ideate if your older blood brother was a superhero . sound cool , right-hand ? But not if said old comrade was a full dork , who had no notion that with gravid baron comes great elan . ascertain out an exclusive selection from the new bookMy Brother is a Superheroby David Solomons !
Here ’s the prescribed precis for My Brother is a Superhero , come out on July 21 :
Luke Parker was just your average risible book rooter until his deadening , teacher ’s pet , helps - old - madam - across - the - street buddy Zack got plow into a superhero . Luke ca n’t believe the unfairness of it all — he ’s the one with the encyclopaedic knowledge of everything from Ant - Man to Wolverine ! At least he can help Zack — aka Star Guy — with all the crucial parts of becoming a superhero , like using his newfound powers and deciding whether or not to wear a mantle .
But when Star Guy get into super - size trouble , it ’s up to Luke — and his intrepid neighbor , Lara — to rescue his giving chum and , with a small luck , help him save the populace .
And here ’s an exclusive extract from the starting line of the book :
Chapter 1: The [Not] chosen one
My buddy is a superhero , and I could have been one too , except that I want to go pee .
My name is Luke Parker . I ’m eleven long time quondam , and I subsist in a mild - mannered part of the city with my ma , pop , and big brother , Zack . He was n’t always a superhero , but with a name like Zack you ’ve got to wonder if my parents had a hunch that one Clarence Day he ’d end up wearing a mask and cape and saving orphans from burning buildings . I mean , come on ! It ’s not a name ; it ’s a profound force . It ’s what you get in a comic when a superhero punches a supervillain . Pow ! Blam ! Zack !
It seems to me that in living you are front with clear - dilute moments when things could go one way or another . Vanilla or chocolate . Smooth or crunchy . spend the water balloon on Dad ’s head or view as your fire . It ’s up to you which choice to make , and sometimes all it takes to modify the way your whole life turns out are four niggling words .
“ I require to pee . ”
It was the fateful evening . Zack and I had been in our tree diagram house for about an 60 minutes , and I was burst . I was read an onetime take of Teen Titans by flashlight , Zack was doing his math prep . He ’s always been a routine of a teacher ’s favourite . Before he became Star Guy , at school day he was star son .
“ Then go , ” he say , work out another quadratic equation with a flick of his pencil . “ I ’m not hold back you . ”
The truth was I did n’t require to go down the rope ravel in the dark . It had been difficult enough climbing up it in the first post . It ’s not that I ’m out of flesh or anything , but put it like this : you wo n’t ever see me on an Olympic podium . I support from hay fever and have funny - regulate feet that mean I have to wear these thing in my shoes called “ orthotics . ” When Mom first say me I needed them , I was activated . I think they sounded like supersoldier office armour , but when they lastly arrived they wrench out to be bendy , base - shaped livelihood and not a cybernetic exoskeleton suit . That was a unsatisfying Thursday .
I flow my head out of the tree house threshold . “ possibly I could just pee-pee from here ? ”
“ Out ! Get out of here , you disgusting tyke ! ”
Zack is only three year honest-to-god than me , but when I ’ve done something to get to him he calls me a child . Of all the thing I ca n’t stand about my big comrade , being call a child is number forty - seven . Not that I have a list .
OK . I do have a listing .
Even before he became a superhero , the list was up to sixty - three . Now it ’s almost at a hundred . He is very irritating .
I climbed down the rope ravel and went into the theatre .
I peed .
When I returned to the tree house a few proceedings by and by , Zack was sit down there silently in the dark . I make out something was up because he ’d check doing his homework . I grab my torch and leveled the balance beam in his grimace . He did n’t even blink .
“ Zack , are you all correct ? ”
He nod .
“ Are you sure ? You count . . . unlike . ”
He nod again , very slowly , like he was ferment out some complicated thought in his head . Then he said in a croaky phonation , “ I think . . . something awe-inspiring just happened to me . Luke , I ’ve changed . ”
Now , this did n’t come as a swell surprisal . About six months before , Dad had take me aside for what he call a man - to - homo Old World chat . We sit around in his shed — I think that ’s because it ’s the most manly room we have — and Dad explained that from now on I might notice some changes in my big brother .
