Random Man Review
A Superhero Novel Independently Published by A. R. Maxwell
Random Man by A.R. Maxwell
Seventeen-year-old Randy Regal gets a new superpower every year on his birthday, and he can't control a single one. When he's expelled from The Academy of Super Police, he finds himself vying for redemption at the underfunded Western Academy of Super Police. With his future on the line, and a mysterious villain on his back, Randy must learn to control his powers, make new friends, out-perform his rival (without falling in love with her), and discover who he is in one explosive school year.
GENRE:
Superhero
AVAILABILITY:
Amazon (ebook, paperback)
OPENING THOUGHTS:
Learning to control one superpower is enough to challenge any teen training for the Super Police, but try managing 17. Here lies 17-year-old Randy Regal’s coming-of-age dilemma. Despite his good intentions, Randy can’t seem to make any friends or find a place to fit in. All this begins to change when he has no choice but to turn to a small, rundown school for misfits where rules don’t apply. Making plenty of bad decisions and learning from his mistakes, Randy discovers the secret to making his powers work and stepping into manhood in the most unlikely of ways.
ACTION/ADVENTURE:
Randy’s adventure is riddled with plenty of mayhem and a bit of madness. Many of his attempts to use his powers result in various injuries that adversely affect him and those around him. Due to the nature of the students' powers, some of the injuries may be enough to make you cringe, but the author quickly diverts your attention back to the story. Many of the incidents end up not being as bad as they seem because one or another student or faculty has a superpower that remedies the situation and minimizes the severity of the injuries. Still, readers will find themselves navigating a war zone with brief descriptions of battle wounds, evading chemical explosions in a lab, dodging bullets, and flying through the air in the aftermath of training exercise mishaps. As students wreak havoc across the underfunded school, the author keeps the tone light-hearted, and many of the characters engage in adolescent banter to ease the tension and add humor to otherwise painful situations. The Super Police academies include weapons training, so the use of firearms is prevalent throughout the book.
ROMANCE:
This book features two minor romantic subplots woven into the main narrative. Both couples face challenges in making their relationships work. One couple must mend their relationship after miscommunications and false assumptions separated them prematurely. The other couple engages in a rival-to-friend relationship. The physical aspects of the romance do not go beyond single kisses and holding hands.
RELIGION:
While the main character identifies as a Christian, not much is mentioned in connection to his faith other than his mother reading her Bible. Still, Christian themes of forgiveness, releasing control, and finding purpose in the body of Christ are lightly sprinkled among the action and adventure.
MAGIC:
The characters featured in this story have different superpowers and are called “empowered.” These powers are magical in nature and are used to fight against a mysterious force known as The Blackout Zone. The author doesn’t go into as much detail about this force in this novel but seems to be setting them up as a sinister foe that may play a role in future books.
CONTENT WARNINGS: The author makes minor mentions of child abuse, shooting someone in self defense, mental health/depression. A mind control drug is used by the villains against the protagonists in the later half of the book.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
The antics and events in Random Man are a bit over the top in the way you would expect in a fast-paced comedic romp for mature teens and young adults. The main characters are aged 17 and up, so the violence may be a bit much for younger teens. There are a few scenes that may cause a reader to gasp, but include reassurance from the author that, for the most part, no one was severely harmed in the making of this novel. There is death and tragedy, unfortunate backstories, and evil running free. But the victory comes in the end as this wayward group of teens and twenties learns the value of working together, overcoming the tragedies of their pasts, and striving to make a better future. The book is readable with a conclusive ending but does contain lingering typos, so if you prefer a professionally edited book, this one may not be for you.
*Review Featured in Clean Fiction Magazine Summer 2025 Edition*
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