Aquaman

The King of the Seas! The King of Atlantis! He is Aquaman!




While living on the surface, Arthur Curry was always drawn to the sea. He never fully understood why until his long lost mother returned and told him of his destiny: He was the heir to the throne of Atlantis, an ancient city that supposedly sank deep into the bottom of the ocean. After realizing his powers of water manipulation and telepathy towards sea life, Arthur Curry vowed to become King of Atlantis and protect the city and the oceans during his reign!

For more on the King of Atlantis check out: Aquaman (DVD)/ Justice League: Throne of Atlantis (DVD)

If you're ready to take a plunge, take a look at these recommendations:

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne (book/e-book/audio CD/e-audio)-
 A French oceanographer named Pierre Aronnax sets sail to find a monster that is threatening international shipping. After months of empty searches, Aronnax finally comes across the monster, only to find out that it is a futuristic submarine. Aronnax and his crew are thrown overboard of their ship but come across the captain of the submarine, Captain Nemo. After this incredible encounter, adventure awaits deep within the waters!






Dark Shores by Danielle L. Jensen (book)-
In a world divided by gods and oceans, Teriana is the first mate of a ship where they know all the secrets of the ocean. After she finds out that her friend is arranged to marry someone she doesn't love, Teriana is set on saving her but it will require her to break the biggest rule of all: The East must never meet the West. What does this mean and what will happen?







Given to the Sea by Mindi McGinnis (book):

 Khosa was born to be a sacrifice to the sea in the hopes of preventing a great disaster that previously destroyed a kingdom. Is she fated by destiny or is fate in her own hands?









Images:
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/ComicBook/Aquaman
https://librarypoint.bibliocommons.com/item/show/471384072
https://librarypoint.bibliocommons.com/item/show/819099072
https://librarypoint.bibliocommons.com/item/show/752972072
https://librarypoint.bibliocommons.com/item/show/817324072
https://librarypoint.bibliocommons.com/item/show/719229072

Iron Man

 Iron Man


Tony Stark had it all. He was technological genius who ran a multi-billion dollar company, Stark Industries. He was also known for being a playboy and philanthropist. Originally, his company made military weapons and sold them to the highest bidder. However, while Stark was travelling abroad, he was kidnapped and forced to make weapons for terrorists. It was then that Stark realized his weapons were being used to hurt people. Stark managed to escape by creating his own armor packed with weapons. After he escaped, Stark vowed to never let his company create weapons again. He rededicated his life to create technology to help people. After numerous experimenting with the armor that he used to escape, Tony Stark decided he was going to use the invention for good. It was then he announced to the world that he was Iron Man!

For more on Iron Man, check out:  Iron Man films (DVD)/ Marvel's Avengers films (DVD)/Captain America: Civil War (DVD)/ The Invincible Iron Man: Vol 1, Reboot by Brian Michael Bendis (book)

If you have a mind for invention, take a look at these recommendations:

Hughes: The Private Diaries, Memos, and Letters: The Definitive Biography of the First American Billionaire-
Howard Hughes is truly a man ahead of his time. In fact, he's the very inspiration for Iron Man! One of his biggest accomplishments was in aviation. He is known for creating the largest plane in the world: the Spruce Goose Despite its size, Hughes was able to get it in the air, all for the sake of proving to everyone that he could do it. Read more about the real Tony Stark.





Tesla's Attic by Neil Shusterman (book)-
Fourteen year old Nick and his family move into a Victorian house after their original house burned down. When Nick goes up to his room in the attic, he find a bunch a weird technological junk. Without thinking much of it, he sells it in a garage sale. But things get even weirder when he finds out that his attic is a magnetic vortex and the junk he sold have incredible properties because they were inventions created by acclaimed scientist Nikola Tesla. It is up to Nick and his newfound friends to find the sold items from the garage sale and retrieve them before they fall into the wrong hands!





Mechanica by Betsy Cornwell (book/e-book)-
Nicolette always had a knack for inventions. That is why people tease her by calling her "Mechanica". She doesn't let that name demean her. In fact, she's empowered by it. On her sixteenth birthday, Nicolette discovers a hidden workshop and all of dreams can now finally be a reality. With all the tools and books hidden in this workshop, Nicolette can create to her heart's content!