“ Zack ’s embarking on a majuscule journey , ” said Dad .
“ capital ! When ’s he go forth ? Can I have his room ? ”
“ Not that kind of journeying , ” said Dad with a aweary sigh . “ He ’s going through something call puberty , ” he went on . “ His voice will be different , for example . ”
“ Ooh , will he vocalize like a Dalek ? ”
“ No , not like a Dalek . ”
“ Bummer . ”
“ He will become hairier . ”
“ Ooh , like a werewolf ? ! ”
“ No , not like a werewolf . ”
This pubescence deal did n’t seem up to much . There was other hooey , to do with privacy and girls , but to be honest , after the letdown about the Dalek and the loup-garou I stopped taking it in .
So , when Zack told me in the tree household that something had changed , I cognize exactly what to say . I pursed my back talk and give a serious nod like I ’d seen the doctor do when he told me I had streptococcus throat . “ I ’m afraid that you have caught puberty . ”
He ignored me and stare at his hands , turning them over and over . “ I think I have superpowers . ”
Chapter 2: Zorbon
At first , I was sure Zack had gone totally bonkers — too much homework will do terrible thing to a male child ’s mind . But then I grew suspicious . He knew how much I care comic leger and was constantly shit merriment of me for what he call my infantile obsession . I smelled an lying in wait .
“ Superpowers ? ” I folded my blazon and sneered . “ What , so now you could fly and film lightning from your fingertips ? ”
A curious expression spread out across his human face . “ I inquire , ” he ponder , stick out one hand and flaring his fingers at me like some cheap magician . Lightning did not shoot from his fingertip . But I was too stunned to notice , since something every bit remarkable was pass off .
My flashlight fly out of my grasp , spin through the air , and landed in Zack ’s outstretched palm with a smacking . His finger closed around it , and he grinned .
Im - poss - ible !
But Zack had done it . He had made the torch move just by thinking about it and doing a crippled hand gesture . Somehow it was true . My brother had an literal superpower !
What he ’d done was call psychokinesis , to give it its prescribed title . Lots of superheroes have this power in comics , but this was the first time I ’d see it in substantial life . I hated to admit it , but it was cool . Supercool . Not that I was extend to distinguish Zack that .
“ No lightning bolts , then , ” I say , sham to be let down .
“ What ? ! ” He looked at me like I was stupid . “ Did you see that ? Did you see what I did ? ”
I could n’t keep up the pretense — I was impressed . But my awe quickly gave way to something else . I was as green as the Hulk ; more envious even than last Christmas when my parent gave Zack an iPhone , and I got shoes .
“ It ’s not fair ! How come you get superpowers ? You do n’t even read comedian . ” I mouth off for a few more minutes — when I get blend I have been known to ferment over-embellished — and then , lastly exhausted , I flopped down on the base and felt my face crumple into a sulk . Although I was seething with enviousness I had to sleep together . “ How did it encounter ? ”
Zack star past me , his eye fixate on some bleary spot on the wall , and began to describe the incredible — and unbelievably late — event .
“ Just after you exit I hear this remote rumbling noise , and so I look out of the tree house . There were lights in the sky , and I thought it might be a meteor exhibitor . And then I realized it was guide this way — fast . The sky was filled with century of beam white vertical line . But just as they were about to dispatch , they came to a sudden stop . Then I saw that it was no meteor shower . . . ”
He intermit and drew a farsighted breath before saying in a whisper , “ It was a transdimensional space vehicle . ”
I gasped . Up until then the most exciting tarradiddle Zack had ever differentiate me involved a high-risk haircut and a Chihuahua . And I ’m not convinced he was telling the truth about the Chihuahua .
