Book picks similar to
Paint the Town Red by Casey Glanders


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The Remarkables


A.D. Elliott - 2013
    By lunchtime he had climbed a tall building using abilities usually reserved for superheroes; he had flirted with the girl he had secretly adored for years; he had come home to find his dad had been kidnapped and a mysterious stranger standing in his living room; and finally he had been rescued by the elderly woman from next door who had suddenly revealed that she had the power to launch people through the air."The Remarkables" introduces Owen Johnson to the world of a group of seemingly ageless war heroes, each possessing unique gifts that had been used to fight evil. Now they must help Owen find his dad, and uncover a new threat to our way of life. Along their journey Owen slowly starts to learn the secrets of his past, and discovers surprising truths about himself and those that he thought he knew; some of which he is glad to learn, some he may wish that he had not.

The Catalyst


C.M. Raymond - 2016
    A demon-monster of mythical proportions. A corporate conspiracy that goes back more than a century. The Steel City is in desperate need of a hero. When Sean Moretti’s powers manifested themselves, a lifetime of comic books taught him what to do. Already struggling to make it as a normal college student, his new found ability to sense energy in those around him did nothing to simplify his life. As destructive forces descend upon Steel City, he must learn to channel his potential, or die trying. Willa Weil has a secret—she comes from a long line of magicians trained to unlock the power hidden within poetry. This skill requires discipline and the Guild demands obedience. Willa has long kept her power to herself, but when a molten metal creature threatens to consume her friends, she can no longer remain on the sidelines. History professor Elijah Branton moved to Pittsburgh for the job of a lifetime, researching the family history of one of the nation’s wealthiest and most attractive CEOs. But not everything is as it seems in the Steel City. The historian soon unearths a deadly conspiracy that threatens to unravel his world. Can they save their city, or will they lose themselves in the process? The Catalyst is Daredevil meets The Dresden Files, a gritty and gripping superhero/urban fantasy story for the 21st century. With magic and monsters, science, and secrets, The Catalyst pushes readers to consider their own path and the ethical compromises we all make—heroes and villains alike. Editor’s Note: While not gratuitous, The Catalyst contains some strong language.

Blood 1: Return


Marc Guggenheim - 2014
    Featuring an all-star cast of Oliver’s greatest allies and enemies including the Huntress, the Canary, Deathstroke and the Suicide Squad!

Madman and the Atomics


Mike Allred - 2007
    They fight crime, befriend monster aliens and find love in Snap City! Spun off from the pages of Madman, Frank "Madman" Einstein also appears alongside the Mutant Street Beatniks turned Super-Heroes.Contains: The Atomics #1-15

The Supervillain and Me


Danielle Banas - 2018
    Abby’s older brother moonlights as the famous Red Comet, but without powers of her own, following in his footsteps has never crossed her mind.That is, until the city’s newest vigilante comes bursting into her life.After saving Abby from an attempted mugging, Morriston’s fledgling supervillain Iron Phantom convinces her that he’s not as evil as everyone says, and that their city is under a vicious new threat. As Abby follows him deeper into their city’s darkest secrets, she comes to learn that heroes can’t always be trusted, and sometimes it’s the good guys who wear black.

Forging Hephaestus


Drew Hayes - 2017
    But when she's captured trying to rob a vault that belongs to a secret guild of villains, she's offered a hard choice: prove she has what it takes to join them or be eliminated. Apprenticed to one of the world's most powerful (and supposedly dead) villains, she is thrust into a strange world where the lines that divide superheroes and criminals are more complex than they seem. The education of a villain is not an easy one, and Tori will have to learn quickly if she wants to survive. On top of the peril she faces from her own teacher, there are also the capes and fellow apprentices to worry about, to say nothing of having to keep up a civilian cover. Most dangerous of all, though, are those who loathe the guild's very existence. Old grudges mean some are willing to go to any length to see the guild turned to ash, along with each one of its members. Even the lowly apprentices.

The Definitive Irredeemable Vol. 1


Mark Waid - 2011
    IRREDEEMABLE dares to ask the question: what if the world's greatest hero decided to become the world's greatest villain? A "twilight of the superheroes"- style story that examines super-villains from the writer of KINGDOM COME and EMPIRE!

