Best Comic Book Novelizations
Thanks to their respective cinematic universes, comic books are no longer seen as aimed solely at children. For years comic books have not been afraid to tackle social issues and serious topics, but these were overlooked by readers who only focus on novels. In addition, the fact that many comic books span multiple volumes and often cross over with other comics has also deterred some readers. Thankfully, there have been novelizations of many important comic book storylines as well as original tales that have opened up the medium to a whole new audience. Here are some of the most entertaining novels featuring heroes and villains from the Marvel as well as DC comic book universes.
Spider-Man: The Darkest Hours
by Jim Butcher
Spider-Man: The Darkest Hours Omnibus is a collection of three novels featuring everyone's favorite neighborhood Spider-Man. The Darkest Hours sees Spider-Man teaming up with Black Cat to stop a group of Ancients who want to steal his life force. In Down These Mean Streets, there's a lethal new drug on the streets that gives users super-powers. Spider-Man has no choice but to team up with a police force that hates him to find the source of the drug. Finally, in Drowned in Thunder, it is Spider-Man versus J. Jonah Jameson as several mysterious attacks rock Manhattan island.
Batman: The Court of Owls
by Greg Cox
Batman: The Court of Owls by Greg Cox is an original novel that sees the caped crusader facing the Court of Owls. This secret society has controlled Gotham for centuries from the shadows, using murder and money to get their way. They are led by some of the city's wealthiest and most influential families, which has made them untouchable. However, when they set their sights on Bruce Wayne, they also catch the attention of Batman.
Deadpool: Paws
by Stefan Petrucha
Deadpool: Paws by Stefan Petrucha is the first full-length novel featuring Marvel's hyperactive fourth-wall-breaking assassin. In typical Deadpool fashion, the story is anything but ordinary. The merc with a mouth has his work cut out for him when a villain creates genetically engineered monsters. The problem is that these monsters start as ordinary-looking puppies, and Deadpool has to figure out which ones are monsters before it's too late. As a result, readers can expect an offbeat storyline and a protagonist who has no qualms interacting with the author.
Civil War
by Stuart Moore
Civil War by Stuart Moore is an adaptation of the best-selling graphic novel of the same name, which also served as inspiration for the Captain America: Civil War film. Civil War sees Iron Man and Captain America on opposite sides of a divide that requires all superheroes to unmask and register their powers. Tony Stark sees it as a necessary step after hundreds of people were killed during a battle involving superheroes. However, to Captain America, it's an assault on civil liberties, so the battle lines are drawn.
Venom: Lethal Protector
by James R. Tuck
Venom: Lethal Protector by James R. Tuck stars Eddie Brock and his biologically linked alien symbiote after they have made an uneasy truce with Spider-Man. Brock, who is eager to put trouble behind him, moves to San Franciso, where he decides to become a defender of the innocent. However, things do not go exactly as planned, and Venom is soon faced with five trained killers who are all wearing symbiotic suits. Venom knows it is impossible to battle all of them alone and joins forces with Spider-Man to take them down.
Wonder Woman: Warbringer
by Leigh Bardugo
Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo sees Diana, Princess of the Amazons, longing to prove herself to her legendary warrior sisters. Unfortunately, she ends up breaking Amazon law and even risking exile to save the life of a mere mortal. To make matters worse, Diana discovers that the seemingly ordinary girl she saved is, in fact, a direct descendant of the infamous Helen of Troy. Her fate is to bring about an age of bloodshed and misery, so Diana may have doomed the world by saving her.
Harley Quinn: Mad Love
by Paul Dini
Harley Quinn: Mad Love by Paul Dini is the definitive story of Quinn as told by her co-creator. It is a story of obsession and burning desire as Harleen Quinzel goes from a career in psychiatry to a career in crime after falling in love with The Joker. Mad Love explores Harley's troubled childhood and expands on the original comics as well as animated television episodes that gave birth to her character.
Morbius: The Living Vampire - Blood Ties
by Brendan Deneen
While the recent movie starring Jarod Leto might have divided fans Morbius: The Living Vampire - Blood Ties features a great story and solid character development. Blood Ties follows the birth of Marvel's complex anti-hero, who curses himself with an insatiable lust for human blood while trying to cure his rare blood disorder. The novel sees Morbius up with Amanda Saint in an effort to thwart a cult seeking to unleash the powers of Hell. However, Morbius is captured by an underground fight club and used as their star attraction in the process.
Black Widow: Forever Red
by Margaret Stohl
Black Widow: Forever Red is a young adult novel written by Margaret Stohl, who is a best-selling author of the genre. In addition to Natasha Romanov, aka Black Widow, the story also focuses on two teens, Alex and Ava. Both of them become intertwined with Black Widow's mission to kill somebody from her past. Forever Red is an excellent read for fans of Black Widow, but even readers unfamiliar with her character will be able to enjoy this novel.
