Finished Kingdom Come by Mark Waid and Alex Ross.

This is a graphic novel that features Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and a host of other heroes and villains. It’s set in a grim future where so-called metahumans have begun fighting each other in the streets — with no regard for human casualties. The big three step in to try to find some way to deal with the metahumans and save the world — with some fairly disastrous results.

This isn’t light, fun comic reading. Kingdom Come deals with some pretty serious issues — religion, freedom, heroes vs. heroes, humans va. metahumans, friend vs. friend.

Most of the focus is on Superman, who went into retirement several years ago. I have to say I am not a huge Superman fan. He’s just too good and too earnest to be that interesting (at least to me). I’m much fonder of characters like Batman who are just, well, more human. (Plus, Batman had some really great lines in this book).

Still, I enjoyed this one. Anybody who thinks comics can’t tackle deep issues in a thoughtful manner should read Kingdom Come. Thumbs up.

Up next: Probably something free I get at the RWA conference.

Finished The Devil in the Junior League by Linda Francis Lee.

Frede (pronounced Freddie) Ward is a member of the ultra-exclusive Junior League of Willow Creek, Texas. Everything about her life is fabulous — until her husband Gordon steals her money, divorces her, and runs off with another woman. Frede’s solution? To get “no class” lawyer Howard Grout to track down Gordon. There’s only one catch — Howard wants Frede to get his less-than-sophisticated wife, Nikki, into the Junior League. While Frede tries to whip Nikki into JL shape, she (rather predictably) learns some lessons about herself.

I have to say that I didn’t like Frede that much. Since the novel is written in first person, that was a major problem. All Frede cares about is being a perfect lady and adhering to the lessons her mother taught her — even though she doesn’t seem to enjoy doing it. At the beginning, she comes off as lifeless and boring as the understated beige clothes she favors.

Take, for example, when she finds out that Gordon is cheating on her. Frede packs up his clothes and tells him to get out in a rather calm manner. It just didn’t ring true for me. This book is set in Texas. I expected a shotgun to come into play somewhere in this scene. Woman scorned, and all that.

Also, Frede finds out near the end that Gordon cheated on her with just about everybody in town. How blind do you have to be not to know your husband has slept with every other woman in the Junior League? I would think somebody would tell you. That seemed a little far-fetched and unrealistic to me, as did what Gordon was planning to do with Frede’s money.

Still, things pick up nicely in the last 100 pages, and it was fun seeing Gordon finally get what he deserves. But overall, I can’t give this one a ringing endorsement.

So, thumbs down.

PS I believe I read somewhere that Jennifer Garner was considering doing a movie based on the book. If she does, it might be one of the rare cases where the movie is actually better than the book.

Up next: Kingdom Come by Mark Waid and Alex Ross.