I love superheroes, but I got tired of seeing the same DC and Marvel characters. There’s a whole world of original, creative superhero fiction out there that doesn’t rely on legacy characters or endless reboots.
This list is of novels (not comics) that explore superpowers, secret identities, villains, vigilantes, and everything in between—without being tied to any major cinematic universe.
“Steelheart” by Brandon Sanderson (Reckoners Trilogy)
- Superpowered beings called Epics gain powers after a mysterious event—but most become tyrants.
- Action-packed, dystopian, YA.
“Vicious” by V.E. Schwab (Villains Series)
- Two college students discover how to develop powers through near-death experiences—then become enemies.
- Darker, more philosophical take on superheroes.
“Soon I Will Be Invincible” by Austin Grossman
- A rotating POV between a supervillain and a new superhero joining a Justice League-style team.
- The Boys but with more charm and less gore.
“The Rook” by Daniel O’Malley
- A woman wakes up with no memory but discovers she’s part of a secret British agency dealing with supernatural threats.
- Superpowers + spy thriller + mystery.
“Renegades” by Marissa Meyer
- Superpowered prodigies govern the world after overthrowing villains—but what if the villains had a point?
- YA, romantic subplots, strong world-building.
“Worm” (Web Serial by John C. ‘Wildbow’ McCrae)
- A teenage girl with bug-controlling powers becomes a vigilante in a morally complex world.
- Free web serial (also available in print).
“Ex-Heroes” by Peter Clines
- Superheroes vs zombies in a post-apocalyptic LA.
- Combines zombie horror with superhero tropes.
“Super Powereds” by Drew Hayes
- College students with unstable powers are part of a secret program to become licensed heroes.
Notable other works to mention:
- “Soon I Will Be Invincible” – for a literary feel.
- “Vicious” – for a dark, moral exploration.
- “The Rook” – for supernatural X-Men meets bureaucracy.
“Hero” by Perry Moore
- A closeted gay teen joins a superhero league while navigating personal identity and superpowers.
- Coming-of-age, heartfelt, inclusive
“Prepare to Die!” by Paul Tobin
- A retired supervillain reflects on his life after being given two weeks to live by his nemesis.
- Regret, legacy, identity.
“No Good Deed” by Kara Connolly
- A teen archer (think modern Robin Hood) is flung into a version of medieval England to stop injustice—now with arrows and attitude.
“The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O.” by Neal Stephenson & Nicole Galland
- While not a classic superhero novel, it features secret organizations, time travel, and people with incredible abilities—sort of X-Men meets Time Bandits.
“Dreadnought” by April Daniels (Nemesis Series)
- A transgender teen inherits the powers of the world’s greatest superhero—and must deal with both villains and coming out.
- YA, inclusive, with a powerful emotional arc.
“Confessions of a D-List Supervillain” by Jim Bernheimer
- A low-tier supervillain gets stuck saving the day. Not by choice.
- Lighthearted, sarcastic, underdog fun.
“Please Don’t Tell My Parents I’m a Supervillain” by Richard Roberts
- A middle school genius accidentally becomes a supervillain—while her parents are famous heroes.
- YA/MG, comedic, but with a great world and unique power systems.
“Nobody Gets the Girl” by James Maxey
- A man wakes up in a world where he was never born—yet still has powers. Invisible to all, he becomes an unlikely hero.
- Classic sci-fi meets superhero noir.
“Wearing the Cape” by Marion G. Harmon
- In a world where the “Event” caused thousands to gain powers, a teenage girl survives a terror attack and becomes a superhero.
- Optimistic, thoughtful, ensemble cast
“Velveteen vs. The Junior Super Patriots” by Seanan McGuire
- A former child superhero fights back against the Disney-like corporation that exploited her.
- Satirical, feminist, and sharp-witted.
“The Power” by Naomi Alderman
- Teenage girls worldwide develop the power to emit electricity—shifting the global power balance.
