Adam Graham's Blog: Christians and Superheroes - Posts Tagged "powerhouse"
Powerhouse v. The Illusive Plot
On the blog, I'll address a couple criticisms that my work's gotten, not as a defensive measure but to explain the methods of my madness.
If there's criticism that Tales of the Dim Knight is the seeming lack of a central plot. Some have even suggested the book should be a short story collection.
However, I'm comfortable with it as a novel, though I guess people could consider it a braided novel if they like. I will say that the book is a little different, so it throws people for a loop. There are three things that make the book different and throw people for a loop.
First, humor was a priority because it's very much a comedy and a parody. Many authors use humor as something that they mix in with their plot. What's different about my approach with Tales of the Dim Knight is that so much of the basic superhero stories are told for the parody and humor value. So the plot is at least partially built around the gags rather than the gags being put in around the plot.
Second, my overall style for the story is tied to the way I encountered superheroes growing up which was mostly in episodic television. And in the best superhero TV shows like Spider-man: The Animated Series, the stories may stand on their own but they were usually leading somewhere and somewhat inter-related. I hope that appeals to people who grew up watching Saturday Morning cartoons as part of that nostalgic feel.
And that brings me to the third point, the overall dramatic story in here is about Dave Johnson's journey. He gets his ultimate dream when he becomes a superhero, but that has an impact on his family and there's all ready trouble to begin with, so the story of the relationship between Dave and his family holds the novel together dramatically.
Obviously, the style we use here is not for everyone, but I'm very satisfied with it and how it turned.
If you'd like to try out, we are having a give away on Goodreads with the prize being an autographed copy.
If there's criticism that Tales of the Dim Knight is the seeming lack of a central plot. Some have even suggested the book should be a short story collection.
However, I'm comfortable with it as a novel, though I guess people could consider it a braided novel if they like. I will say that the book is a little different, so it throws people for a loop. There are three things that make the book different and throw people for a loop.
First, humor was a priority because it's very much a comedy and a parody. Many authors use humor as something that they mix in with their plot. What's different about my approach with Tales of the Dim Knight is that so much of the basic superhero stories are told for the parody and humor value. So the plot is at least partially built around the gags rather than the gags being put in around the plot.
Second, my overall style for the story is tied to the way I encountered superheroes growing up which was mostly in episodic television. And in the best superhero TV shows like Spider-man: The Animated Series, the stories may stand on their own but they were usually leading somewhere and somewhat inter-related. I hope that appeals to people who grew up watching Saturday Morning cartoons as part of that nostalgic feel.
And that brings me to the third point, the overall dramatic story in here is about Dave Johnson's journey. He gets his ultimate dream when he becomes a superhero, but that has an impact on his family and there's all ready trouble to begin with, so the story of the relationship between Dave and his family holds the novel together dramatically.
Obviously, the style we use here is not for everyone, but I'm very satisfied with it and how it turned.
If you'd like to try out, we are having a give away on Goodreads with the prize being an autographed copy.
Cover Art: Rise of the Robolawyers
The Cover Art for Rise of the Robolawyers (due out next week) has been completed by our cover artist.
I'm finished a last quick proofread before we go ahead with publishing it next week for the Kindle.
I'm finished a last quick proofread before we go ahead with publishing it next week for the Kindle.
Powerhouse Flies Again: The Open Door
When I wrote Tales of the Dim Knight with my wife Andrea, it was originally intended as a one-shot novel.
In fact, when I wrote the original ending, it tied everything up nicely in a big bow that precluded the possibility of sequels and that ending was in the book until the last edits to the story in mid-to-late 2010.
However, as my wife and I talked about it, it became clear that the ending really was a problem. It a little too pat and a little too clunky and it really closed the door to any possibility of a sequel. It literally took the Johnson family two years down the road from after the end of the book with final conclusions for Marco, Leona Campbell, and all our other characters. It was almost too neat and too pat. So, we decided to end strong and leave the possibility of a sequel in place at the same time. There were a couple of things that made the Powerhouse sequels seem like a good project late Spring of this year.
From a marketing perspective, the big advice that I'd been reading is that series are the best way to go. In addition, I'd been getting good reaction, if I wasn't getting the volume of reaction that I'd hoped for. I thought if I could get a series together, this character might take off.
Second, I really have been watching more superhero stories and realize there's a lot more we can do. There are more things we can poke fun at. I thought we did a pretty exhaustive work in the first book. We covered superhero team ups, Captain America, Batman, heck even Underdog, but I think there was more to do.
Third, I think there's a lot more we can get out of these characters, so it made sense to write the sequels and I'm enjoying the process immensely.
In fact, when I wrote the original ending, it tied everything up nicely in a big bow that precluded the possibility of sequels and that ending was in the book until the last edits to the story in mid-to-late 2010.
However, as my wife and I talked about it, it became clear that the ending really was a problem. It a little too pat and a little too clunky and it really closed the door to any possibility of a sequel. It literally took the Johnson family two years down the road from after the end of the book with final conclusions for Marco, Leona Campbell, and all our other characters. It was almost too neat and too pat. So, we decided to end strong and leave the possibility of a sequel in place at the same time. There were a couple of things that made the Powerhouse sequels seem like a good project late Spring of this year.
