“Wonderboy Serials” author Charles Martin to appear in Norman on Wednesday

Oklahoma author Charles Martin will make a stop in Norman this week to appear at my comic shop, Speeding Bullet Comics, 614 N Porter Ave.  Martin will sign his latest book, “The Wonderboy Serials” Vol. 2, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at the store.

Martin’s previous book, “The Wonderboy Serials” Vol. 1, was Speeding Bullet Comics’ best-selling prose book of 2012.

The “Wonderboy” series examines the real-world implications of an all-powerful superhero from a variety of perspectives.

Martin said in a Nerdage interview last year that he touches on several issues throughout the serialized novel through the lens of a superhero story.

“Security versus liberty is the big one, specifically what sacrifices will society make to feel safe,” Martin said. “Issues of national sovereignty and justice also pop up regularly, but the real meat of the story centers around society’s willingness to allow its celebrities to set the moral compass. When a beloved superhero is sexually aggressive, devalues women, distrusts the gay community as well as non-Western nations, his legion of fans will follow his example.”

- Matt Price