Wind Runner


Edmund Hughes - 2017
    Take Malcolm, for instance. Within an hour of getting his powers, he trashes a classroom, shows off for the press, and has sex with a random woman after accidentally flying into her house. The woman does what anyone would do, under the circumstances. She takes a selfie with him and posts it on the internet (#windrunner). In a world where valiant champions strive to protect what’s left of humanity against the threat of demons and sprytes, Malcolm cracks jokes, flirts with the enemy, and makes questionable life decisions. As a new member of the Champion Authority, he’s bound by honor to uphold their standards and guidelines… in theory. WARNING: This is an erotic superhero/fantasy novel. It contains a significant amount of explicit sexual content, harem themes, and adult emotional situations. Reader discretion is advised.

Batman: Zero Year: The Complete Collection


Scott Snyder - 2019
    But this was exactly the cover of darkness Bruce needed. Patrolling Gotham's streets in a series of disguises, he began a career as a faceless vigilante. From the #1 New York Times best-selling creative team of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo!The Riddler has plunged Gotham City into darkness. How will a young Dark Knight bring his beloved hometown from the brink of chaos and madness and back into the light? Batman: Zero Year: The Complete Collection presents an astonishing new vision of the Dark Knight's origin--and his first encounters with the Riddler, the Red Hood and more!Collects issues #21-27 and #29-33.

Banished


D.L. Harrison - 2017
    She has mental abilities such as telekinesis, telepathy, and others. Her parents are supervillains, and she isn’t all that sure she’s cut out for that line of work. Her empathy with others through her power makes it hard to be uncaring, much less mean or evil to people. Problem is, the last thing she wants to do is disappoint mom and dad.Katrina gets caught up in her mother’s supervillain plot to rid the world of the indestructible hero Omega. That’s when it all goes really wrong, and she finds herself on another world. Banished.Will she be able to find her way back home, or even understand this new world of gods and magic, or will she die trying?

Hero Status


Kristen Brand - 2014
    Now he's retired and happily married—to his former nemesis, Valentina Belmonte, better known as the Black Valentine. The two have settled in sunny Miami and left the past behind them. No more masks, capes or handcuffs. At least, not outside of the bedroom. But then the famous hero Supersonic turns up dead, and Valentina is arrested for the murder. Dave knows she's innocent, but he has to find the real killer if he wants to prove it. Investigating on his own, dodging the law, he gets tangled in a web of conspiracy that will take more than super-strength to break. If Dave wants to save his wife, he'll have to cross lines no hero ever should... Fans of character-driven genre fiction will enjoy this action-packed thriller. If you like superheroes in movies, TV, or comics, don’t miss out. Download Hero Status and start reading now!

Richter: A First Superhero Story


Logan Rutherford - 2016
    The events take place prior to the The Second Super. It requires no previous knowledge of the books in the series.Everybody Patrick Henry was at a party with the night before is dead.After waking up in the woods covered in blood and with lapses in his memory, Patrick has no way to explain how he was the only survivor. But when he discovers he’s been imbued with incredible superpowers, he takes it upon himself to find answers. Patrick knows beyond a shadow of a doubt he did not kill all those people. That is until the memories of that night begin to come back to him. Now Patrick must make a decision: continue searching for the truth no matter the personal cost, or do whatever is necessary to make sure the truth stays hidden.

Red Hood/Arsenal (2015-) #1


Scott Lobdell
    These brothers in arms face off against incredible odds while burning their way through the underbelly of the DC Universe—and it’s only a matter of time until they get gunned down in return!

Wonder Woman: Odyssey, Vol. 1


J. Michael Straczynski - 2011
    Due to mysterious circumstances, Diana must track down the truth behind what’s happened to her timeline and face the biggest stunner of all: Who destroyed Paradise Island?If you think you knew who Wonder Woman was – think again! All bets are off in this all-new direction for the long-running series that’s perfect for new readers as Wonder Woman embarks on an odyssey to find her past and gets a new costume, a new set of foes, and a new tone from the ground up!

Anomaly


David Kazzie - 2018
    Now a professor of astrobiology at the University of Washington, Claire has remarried and is raising six-year-old twins with her husband Jack. But her idyllic life is shattered once again when NASA shows up at Claire's door with incredible news - Peter is alive, and they want her to join a mission to rescue him from the island. And the most stunning revelation - it wasn't a meteor that Peter had gone to study, as they had told her a dozen years ago, but an extraterrestrial artifact. Torn between the love for her family and the prospect of being part of the most important discovery in human history, Claire struggles with the decision join the dangerous mission. Meanwhile, sinister forces begin aligning to prevent her from rescuing Peter or uncovering the mystery of the alien object. And as the danger mounts, she will make a shocking discovery, one with the potential to alter the course of her life - and of mankind - forever.