2 New Books for Superhero Science Fiction Fans

by MK French

If you are an avid superhero science fiction fan, then these superheroes will be familiar to you, but you will still enjoy the new books. 

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Fantastic Four: The Coming of Galactus by James Lovegrove

July 2025; Titan Books; 978-1803369044
ebook, print (336 pages); superhero science fiction

When the sky seems to light on fire, it's taken as a sign of the apocalypse. The Silver Surfer arrives as the herald and scout for Galactus, the devourer of worlds. The Silver Surfer knows that Earth is just what Galactus needs, but the Fantastic Four will find a way to stop him and save the world.

Following the comics, we get a chronological retelling of the Galactus arc. While this is being published in time for the Fantastic Four movie, the cinematic universe is a multiverse now, and won't exactly match the comic line. Based on the description of Director Fury, it's the original 616 version, not the Ultimates.

We start at the beginning, prior to the birth of the 616 universe and the creation of Galactus himself. The novel incorporates the comic lines, from an overly intellectual and emotionally insensitive Reed Richards, distant Silver Surfer and Watcher, and maternal Sue Storm. The Fantastic Four are based in New York City and don't have any secret identities. The novel explains all characters' thoughts and feelings, their actions, and motivations. The first half of the book has the build-up about Galactus, the approach of the Silver Surfer, and the heroes on the ground living life and starting to hear about the dangers. 

Once the Silver Surfer arrives around the halfway point of the novel, the action ramps up. We're no longer in the preparatory phase, but in the active defense stage. While there's a sprinkling of other New York City heroes, this is a Fantastic Four novel, and their comic was the one featuring Galactus. The Four are the ones leading the charge, and the novel follows all of them as they try to save Earth. If you know the comics, there's a little less tension because you know how the story ends, but we follow the characters and what they know. We feel the tension that they do, and the triumph of the conclusion. 

Buy Fantastic Four: The Coming of Galactus at Amazon

Ultraseven by Pat Cadigan

July 2025; Titan Books; 978-1803362441
audio, ebook print (336 pages); superhero science fiction

Earth's beginning moves to explore space, leading to aliens discovering its existence. The threat to humanity is real, and Dan Moroboshi comes to their defense. His true form is that of the mighty Ultraseven, able to fight the massive creatures looking to invade.

Pat Cadigan is a well-known science fiction, fantasy, and horror writer, and this book is a modern adaptation of the Ultraman series. If you're a fan of 1960s-era Japanese superheroes, then you know Ultraman and the various movies that he and his brethren starred in. This novel is based on the series, so each chapter has a disaster that the human Ultra team must deal with, as various different aliens try to take over Earth. You know what they looked like from that era, and I had to laugh at the very in-universe plausible explanations for the design choices and special effects. Of course, paint thrown on an invisible ship makes it look like a toy. Of course, aliens will choose to look like harmless girls or fuzzy plush creatures to hide from humans and appear helpless.

The team of humans and the alien Ultra observer in his Dan disguise work to keep humans safe from those who would exploit the planet. The team is heroic in different ways, and with Dan as the sixth member, the massive Ultraman form he takes is named Ultraseven by the team before they know the truth. Each chapter shows the team working together to face the threat and then saving the day. I hadn't seen the original series, but this book perfectly captures the style of Senshi series (you've heard of Power Rangers, right?). It was like seeing the series, with the added bonus of knowing how they felt to be part of the action.

Buy Ultraseven at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

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