Images:
https://toywiz.com/marvel-tony-stark-iron-man-5-comic-book-battle-lines-variant/
https://librarypoint.bibliocommons.com/item/show/655698072
https://librarypoint.bibliocommons.com/item/show/727886072
https://librarypoint.bibliocommons.com/item/show/766590072
https://librarypoint.bibliocommons.com/item/show/736454072
https://librarypoint.bibliocommons.com/item/show/766590072
https://www.amazon.com/Hughes-Definitive-Biography-American-Billionaire/dp/1893224643/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1589035233&sr=8-4

Harley Quinn

The famous wild clown, Harley Quinn!



Dr. Harleen Quinzel was a clinical psychiatrist working at Arkham Asylum (a mental institute where a lot of villains go when they get defeated by heroes). Everything changed for her when she met the Joker, who was an inmate at the time. Interested in learning more about Joker's psyche, Harleen set up interview sessions with the Joker. Joker then manipulated her emotions and Harleen slowly fell in love with him. After becoming obsessed with the Joker, Harleen decided to help him breakout of the asylum so they could be together. She put on a harlequin outfit, busted Joker out, and became Harley Quinn!
But that's only half the story. Eventually, Harley saw Joker didn't really love her and saw him for who he really was. She decided to leave him so she could make a name for herself as a villain. She may even have some crazy misadventures along the way.

For more on Harley Quinn, take a look at

Batman and Harley Quinn by Ty Templeton and Rick Burchett/ Batman: Mad Love and Other Stories by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm (and others)

For this wild card of a clown, take a look at these recommendations:

Poison by Bridget Zinn (book)-
Sixteen year old Kyra is a potion master. She can create magical brews that can help anyone within the kingdom. When she finds out the kingdom is in danger, she believes the only way to save it is to poison the future ruler. Her assassination attempt failed. Now on the run as a fugitive, she must get a second chance at murder with the help of a charming adventurer and a cute pig.






Graceling by Kristin Cashore (book/e-book/audio CD)-
Katsa was born a graceling, beings born with a remarkable talent. Her graced skill is the ability to kill. She was able to kill someone when she was young. Because of this gift, her uncle, the king, made Katsa her personal thug. However, she may have found out that there is more to her Grace than what she originally thought. What does this mean for her and the kingdom?







Pirates! by Celia Rees (book/e-audio)-
Nancy Kington is sent to live in her family's plantation in Jamaica after her father dies. After she sees how the slaves are treated on the field and learns her brother wanting to marry her off, Nancy escapes with a slave named Minerva. What do they do when they're fed up with life? They join a band a pirates! With the hopes of adventure and freedom, Nancy and Minerva may see if the pirate's life is for them.







Images:
https://batmantheanimatedseries.fandom.com/wiki/Harley_Quinn
https://librarypoint.bibliocommons.com/item/show/639430072
https://librarypoint.bibliocommons.com/item/show/511148072
https://librarypoint.bibliocommons.com/item/show/440653072
https://www.amazon.com/Batman-Mad-Love-Other-Stories/dp/1401231152/ref=sr_1_2?crid=39M56CEO0I95K&dchild=1&keywords=harley+quinn+mad+love&qid=1589897421&sprefix=harley+quinn+mad+%2Caps%2C154&sr=8-2
https://www.amazon.com/Batman-Harley-Quinn-Ty-Templeton-ebook/dp/B079TF35Z3/ref=sr_1_12?crid=3REZCAZQNXL5Y&dchild=1&keywords=batman+and+harley+quinn&qid=1589897362&sprefix=batman+and+harley+%2Caps%2C155&sr=8-12

Poison Ivy

Tthe villainous tree hugger, Poison Ivy!



Pamela Isley was a brilliant botanist (scientist who studies plants). She loved plants and flowers passionately as if they were her own children. Her heart would break whenever she saw pollution and people neglecting the environment. However, Pamela's life took a turn when an experiment turned her into a human/plant hybrid! With her newfound powers to manipulate all plant life, she vows to take vengeance on humanity via eco-terrorism. She will never stop until all plants are safe from humans.

For more about Poison Ivy, check out:  Batman and Robin film (DVD)/ Gotham series (DVD)

If you're ready to go green, take a look at these recommendations:

Orleans by Sherri L. Smith (book) -
Fen de la Guerre lives in the Delta and life is anything but easy. After a series of hurricanes decimated the Gulf Coast, a fever broke out in the area, known as the Delta Fever. As a result, the entire region went in quarantine. After Fen's home is ambushed, she comes across a baby and is determined to get this baby out of the quarantine so it can lead a better life in the Outer States. Can Fen save the child before she succumbs to the illness herself?






