The Rise of Renegade X

Campbell's solid debut adds a few twists to the superhero subgenre. In a world in which heroes and villains are not only genetically disposed toward their fates, but also develop a "V" or "H" on their thumbs to show what side they're on, 16-year-old Damien discovers that he has an "X." It turns out that his villainous mother, the Mistress of Mayhem, had a one-night stand with the heroic Crimson Flash, leaving Damien torn between both parents' expectations. Further complicating things are his new stepfamily (the Crimson Flash's "superhero wife and three 100 percent superhero kids"), a cute sidekick, Damien's shape-changing ex-girlfriend, and a plot to take over the city via mind control. Damien's voice conveys both sarcasm and uncertainty perfectly—he's a believable teenager in a ludicrous world. Campbell doesn't shy away from hurting her characters, emotionally and physically, but she also makes their obstacles surmountable. She barely scratches the surface of the implications of predestined heroism and villainy (and doesn't touch on any of the more serious ones, alas), but otherwise it's a witty tale that older teens will appreciate. Ages 14–up. (May)