SPANDEX AND THE CITY

Superheroes, Actually

released OUT NOW! 368 pages | Paperback/ebook

Author Jenny T Colgan Publisher Orbit

Jenny Colgan is perhaps best-known for penning romantic comedies rather than superhero tales, which may leave some wondering what on earth she can bring to sci-fi. However, this is a rubbish attitude to take: authors can write in more than one genre. Which Colgan has already proved, having published all sorts of Doctor Who novels and stories, plus an alien-themed rom-com called Resistance Is Futile. She’s not an interloper trying to cash in on the recent success of superheroes – she’s one of us.

This ensures that Spandex And The City is an entertaining and weirdly refreshing mélange of chick-lit tropes (it stars a daffy heroine rather reminiscent of Bridget Jones) and superhero clichés (Ultimate Man is a billionaire by day, vigilante by night). Holly spouts sarcastic one-liners to a supervillain while loading up on too much wine; Ultimate Man is clearly you-knowwho – Colgan says the hardest part of writing the book was avoiding copyright infringement – but with shades of Mr Darcy thrown in; plus the bad guy, who meddles with a city’s Wi-Fi, feels like he’s stepped out of both Deadpool and a Richard Curtis film.

As fluffy as candy floss and deeply predictable, this is also a love story, and all the usual boxes are ticked on that front, but thankfully it avoids being too soppy; it actually reads rather like fan fiction at times (which isn’t meant as an insult, by the way). Oh, and it’s funny. Like, really funny. The plot might not spark, but the humour could light a forest fire. Spandex And The City won’t add anything new to superhero mythology, but you’ll almost certainly enjoy spending time with its heroine. Jayne Nelson

Thankfully avoids being too soppy