Breathe by Sarah Crossan (book)-
The world ran out of air. Oxygen levels on the planet have been depleted and most of humanity is gone. The only safe place for humans are glass domed areas that create their own manufactured air. But these domes are far from safe places. Some feel trapped and monitored, especially since people have to pay for their oxygen. Three friends come together to see what is really going on in the dome they live in and the world they left behind.






Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis (book)-
Drinkable water has become scarce. A girl named Lynn would do anything to protect her home because it has a water supply in the pond. If anyone comes to her area, she will do everything she can to make sure they stay away, one way or another. As long as she has the will to live, no one will take her water from her home.







Images:
https://www.dccomics.com/blog/2019/04/24/brilliant-women-of-batman-poison-ivy-steals-it-with-a-kiss
https://librarypoint.bibliocommons.com/item/show/629242072
https://librarypoint.bibliocommons.com/item/show/618865072
https://librarypoint.bibliocommons.com/item/show/652837072
https://librarypoint.bibliocommons.com/item/show/833977072
https://librarypoint.bibliocommons.com/item/show/817607072

Cyborg

 Victor Stone aka Cyborg!



Victor Stone was a star in high school. He was MVP (most valuable player) of his football team and got good grades at school. Meanwhile, Victor's father was a Head scientist of a major science lab called S.T.A.R. Labs (Scientific and Technological Advanced Research). His father neglected Victor because he claimed his work was far too important. Victor did everything he could get his father's attention but could never get it. After his father missed a big football game, Victor confronted his father in his lab. However, his father was in the middle of a very delicate experiment that went wrong. When Victor entered the room, an explosion occurred that nearly destroyed his entire body. Refusing to let his son die, Dr. Stone reconstructed his son's body with state of the art robot technology. With these new robot enhancements, Victor lived but knew that his life as a normal human being was over. He resented his father. Despite all of this, he decided to use his new body to help other heroes like the Justice League and become a hero himself. However, can he learn what it really means to be human?

For more on Cyborg, check out: Justice League (DVD)


If you're ready for the future of machines, take a look at these recommendations:

Reboot by Amy Tintera (book)-
A seventeen year old girl named Wren finds herself awake after she supposedly died. After her resurrection, she sees her body has changed. She has become a Reboot, a super soldier with enhanced abilities and a lack of emotion. Reboots are more soldiers than humans. Wren has been taking orders ever since she became a Reboot. What happens when she decides she is done taking orders.






I, Robot by Isaac Asimov (book/e-book/auido CD)-
Classic story of robots! Robots have always been there to serve humanity. However, what happens when robots start thinking for themselves? What if they want to be independent from humans? What can possibly happen? Nothing can possibly go "wrong".









Scythe by Neil Shusterman (book/e-book)-
In a world where all world problems have been solved. Death, disease, and everything has been conquered by humanity. However, in order to control the world's overpopulation, certain individuals are recruited to maintain the population by killing people (or "gleaning" as they call it). These individuals are called Scythes. A boy and girl are recruited as apprentice scythes. They don't want to become scythes, but, during their training, they must decide if this job is truly essential and why. Without death, what does it mean to be human?




Images:
https://www.wired.com/2015/07/required-reading-new-cyborg/
https://librarypoint.bibliocommons.com/item/show/649879072
https://librarypoint.bibliocommons.com/item/show/414758072
https://librarypoint.bibliocommons.com/item/show/790916072
https://librarypoint.bibliocommons.com/item/show/748119072

The Penguin

The bird of crime, the Penguin



Oswald Cobblepot was born into a wealthy family that rivaled the famous Wayne Family for generations. Unfortunately for the Cobblepots, they lost their fortune and their family name was in shambles. Oswald blamed the Waynes for destroying his family and vowed to restore the fortune and honor of the Cobblepots. The only way that he knows how is to lead a life of crime. With his trick umbrella loaded with weapons and his cover up business of "The Iceburg Lounge", Oswald Cobblepot became one of the major crime bosses of Gotham as The Penguin!

For more on this deadly bird, check out: Batman Returns film (DVD)/ Gotham series (DVD)

If you want to be a classy bird like Penguin, take a look at these recommendations:

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens (book/ebook/audio CD/e-audio)-
Pip was a poor boy with nothing to his name until a mysterious benefactor grants him the opportunity to become a true gentleman of England. How will this change his life? Will it be for the better?









Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (book/e-book/audio CD/e-audio)-
Edmund Dantes was convicted of crime that he didn't commit. Knowing who the real criminals are, he vows vengeance upon them for framing him. After fourteen years, Dantes escapes. His revenge plan goes into action. It starts with his getting rich and using that wealth to ruin his framers.








Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (book/e-book/audio CD/e-audio)-
Two outsiders work very hard to get what they always dreamed: land of their own. However, achieving dreams isn't always easy. How can they own land if they have nothing to their name? They may have to find that out the hard way.









Image;
https://www.polygon.com/2017/6/2/15728758/dc-warner-bros-penguin-josh-gad
https://librarypoint.bibliocommons.com/item/show/642460072
https://librarypoint.bibliocommons.com/item/show/723927072
https://librarypoint.bibliocommons.com/item/show/562101072
https://librarypoint.bibliocommons.com/item/show/817608072
https://librarypoint.bibliocommons.com/item/show/833976072

Mister Freeze

The cold hearted villain, Mister Freeze!



Victor Fries (pronounced as freeze) was a cryogenicist, a scientist who studies subzero temperatures. He was proud of his work, but he was mostly proud of the love of his life, his wife, Nora. However, his life came crashing down when his wife was diagnosed with a rare degenerative disease. Refusing to let her go, Victor put Nora into cryogenic stasis (freezing her body in ice) until he could find a cure for her disease. After the funding for his research was cut off, Victor stumbled into an accident with his experiments. The accident altered his body to where he can only survive in subzero temperatures. If Victor were to go in a normal temperature area, it could kill him because he would be too hot. As a result, Victor created a suit to keep his body cold, leaving him secluded from the outside world. With no money left to fund his research, Victor felt he had no choice but to lead a life of crime to support his work. Every crime, everything he ever does, is for the sake of saving his wife. Mister Freeze is willing to do anything to accomplish his goal!

For more on this chilling villain, check out this title: Batman and Robin film (DVD)/ Gotham series (DVD)

Here are some chilling recommendations:

When We Wake by Karen Healy (book/e-book)-
The year is 2027, sixteen year old Tegan was an activist who protested and fought against all the injustices in the world, from environmental to political issues. However, all of that is finished when Tegan dies unexpectedly. What should be the end is only the beginning. Tegan wakes up a hundred years into future to find out she's the first person to be successfully revived after being cryogenically frozen! She finds herself as a celebrity in a new world. What life can she have now that everything is so different?





13 Reason Why by Jay Asher (e-book/book/e-audio/audio CD)-
After a high school girl commits suicide, a friend of hers finds a box full of cassette tapes recorded by her. According to tapes, if her friend is receiving them, then he is one of the reasons why she killed herself. Not only that, but he's not the only who received tapes from her.








The Good Demon by Jimmy Cajoleas (e-book/book) -
After closely bonding with a demon that possessed her, a girl loses her demonic friend from an exorcism. Refusing to say goodbye, she'll do whatever it takes to find and save her demon friend.









Images:
https://www.dcuniverse.com/news/evolution-mr-freeze/
https://librarypoint.bibliocommons.com/item/show/817607072
https://librarypoint.bibliocommons.com/item/show/833978072
https://librarypoint.bibliocommons.com/item/show/630145072
https://librarypoint.bibliocommons.com/item/show/491255072
https://librarypoint.bibliocommons.com/item/show/803418072

Superman

Faster than a speeding bullet and more powerful than a locomotive, it's Superman!



Superman was born on an alien planet named Krypton. When he was a baby, Superman was placed into spaceship by his parents after discovering that the planet was going to explode. In an attempt to save him, his parents set his spaceship to land on the planet Earth. When Superman reached Earth, he crashed landed in a small town in Kansas called Smallville. There, he was found by Martha and Johnathan Kent. They adopted baby Superman and named him Clark Kent.

After developing super powers from being exposed to Earth's yellow sun, Clark discovered the truth of his heritage and dedicated his life to use his powers to protect his adoptive home.

For more on the Man of Steel, check out: Superman films (DVD)/Smallville series (DVD)/ Superman and Batman: Public Enemies by Jeph Loeb (book)/Superman: Dawnbreaker (book/e-book/e-audio)/ Superman Chronicles by Jerry Siegal

For fans of Big Blue, I would suggest the following:

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee (book/e-book/audio CD/e-audio)-
This is Superman's favorite book (no joke)! With Superman being an All-American hero since the late 1930s, it only make sense that he would love an All-American book like this one.This story is about a girl named Scout and her life as a child. While Scout tries to reach out to a secluded neighbor, her lawyer father, Atticus, is defending a black man for crime he didn't commit. It's definitely not going to be easy for either Scout or Atticus given the historic times they both live in.






