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jasonsweirdreads's review
4.0
I had some reservations about reading Island of the Super People at first. To be honest, I’m not all that into superheroes, which is a strange thing to say in this day and age. But to be fair, I decided to give Kevin Shamel’s book a chance.
And I’m glad I did.
What I was expecting versus what I got were two separate things. I expected the book to be a form of cheap entertainment with very little in the way of story or characterization. And yes, before you go and start accusing me, I know that I can be a bit of a book snob sometimes. But who among us bibliophiles aren’t snobbish in one way or another? For me, it was the fact that the story took place on an island populated by super heroes. Yes indeed. We even had a tribe of both heroes and villains.
What I wasn’t expecting was for this book to completely and utterly seduce me into manic reading sessions, my eyes bulging, my skin greasy with sweat, my brain twirling with the need to know what would happen next.
Trent, our hero (pun intended), is studying anthropology and is on Super Hero island with his class to observe the hero species’ culture. We go along with him in monitoring what turns out to be a well-developed and fascinating people. I had a lot of fun following Trent as he failed and succeeded in his various assignments, and how he fought his way through what would become a violent and bloody war between the heroes and villains and a mysterious human military unit.
What Island of the Super People manages to do, at least in my estimation, is bring about an interesting way of life that the heroes share. It’s tribal, it has its own rules and dimensions, and some of the super heroes and villains superpowers are just downright cool.
If you like a lot of action while maybe learning something, even if that something is fictional, then I highly recommend this book. There’s a lot of interesting culture from an interesting group of a people inside, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll find yourself completely captivated.
And I’m glad I did.
What I was expecting versus what I got were two separate things. I expected the book to be a form of cheap entertainment with very little in the way of story or characterization. And yes, before you go and start accusing me, I know that I can be a bit of a book snob sometimes. But who among us bibliophiles aren’t snobbish in one way or another? For me, it was the fact that the story took place on an island populated by super heroes. Yes indeed. We even had a tribe of both heroes and villains.
What I wasn’t expecting was for this book to completely and utterly seduce me into manic reading sessions, my eyes bulging, my skin greasy with sweat, my brain twirling with the need to know what would happen next.
Trent, our hero (pun intended), is studying anthropology and is on Super Hero island with his class to observe the hero species’ culture. We go along with him in monitoring what turns out to be a well-developed and fascinating people. I had a lot of fun following Trent as he failed and succeeded in his various assignments, and how he fought his way through what would become a violent and bloody war between the heroes and villains and a mysterious human military unit.
What Island of the Super People manages to do, at least in my estimation, is bring about an interesting way of life that the heroes share. It’s tribal, it has its own rules and dimensions, and some of the super heroes and villains superpowers are just downright cool.
If you like a lot of action while maybe learning something, even if that something is fictional, then I highly recommend this book. There’s a lot of interesting culture from an interesting group of a people inside, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll find yourself completely captivated.
mrfrank's review
4.0
ISLAND OF THE SUPER PEOPLE is a Bizarro novel of the fantasy sort. Author Kevin Shamel presents a fun offbeat super hero tale that is anything but a super hero tale. The story is more of a morality tale about the perils of racism masked (if you will allow the pun) by heroes and villians.
One of the great aspects of the story is the super hero angle. This is not your run of the mill super hero. The heros (and villians) are actually an indigenous people on a seculded island. They are being observed by a group of student anthropologists in much the same way that remote African tribes would be studied. All hell breaks loose as the students studing the powers of the heroes (and villians) uncover a common enemy of both sides. The students must then convince the super people, both good and bad, to work together against their mutual enemy, the unmasked.
ISLAND OF THE SUPER PEOPLE is a great way to step lightly into the Bizarro genre. The elements of the genre are there without really going over the top. The story is very accessible to comic fans and casual readers alike. If your in the mood for something fun and very different, pick up the great read!
One of the great aspects of the story is the super hero angle. This is not your run of the mill super hero. The heros (and villians) are actually an indigenous people on a seculded island. They are being observed by a group of student anthropologists in much the same way that remote African tribes would be studied. All hell breaks loose as the students studing the powers of the heroes (and villians) uncover a common enemy of both sides. The students must then convince the super people, both good and bad, to work together against their mutual enemy, the unmasked.
ISLAND OF THE SUPER PEOPLE is a great way to step lightly into the Bizarro genre. The elements of the genre are there without really going over the top. The story is very accessible to comic fans and casual readers alike. If your in the mood for something fun and very different, pick up the great read!
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