Corpies

This is probably my favorite of Drew’s works, which I found initially via Super Powered (which started out strong, but has gotten a bit repetitive and less positive). This has tons of good stuff; laugh-out-loud bits, thoughtful bits, heartwarming bits, and is a fun, easy read. It has one of the most neutral treatments of a gay man I’ve seen yet; pretty much stereotype free except for a pivotal bit of backstory (and even that has a good reason). It may be a spinoff of the S-P books, but can be read stand alone just fine. The setting might make you think “fun fluff but the characters and interpersonal dynamics are more moving than you’d expect. Best of all, its not horrifically dark or toxic in any way; it’s actually pretty positive in tone. The primary norms/themes are things like decency, self respect, etc., just in a world with superheros. I think his dialog and interpersonal interactions are probably the best part, but it’s decent in all other respects as well (good editing, decent plot, etc.). Good use of humor, which relatively few writers really master as a supporting element in managing a drama.

First, Drew Hayes is one of my go-to authors. He has a great writing style, does not limit himself to one genre, and, particularly with this story, is not trying to save the world, just a small piece of it.
Second, this is one of the better super-hero stories. I would rate ‘Corpies’, ‘Wearing the Cape’ by Marion G. Harmon, and ‘Confessions of a D-List Supervillain’ by Jerry Bernheimer to be my three top books in the genre.
Finally, this is a story that I have gone back and read again. I read a lot of books – over a hundred a year – and while I have found some to be a good read, I would say that less than one percent have stuck with me enough that I make the effort to hunt them down and read them again. That is what it takes for me to rate a book five stars. I don’t mean re-reading a book in a series to get up to speed for the latest release, I am talking about a story and characters that stick with me over the years, and that I am willing pull out and ‘comfort’ read again when new releases are sparse or otherwise lacking.
So, read this book or Titan will find you and give you an atomic wedgie.

I have been reading everything that Mr. Hayes has written for some time. He has a history of writing fun and believable stories – and I highly recommend you seek his other work. In Corpies he has produced his best work yet – a spin off of the Super Powered series. (And no, you don’t have to read that series first for this to make sense, but it would not be a bad idea to do so as it fills in what will be questions. Or you can read this first and then that series. His characterization is excellent in Corpies, and you can really understand and relate to the characters. In places its funny, in others it makes you think. Have you ever considered what it would be like in a world where some people had super powers? While this is set in such a place, its really about the people that drives the story. And does he drive it – like he’s in a Ferrari! I think this is the best thing he has written to date, and hope that this series is cointued.

A truly enjoyable read. Spinning of from Hayes’ wonderful “Super Powereds” series, this focuses on an aspect of a metahuman world that I’ve never come across before. In a world where people with abilities must pass a rigorous and competitive process to become a “cape” – what happens to those who don’t make the cut? They aren’t authorized to fight super-villains, so what do you do? Some become athletes, some join police/fire depts. And some become corporate sponsored disaster response teams – pejoratively known as Corpies.

This is the story of a disgraced cape signing on with a team of corpies and his evolution. I loved the main character, I loved the supporting characters and I *LOVED* a certain rabbit that shows up at the end.

Do yourself a favor and check this out. Hayes has a solid writing style, creates wonderful characters, interesting twists and inventive uses of metahuman ability.

Titan, the strong man.

No, that’s not right. The Strongest man. In a world where superheroes and villains are, if not common, then at least not UN common. Standing out among these people who bend the forces of nature to their will was Titan. Titan the unstoppable, Titan the relentless. Titan the Hero.

He’s not superman. He can’t fly (though a hulk like leap isn’t out of the question), no beams come from his eyes, he can’t ‘breathe in space”, he’s fast, but not super fast. He was, however, everything a Hero was supposed to be Strong, Brave, Selfless. There were rumors he was a family man, busy raising the next Titan.

Then he screwed up. He was caught in bed with another hero, which was bad enough, but the other hero was also a man.

Used to being loved by the public, Titan couldn’t deal with the hatred his being found out brought, so for the first time in his life, he cut and ran.

Ran away from his life, ran away from being a hero, ran away from his family.

More than a decade later, his sons track him down where he’s been hiding, not because they wanted to, but because they had to. They had plateaued in their power, a version of Titan’s and were in danger of failing out of the Hero Certification program. Only Titan could tell them what they needed to do. So they swallowed their pride and went to the man who ran away from them.

Titan helped, because he could. After his sons left, Titan, finally took a look at what he had become and didn’t like what he saw. So he approached his old Agent to help him.

No team of heroes would touch him. He was seen as an unreliable liability.

But a team of Privately Employed Emergency Response Supers, super beings not qualified to be heroes, commonly called ‘Corpies’ by the Hero community (and it’s not a compliment) is willing to take him on as a ‘Hero Liason’. Titan know he is above this duty, but he really doesn’t have a choice.

this is a wonderful story. I cannot recommend it too highly.

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