From a marketing perspective, the big advice that I'd been reading is that series are the best way to go. In addition, I'd been getting good reaction, if I wasn't getting the volume of reaction that I'd hoped for. I thought if I could get a series together, this character might take off.
Second, I really have been watching more superhero stories and realize there's a lot more we can do. There are more things we can poke fun at. I thought we did a pretty exhaustive work in the first book. We covered superhero team ups, Captain America, Batman, heck even Underdog, but I think there was more to do.
Third, I think there's a lot more we can get out of these characters, so it made sense to write the sequels and I'm enjoying the process immensely.
Powerhouse Flies Again: Help Wanted: Villain
Every good superhero story has to have an antagonist. When I began to do the new Powerhouse stories I knew I had to create a new line of villains. Most of Powerhouse's opponents from Tales of the Dim Knight had been dispatched one way or another. The one exception to this is the Invisibility Master, who does make an appearance in Powerhouse: Hard Pressed
There are many minor villains in the story from kidnappers to car thieves, those sort of throw away characters.
In the third book, I also begin to really play with some of the ineffectual supervillain wannabes that get attract to taking on Powerhouse such as The Boomerang Bloke and the Silver Medal.
However, these type of guys won't drive a story. For that, I needed someone who could sustain interest. For that I needed Mitch Farrow.
In many ways, Farrow is kind of prototypical outlook on villainy. Occasionally, I'll come up with a villain who is absolutely evil such as Colonel Dread in my "Rise of the Judge" stories, but I usually try to give my prime villain some humanity and some redeeming qualities.
Our main villain is Mitch Farrow and here's the scene where he's revealed from Powerhouse Flies Again:
From there, Farrow goes through the hiring process and learns that the job is working as CEO of Dorado Incorporated, a large corporation controlled by an inter dimensional alien named King Bel who wants to take over the Earth. When he does so, he promises to bring about a golden age. However to limit resistance to his invasion, he needs to foster public cynicism so people are less attached to the world as it is and less likely to resist and that's where Dorado Incorporated comes into play.
So Farrow's cured of AIDS and promised the same thing for his ex-wife and daughter when the invasion occurs. Farrow gets the job as CEO and he clashes with Powerhouse and become's Powerhouse's enemy because the Powerhouse's symbol of hope status clashes with Farrow's goals.
I also re-introduce Dr. Fournier in Rise of the Robolawyers. He'd played a minor role in Tales of the Dim Knight but he gets a much bigger part in the Adventures of Powerhouse series.
There are many minor villains in the story from kidnappers to car thieves, those sort of throw away characters.
In the third book, I also begin to really play with some of the ineffectual supervillain wannabes that get attract to taking on Powerhouse such as The Boomerang Bloke and the Silver Medal.
However, these type of guys won't drive a story. For that, I needed someone who could sustain interest. For that I needed Mitch Farrow.
In many ways, Farrow is kind of prototypical outlook on villainy. Occasionally, I'll come up with a villain who is absolutely evil such as Colonel Dread in my "Rise of the Judge" stories, but I usually try to give my prime villain some humanity and some redeeming qualities.
Our main villain is Mitch Farrow and here's the scene where he's revealed from Powerhouse Flies Again:
Mitch Farrow slouched in a green metal office chair held together by duct tape. His Ebay auction filled the screen of his bulky, third-hand computer monitor. A fast food bag and an empty paper cola cup littered the buckled plywood desk that he also used as a kitchenette table. The green linoleum floor had missing patches. On his right the sink had four days worth of dishes piled in it and smelled of putrid water. The electric stove and refrigerator were cracked with paint peeling, as was the cabinets’ frou-frou blue paint.
He refreshed the Ebay auction on his screen. Thirty-five seconds to go. Come on, a few bucks more.
The auction ended at $315. He made a note in his ledger.
Not bad. This sale would put him at ninety bucks for the month once he paid his bills. He smirked and hummed “If I Were a Rich Man.”
He turned the monitor off, grabbed his newspaper off the kitchen counter, and strode to the eight foot square patch of carpet that passed for a living room. The taupe carpet was partially blackened from foot traffic and riddled with teeth marks from rats. He rearranged two red afghans over his gray recliner, covering where the stuffing was coming out while protecting his sensitive skin from the irritants ground hopelessly into it.
He settled into his chair and took a sniff of the newspaper. “Good old newsprint.” The only clean smelling thing in this dump. He smiled. Why sit there and read a bunch of lies and fabrications on the internet when he could read lies and fabrications in a good old American newspaper? He reached into the cigarette pack in his pocket, withdrew one of his blissful cancer sticks, and slipped it in his mouth.
No, Rosie needed him. Even with his life insurance, she and her mom wouldn’t make it without his alimony checks. He put the cigarette back in his pack. On the bright side, he was still worth more alive at the moment, he was down to two packs a week, and he’d be dead before he could get lung cancer from smoking anyway.
“Razzle Dazzle” played on the lace-covered cardboard box serving as an end table. He picked up his cell phone. “Hello, Farrow speaking.”
“Hi, this is Anne Falkenberg. The FDA just voted.”
Mitch held the phone tight. It was his attorney.
“They decided the drug needed more testing.”
Mitch dropped the phone and a stream of curse words left his mouth. He grabbed it. “It’s been used in Europe for five years.”
“I know this is disheartening. Understand, though, they’re just wanting to make sure that the drugs are safe and people are healthy.”
