H. L. Burke’s third book in her Superhero Rehabilitation series is Reborn. In this sequence of books, superheroes (called sables) fight supervillains as expected, but the novel treats its heroic characters as adults in adult situations. The sables work for a larger organization called DOSA, which sponsors a program to rehabilitate supervillains into superheroes. Indeed, Reborn has plenty of action, but a healthy dose of drama as well.
In this novel, a trio of supervillains are attacking various DOSA facilities. One has a mind power that can put people to sleep. This particular power was exclusively exhibited by a sable who died a few years back. Is this person truly dead? And if he isn’t, what does this mean to one of our main characters, Prism, who knew him well?
Reborn has realistic, morally gray characters. Even the characters who should be squeaky clean make some dubious ethical choices. A few heroes earlier in this series turn out to do some terrible things in the course of this adventure. To me, this elevates the novel higher than a typical comic book or a graphic novel. A graphic novel still has so many panes to fit in, and when it tries for morally gray, I’ve found it shortchanges the depth. This book has the breathing space to do it right.
A minor spoiler is Prism is pregnant at the beginning of this book, and it makes for an enjoyable read to see her conflicted between being a nurturing mother and a superhero. I think the book handles this better than The Fantastic Four: Next Steps movie. Also, Reborn includes a new character, Wildfyre. His subplot is especially welcome. I enjoyed his inner struggle and thought it was resolved well.
Reborn does fall back on a superhero trope that I can’t reveal as it’s a major spoiler. Unfortunately for the novel, it’s one of my pet peeves. It lessens a particular outcome from book one. Though, the trope raises questions of an afterlife. This topic could have been easy to ignore, but the book explores what happens to people after they die.
All in all, Reborn is an entertaining novel. The narrative has some important ramifications for the future, and it deals with marital openness, parenthood, and the afterlife in significant ways. If you’re looking for a solid superhero series, you’ll “marvel” at H. L. Burke’s Rehabilitation series.