Adam Graham's Blog: Christians and Superheroes - Posts Tagged "powerhouse-hard-pressed"

Powerhouse: Hard Pressed has been released.

Below is the book cover and the details:

Dave Johnson’s dreams have come true. He’s taken Seattle by storm as Powerhouse, a metal-clad crime fighter. His awesome array of powers has the underworld on the run, his charitable efforts are a success, and he has a popular comic book. When his publisher is bought out, he’s given every fan’s dream: he’s tasked with creating his own line of comic books. His biggest problem is his tendency to attract campy, wannabe “supervillains” who aren’t worthy opponents.

Mitch “the Pharaoh” Farrow wants to turn Dave’s dream into a nightmare. Mitch’s job is to spread cynicism ahead of an interdimensional alien invasion. The aliens’ king has promised to cure Mitch’s dying daughter when he takes over and Mitch will do anything to save her. He uses every tool at his disposal, from a massive media smear machine to a force field bubble that crushes its victim into atoms.

With the help of new allies and old friends, Powerhouse strives to protect his family and the citizens of Seattle from the forces of cynicism.

The book is available as a paperback as well as for the Kindle.

In Powerhouse: Hard Pressed, Mitch Farrow is the prime villain , but needs a help handing hand from an unexpected source. In this scene, he gets it from an unexpected source:

Mitch whipped around.

A huge, fat guy filled the door. A hood hid the newcomer’s face, but he wore black steel body armor and a black cape over a green cardigan sweater.

Mitch mentally switched to his Pharaoh persona. “Who are you to say anything?”

“Allow me to introduce myself.” The huge jerk bowed to the waist. “I’m Varlock the Warlord. King Bel appointed me to handle you humans.”

“King Bel who?” Fournier had raised his left eyebrow. “Us humans?”

Just great. Pharaoh wrinkled his brow. Now he’d have to kill Fournier if the fool seriously tried to quit. “King Bel is Dorado Incorporated’s secret, inter-dimensional angel—in the benefactor sense. This is one of his agents.”

“Oh, I see.” Fournier stepped up beside Pharaoh, bowed, and extended his hand to Varlock. “Sir, how do you do?”

“How do I do what?”

Fournier and the Pharaoh exchanged glances, wrinkling their brows.

“Humans.” Varlock growled. “Cease and desist with the Earth-centric use of your silly human idioms. Too many to bother learning, and most will be irrelevant soon enough. King Bel sent me to address the problem code-named Powerhouse. You clearly aren’t prepared to deal with him, and it wasn’t in the Pharaoh’s job
description.”

Oh, so it took the allegedly advanced civilization eight months to figure out that a reporter-turned-CEO wasn’t the guy to take on the most powerful man on Earth? “I’ll send my regards to His Majesty for his considerations.”

“Thank you. While you are in charge of general operations, I am to lead the battle against this treasonous Powerhouse, and you are to assist me. I’ve commandeered from your safe a few thousand pieces of the worthless green paper to which your people have arbitrarily assigned monetary value. This will be filed on your budget as ‘miscellaneous.’”

Auditors would love that, not. Pharaoh swallowed. He’d have to obtain some money from the criminal enterprises to replace what was stolen from the safe. “Well, I’m glad you’re here. Eliminating superheroes isn’t my forte.”

“We’ve noticed.” Varlock sneered. “I’ve also commandeered a few of your strategy guides from your upstairs office to assist me in my planning.”

“Sure.”

“Report to me tomorrow evening at this address.” Varlock slapped a piece of paper on the desk. “At six o’clock, as you locally reckon time, you will see how I will destroy Powerhouse.”

Fournier rubbed his hands together. “I’ve got a plan for a robot!”

“We’ll consider it, nearsighted one. I must go.” Varlock twirled his long cape and rushed out of the office.

Fournier smirked like he wanted executed, ancient Egypt style. “Such a relief. I feel better about our chances of success.”

From the hall emanated the scream of a creature in pain.

Pharaoh peeked out the door and glanced around the corner. The alien warlord lay on the ground tangled in his own cape.
Oh brother.

“I’m fine,” Varlock got up and strode down the hall.

Powerhouse Hard Pressed is available in Paperback and for the Kindle, as well as an Audiobook.