Mitch huffed a shallow breath. “None of them have AIDS. None of them have an ex-wife and daughter who have AIDS. This is what 235 years of democracy has produced in this country, a bureaucracy that fiddles while people waste away and die.”
“I know it’s frustrating.”
Mitch laughed. “Frustrating is when your DSL won’t work. Seeing your daughter suffer and knowing she and her mom are going to die like you are isn’t frustrating.”
Tears welled in his eyes. He clutched the receiver with a death grip.
“Mitch?”
“Anne, I’m hanging up. I know you did all you can, but I’ve got a lot of vinegar to spew.” He punched the red end call button, hurled his cell phone across the room, and let out a primal scream. He stared at the ceiling. “Why, God? If you’re there, why didn’t you let me die in the accident rather than get that accursed transfusion?”
What was he doing? That was silly and pathetic. Time for some meaningful, purposeful venting to the folks who read his website. No question he was going to blog about the FDA Nazis. Still, he should check and see what else was going on. He flipped through the classifieds and spotted:
Help Wanted: Cynic
Change the World
Great pay and benefits.
Send application to Box C, Seattle Guardian
He chuckled. If you need a cynic, I’m the man for the job.
From there, Farrow goes through the hiring process and learns that the job is working as CEO of Dorado Incorporated, a large corporation controlled by an inter dimensional alien named King Bel who wants to take over the Earth. When he does so, he promises to bring about a golden age. However to limit resistance to his invasion, he needs to foster public cynicism so people are less attached to the world as it is and less likely to resist and that's where Dorado Incorporated comes into play.
So Farrow's cured of AIDS and promised the same thing for his ex-wife and daughter when the invasion occurs. Farrow gets the job as CEO and he clashes with Powerhouse and become's Powerhouse's enemy because the Powerhouse's symbol of hope status clashes with Farrow's goals.
I also re-introduce Dr. Fournier in Rise of the Robolawyers. He'd played a minor role in Tales of the Dim Knight but he gets a much bigger part in the Adventures of Powerhouse series.
Sample Saturday: Powerhouse Meets the Detective
[Note: In this scene from the new book, [book:Powerhouse: Hard Pressed|17853010], Powerhouse needs to obtain the help of a detective to locate the missing Major Speed and he consults Portland's Neil Worthington, who in many ways is Powerhouse's detective counterpart.]
Powerhouse rang the doorbell as he stood on a brownstone mansion’s steps in the suburbs of Portland. His heart thudded as he waited.
The heavy door opened. A Latino with a Caesar hair cut, thin arms, and a slight paunch stood on the threshold in a green T-shirt and jeans. “Señor, your name?”
“Um, I’m Powerhouse.”
“Gracias, Señor Powerhouse. I am Gaston Perez. Señor Worthington will be down at eleven. He’s in the plant room tending his orchids, which he does every day from nine to eleven. Please come in.” The man in a green shirt led Powerhouse into an office and flopped onto a cream-colored couch.
How rude. Powerhouse eyed the bright red and yellow leather chairs. They matched the extra couch in the corner. A giant globe was wider around than Powerhouse was. Behind it sat two bookcases. One had a pine “Poirot” sign nailed over it and the other had a “Holmes” sign nailed over it.
The Poirot bookcase was well-organized with hardcover volumes and case files arranged by height, but the Holmes bookcase boasted papers strewn haphazardly. On its top shelf sat a copy of the South China Post from 1978, a bloodstained cloth, an unloaded revolver, and a bologna sandwich.
Powerhouse glanced at the man on the couch. “Who are you?”
“I’m the, um, personal trainer. I only answer the door while the butler and his assistant are out. It’s one of the burdens of working here.”
Powerhouse eyed the rather out-of-shape Latino. “You don’t look like a personal trainer.”
“I train his mustache.” The mustache trainer shrugged. “You should see it before you judge my services of keeping it in good shape. I’m an expert.”
Powerhouse blinked. “But you don’t even have a mustache yourself.”
Mustache Trainer sat up. “I had to sacrifice my own. Maintaining one superb mustache is a challenge for any man, let alone two. It would be like trying to maintain two wives.”
Behind his helmet, Powerhouse raised an eyebrow. “If you say so.”
Floorboards creaked as a man almost as rotund as the globe sauntered in carrying three orchids that looked like props. He did have a rather unique mustache, but he’d ripped off Sherlock Holmes’ clothes, the hat in particular. The newcomer put the fake flowers in the vase on his big oak desk and sat in a king-sized, orange desk chair that looked like it’d been salvaged from a thrift store and reupholstered to look new again.
The detective spread his hands on his desk. “Hello, Powerhouse. You have come to consult me.”
“If you’re Neil Worthington.” Powerhouse glanced at the orchids. “Am I mistaken, or are those plastic?”
“Yes, I’m the proud owner of ten thousand artificial orchids.”
“But you spent two hours up there.”
“I must have my hobby, if I am to emulate Nero Wolfe. His orchids are organic, but I’ve not had much luck with organic orchids, though my assistant and new butler have started some, and they left me instructions.”
The mustache trainer said, “Wasn’t that to leave them alone?”
Worthington glowered. “You can go back upstairs.”
“I could comb your mustache.”
Worthington shook his head. “Not in front of a potential client.”
This is weird. Powerhouse coughed. “Are you sure you’re a detective?”
