I’ve just finished reading Paul Tobin’s debut novel, Prepare To Die! from Night Shade Books. I went to Paul’s signing for the book at Powell’s two weeks ago and enjoyed his reading. Often when I buy books, even from friends (maybe, especially from friends) I don’t get around to reading them for months and sometimes years. My anxiety goes up- what if I don’t like it? Then I have to contrive some true-ish thing to say to that writer without saying that I actually liked it, because when you tell someone you like a thing you didn’t, a little part of your soul disintegrates.

At comics shows, every creator is in this position all the time. In fact, most of us don’t read each others books because we’re so afraid of being disappointed. Or more horrifyingly, jealous of what was accomplished. I’d heard Paul read a really cool part of chapter one, so I knew I was probably safe. Also I’ve read plenty of his stuff in the past and worked with him, – but there’s always that chance! I didn’t say it was a rational fear.

What’s been hitting me more lately is going into media that’s clearly labeled and marketed as entertainment, and not being entertained. The last couple of movies I walked out of just baffled me as I asked, “what part of that was I supposed to enjoy?” I was starting to think my perception has altered, or my standards skewed. Thank goodness I started in on Prepare To Die! the other night.

This book is a compelling blast to read all the way to the last page. Tobin’s flawed hero is a joy to listen to give his view of life and super-life. And you soon realize that he’s not actually even flawed, he’s just completely honest. As much as I rail against adult-themed super hero stories because I think they’re usually warping children’s material for easy shock value, Prepare to Die does it right, and puts that subgenre in prose where it can really do some work. When comics try to do this they usually amp up the violence and back off on the sex because our culture still has this weird embrace of the former and fear of the latter in fiction. Paul goes the other way full tilt, and in doing so marries the power fantasy of superheroes to the sex fantasies of daily life, which feels very natural.

He plays tension and humor off of each other, which is maybe my favorite writing dynamic. I don’t trust books that don’t use humor, there’s something fundamentally false about them, to my mind. This is full of hilarious bits, along with riveting action and engaging characters. It shouldn’t be long before readers are demanding comics based on it, which would easily work- the premise of the protagonist Reaver, who takes a year off your life with every punch, is fairly brilliant. There are dozens of other clever character concepts that will impress as well. It’s been quite a while since I’ve genuinely cheered at a bad guy getting his ass handed to him, but I was up in my chair in that very way.

I unreservedly enjoyed myself while reading this, I’m certain you will too. Here’s the Powell’s Books page for Prepare to Die!, or if you have Amazon credit here’s their page for the book . Or of course, order through your local bookseller. But do get it.