“ It was a great blue oval hanging in slight atmosphere , right out of doors there . ” He extended a trembling finger and pointed . “ As I view , a door in the side of the foxiness slid open with a speech sound like bloop - whoosh , and a luminous figure emerge on a shaft of lighter . He outwear a shiny majestic wooing , a cape with a high amber collar , and gold boots . On his chest of drawers were three gilded stars that pulsed like heartbeats . He had a covered stadium - shape oral sex , which was wholly bald-headed , and a wispy beard that he stroke when he speak . He gave me a three - fingered salute and introduced himself as Zorbon the Decider , an interdimensional traveler and representative of the High Council of Frodax Wonthreen Rrr’n’fargh . Everything he say sound like he was talking in all capitals . Zorbon explained that he came from another universe that exists in analogue to ours . It ’s almost exactly the same as our universe , he tell , except there the color green and red are reverse , and poriferan cake tastes different . ” Zack await thoughtful . “ Not entirely unlike , just a little different . ”
I could order by his daydreamy face that Zack find this boring fact particularly fascinating and there was a significant risk that he ’d keep talking about poriferan cake .
“ Never mind about the dazed cake ! ” I said . “ Get to the superpowers ! ”
Zack shook himself out of his spell . “ Oh , yeah . Well , Zorbon said that I ’d been chosen by the High Council for a foreign mission of farthermost grandness to both our universes . A mission so vital that were I to neglect , the consequences would be cataclysmic for trillions of existence . ”
“ Two universes ? You have to save two universes ? ” Typical . My brother was such an overachiever . “ But why you ? ” I yaup .
Zack star thoughtfully out of the door . “ Apparently this tree diagram house is the conjunction between the two universes . ”
This was incredible . thinker - blowing . Our tree house , a portal between two worlds . On the other script . . . “ So ? ”
Zack shrug . “ I guess I was the first person Zorbon met when he came through . ”
I was speechless . My mouth go , but no words come out , just a sound like air lam from a balloon . That ’s not how you prefer a rescuer of human beings . There has to at least be a vaticination written in an ancient book . This was like give the Sword of Ultimate Power to a goldfish .
“ To see to it my winner , ” Zack continued , “ Zorbon said he was authorized to bestow upon me six gifts — power , if you like — to assist me in my cause . Then he raised his thenar , said something in this really weird foreign linguistic process — ”
What , as fight down to a really normal alien language ? I thought it but did n’t say anything .
“ There was this ostentation of ruddy luminosity — or maybe that should be immature light , ” Zack went on . “ I felt a surge of energy through my whole body . Every atom of my being was on fire . When it finally break off , Zorbon defer and state , ‘ IT IS DONE . ’ I ask him what was done . What powers had he contribute ? What was my mission ? He aver , ‘ I MUST NOT SAY . FOR IF I DO I run a risk alter THAT WHICH IS TO BE . AND AS ANYONE WHO understand THESE KINDS OF spot WILL TELL YOU , THAT WOULD BE A VERY BAD THING . ALL WILL BECOME CLEAR . IN TIME . ’ Then he pay me this enigmatic smiling and leave . But just before the door of his craft slide shut , he sound out there was one thing he could narrate me . This really shuddery look came over him , and he said , ‘ NEMESIS IS occur . ’ And then he was gone . Bloop - whoosh ! ”
I stood there with my mouthpiece astray receptive . So much to make sense of . So many questions . However , one persuasion push its agency to the front of the bloodline . “ But I was only gone five minute ! ” The most important five minute in the history of the world , and I ’d missed it because I demand to pee .
“ I reckon if I ’d been here , Zardoz the Decoder would have prefer me , ” I grumped .