Worthington glanced over Powerhouse. “You are in your mid-thirties, a white male American. You are not a white collar worker and you came to this address after going to the wrong address on the other side of town.”
Powerhouse blinked. “How did you know that?”
“Your costume’s design is more consistent with the design of popular superhero costumes from the 1990s than with the current styling, therefore the age. Your voice was suggestive as well. You’re obviously not comfortable in an office environment, thus the guess you’re not a white collar worker. As for going to the other side of town, the sediment on your suit contains dust found only in that part of Portland.”
“Wow, that’s amazing. You must be fun at parties.”
“I don’t go to parties. Now, sir, your problem.” Worthington pulled out a pipe from his jacket’s inner pocket.
Powerhouse winced. “You smoke?”
“No, tobacco is distasteful and deadly, but I must have a pipe. Sherlock Holmes had a pipe.”
So did Bruce Wayne and Captain America in their early comics. Doesn’t mean I’ll go and buy one.
Worthington reached into his desk, removed an unlabeled black bottle, and poured a clear liquid into the pipe. He put the bottle back. “Proceed.”
“It all began in 1937—”
A stream of bubbles flew out of Worthington’s pipe.
Seriously? Powerhouse chortled.
Worthington waved. “My eccentricities are calculated into my fee. Pray continue.”
----
Powerhouse Hard Pressed is now available in Paperback or for the Kindle
Short Story: Crisis of the Multiple Powerhouses, Part Two
Continued from Part One:
“Ah-ha!” Fournier’s voice came from a box with a picture of a Wookie costume on it. “You are one of the most evil incarnations of Powerhouse. Kill him.”
“Fournier? I killed you last year. Is this some alternate universe?” He rubbed his hands together. “Excellent! I get to have my revenge twice. Where are you?”
Powerhouse glared. “Hold it, chum. No one kills people in my universe.”
“Who are you to stand in the way of justice? He’s a mad scientist who has worked for so many mobsters and even spies. He doesn’t deserve to live.”
“That’s not for you to say.”
“Please, Mr. Goody Two Shoes, take a walk on the darker side of justice.”
“I did and sorely regret it.”
“There was no error in becoming the Emerald Avenger. Only in getting weak about it.” The Emerald Avenger pointed to Evil Dave. “I suppose you’re going to turn that insult to my face over to the authorities?”
Evil Dave cursed.
Powerhouse sighed. “That is what we’d be like if we’d grown up in his terrible circumstances. You know, my pastor once said, ‘If but for the Grace of God, that’d be me.’ Or something like that. Does it make you think?”
Emerald Avenger laughed. “Yeah, it makes me think you’re a lame Christian weakling. I know the truth. Grandpa was wrong about everything, Powerhouse.”
“You’re being manipulated by Zolgron. He wants to control the world.”
“You know nothing.” The Emerald Avenger laughed. “He’s been no trouble to me since I killed Night Lord. He probably talked you out of killing that pathetic drug dealer.”
Powerhouse nodded.
“The thing with not killing Night Lord was like the Garden of Eden. Zolgron wanted to keep us from becoming like God, with the ability to destroy life and be the judge.” He laughed. “I saw Zolgron’s little plan and made it my own. I am the most powerful being on Earth, and I decide who lives and who dies, and all the people who are guilty die and never hurt anyone again. Not a Reverend Jones and not a Jimmy Olsen.”
“How many people have you killed?”
“There are more guilty than I would have thought. Now stand aside and let me deal with Fournier.”
Powerhouse shook his head. “Fournier, you better help me get rid of him.”
Fournier’s hologram appeared as an anthropomorphic reptile. “I can’t right now. I’m going to get you some back up.”
Emerald Avenger sneered. “Won’t be in time. I’ll find you first, Fournier.”
Powerhouse imagined the Emerald Avenger tied up.
“Please!” He snapped the ropes.
Powerhouse dived at the Emerald Avenger and swung his fist. The Emerald Avenger caught it, knocked Powerhouse to the ground, and held him down with a knee in the back. “Yield, fool. I’m as powerful as you and willing to kill.”
Powerhouse tried to get up, but he was nailed to the floor. He had one hope. “You have to do it with dignity, don’t you?”
“What do you mean?”
Powerhouse visualized the Emerald Avenger changed into a clown with big shoes and oversized pants.
The Emerald Avenger pounded Powerhouse’s back. “What have you done?”
Powerhouse imagined a mirror appearing.
“The dark spirit of Justice can’t be seen like this.” The Emerald Avenger let Powerhouse up as he changed his costume.
Powerhouse ran away at a blinding speed.
“You can’t fight what you can’t see.”
“I don’t need to see you. I’ll still kill you.”
A vortex had opened. Two voices said, “Not if we have anything to say about it.”
Out of the vortex came two more heroes in costumes identical to Powerhouse’s.
The three Powerhouses said, “You cannot defeat all of us.”
“No, I will never give up,” The Emerald Avenger said as he was tied up with three sets of ropes and surrounded with three separate force fields.
He vanished.
All three of the Powerhouses gasped. “We killed him.”
Powerhouse Prime looked around. “The others are gone, too. I don’t think my Universe can support more than two extras.”
His extras both said, “Ah. That makes sense. I’ll have to let the writers know.”
Powerhouse Prime cocked his head. “How are you different from me? Let’s see what choices might have created you. Did you have pizza and watch a movie tonight?”
