Review: Fun, Nasty, Anti-Heroic Romp
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 08 5, 2011
Imagine Captain America.  Then, give him a general upgrade, and add in some truly hefty kinetic powers (if it moves, he owns it).  Finally, instead of a wimpy patriot, have the backstory that of a minimally moral mercenary with anger issues, a "big game hunter" who specializes in taking down paranormals.  At the end, you get someone remarkably similar to Subject 12's protagonist, former codename Hammer.  A rare super-serum success story, he's on the run from his psychotic, immortal former-employer Kinsey; needless to say, his resignation letter was delivered rather physically.  So where does the most powerful super-mercenary run to for protection?  Obviously, the not-so-morally-pure heroes guild, and antics caused by a combination of his ridiculously short temper and Kinsey's attempts at vengeance and conquest ensue.The book was generally well written, and I liked the way that the first person narrative worked to try and make the protagonist's harsher actions (Aztec style heart-ripping, say) seem more reasonable.  The matter-of-factness of the narrative also effectively conveyed his BAMF nature.  As you may guess, the violence was suitably graphic and the frequent fights suitably vicious.  I do have a few complaints.  First, despite being perhaps ridiculously overpowered, Hammer (we don't really know what else to call him) tends to rely pretty heavily on his hand to hand skills.  This guy was a highly trained kill-team member, without powers, before eventually gaining them.  It doesn't really fit with his backstory, history, or practical attitude to fail to use all of his abilities when threatened.  Second, for all his training and distaste for those that err morally, he flies off the handle and gets pretty nasty all too easily.  Apart from those inconsistencies though, I was a fan.Overall, an impressive, fun story that should appeal to anyone wanting an Anti-heroic superhero read.  Think "The Punisher," but with superpowers instead of machineguns, and a book rather than comic.