- Less superhero tropes, more speculative social commentary.
Supervillain POV Books
Vicious by V.E. Schwab (Villains series)
- Both Victor Vale and Eli Ever — college friends turned enemies, both essentially supervillains depending on your moral lens.
- They both think they’re the hero. It’s beautifully ambiguous.
Prepare to Die! by Paul Tobin
- A washed-up supervillain named Reaver given two weeks to live.
- Brutal, thoughtful, funny, sad. Deconstructs the whole villain/hero myth.
Confessions of a D-List Supervillain by Jim Bernheimer
- Mechani-Cal, a sarcastic low-tier villain who accidentally becomes Earth’s last hope.
- Light, fast-paced, humorous.
Please Don’t Tell My Parents I’m a Supervillain by Richard Roberts
- Middle-school genius Penelope accidentally goes full villain despite her superhero parents.
- Whimsical, clever, YA with serious undertones.
Soon I Will Be Invincible by Austin Grossman
- Split between Doctor Impossible (a genius evil mastermind) and Fatale (a cyborg superhero).
- Literary, tongue-in-cheek, melancholic.
Velveteen vs. the Junior Super Patriots by Seanan McGuire
- A former child hero who becomes a rogue agent (basically a corporate-designated villain).
- Feminist, sharp, and biting satire of hero branding and abuse.
The Supervillainy Saga by C.T. Phipps
- Gary Karkofsky, aka Merciless: The Supervillain Without Mercy™… sort of.
- Meta, hilarious, references everything from nerd culture.
Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots
- A data analyst working for villains — until she’s badly injured by a “hero” and goes full vengeance.
- Smart, feminist, satirical.
Villains Rule by M.K. Gibson
- Jackson Blackwell, the “Shadow Master” — a villain in a multiverse where genre tropes are real.
- Satirical, action-packed, genre-savvy
Empire State by Adam Christopher
- Noir-style mystery featuring doppelgängers, alternate realities, and superhumans — including morally compromised ones.
- More cerebral, but villain POV plays a big part.
Superheroes Comics
Invincible by Robert Kirkman
* Mark Grayson is a teen who inherits powers from his alien superhero dad… who may not be so heroi
- A brutally honest, coming-of-age superhero story with huge stakes, blood, betrayal, and personal growth.
unOrdinary by uru-chan
* Webtoon
* John, a student in a society where power = status, hides his dangerous abilities to live peacefully—until he’s pushed too far.
Eleceed by Son Jeho & ZHENA
* Webtoon
* Jiwoo is a kindhearted teen with super speed who gets swept into the secret world of Awakened combat—with a sassy mentor cat.
The Strange Tales of Oscar Zahn by Tri Vuong
* Webtoon
*Oscar Zahn, a skull-faced paranormal investigator, uses empathy and wit to solve strange cases.
Cape of Spirits by Kristina Nguyen
* Webtoon
* Sam, a delivery boy, discovers he has a mysterious power and is pulled into a revolution against a powerful regime
The Red King by Heylenne
* Webtoon
- Caden is forced into a deadly game of power, where “Kings” with superhuman abilities battle for dominance
Supervillains Comic
unOrdinary by uru-chan
* Webtoon
- John’s descent from peaceful student to terrifying enforcer plays like a supervillain origin arc.
Your Throne by SAM
* Webtoon
* Medea Solon was set to be queen—until she was betrayed. Now she’ll outsmart, manipulate, and ruin anyone in her way.
Villain With a Crush by DDOGAK
* Webtoon
* Hades, a top-tier villain, is socially clueless and falls for the one person who’s supposed to stop him.
The Way to Protect the Female Lead’s Older Brother by Kin
* Webtoon
* Roxana is a poison-wielding villainess trying to survive her murderous family and control her twisted fate.
Your Evil Past Lives by S-Class Villain
* Webtoon
* Siwon is a former villain with fragmented memories of their evil past lives—and powers that just won’t stay buried.