“Yeah.”
“Did you patrol the city today and catch two burglars and a car thief?”
The two nodded.
“Did you take Naomi to Olive Garden last night?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Did you get the Fettuccine Alfredo with breadsticks?”
“Right,” Powerhouse three said.
“Nah.” Powerhouse two waved. “Naomi was on a kick about bread.”
Powerhouse Prime and Three said, “I had the breadsticks anyway.”
So what else? Powerhouse Prime eyed Powerhouse Three. “Did you have Salad?”
“Who passes up that at the Olive Garden?”
“True.” Powerhouse Prime rubbed his chin.
“Did you let the waitress put cheese on your salad?”
Sighing, Powerhouse Two shook his head. “I decided to go to the restroom right then, and Naomi didn’t have her do it.”
“Yeah, I suspected she might and decided to hold it.” Powerhouse scratched his helmet. “So, based on how I ordered at Olive Garden, that created two
universes.”
Fournier’s hologram reappeared this time in a wizard costume against the backdrop of a medieval castle. “Every decision creates a universe. There could even be universes where Olive Garden doesn’t serve breadsticks or doesn’t exist.”
“No!” The Three Powerhouses gasped.
“That’s not possible!”
Powerhouse Two said, “Shouldn’t we go after the Emerald Avenger to free his universe from his evil?”
“That’s a good idea.” Powerhouse Prime smiled. “Why didn’t I think of that?”
Powerhouse Three pumped his fist in the air. “You did!”
The three Powerhouses laughed.
Fournier said, “That’d be silly. If you don’t go after him, there’s an alternate universe where you will. It’s easier to be the ones that don’t.”
Powerhouse Prime frowned. “There’s something wrong with that logic. I think.”
“Yeah.” Powerhouse Two and Three sighed. “James has a soccer game tomorrow, though. We can’t miss that, if another three Powerhouses will handle it.”
“True.” Powerhouse Prime sighed. He didn’t want to miss another one.
“Fournier, get them back to their dimension.”
Fournier’s hologram changed to Fournier in a Good Humor man outfit in a desolate wasteland. “Okay, I will help you, but only because I don’t want three Powerhouses running around. I will set it up so if you return in forty-five minutes, they’ll return to their own universe. If you try to catch me now, they’ll be stranded here.”
“This isn’t over, Fournier.” Powerhouse Prime shook his fist. “Guys, let’s go get Pizza. At least we won’t fight about toppings.”
The world shook and began to dissolve. Dave Johnson opened his eyes as he sat in his living room.
Naomi leaned down over him. “Honey, you fell asleep watching the movie.”
Huh? He glanced at the DVD case beside him and moaned. “I should never go to sleep after eating pizza and watching Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths.”
“I saw some of it. That was an interesting concept about all the alternate universes and how every choice creates one. Kind of like in Star Trek with ‘Mirror Mirror.’ Neat.”
“You can keep it.” Dave groaned.
Naomi frowned. “Are you okay? You want some antacid.”
“Depends.” Dave grinned. “Will my choice create another universe?”
Naomi laughed. “Don’t be silly. That’s not real.”
“Yeah, but it’s fun to imagine how things might be different if one or two things changed, and it also makes you grateful that God created reality and cares about you and looked out for you, so you didn’t come a Mama’s Boy Billionaire who ruined Spider-man, a thug with ugly tattoos, a murdering psychopath vigilante, or somebody who didn’t eat breadsticks or have cheese on your salad at Olive Garden last night.”
Books featuring Powerhouse:
Tales of the Dim Knight
Fly Another Day
Powerhouse: Hard Pressed
“Ah-ha!” Fournier’s voice came from a box with a picture of a Wookie costume on it. “You are one of the most evil incarnations of Powerhouse. Kill him.”
“Fournier? I killed you last year. Is this some alternate universe?” He rubbed his hands together. “Excellent! I get to have my revenge twice. Where are you?”
Powerhouse glared. “Hold it, chum. No one kills people in my universe.”
“Who are you to stand in the way of justice? He’s a mad scientist who has worked for so many mobsters and even spies. He doesn’t deserve to live.”
“That’s not for you to say.”
“Please, Mr. Goody Two Shoes, take a walk on the darker side of justice.”
“I did and sorely regret it.”
“There was no error in becoming the Emerald Avenger. Only in getting weak about it.” The Emerald Avenger pointed to Evil Dave. “I suppose you’re going to turn that insult to my face over to the authorities?”
Evil Dave cursed.
Powerhouse sighed. “That is what we’d be like if we’d grown up in his terrible circumstances. You know, my pastor once said, ‘If but for the Grace of God, that’d be me.’ Or something like that. Does it make you think?”
Emerald Avenger laughed. “Yeah, it makes me think you’re a lame Christian weakling. I know the truth. Grandpa was wrong about everything, Powerhouse.”
“You’re being manipulated by Zolgron. He wants to control the world.”
“You know nothing.” The Emerald Avenger laughed. “He’s been no trouble to me since I killed Night Lord. He probably talked you out of killing that pathetic drug dealer.”
Powerhouse nodded.
