Superhero stories aren’t reserved to cape comics and the Marvel Cinematic Universe: There are plenty of novels and podcasts that tell tales of the greatest superheroes, as well.
These superhero stories are meant for adult readers and listeners who have grown up with (and never grown out of) an adoration for caped vigilantes. Some expand on comics you know and love — like Miles Morales Suspended — while others are original and pointed takes on the genre — like Soon I Will Be Invincible. I personally prefer sharp commentaries and satires of the subgenre, so my favorite is The Rest of Us Just Live Here.
Whether you prefer Batman or Superman (the classic rivalry), love Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel, or are honestly a little tired of the caped hero trend, there’s a superhero story here for you.
1. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon
Chabon’s book blends comics, Jewish lore, and New York City history starting in 1939 to create a page-turning, smart, and deeply enjoyable novel that's been hailed by critics and readers as a modern classic. This story of two cousins who create the superhero The Escapist as a symbol of hopes and dreams during World War II won the Pulitzer Prize.
2. Marvel Comics: The Untold Story by Sean Howe
Chabon wrote in the author’s note of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay that there’s a “deep debt I owe in this and everything else I’ve ever written to the work of the late Jack Kirby, the King of Comics.”
Learn more about Kirby’s comic creations, his collaborations with Stan Lee, and the nitty-gritty history of Marvel in this detailed, fanboying book.
3. Secret Identity by Alex Segura
Obsessed with comic books since she was a young girl, Carmen Valdez’s new job at Triumph Comics is a dream come true, especially when an editor approaches Carmen to ghostwrite a new superhero.
But when the editor dies under mysterious circumstances — and before publicly acknowledging Carmen’s role in Triumph’s new “it” character — her dream job soon becomes much more than she bargained for.
This noir murder mystery slash coming-of-age story’s slow burn is a fun ride for all readers, especially comic book fans.
4. Amazing Fantastic Incredible by Peter David, Colleen Doran, and Stan Lee
Stan Lee co-created many superheroes that continue to dominate box offices and win hearts today, including Spider-Man and Thor. Ever the showman and wordsmith, Lee’s short memoir runs through the highlights of his personal life and illustrious career as the world’s most renowned comics creator.
5. Soon I Will Be Invincible by Austin Grossman
In 2007, a year before the Marvel Cinematic Universe kicked off with Iron Man, Grossman released this thought-provoking capepunk novel that delves into the mind of Doctor Impossible, an evil genius trying to take over the world, and Fatale, a new cyborg who’s joined an Avengers-esque team.
The fate of supervillains and superheroes is lovingly rendered — and questioned — throughout this shining sendup.
6. Miles Morales Suspended by Jason Reynolds
Fans of the Spider-Verse movies can continue the adventures of Miles Morales — aka Spider-Man — with this story from renowned YA writer Reynolds.
In Miles Morales Suspended, Miles is up against multiple threats, including an in-school suspension and a stealthy villain wreaking racially motivated havoc at his school. This action-packed story is a wild ride with timely themes.
7. Shuri by Nic Stone
Stone (Dear Martin) makes his mark on the Marvel universe with a trilogy about 13-year-old Shuri, T’Challa’s younger sister and princess of Wakanda.
Scientific Shuri’s first adventure involves trying to figure out why the Heart Shaped Herb, the source of Black Panther’s power, is dying. This book captures Shuri’s fierce independence and intellect.
8. Marvel’s Wastelanders (podcast)
The Marvel universe knows no bounds, and of course crosses into podcasts.
Marvel’s Wastelanders is an interconnected podcast series featuring Star-Lord, Hawkeye, Black Widow, Wolverine, and Doom in a post-apocalyptic world, set after The Day The Villains Won. The voice acting is impeccable, the soundscape immersive, and the stories gritty and engrossing.
9. Chosen Ones by Veronica Roth
YA legend Roth (Divergent) deconstructs the “chosen one” trope in her first novel for adults.
Sloane, Matthew, Esther, Albert, and Ines were the teenage chosen ones who defeated the Dark One, but a decade later, they’re experiencing PTSD from the fallout. Roth probes provocative questions around our reverence of saviors and celebrities in this gritty character study.
10. Renegades by Marissa Meyer
The Renegades, a group of superhuman prodigies, defeated the Anarchists to restore order and justice to the world. But nothing is so black-and-white in Meyer’s novel, as Adrian and Nova, a Renegade and an Anarchist, begin to question the morality of their chosen sides in this action-packed homage to comic book superheroes.
11. Infinity Son by Adam Silvera
Silvera’s love of comic books and Harry Potter inspired this superhero story. Set in an alternate New YorkInfinity Son is filled with varying characters and intense action, including a plot twist fairly early on that will keep you hooked.
Shadows of our current political tensions run through the novel as characters born with special abilities use phoenix fire, hurricane-strength winds, and other powers to prove whose worldview is correct.
12. Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots
Delightfully wicked, this inventive tale is for anyone who secretly roots for the bad guys. When a number-crunching data analyst discovers that heroes cause more damage than good, she joins forces with a supervillain as his henchwoman.
Hench is a rollicking, action-packed adventure through data science and super antiheroes.
13. Vicious by V.E. Schwab
In college, Victor Vale and Eliot Cardale discovered how to access previously untapped supernatural powers. Years later, the friends become archnemeses as one goes on a murderous rampage.
In a realistic, if not pessimistic, look at the evolution of superheroes, Schwab’s novel explores desperation, power, and pride.
14. The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness
Ness’ satire is the humorous, cutting commentary our Marvel movie-loving, Harry Potter-fawning culture needs.
The main cast consists of kids without powers who live in a society where the supernatural is commonplace (think My Hero Academia if All Might hadn’t passed on his powers to Midoriya). The book is a reminder that we may not have powers (super, political, or otherwise), but we’re far from powerless.
15. Wearing the Cape by Marion G. Harmon
Becoming a superhero requires experiencing trauma, joining a union, and going through a psychiatric screening in Harmon’s high-flying Wearing the Cape series. (Being photogenic and camera-ready is preferred, but not required.)
Hope — codename Astra — decides to work as a sidekick while she assesses whether the price of power is worth paying.
16. Dreadnought by April Daniels
Danny Tozer goes from closeted trans teen to one of the world’s most powerful superheroes overnight. Dreadnought dies after fighting with a cyborg named Utopia, and his powers are passed on to Danny, who happens to be nearby when Dreadnought is killed. With this trauma comes an empowering transformation in April Daniels’ soaring debut.
