The Darker Mask

The Darker Mask: Heroes from the Shadows, delivers what it promises: "an eclectic mix...,exploring worlds gritty, visceral and fantastic." It is also a very R-rated world, with expletives, blood, violence, and drug use. That part is almost a shame, as it reduces the audience for some well-crafted stories. Would the stories lose their grit or their message if "watered-down" to a PG level? I don't think so, but perhaps it is best that the younger set still cling to a less-murky, rose-shaded world of super heroes where justice does win, and the cavalry comes in before the fight is over. The stories are as varied as the authors in this collection - some of the standouts include THE PICKET by Wlater Mosley, THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN by Alexandra Sokoloff, SWITCHBACK by Ann Nocenti and my personal favorite IN VINO, VERITAS by Peter Spiegelman. While the stories all have mature themes, the style and characters range from comical to disturbing. As in real life, the price of victory is sometimes dear, and who the real hero is may depend on the viewpoint presented. You may not even root for the lead character in some of these stories, but they will hold your interest.

In a darker, more urban and multi-cultural superhero collection than the "Wild Cards" series, "The Darker Mask" is a collection of stories, by some talented writers that will entertain, and possibly (as is often now a days) make the jump from short story to comic or movie. There are both comic writers--Ann Nocenti "(Daredevil")--and science fiction authors--Stephen Barnes--and everything in between, delivering 18 original stories, all of the above average, and all providing a new, updated look at the super-hero concept outside that of the comic book. I suppose it is just inertia that keeps superheroes in comic form, with either comic fans unwilling to read superhero stories in prose form, or speculative fiction fans unwilling to read books about superheroes. But, it is collections like this that create the "what if" in your head. What if the superhero concept had succeeded in the pulp novel environment, and not in the comic one? What would the mystery/thriller book section of the store look like?

The expression 'what you see is what get', may not hold credence if you delve into the mystery behind the mind, or more specifically if you are given the ability to see behind the mask that conveniently camouflages each person. THE DARKER MASK makes a magnanimous attempt to take readers beyond the physical and submerge them in a series of images, actions and pseudo emotions. The cast of contributors is as varied as the stories gracing the pages. They are a virtual who's who in the zone of scientific and fantasy phenomenon. The eighteen stories they present, have diverse yet similar themes. THE DARKER COLLECTION is referenced to works by earlier Sci-Fi authors like Byron Preiss and Michael Chabon. This collection of original prose stories celebrates superhuman beings that fight to save the world(s). The stories have a certain uniqueness, which is enhanced by characters that bring a broader range to what constitutes a hero. These heroes are not predominantly white and male, as in previous tributes. They are more urbanized, and will give readers new legends and new myths, as it equips everyday people with the power and perception to become much more than ordinary. Beings that will help foster a new melting pot, in other dimensions. THE DARKER MASK: Heroes From The Shadows offers an eclectic mix of bestselling fiction writers and artists: Walter Mosley, L. A. Banks, Naomi Hirahara, Lorenzo Carcaterra, Tananarive Due and Stephen Barnes, Mike Gonzales, Gar Anthony Haywood, Ann Nocenti, Jerry Rodriguez, Reed Farrell Coleman, Doselle Young, Mat Johnson, Peter Spiegelman, Alexandra Sokoloff, Christopher Chambers, Gary Phillips, Victor LaValle, and Wayne Wilson, who commandeer some of the worlds most captivating and most abstract fantasies. The stories are enveloping and provoking; they take readers beyond predictable. Prepare to take a ride that will feel like REM sleep. Reviewed by aNN of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

Pretty cool and I liked the mix of writers and artists. I hope Phillips and Chambers do this again and use to launch a new genre to compliment graphic novels. A few of these stories and "heroes" were better than the rest, but none sucked. It sounds obvious but there's too much sucking out there now.

This eighteen tale collection focuses on both the superpowers and personal issues confronting superheroes in their everyday lives. The tales are well written and fun to read as family troubles, economic woes, and ethics become front and center as the mask to hide one's secret identity so one can have a life is treated much darker than most comic books do. Especially strong are L.A. Banks' "Dream Knights" that brings a different reality to Manhattan; "Switchback," by Ann Nocenti starring teenager Mimi learning to restrain her mental powers that she desperately wants to use to manipulate her dysfunctional family members to behave like the Nelsons; Walter Mosley's "The Picket" who takes his alterego name from his mom. Perhaps the most insightful is "Vino, Veritas" by Peter Spiegelman in which superheroes face the truth of their decision processes and the outcome. With drawings enhancing the angst of the superheroes (one look at Gar Anthony Haywood's "Heatseeker" explains why a picture is worth a thousand words as no one will want to mess with that man), this is a strong anthology with no clinkers as all the contributors provide interesting darker looks at those behind the masks struggles with questions of ethics. Harriet Klausner