Superheroes are all the rage! If you’re just as stoked as we are about the release of Deadpool & Wolverine, here are some absolutely Marvel-ous (pun intended) must-read superhero books to add to your TBR.
The Harley Quinn Series by Rachael Allen
In this fresh, fun and feminist spin on the beloved super-villain Harley Quinn, Harleen Quinzel is an aspiring STEM student who dreams of making a groundbreaking scientific discovery while interning at Gotham University. Eager to earn a full-ride college scholarship and get away from her abusive father for good, she discovers that both the school and her professional field are rife with sexism, and soon becomes entangled in a vigilante girl group called the Reckoning.
Storm: Dawn of a Goddess by Tiffany D. Jackson
Discover the origin story of the X-Men superhero, Storm! In her first speculative novel, New York Times bestselling author Tiffany D. Jackson casts a breathtaking spell with one of Marvel’s most beloved characters, and brings the superhero Storm to life as you’ve never seen her before.
The DC Icons Series with books by Leigh Bardugo, Marie Lu, Sarah J. Maas, Matt de la Peña, and Alexandra Monir
Discover the origin stories of your favorite DC superheroes (and supervillains) in the DC Icons series. These stand-alone novels can be read in any order, so start with your favorite character and let the adventure begin!
The Reckoners Series by Brandon Sanderson
How far would you go for revenge if someone killed your father? If someone destroyed your city? If everything you ever loved was taken from you? David Charleston will go to any lengths to stop the superhumans they call Epics. But to exact revenge in this new world, David will need the Reckoners—a shadowy group of rebels bent on maintaining justice. And it turns out that the Reckoners might just need David, too.
The Colliding Worlds of Mina Lee by Ellen Oh
When a Korean American teenage artist gets sucked into the world of her own web comic, she must find a way out with the help of a cute boy all while facing off against a villainous corporation. Inspired by the A-ha’s “Take on Me” music video, this entertaining YA novel is a grounded speculative fiction adventure from a founding member of We Need Diverse Books.
Actually Super by Adi Alsaid
Set off on a globetrotting adventure to discover real-life supers in this novel! When her faith in humanity has been shaken, high school junior Isabel finds herself drawn to a niche corner of the internet—a forum whose members believe firmly in one thing: that there are indeed people out in the world quietly performing impossible acts of heroism. You might even call them supers. No, not in the comic book sense—these are real people, just like each of us, but who happen to have a power or two. If Isabel can find them, she reasons, she might be able to prove to herself that humanity is more good than bad.
Fly on the Wall by E. Lockhart
Comic book-obsessed Gretchen Yee is a misfit even at her Manhattan arts high school, spending her lunches sitting alone and drawing pictures of Spider-Man so she won’t have to talk to anyone. One day, she wishes she could be a fly on the wall in the boy’s locker room to learn what they really discuss, and soon gets the chance when she gains the ability to become her alter ego: a fly. Hilarious and sharp, this unique spin on the superhero trope is great for fans of Kafka and Spider-Man alike.