“ His name was Zorbon the Decider . And you were n’t here . ” Zack shrugged . “ Should have view as it in , huh ? ”
It was so unfair ! I was way beyond act like a normal , sensible soul . “ Get him back . Tell Bourbon the Diskdriver he made a mistake and he has to come back and give me superpowers too . ”
“ Zorbon the Decider , ” corrected Zack once more . “ And he decided I was the one . Not you . ”
“ I do n’t trust you . We ca n’t have intercourse for sure unless you call him . ”
“ Call him ? Oh , yeah , because he leave his phone number . Uh , what ’s the area code for the parallel universe again ? ”
I detected a note of sarcasm in the question . Zack was tease me , which was a heady matter to do give that at that mo I was more furious than I ’d ever been in my total life .
“ What are you doing now ? ” he postulate .
I stalk around the tree diagram house , tap the walls every few groundwork . “ search for the portal to the other universe . ” I pressed one spike to the back wall . “ I think I can hear it . ”
“ Luke . ”
“ Shh ! ” I hissed . I could unquestionably make out a sound . “ Yes . Something ’s get along through . Sounds like scratching . Could be interdimensional mice . ”
“ Uh , Luke . . . ”
I spin around . The scratching strait was coming from Zack . He claw at his breast through his shirt . As usual , he was still fag his shoal uniform because he sound out it put him in the right-hand frame of creative thinker for homework . ( I know . And I have to live with him . ) Something weird was going on underneath . I shaft up my brass and pointed . “ What ’s that ? ”
A soft glow pulse beneath the material like a night - sparkle . He popped the clitoris , gripped each half of his shirt , and rive it asunder to discover his spare pectus beneath . I swear I could hear trumpets .
Despite what Dad had said , there was no fuzz , but there was something else . ink across his chest were three glow lead .
“ Zorbon had stars just like these , ” say Zack . “ I marvel what they intend . ” He ran a finger over them .
“ I ’ll tell you exactly what they mean . They mean you ’ve got a tattoo . ” I judder my psyche . “ mammy ’s move to kill you . ”
Zack ignored me . He straighten , drawing himself up to his full five feet and three in , and a serene , thoughtful facial expression come over his face . “ I know what the champion mean , ” he breathed . “ I. Am . Starman ! ”
I raised a digit of objection .
“ What ? ” he snapped .
“ Uh , sorry , but there ’s already a Starman . You ’ll probably get sued . ”
Zack ease up a huff of irritation . “ Fine . Whatever . ” He draw himself up again . “ I. Am . Star Boy ! ”
He swiveled his eyes toward me , just to make certain . I gave a little shake of my head .
He threw up his hands in thwarting . “ There ’s a Star Boy , too ? ”
“ I ’ve state you a million prison term , you should translate more comics . ” I tapped my impertinence thoughtfully . nominate a superhero was harder than it attend .
“ How about Star Guy ? ” enounce Zack .
“ Star Guy ? ”
He rolled the name around his sassing a few times , trying it on for size . He said it in his own voice and then in a deep vocalisation , and then he paused . “ Star Guy or Starguy ? ”
He was serious .
“ You ca n’t call yourself Star Guy ! ” I objected .
“ Why not ? ”
“ Because there is n’t a unmarried superhero in history shout out ‘ cat . ’ That ’s why not . ”
He shrug . “ So I ’ll be the first . ” He establish his hands on his hips . “ I. Am . Star Guy ! ” Then he angled his head thoughtfully . “ Or perhaps Starguy . I. Have n’t . Decided . Yet . ”
And that ’s how it pass off . My pal is superpowered , and I . . .
. . . I am powerless .
Chapter 3: Star Guy
The fate of two universe lay in my brother ’s manus . In my hands was a cauliflower .
It was the day after Zack became Star Guy — he’d rejected Starguy , figuring if at some dot he needed an insignia to put on a shirt , “ S ” was already taken . We were in the kitchen helping with dinner party .
“ Zack , darling , flake off the white potato vine . ” Mom reach him a large suitcase .
I caught his middle and grinned . Even superheroes have to skin potatoes .
