YA best-selling authors team up with the superhero cash cow. An exciting partnership or a basic marketing ploy?

The year was 2017. I’m obsessed with Leigh Bardugo and Sarah J. Maas while the movie industry is obsessed with superheroes. Again. Or, rather, still? The publishers are making bank off of several popular YA authors and have an idea of how to make more. DC’s perk? They reach the up-and-coming audience. But while I was voraciously willing to pick up anything by these new favorite authors, the release of DC Icons made me pause and choose to save my carefully rationed pennies not only because I was hesitant about the genre but because by several accounts these books were, in a word, disappointing. However now it’s 2023 and I’ve remembered that libraries exist.

I embarked on a quest to read these DC books written by popular YA authors. I know not why, but here I am lol. I heard they really suck and I suppose my curiosity to find out if that’s true had finally, years later, won out.

DISCLAIMER: First, I know nothing about the DC lore, etc. and have *shrug*-type feelings about the entire superhero genre. Second, I do like and have read much of Leigh Bardugo’s, Marie Lu’s, and Sarah J. Maas’ work. Third, I’ve never read anything by Matt de la Peña so I’ve nothing to compare his DC book to plus I really don’t care about Superman so I admit I never made it to that book and thus it’s exempt from my review and no I don’t care enough to change that. Fourth, I’m an old crone now so my thoughts likely differ from what they may have been back when these first released. Fifth, I just realized I have read one of Matt de la Peña’s books, Mexican Whiteboy, and it was okay but his books in general aren’t really my thing.

pooled ink‘s Review

WONDER WOMAN: A “girl power” teen adventure with a twist of Ancient Greek origins.

BATMAN: A wealth-divided mystery on a timer relying on the unexpected partnership of angsty teenage enemies.

CATWOMAN: A sexy enemies-to-lovers escapade filled with hidden identities and dangerous mischief.

SUPERMAN: n/a because I didn’t read it but sounds like a basic hero story led by a diverse cast of small-town teens.

DC ICONS series: It was fine. Just…fine. You definitely can sense the styles of the authors coming through into their versions of these characters as well as the direction they take them in so that will likely influence how much you like them or not. As for the plots in general, I think if you like superhero stuff this will be a cool adventure to sink into (unless you’re a big DC fan, like a major fan, then I hear it will make you cringe with fury lol. Beware the fandom). For me, who can take or leave superhero stuff, I found this entertaining but nothing more. Actually, I take that back. They were also a bit annoying as it was obvious how they were clearly written to be on trend with their social messaging. It wasn’t particularly subtle hence the annoyance. *shrugs* You know me, I don’t like being told what to think, I just want to pick up a book and be entertained and if my subconscious picks up on a lesson or two then cool lol.

I feel like fiction demonstrates how to be human while non-fiction tells us. I don’t love when the two mix too much haha I require subtlety or else my inner donkey turns stubborn and digs in her heels with a fit 😂.

But yeah, the series was fine. Does it deserve the hate? Are they really such trash books? I personally don’t think so, but they weren’t amazing either, ya know? Like most superhero movies actually. So…in that case…I guess they were spot on. *dives behind Captain America’s shield to protect myself against the fans. Realizes he’s a Marvel character and now panics about the rage of the DC fans. Finally realizes I actually potentially insulted both fandoms and must flee into the night never to be seen again*

Okay, but…

Surely I should write a more in-depth review. I’m always rambling in these things, aren’t I? But I find myself without much to say. Not because they were terrible, because they weren’t, but because, well… Look, if you’ve ever dipped your toe into the DC universe (or Marvel for that matter) then you probably will not be surprised by any of these books. They focus on famous characters and operate within those boundaries and the genre’s rules of tropes so they’re familiar, almost comfortingly so, and yeah they’re kinda fun. But what more is there to say? You likely already know enough about these characters even without picking up a comic book or watching a movie. As for the stories, I have nothing to really rage and rant about and nothing to adoringly gush over either. (Again, much like the movies haha *flees*). They are what they are. Formulaic creations with expected results. And yes, even so, they’re still somewhat entertaining. Do with that what you will and pick up the series or don’t.

Cheers.

P.S. Catwoman is proof, just like your other early works, that you can write a book in under 500 pages, SJM. Look at that. A miracle. Now please, I beg of you, utilize this power. Spare us the 1,000 page tomes you insist on churning out, fantasy author or no. I beg you.

Apparently there are a few more DC books listed in the DC Icons series on Goodreads though I don’t think I recognize any of the other authors, but if you’re interested you can check it out here: DC Icons