This latest installment in a yearly compendium of science fiction and fantasy stories from Canada focuses on superheroes. It involves a lot more than constant battles against Dr. Bad Guy.

A female super-villain breaks out of prison and crashes her family's barbecue, in order to visit her dying grandmother. The rest of the family is not thrilled about her sudden appearance. When a superhero is injured in battle, does he or she go to the local hospital, or to a special superhero hospital? After the public adulation has disappeared, and the government no longer needs their services, what is a superhero to do? Are they forced to fly around the city, carrying a giant "Available" sign, like an airborne taxi?

A woman becomes sidekick to Anthony of Padua, the patron saint of lost things. A native of Prince Edward Island passes up a chance to join an all-Canadian league of superheroes. There is a story about a person who sets herself on fire, and then reincarnates, like a human phoenix. A female friend of Captain Freedom was murdered, chopped to pieces and pinned to a wall as a warning for the Captain. Now she's back from the dead.

Not only is this an excellent bunch of stories, it's also an excellent addition to the superhero universe. There is a lot more to being a superhero than fighting evil. ( )

Some of the stories were more inventive and well-written than others, but the whole book was an interesting look at science fiction written in another part of the world. ( )

I received an ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I must say that it was a very interesting read. I enjoyed the majority of the stories and the ones i didn't enjoy as much were still fun to read. Would recommend.

My impressions of this collection of Canadian Superhero short stories are:
1. In general, the stories and the writing seemed to get better as I got farther into the collection, but few stories seemed to put the whole package together. For example, I was disappointed with the first story, in part, because I liked the concept and the writing style, but felt like there was no real story fleshed out. If you start reading, give it a few stories before passing judgment.

2. In connection with #1, there is quite a variety in this collection. This was also something not completely appreciated until later in the text. For example, the "Crusher and Typhoon" story and the Apollo and Greta" story wouldn't be expected to be found in the same collection as "Nuclear Nikki". I'm not a huge superhero reader, but I found the diversity a welcome feature.

3. I don't know that anyone else will agree, but I especially liked the combination of story and writing in "Lost and Found","Crusher and Typhoon", "Bedtime for Superheroes", and "Friday Nights at the Hemingway". I would also give an honorable mention to "The Island Way", "Bloodhound", "The Jam", and (especially the concept of) "Spirit in The Clay" and "The Rise and Fall of Captain Stupendous". I confess that I was annoyed by "SÜPER" and "A Hole Lotta Trouble".

4. Give it a try. You'll find something you like. ( )

I've been a comic collector for years but never got into novelized comics until George R.R. Martin's Wild Cards shared universe anthologies. I mention this in conjunction with Superhero Universe because both take a swing at creating new super heroes. It isn't an easy task. How do you tell a "new" story without being derivative. The anthology is enjoyable some at the level of Wild Cards and many not hitting that mark. Still all in all I was a good read. The Canadian aspect giving it a little freshness for this Californian reader.