EDGER LIVES

After mysteriously losing his
abilities, a psychic superhero tries to prevent an assassination and thwart a
powerful villain in this comedy-action sequel.

To protect his loved ones, Edger
Bonkovich pretends to be dead after the evil organization Nostradamus destroys
his house. He’s living in Burbank, California, with spy Mary Thomas of the
Global Strategic Peace Organization Taskforce as his protector and cover wife.
Edger has the ability to access the Collective Unconscious, a “psychic stratum”
of everyone living or dead. Bruce Lee, for example, can temporarily take
control, affording Edger martial arts deftness. But when Nostradamus agents
suddenly attack Edger and Mary at home, his power inexplicably vanishes. He
only has access to Nigel Willianbottom, a Brit with few discernible skills. Meanwhile,
Australian Prime Minister Watson is planning to admit he’s a Nostradamus
official and name others. GSPOT boss Alexandra Hamilton assigns Edger and Mary
the task of preventing the prime minister’s potential assassination. But Alex
distrusts Mary, who confesses Watson is her father, whom she wouldn’t mind
killing. Edger soon learns of a supervillain who’s capable of reading minds.
Despite his diminished psychic abilities, Edger has a ring that, combined with
the super-serum in his blood, covers him in a super-suit for inevitable
confrontations with baddies. Beem (Edger, 2018, etc.) loads his second
series installment with vivid characters and subplots. Many of them ultimately
link to Edger (for example, a Russian assassin) or have a pre-existing
connection, like Fabio Jimenez, Edger’s best friend who believes he’s dead.
While readers may have trouble keeping up with the influx of characters, the
story retains a steady pace of action and high jinks. These include clones,
possible aliens, and a Collective Unconscious message from Edger’s supposedly
dead father. Humor is in abundance, from mostly unhelpful Nigel to appearances
by real-life figures, including Freud and Vladimir Putin. But there are sincere
moments as well, as the goofy but likable protagonist expresses genuine
feelings for Mary and misses his friends and family.

A delightfully silly and bizarre
superhero tale, with an ending that practically guarantees further
installments.