Genre

Fantasy, Comedy, Superhero Origin Story

Audience

General

Author’s Worldview

Catholic

Year Published

2024

Themes

Superheroes, dragons, Faerie, origin stories, vigilantes, heroes, mentors, crime fighting,
comedy

 

Reviewed by

Corinna Turner

Reporter and comic book fan Ron Engleson wakes up with superpowers! Determined to put his powers to good use helping others, his good intentions soon get him into trouble with the police. But Vern, the local dragon PI, takes him under his wing. Even half-trained, “Gapman” soon finds himself taking on not just gang fights and thieves, but murder-hornets and possessed geese. At least he might finally have a chance with his long-term colleague—and crush. But is she after Ron, Gapman, or just a story?

This superhero origin story is a rib-tickling blend of adventure and laughs.  

Vern books are always dependably fun, but Gapman really breathes new life into the series. Ron/Gapman is a fantastic addition to the line-up of characters. He has already featured in the subsequent book, Magic, Mensa, & Mayhem, and will hopefully appear in many more.

What might be mistaken for the main plot does not progress that fast in this book, since the novel is primarily a sequence of (usually hilarious) incidents about Gapman’s attempts to get to grips with being the first superhero in the world. However,the book is an origin story rather than any other genre.

Ron is a charming character, naïve and well-intentioned. It’s satisfying to see his new superhero status allow him to really come into his own as a person. It’s also fun to see Vern’s mentoring side come to the fore. The ending to Ron’s romance was bizarrely satisfying, in a very non-standard sort of way. His mother is a fun character, a very gutsy, determined woman. However, some parents might wish to be aware that mention is made on more than one occasion of her having a pole-dancing past. On the whole, though, the book is appropriate for most teens, although some parents might wish to pre-read.

This book would be suitable for most readers, whether Catholic, Protestant, or secular, who like comic fantasy and/or superhero stories. There is a particularly fun encounter with a (dead) saint that Catholics and some Protestant readers will especially appreciate, along with a few reflections about whether God exists, but in the context of the story, a secular reader could choose to take these as an element of the fantasy world if they so wished.

Highly recommended.

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The 1st Catholic Reads Readers Choice Award

The list of books that won by popular vote for 2024, with a Honorary Mention section for notable past year’s books.

Brother Wolf by Eleanor Bourg Nicholson

Swept into a werewolf hunt with two nuns, a dashing guardian and a jolly priest, Athene Howard applies her intellectual skills to unravel this mysterious new Papist world.

Rosaline’s Curse by Katherine Campbell

If Sleeping Beauty woke in 2017 and Prince Un-Charming was still after her… Sometimes it takes 800 years to find true love.

Blink and We’ll Miss It by Ginny Kochis

Back amongst her estranged best friends and former love, Mae tries to hide her time-hopping secret.

Misshelved Magic by S.R. Crickard

A non-magical librarian and a student mage discover the secrets of a magical library.

Cinderella by Charles Perrault

The true story of the Catholic saint who inspired the myth of Cinderella

Shadowmancer by G.P. Taylor

A dark fantasy along the lines of Revelation itself.

City of Shadows by Declan Finn

St. Tommy uncovers a group of elites using an ancient artifact to destroy London.

Love, Treachery, and Other Terrors by Katharine Campbell

This quirky, fairytale fantasy is a fun and amusing read with a serious moral backbone.

Good to the Last Drop by Declan Finn

Marco thought his problems were over when he took on the vampire council, until he gets bit by a werewolf. Will this ruin things with his vampire girlfriend?

Mandy Lamb and the Full Moon By Corinna Turner 

A human-sheep hybrid’s friendships with a friendly vampire and a very angsty house-wolf are tested in this story that explores nature versus nurture. 

Christmas Spirits by Karina Fabian

A dragon PI and a Faerie nun try to save a businessman from the Ghosts of Christmas.

The Book of Saints and Heroes By Andrew & Lenora Lang

Ancient tales of Saints and Heroes retold for Victorians, reprinted for us.

Trapped in Time by Jerry J. Weis

Can a team of misfit teens save the day in this wholesome time-traveling romp?

Secrets: The Truth Will Out By Verity Lucia

Two little lines are about to change Elise’s perfect teen world.

Infernal Affairs by Declan Finn

St. Tommy finally comes face-to-face with the warlock that has been behind the events of the previous two books while fighting off hordes of everything from gangsters to vampires.