“The thing with not killing Night Lord was like the Garden of Eden. Zolgron wanted to keep us from becoming like God, with the ability to destroy life and be the judge.” He laughed. “I saw Zolgron’s little plan and made it my own. I am the most powerful being on Earth, and I decide who lives and who dies, and all the people who are guilty die and never hurt anyone again. Not a Reverend Jones and not a Jimmy Olsen.”
“How many people have you killed?”
“There are more guilty than I would have thought. Now stand aside and let me deal with Fournier.”
Powerhouse shook his head. “Fournier, you better help me get rid of him.”
Fournier’s hologram appeared as an anthropomorphic reptile. “I can’t right now. I’m going to get you some back up.”
Emerald Avenger sneered. “Won’t be in time. I’ll find you first, Fournier.”
Powerhouse imagined the Emerald Avenger tied up.
“Please!” He snapped the ropes.
Powerhouse dived at the Emerald Avenger and swung his fist. The Emerald Avenger caught it, knocked Powerhouse to the ground, and held him down with a knee in the back. “Yield, fool. I’m as powerful as you and willing to kill.”
Powerhouse tried to get up, but he was nailed to the floor. He had one hope. “You have to do it with dignity, don’t you?”
“What do you mean?”
Powerhouse visualized the Emerald Avenger changed into a clown with big shoes and oversized pants.
The Emerald Avenger pounded Powerhouse’s back. “What have you done?”
Powerhouse imagined a mirror appearing.
“The dark spirit of Justice can’t be seen like this.” The Emerald Avenger let Powerhouse up as he changed his costume.
Powerhouse ran away at a blinding speed.
“You can’t fight what you can’t see.”
“I don’t need to see you. I’ll still kill you.”
A vortex had opened. Two voices said, “Not if we have anything to say about it.”
Out of the vortex came two more heroes in costumes identical to Powerhouse’s.
The three Powerhouses said, “You cannot defeat all of us.”
“No, I will never give up,” The Emerald Avenger said as he was tied up with three sets of ropes and surrounded with three separate force fields.
He vanished.
All three of the Powerhouses gasped. “We killed him.”
Powerhouse Prime looked around. “The others are gone, too. I don’t think my Universe can support more than two extras.”
His extras both said, “Ah. That makes sense. I’ll have to let the writers know.”
Powerhouse Prime cocked his head. “How are you different from me? Let’s see what choices might have created you. Did you have pizza and watch a movie tonight?”
“Yeah.”
“Did you patrol the city today and catch two burglars and a car thief?”
The two nodded.
“Did you take Naomi to Olive Garden last night?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Did you get the Fettuccine Alfredo with breadsticks?”
“Right,” Powerhouse three said.
“Nah.” Powerhouse two waved. “Naomi was on a kick about bread.”
Powerhouse Prime and Three said, “I had the breadsticks anyway.”
So what else? Powerhouse Prime eyed Powerhouse Three. “Did you have Salad?”
“Who passes up that at the Olive Garden?”
“True.” Powerhouse Prime rubbed his chin.
“Did you let the waitress put cheese on your salad?”
Sighing, Powerhouse Two shook his head. “I decided to go to the restroom right then, and Naomi didn’t have her do it.”
“Yeah, I suspected she might and decided to hold it.” Powerhouse scratched his helmet. “So, based on how I ordered at Olive Garden, that created two
universes.”
Fournier’s hologram reappeared this time in a wizard costume against the backdrop of a medieval castle. “Every decision creates a universe. There could even be universes where Olive Garden doesn’t serve breadsticks or doesn’t exist.”
“No!” The Three Powerhouses gasped.
“That’s not possible!”
Powerhouse Two said, “Shouldn’t we go after the Emerald Avenger to free his universe from his evil?”
“That’s a good idea.” Powerhouse Prime smiled. “Why didn’t I think of that?”
Powerhouse Three pumped his fist in the air. “You did!”
The three Powerhouses laughed.
Fournier said, “That’d be silly. If you don’t go after him, there’s an alternate universe where you will. It’s easier to be the ones that don’t.”
Powerhouse Prime frowned. “There’s something wrong with that logic. I think.”
“Yeah.” Powerhouse Two and Three sighed. “James has a soccer game tomorrow, though. We can’t miss that, if another three Powerhouses will handle it.”
“True.” Powerhouse Prime sighed. He didn’t want to miss another one.
“Fournier, get them back to their dimension.”
Fournier’s hologram changed to Fournier in a Good Humor man outfit in a desolate wasteland. “Okay, I will help you, but only because I don’t want three Powerhouses running around. I will set it up so if you return in forty-five minutes, they’ll return to their own universe. If you try to catch me now, they’ll be stranded here.”
“This isn’t over, Fournier.” Powerhouse Prime shook his fist. “Guys, let’s go get Pizza. At least we won’t fight about toppings.”
The world shook and began to dissolve. Dave Johnson opened his eyes as he sat in his living room.
Naomi leaned down over him. “Honey, you fell asleep watching the movie.”
Huh? He glanced at the DVD case beside him and moaned. “I should never go to sleep after eating pizza and watching Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths.”
“I saw some of it. That was an interesting concept about all the alternate universes and how every choice creates one. Kind of like in Star Trek with ‘Mirror Mirror.’ Neat.”
“You can keep it.” Dave groaned.
Naomi frowned. “Are you okay? You want some antacid.”
“Depends.” Dave grinned. “Will my choice create another universe?”
Naomi laughed. “Don’t be silly. That’s not real.”
