Rather than simply referring to Soon I Will Be Invincible as a novel, I really think a more fitting description of it would be a 310-page love letter to comics fans.  There are enough familiar scenarios, obvious metaphors, hackneyed phrases, costumed cliches, and onomatopoeic words to make anyone who's ever enjoyed 24 pages of sequential art feel a little warm and fuzzy inside.  However, I'd like to make the case that this fairly simplistic, straightforward capes-and-cowls tale has enough going for it to make it worth consideration for anyone looking for an entertaining (and often quite humorous) read.


The story is recounted through the experiences of dual narrators, who alternate each chapter.  The reader is first introduced to Dr. Impossible, self-proclaimed smartest and most evil currently-active supervillain, on the eve of his 12th escape from prison.

The next chapter introduces Fatale, a young female cyborg who, after barely surviving a horrendous accident, is rebuilt, and deployed by the NSA as a supersoldier-spy, busting up crime rings and drug lords worldwide.  After quitting that gig, she strikes out on her own, beating on petty thugs and thieves; that is, until the leader of the earth's premiere superhero team (The Champions) comes knocking on her door in search of a fresh recruit.

The book's uncomplicated story proceeds as such: Corefire, the world's most powerful being and all-around generically-bland good-guy (and blatant Superman metaphor) has gone missing, and the world is blaming Dr. Impossible for his disappearance.  The Doc has his own designs on a 13th attempt at world domination.  The newly re-formed New Champions, with Fatale in tow, vow to find CoreFire and stop the Doctor.  Fatale, meanwhile, spends most of her time figuring out just how she fits into all of the craziness that suddenly swirls around her.

The narrative is very connect-the-dots; no big surprises here, folks, so if suspense is what you crave, then you're barking up the wrong tree.  There is also a decidedly predictable reveal in the third act regarding Fatale's origin.  However, neither of these apparent shortcomings did anything to take away from my general sense of pleasure in reading this book.  This is because the book really shines, or is perhaps even saved, by the well-executed character development.

The character of Dr. Impossible is nothing if not charming, purely for his sheer determination in the face of certain defeat.  He has seemingly attempted every conceivable route to world-tyranny, which he makes sure to remind the reader regularly. "How do you take over the world?  I've tried everything.  Doomsday devices of every kind, nuclear, thermonuclear, nanotechnological, gadgets that fit in a shoe box and that were visible from space.  I've tried mind control; I've stolen the gold reserves in Fort Knox, only to lose them again.  I've traveled backward in time to change history, forward in time to escape it; I've stopped time altogether to live in a world of statues.  I've commanded robot armies, insect armies, and dinosaur armies.  Fungus army.  Army of fish.  Of rodents.  Alien invasion.  Interdimensional alien invasion.  Alien god invasion.  Even a corporate takeover, Impossible Industries, LLC.  Each time, it ended the same way.  I've been to jail twelve times." (p. 72)  As you can probably tell, Doc Impossible provides a kind of self-deprecating humor that permeates the book, which is quite refreshing.  He knows, in his heart of hearts, that he lives in a world where no matter what he does, no matter what he builds, no matter how well he plans, all of it will be for naught.  All of his ingeniously evil creations will ultimately be smashed, and good will prevail.  In spite of, or perhaps because of his defeatist mentality, the reader cannot help but pull for him; one holds out hope that all of his effort will amount to something for once; that he'll have his day in the sun (and, of course, bend all of earth's inhabitants to his will).

Fatale's chapters are most winning when she's being introspective, which she often is.  Though she's half-woman, half-machine, Fatale is, paradoxically, the most human-feeling character in the book, simply for the range of emotions she confides in the reader.  She's a deeply-wounded young woman, both physically and emotionally, with severe issues regarding her ignorance about her origins (not unlike Wolverine and the Weapon X program).  Like any real human, she has body-image concerns; she's too heavy, she's too tall, she's got a terrifying half-metal face, she's now incapable of having children, she's worried about how she looks in the team's form-fitting spandex leotard.  She doesn't know who she is, where she came from, nor why she currently finds herself battling all manner of mutants, robots, faeries, aliens, magicians, and mad scientists.  Trust me, it's all very compelling.

The book is chock full o' comic book and comics industry allusions, as well it should, being its primary reason for existing, it would seem.  Two extremely quick 'n dirty examples: the book makes reference to the "Big Breakup" of the 90's, in which the Champions dissolved as a team.  I'd like to think that this is obviously a metaphor for when the comics industry bubble burst in 1996 and Marvel Comics declared bankruptcy.  Also alluded to is the "royal couple" of the Champions' co-leaders, Blackwolf (basically a good-guy Adrian Veidt) and Damsel (a nearly all-powerful alien princess), a nod to the marriage of Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman.

Having said all this, I do think this book is worth a read for almost anyone.  Even if you've only read two comics in your life, you'll be able to pick up on a lot of the innuendo.  At best, the book is a gratifying, nostalgic romp through long boxes of yesteryear; at worst, it's a simplistic spandex-clad character piece: a fly-on-the-wall perspective of how a D-list hero makes it onto the world's greatest fighting force and helps save humanity.  Hasn't everybody wondered how the heck that happens?

 Here is my companion video to this review.  Hope you enjoy!

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