Doc Savage by Kenneth Robeson-
This character is one of the inspirations for Superman! Created back in the early 1930s, Doc Savage was pulp fiction character, an explorer who traveled all over the world. He used his wits and strength to stops whatever wrongdoings he found. He even had a Fortress of Solitude in the Arctic like Superman! With his brawns and brains, Doc Savage is a hero that anyone can find inspirational.












Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson (book/e-book/audio CD)-
Imagine a world where a Superman-like character was a villain and took over an entire city. That's what happens in this story.
One day, people start developing superpowers and become villains than heroes. They call these beings Epics. They will stop at nothing to get what they want because they can. One day, a boy encounters an incredibly powerful Epic named Steel Heart. Steel Heart killed his father and the boy vowed revenge against him and other Epics. Years after the incident, the boy finds and joins an elite group that attempts to kill all Epics within the city that Steel Heart currently rules. This may just be the opportunity that this boy needs to get back at Steel Heart once and for all.







Images:
https://www.slashfilm.com/superman-immortal-dc-comics/
https://librarypoint.bibliocommons.com/item/show/564588072
https://librarypoint.bibliocommons.com/item/show/367253072
https://www.amazon.com/Kill-Mockingbird-Harper-Lee/dp/0060935464/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1588173621&sr=1-1
https://www.amazon.com/Man-Bronze-Land-Terror-Savage/dp/1932806903/ref=sr_1_7?dchild=1&keywords=doc+savage&qid=1588173700&s=books&sr=1-7
https://librarypoint.bibliocommons.com/item/show/637552072

Batman

The Caped Crusader, the Dark Knight, the World's Greatest Detective: Batman!



Bruce Wayne was born into a rich family and raised in the crime-ridden city of Gotham. One night, when Bruce was eight years old, he and his parents, Thomas and Martha Wayne, went into town to watch a swashbuckling action movie. After the movie, the family cut through an alley to reach their car. Then, a mugger appeared from the shadows demanding Martha's pearl necklace at gun point. In the height of fear, the mugger shot and killed both Thomas and Martha, leaving Bruce orphaned.
Ever since that incident, Bruce vowed revenge against all crime in Gotham. As he trained his mind and body, he believed the only way to stop crime was to make criminals afraid, so he took on an identity that would make all criminals tremble in fear, the identity of Batman!

For more on the Dark Knight, check out: Batman (DVD)/ Superman and Batman: Public Enemies by Jeph Loeb (book)/ Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu (book/e-book/e-audio)

For this dark and brooding hero, I would suggest the following:

Zorro by Johnston McCulley (book)-
One of the inspirations for the character! Zorro is a Hispanic pulp hero who fought for the poor Hispanic population of California. He would confront the rich and powerful who would bully the poor and innocent. With his sword and steed, Zorro would come to the rescue and leave the letter "Z" as a calling card to ensure that he is always watching.







The Shadow: Radio's Greatest Man of Mystery  (audio CD)-
Who knows what evil lurks within the hearts of men? The Shadow knows. Another inspiration for Batman, the pulp fiction hero, the Shadow worked within the streets of New York and kept tabs on everything that goes on in the city. Whenever there was trouble, he would don his dark garments and perform a special trick that makes him appear invisible to criminals. As long as he lurks in the darkness, the Shadow reminds us that crime does not pay. Rest assure, the Shadow knows!




Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (book/e-book/audio CD/e-audio)-
Who can combat the World's Greatest Detective in a battle of wits? Another World's Greatest Detective. Sherlock Holmes is an iconic literary character known for his incredible powers of deduction and reasoning. He is famously known for his ability to find out everything there is to know about a person just by looking at them. He can solve any crime from murders, thefts, and more. Along with his trusty assistant, Dr. James Watson, there is no crime to hard for Sherlock Holmes to solve!





Images:
https://www.ign.com/articles/comixology-are-offering-these-essential-batman-watchmen-and-harley-quinn-comics-for-free
https://librarypoint.bibliocommons.com/item/show/532628072
https://librarypoint.bibliocommons.com/item/show/784319072
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https://librarypoint.bibliocommons.com/item/show/533218072