Soon I Will Be Invincible

April 16, 2007
The realm of comic book heroes and villains gets a dose of realism in this whimsical debut from game design consultant Grossman. The story shifts between the perspectives of Doctor Impossible, a brilliant scientist turned world's greatest menace, and Fatale, a lonely cyborg and the newest addition to the venerable group of heroes known as the Champions. Though he's been out of commission for a while, Doctor Impossible hatches a scheme to knock the planet out of orbit ("As the Earth grows colder, my power becomes apparent, and the nations submit," he reasons). Meanwhile, Champions leader Corefire goes missing, and Fatale has to learn the ropes of superherodom as the conventional climactic showdown (at Doctor Impossible's secret lair) draws near. However fantastical, the characters (including a "genetic metahuman" and "an elite fairy guard") are thoughtfully portrayed, with Fatale—stuck in a perpetual existential crisis—bemused over the Champions' purpose, and Doctor Impossible wondering "whether the smartest man in the world has done the smartest thing he could with his life." Grossman dabbles in a host of themes—power, greed, fame, the pitfalls of ego—in this engrossing page-turner, broadening the appeal of an already inviting scenario.

Starred review from June 1, 2007
Doctor Impossible is a supervillain with impenetrable skin, a 300-plus IQ, and the same traumatic high school memories that most people have. He is still plotting to take over the world after being incarcerated for the 12th time. Attempting to thwart the Doctor's nefarious plans are the Champions, a team of the world's most powerful and beloved superheroes, plus a few new hires. One of these is Fatale, a cyborg who can bend iron and smash through walls but can't quite feel like part of the team. Debut novelist Grossman's diabolically brilliant idea is to combine the well-loved cliché s of the superhero genre with a contemporary-realist style that answers nagging questions, e.g., Where do supervillains get all the stuff to build their doomsday devices? Can somebody with a metal exoskeleton sit in a regular chair? What happens if you use an unstoppable weapon on an invincible foe? And do evil geniuses just want to be loved? Grossman is a freelance game-design consultant and a doctoral candidate in English literature. Highly recommended for all public libraries; the excellent cover art by noted book designer Chip Kidd is sure to attract readers to this fun and thought-provoking book. [See Prepub Alert, "LJ" 3/15/07.]Jenne Bergstrom, San Diego Cty. Lib.

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