Tales of the Astonishing Black Spark by Charlie J. Eskew

If there’s a checklist of superhero habits, talking to yourself has to be on there somewhere. It has, though, lots of funny moments and a quite interesting story, so maybe check it out if the synopsis appeals to you.

Oh, and the ending was quite a mystery for me. I should have liked it, as I enjoy humorous, ironic superheroes who make mistakes, talk to and make fun of themselves (see Deadpool for example), but something was off for me. Unfortunately, I didn’t quite manage to relate to this book ot its characters, maybe because of the slang, maybe because of the one too many murky comics references, maybe because of the insistence on using metafiction too often and using the same technique in almost all chapters (starting with a challenging situation and then going back to explain how he got there). While Eskew's deconstruction of the caped crusader genre has tremendous stylistic flair, a meandering narrative that lacks a major through-line conflict ultimately renders this debut one for superhero completists only.***Note: I received a copy curtesy of Netgalley and Lanternfish Press in exchange for an honest review.

Meanwhile, close friends and the black community at large question whether Donny is severely compromising his racial identity for personal gain. As the Spark becomes a household name, Donny must traverse a morally bankrupt industry of superhero agents, product endorsements, and reality TV shows. Induction guarantees wealth, fame, and, for Donny, the rarefied honor of becoming only the second African-American to join the squad. Calling himself the Spark, Donny is quick to put his newfound talents to good use by fighting crime, and his efforts soon bag him the opportunity of a lifetime: a tryout for the elite team within PantheUS, a government superhero initiative. His fortunes turn after a lightning strike on New Year's Eve grants him the power to shoot lightning out of his fingers.

Donald McDougal is a 26-year-old pop culture nerd whose life is going nowhere fast. This superhero origin story zaps a scanty plot with high-voltage satire.

Tales of the Astonishing Black Spark by Charlie J. Eskew