“Yeah, but it’s fun to imagine how things might be different if one or two things changed, and it also makes you grateful that God created reality and cares about you and looked out for you, so you didn’t come a Mama’s Boy Billionaire who ruined Spider-man, a thug with ugly tattoos, a murdering psychopath vigilante, or somebody who didn’t eat breadsticks or have cheese on your salad at Olive Garden last night.”
Books featuring Powerhouse:
Tales of the Dim Knight
Fly Another Day
Powerhouse: Hard Pressed
Powerhouse Returns to Ipad and Nook
When I first published Tales of the Dim Knight as an ebook in late 2010, it was published on Smashwords and distributed to Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and Apple, and Sony.
However, over time, I found that while readers were buying off the Kindle, my sales off other sites were stagnant. So when Kindle Select came along offering more options if writers agreed to Amazon only distribution, I distributed Tales of the Dim Knight as well the new Adventures of Powerhouse series exclusively for Kindle.
The ebook world is always changing, though, and the benefits of Kindle Select aren't what they once were, plus I've had some good sales success with my non-fiction book All I Needed to Know I Learned From Columbo, and I'm very excited about Smashwords new partnership with ebook subscription services Oyster and Scribd and want to see how that goes, so I'm going to go off Kindle Select for a while if we can attract some new readers.
So, I've released the following titles over to Smashwords (for all ereaders):
Tales of the Dim Knight
Powerhouse Flies Again
Powerhouse Hard Pressed.
Still not yet available is Rise of the Robolawyers (which is still exclusive through Amazon on 2/8) and Fly Another Day (which collects Powerhouse Flies Again and Rise of the Robolawyers) but they'll be up next month Lord willing.
So I hope this helps my book reach more readers and we'll see how this goes.
However, over time, I found that while readers were buying off the Kindle, my sales off other sites were stagnant. So when Kindle Select came along offering more options if writers agreed to Amazon only distribution, I distributed Tales of the Dim Knight as well the new Adventures of Powerhouse series exclusively for Kindle.
The ebook world is always changing, though, and the benefits of Kindle Select aren't what they once were, plus I've had some good sales success with my non-fiction book All I Needed to Know I Learned From Columbo, and I'm very excited about Smashwords new partnership with ebook subscription services Oyster and Scribd and want to see how that goes, so I'm going to go off Kindle Select for a while if we can attract some new readers.
So, I've released the following titles over to Smashwords (for all ereaders):
Tales of the Dim Knight
Powerhouse Flies Again
Powerhouse Hard Pressed.
Still not yet available is Rise of the Robolawyers (which is still exclusive through Amazon on 2/8) and Fly Another Day (which collects Powerhouse Flies Again and Rise of the Robolawyers) but they'll be up next month Lord willing.
So I hope this helps my book reach more readers and we'll see how this goes.
Ultimate Mid-life Crisis Giveaway
I'm giving away a signed copy of my new novel, Ultimate Mid-life Crisis. Click below to enter.
Introduction to Adventures of Powerhouse
With all of the people I met at the Tree City Com, I thought it was time for a sort of reintroduction to the Adventures of Powerhouse series:
Book 0:
Tales of the Dim Knight
"Some relationships are built on trust and mutual respect, others are built on using someone as a pawn in a game of global domination." Mild-mannered janitor and superhero fanboy Dave Johnson gets all his wishes at once when an alien symbiote gives him supernatural powers. But what's he to do with them? Follow the zany adventures of the clueless custodian as he fights crime and corruption while trying to keep his family together and avoid being sued for copyright infringement...
Book 1:Fly Another Day:
A year ago, Dave Johnson flew high as the super-powered crime fighter Powerhouse, defeating Seattle’s top crime family and becoming a local legend. In the process, his marriage nearly crashed, his eldest son suffered a life-threatening injury, and Dave lost his super powers. Now, Dave is a new Christian, a stay-at-home Dad, and living off memories and comic book royalties.
An interdimensional alien hires the cynical Mitch Farrow as the CEO of Dorado Incorporated. Farrow attacks Powerhouse’s legacy in the media. This only prompts Dave to seek to regain his powers and become Powerhouse again. This time, he’s determined to not only fight crime, but poverty, fatherlessness, and hunger and enlists the help of local churches.
Farrow’ then hires a lawyer who threatens Powerhouse with frivolous lawsuits that could ground him forever. Outraged, the Johnson family’s super-powered alien chef pledges to rid Earth of lawyers and introduces his race’s robotic lawyers. He unwittingly sells the plans to a Dorado subsidiary, who equips the Robolawyers with powerful alien weapons that make them the most dangerous threat Powerhouse has ever faced.
Book 2: Powerhouse Hard Pressed:
Dave Johnson’s dreams have come true. He’s taken Seattle by storm as Powerhouse, a metal-clad crime fighter. His awesome array of powers has the underworld on the run, his charitable efforts are a success, and he has a popular comic book. When his publisher is bought out, he’s given every fan’s dream: he’s tasked with creating his own line of comic books. His biggest problem is his tendency to attract campy, wannabe “supervillains” who aren’t worthy opponents.
Mitch “the Pharaoh” Farrow wants to turn Dave’s dream into a nightmare. Mitch’s job is to spread cynicism ahead of an interdimensional alien invasion. The aliens’ king has promised to cure Mitch’s dying daughter when he takes over and Mitch will do anything to save her. He uses every tool at his disposal, from a massive media smear machine to a force field bubble that crushes its victim into atoms.