“ Of naturally . ” He beamed . “ It ’d be my joy . ”
He apply me a sly look and shuffled off to a recession of the kitchen . He was up to something . I crept up behind him . His eyes were narrowed at the white potato vine , one hand extended toward them . The Irish potato skins were falling off in staring , unbroken spirals . They were peeling themselves .
I was appalled . “ You ca n’t do that , ” I sibilate .
“ First rule of being a superhero : you ca n’t go around using your power for vegetable preparation . ”
He screwed up his face . “ I doubt that ’s the first formula . Or any formula . ”
“ No , well , maybe not , but with great magnate come great responsibility . Gordon the Dishwasher — ”
“ Zorbon the Decider . ” Zack sighed .
For some intellect I had a mental pulley block about the name . I think it was because I was massively miffed about what he ’d done and could n’t bring myself to call up his stupid alien extradimensional name .
“ Yes , Whatshisname the Whatever . He did n’t give you telekinetic ability so you could avail in the kitchen . ”
Zack see sheeplike . “ You ’re right . ”
“ Of of course I ’m correct . rely me , you do n’t want to abuse your powers . It ’s a slippery slope from superhero to supervillain . Sure , it set forth innocently enough , pare potatoes with telekinesis , but the next matter you jazz you ’re holed up in a secret volcano base with an army of malefic minions and plans for world domination . ”
Just then Mom called across the kitchen . “ What are you two plotting , hmm ? ”
“ Nothing , ” we said at the same time .
Of course we could n’t tell her what had happen to Zack . The second principle of being a superhero is that you have to keep it a secret . If the villains discover out your real identity , then they lure you into a trap by nobble your have it off one . It ’s moderately canonic stuff and nonsense , and easily avoidable if you take simple precautions .
Mom and Dad generate each other these really lame smiles , and then Dad enunciate , “ Boys , it ’s really nice to see you two getting along . ”
It was true . Not that it was nice , but that Zack and I had n’t been stupefy along for some metre . We used to be best friend when we were younger , but these days we mostly pass by yelling , slamming doors , and giving each other dead arms . In fact , we ’d in all likelihood talked more since last night than we had in the past three calendar month . I caught him looking at me with this sad expression , like he missed the sure-enough day .
“ What are you looking at , Brassica rapa mind ? ” I said .
Oh , come in on . I had to do something . The site was in real danger of turning slushy .
gratefully , Zack respond by punching me in the arm . It did n’t break or fall off , which meant that superstrength was n’t one of his six powers . Interesting . I picked a point on his chest , drew back my fist , and fuddle a punch of my own . From this scope I could n’t miss . And I did n’t .
I bounced .
When my clenched fist get within a few inches of his body , I felt it hit something springy and invisible .
“ A force field ! You ’ve pose a freaking force field ! ” I whisper in amazement .
Before I could say anything else , Dad pull us aside , yield us a public lecture on appropriate behavior , and sent us out of the kitchen to cool down down .
Fifteen minutes later dinner was quick . All through the repast I watch Zack like a teacher in an exam room , hold back for him to push his cauliflower across his dental plate with his head or snap a pea plant off his force field . Or . . . what else ? Zebedee the Doolally had give him six powers that he needed for his commission . psychokinesis and a force field were two ; what were the other four ? And what about the mission ? All we knew was that “ NEMESIS IS amount . ”
After dinner , when I was think to be doing my prep on the computer , I decided to poke around on the cyberspace and see what I could find out about Nemesis . There was a lot of information . I sifted through pages and pages of the stuff before reaching my determination .
In Greek mythology , Nemesis was , and I cite , “ a remorseless feel of divine vengeance . ” I did n’t sympathize all of it , but this Nemesis guy sounded pretty bad to me . Then it hit me like a thunderbolt : Nemesis had to be the name of a supervillain , and Zack had been given world power to defeat him .
I was about to navigate away from the page when I noticed something . I had understand the entry too rapidly . He was n’t a “ he ” at all . Nemesis was a girl ! Well , that made thoroughgoing sensation to me .
Star Guy ’s archenemy was a girl .
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