Super for You, Bad for Me

Reviewed by Michael for Diverse Reader

I’ve been reading comic books now for well over thirty years. Although it’s getting better, gay comic book super heroes are still somewhat of an anomaly. So, when one pops up, I make certain to check it out. I figure that the best way to show my support is to spend my money and buy whatever issue they appear in.



In the time that I’ve been reading comics, there have been some rather unique origin stories. Oswell Outterridge is an aspiring actor working as an extra on the latest film of his fanboy crush, out Kane Teague. He’s kind of a nobody who struggles to stand out from the crowd. So much so that he’s sure Kane will never notice him.



That is, until he’s selected to play the role of slime attack victim. The slime he’s shot with gives him superhuman abilities such as telekinesis and, later in the book, the ability to shoot flames from his hands. Another side affect is one he never anticipated: Kane Teague takes notice. A friendship develops that soon turns romantic. But just as things seem to be going well, someone with an ax to grind makes his presence known.



While it may sound like a basic origin story, where this one differs from most is in the writing. It’s fun to watch Oswell learn how that not only does he have new powers, but also learn how to use them. There’s one description about how he figures out how to fly that I found to be particularly inventive.



As far as superhero books are concerned, this was actually a well written, enjoyable read.