Superhero novels?

[SagaHolmgaard]

I've been thinking recently about writing a superhero-themed novel, and it's making me curious about how the market is looking, and what the general tone of similar novels are.
So if you've read or written a super hero novel, please share it with me!

[M.ComicFan]

I'm definitely enthused by the idea. I have read a few superhero novels before, but unfortunately it was a long time ago, so I can't remember anything about them. Sorry I couldn't be of help, but I do look forward to reading it when it comes out.

[darthmongoose]

It's certainly an interesting idea, and there's no reason it couldn't work, as funny as it feels because the genre is so very tied to the comics medium. An advantage of a novel would be the ability to have deeper internal monologue and more leisurely, complex world building, which could be quite cool. The payoff would be losing out on some of the visual spectacle of the genre, but on the other hand, if the powers used were really strange and reality-bending, you'd be able to describe un-draw-able things like cosmic horrors beyond human comprehension, or to effectively describe sounds and smells.

[CorissaBees]

The only novels in the superhero genre that I can recall reading (besides novelizations of Marvel stories) are the three novels in the Reckoners series. It's a really good series borne from the premise of "what if all super-powered people were villains." I think there's a market for it and it's really interesting when done well!

[SagaHolmgaard]

Hey it's ok! It's all definitely just a for-fun side project now, at least as long as my webcomic is ongoing. But it's fun to hear that there might be an interest!

The payoff would be losing out on some of the visual spectacle of the genre

This is a bit unfortunate, yeah. I'm definitely interested in seeing how other writers have solved it, lol. I

The only novels in the superhero genre that I can recall reading (besides novelizations of Marvel stories) are the three novels in the Reckoners series.

Oh, sweet! I'll definitely check this series out! Thanks!

[Aykay]

I went will a sort of dark and grounded tone for the first novel in a series. I think it depends on how you want to write it. Like do you want it to be whimsical like the golden age of dc comics? Or do you want it toned down and subtle, dark and realistic, gritty?

Also remember that no matter the genre you are still telling a story meaning compelling characters, decent plot, good world building etc.

[joannekwan]

Generally it's not a genre that gets picked up by traditional publishing unless you're already an author that has prominence. I've seen a few superhero webnovels, but the more popular ones include romance or lgbtq+ themes.

[darkone4587]

If your talking about the traditional publishing market it's barely there. I think it's picking up since Super Heroes are the in thing now, but mostly from more prominent authors.
In the self-pub sphere it's a bit more common (there's even a tag for it on Amazon) but they typically mix in some subgenre's here and there.
And finally there're Web Novels where it's still typically common and expanding somewhat.

[SagaHolmgaard]

I was just thinking in general. What types of stories were told, and which ones people have read. I'm not necessarily trying to be published, but I'd still be interested to know which books are published, you know?