I agree totally. To quote the wikipedia article,
"Another recurring theme is the place of superheroes in a modern world. While Grossman takes care not to satirise the superhero genre of itself, he uses them to take pot-shots at post-2000 morals and ethics. For example, the conceit that Impossible's actions are caused by a mental illness (Malign Hypercognition Disorder) rather than his own choices reflect on modern notions of personal responsibility"
"Grossman also transfers the structural dynamic of graphic novel character pieces like Watchmen to prose, blending the fantastical notions of superhumans with raw emotional content, the thoughts and feelings of the characters - and the frequently disturbing root causes for their behaviours - given as much time, space and importance as plot dynamics."
A couple of parts of the book made me think of Doug as well, particularly the part about how people are unable to understand what having superpowers is like in the same way they cannot understand your own illness or disabilties, making me think of how the incredible abilities he has are tempered by more intensely frustrating and potentially destructive elements of Doug's powers. Yeah he's a badass superhero. He also never goes a single day without having to strain himself not to inadvertantly hurt or destroy something. I hope that a step does appear in this universe someday, allthough I suppose it'd have to be set either pre or post book to work.
LOVE THIS BOOK
"Another recurring theme is the place of superheroes in a modern world. While Grossman takes care not to satirise the superhero genre of itself, he uses them to take pot-shots at post-2000 morals and ethics. For example, the conceit that Impossible's actions are caused by a mental illness (Malign Hypercognition Disorder) rather than his own choices reflect on modern notions of personal responsibility"
"Grossman also transfers the structural dynamic of graphic novel character pieces like Watchmen to prose, blending the fantastical notions of superhumans with raw emotional content, the thoughts and feelings of the characters - and the frequently disturbing root causes for their behaviours - given as much time, space and importance as plot dynamics."
A couple of parts of the book made me think of Doug as well, particularly the part about how people are unable to understand what having superpowers is like in the same way they cannot understand your own illness or disabilties, making me think of how the incredible abilities he has are tempered by more intensely frustrating and potentially destructive elements of Doug's powers. Yeah he's a badass superhero. He also never goes a single day without having to strain himself not to inadvertantly hurt or destroy something. I hope that a step does appear in this universe someday, allthough I suppose it'd have to be set either pre or post book to work.
LOVE THIS BOOK