The Supes—Matthew Pritt
Matthew Pritt’s The Supes is a fast-paced afternoon read filled with action, unlikely allies, and a little bit of anarchy, too.
Slip Stephenson lives in a world where being Super is standard and average is undesirable—at least for him. But Slip has yet to show himself to be particularly Super. He’s stuck between two futures: the one he wants, and the one he fears is inevitable.
We follow Slip and his twin brother into their final year at school. It’s their last chance to find their Super skills. The boys and their classmates face the end of their education with no solid idea of what comes next. Together, this ragtag group of rejects must come to terms with their powers to find their place among the Supers or accept their fate as Norms.
But then, trouble strikes from a surprising source, as it does in any good superhero story. And when the best of the best fail to beat the bad guy, Slip and his team—the self-styled Supes—must use their unique skills to save the Super world.
Pritt’s cast of characters takes center stage in The Supes. Slip is relatable as the angsty teenager, trying too hard and not hard enough all at once. He struggles to mold himself into something he’s not instead of finding his true worth. It takes a great mentor, faithful and loyal friends, and a fight with a mega-villain for him to recognize his potential and to put his powers to good use.
The author also gives us a supporting roster of believable almost-heroes, each with their own set of woes. The rival, the comic relief, the antagonist, the love interest—they’re all covered. Each character struggles with their own superhero “handicap,” and we get small tastes of how they have learned to deal. While the story focuses on Slip, the other characters are rich and intriguing in their own right. Special shoutout to Sugar—her lines had me laughing out loud.
The novel does turn a dark corner toward the end, ultimately giving Slip the reality check he needs to push forward. The Super world is not what he imagined—all accolades and glory and fame. It is full of hidden truths and trickery and the potential for suffering and death. As Slip experiences this shadow side, he realizes his Super duty to the greater world. It gives him a sense of purpose and allows him to fully find himself.
The Supes is a refreshing and robust breakout novel. Pritt’s universe is ripe with potential for future adventures and rich backstory. I hope this is not the last we’ve seen of The Supes.
Check out The Supes for yourself over on Amazon, available in both digital and print editions.
Until next time,
Jenna
Jenna Justice is a fiction editor and proofreader for independent authors. She specializes in middle-grade and young adult fiction, with an emphasis on fantasy, sci-fi, and magical realism.
Visit Jenna’s website at Justice Serves Proofreading, and say hi on Twitter at @justice_proofs.