. Just adult enough for me and simple enough for him. Can’t wait for more.
Awesome, thanks!
I realize this is a year late, but you have to check out the Ex-Heroes series by Peter Clines. Supes and survivors ban together in the midst of a severe zombie apocalypse. They create a makeshift town out of the Paramount studios lot and slowly expand outward. Amazing action that rivals the epicness of the MCU, the most unique zombie outbreak origin I’ve ever heard of, hilarity and heart, well written dialogue, it’s all here! Think Amazon’s The Boys meets The Walking Dead. Plus, since it’s set in LA after a zombie apocalypse, there’s always room for a cameo or two from zombified celebs. There are currently 5 books in the series, and I’m not sure if he intends to write more, but hopefully he does. I finished book 4 last year. Need to get around to reading book 5 lol.
Oh, by the way, they call the Zombies “Ex-Humans” or Exes for short. I think that’s cool as shit and subverts the campiness and fatigue of hearing the Z word over and over again.
It’s never too late for more superhero books! The series sounds fabulous! Thanks for the recommendation. Added it to my TBR, and I look forward to reading it. 😀
I agree that the thrall of superhero novels doesn’t just leave you once you turn 18. However, I think that I’ve realized that the pacing in young adult novels is really refreshing compared to some of the drawn-out and convoluted plots of adult novels. I think I’ll keep looking for superhero books in the young adult categories since the adult novels aren’t always my cup of joe.
That’s also true, and a really good thought. I hadn’t even considered it. I do love the YA superhero novels, but sometimes I want to go a bit deeper with it, which is where the adult novels come in. I like to think of it as reading both gets me the best of all worlds. :3
It is nice to know that there are young adult superhero books. I want to get my nephew more into reading. He loves superheroes so I will have to get him some of the books you’re suggested. Hopefully, one of the books I get him will make him want to read.
I hope your nephew enjoys them and one of these grabs his attention!
I 100% agree. You need to read Ronnie Akkard and the Britherhood of Blades by A.C. Williams. Fantastic start to a series of complex superhero stories that are interconnected like Marvel. Funny, great characters. Highly recommended! There aren’t near enough in this genre!
Oooh, yes! I love the sound of this one just from the blurb. Thanks so much for the recommendation! (And sorry for the late comment. You were unceremoniously dumped in my spam for some reason!)
Drew Hayes has a couple of super power book series. One is super powereds, and the other one is Villains’ Code.
Villains’ Code only has one book at the moment but I have very much enjoyed both of these series.
I check google for super hero books all the time and stumbled across this site.
I am not sure why you have website in the leave a reply section so I just put the link to the author’s website so you can check it out.
I will link it here as well.
http://www.drewhayesnovels.com/series-status
Thanks so much for the heads up! I’ll definitely have to check out these series. 😀
I’m coming in a little late to the discussion, but I wrote two adult superhero books, so far.
The first is called Deadlock and the follow up is Fallout. If anyone is interested, here’s my link-
https://www.amazon.com/author/stephenhudler
Stephen Hudler recently posted…The Story So Far…
Thanks for sharing!