With the help of new allies and old friends, Powerhouse strives to protect his family and the citizens of Seattle from the forces of cynicism.
Book 3: Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis:
What happens when a superhero endures a midlife crisis?
As Powerhouse, Dave Johnson has become a local legend in Seattle but choruses of voices advise him that he’s wasting his time defending the Emerald City. He’s urged to take on more ambitious goals like defending New York, being a full-time comic book executive, or becoming a bat-breaking evangelist. These questions are pushed into the background when Powerhouse is confronted with an unprecedented crime wave launched by the interdimensional warlord Varlock as part of his effort to help King Bel conquer the Earth.
At the same time, Naomi Johnson secretly possesses her husband’s super powers. When her work slows down during the summer, the Johnson children depart to summer camp, and Dave is never home due to the crime wave., she assumes a new identity in Wyoming as Marie Dubois and becomes a vigilante known as Justice Woman. In the course of this, she confronts her unfulfilled hopes and dreams, and her unresolved anger.
While Powerhouse is pushed to the point of physical and mental collapse by Varlock’s scheme, Naomi has to decide whether she’ll go back to her old life or chart a new course. How she decides will affect her, her family, and the entire world.
Book 0:
Tales of the Dim Knight
"Some relationships are built on trust and mutual respect, others are built on using someone as a pawn in a game of global domination." Mild-mannered janitor and superhero fanboy Dave Johnson gets all his wishes at once when an alien symbiote gives him supernatural powers. But what's he to do with them? Follow the zany adventures of the clueless custodian as he fights crime and corruption while trying to keep his family together and avoid being sued for copyright infringement...
Book 1:Fly Another Day:
A year ago, Dave Johnson flew high as the super-powered crime fighter Powerhouse, defeating Seattle’s top crime family and becoming a local legend. In the process, his marriage nearly crashed, his eldest son suffered a life-threatening injury, and Dave lost his super powers. Now, Dave is a new Christian, a stay-at-home Dad, and living off memories and comic book royalties.
An interdimensional alien hires the cynical Mitch Farrow as the CEO of Dorado Incorporated. Farrow attacks Powerhouse’s legacy in the media. This only prompts Dave to seek to regain his powers and become Powerhouse again. This time, he’s determined to not only fight crime, but poverty, fatherlessness, and hunger and enlists the help of local churches.
Farrow’ then hires a lawyer who threatens Powerhouse with frivolous lawsuits that could ground him forever. Outraged, the Johnson family’s super-powered alien chef pledges to rid Earth of lawyers and introduces his race’s robotic lawyers. He unwittingly sells the plans to a Dorado subsidiary, who equips the Robolawyers with powerful alien weapons that make them the most dangerous threat Powerhouse has ever faced.
Book 2: Powerhouse Hard Pressed:
Dave Johnson’s dreams have come true. He’s taken Seattle by storm as Powerhouse, a metal-clad crime fighter. His awesome array of powers has the underworld on the run, his charitable efforts are a success, and he has a popular comic book. When his publisher is bought out, he’s given every fan’s dream: he’s tasked with creating his own line of comic books. His biggest problem is his tendency to attract campy, wannabe “supervillains” who aren’t worthy opponents.
Mitch “the Pharaoh” Farrow wants to turn Dave’s dream into a nightmare. Mitch’s job is to spread cynicism ahead of an interdimensional alien invasion. The aliens’ king has promised to cure Mitch’s dying daughter when he takes over and Mitch will do anything to save her. He uses every tool at his disposal, from a massive media smear machine to a force field bubble that crushes its victim into atoms.
With the help of new allies and old friends, Powerhouse strives to protect his family and the citizens of Seattle from the forces of cynicism.
Book 3: Ultimate Mid-Life Crisis:
What happens when a superhero endures a midlife crisis?
As Powerhouse, Dave Johnson has become a local legend in Seattle but choruses of voices advise him that he’s wasting his time defending the Emerald City. He’s urged to take on more ambitious goals like defending New York, being a full-time comic book executive, or becoming a bat-breaking evangelist. These questions are pushed into the background when Powerhouse is confronted with an unprecedented crime wave launched by the interdimensional warlord Varlock as part of his effort to help King Bel conquer the Earth.
At the same time, Naomi Johnson secretly possesses her husband’s super powers. When her work slows down during the summer, the Johnson children depart to summer camp, and Dave is never home due to the crime wave., she assumes a new identity in Wyoming as Marie Dubois and becomes a vigilante known as Justice Woman. In the course of this, she confronts her unfulfilled hopes and dreams, and her unresolved anger.
While Powerhouse is pushed to the point of physical and mental collapse by Varlock’s scheme, Naomi has to decide whether she’ll go back to her old life or chart a new course. How she decides will affect her, her family, and the entire world.
Christians and Superheroes
I'm a Christian who writes superhero fiction (some parody and some serious.)
On this blog, we'll take a look at:
1) Superhero stories
2) Issues of faith in relation to Superhero stories
3) Writing Superhe ...more
On this blog, we'll take a look at:
1) Superhero stories
2) Issues of faith in relation to Superhero stories
3) Writing Superhe ...more
- Adam Graham's profile
- 69 followers
