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Take a Chance
INCLUDES A BONUS STORY BY C. E. MURPHY
Driven to save lives after her four-year-old son’s death in the cross fire of gang warfare, Frankie Kemp has spent years playing the role of “Chance”–a masked vigilante in a world without superheroes. But when a genetically engineered virus releases superpowered potential–for those whom it doesn’t sicken and kill–the stakes are suddenly much higher. Now Chance must decide if experience and wits are enough to face criminals with abilities beyond the human norm–and rediscover her place in a rapidly changing world.
Driven to save lives after her four-year-old son’s death in the cross fire of gang warfare, Frankie Kemp has spent years playing the role of “Chance”–a masked vigilante in a world without superheroes. But when a genetically engineered virus releases superpowered potential–for those whom it doesn’t sicken and kill–the stakes are suddenly much higher. Now Chance must decide if experience and wits are enough to face criminals with abilities beyond the human norm–and rediscover her place in a rapidly changing world.
- GenresComicsSuperheroes
160 pages, Paperback
First published November 24, 2009
About the author
C.E. Murphy
86 books1,783 followersCE Murphy began writing around age six, when she submitted three poems to a school publication. The teacher producing the magazine selected (inevitably) the one she thought was by far the worst, but also told her–a six year old kid–to keep writing, which she has. She has also held the usual grab-bag of jobs usually seen in an authorial biography, including public library volunteer (at ages 9 and 10; it’s clear she was doomed to a career involving books), archival assistant, cannery worker, and web designer. Writing books is better.
She was born and raised in Alaska, and now lives with her family in her ancestral homeland of Ireland.
She also writes paranormal romance as Murphy Lawless and cozy mysteries as Catie Murphy.
She was born and raised in Alaska, and now lives with her family in her ancestral homeland of Ireland.
She also writes paranormal romance as Murphy Lawless and cozy mysteries as Catie Murphy.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 23, 2021
Frankie Kemp spends her day's working for the mayor's office and her nights tracking super-powered villains to help provide evidence of their misdeeds to the authorities.
I was disappointed by the opening unnecessary nudity and unrealistic body proportions of the protagonist, particularly from a female writer. But Frankie was a sympathetic and layered hero, and the story is rounded out with several other good female characters (I particularly liked Frankie's assistant, Nila).
The back story is a bit heavy and overshadows everything, not allowing much in the way of lightness or humour to come through. But it's a strong story, overall. Though I was disappointed that Frankie doesn't feel able to accept help from those around her - she would be a better role model if she could express her vulnerability.
I was disappointed by the opening unnecessary nudity and unrealistic body proportions of the protagonist, particularly from a female writer. But Frankie was a sympathetic and layered hero, and the story is rounded out with several other good female characters (I particularly liked Frankie's assistant, Nila).
The back story is a bit heavy and overshadows everything, not allowing much in the way of lightness or humour to come through. But it's a strong story, overall. Though I was disappointed that Frankie doesn't feel able to accept help from those around her - she would be a better role model if she could express her vulnerability.
October 9, 2017
A gorgeous looking graphic novel, with a tight clean story arc and good believable characters (even if some of them have super powers). The general tone is part way between a super hero comic and a hard boiled gumshoe detective story: a nice blend of fantasy action with cynical observation. I do hope that there will be more in this universe, as the book ended with a nice cast of characters assembled.
August 29, 2019
Hope to see more of this. I really enjoyed this one. Chance is a tough woman who plays a believable human in a world of metahuman supers. It plays very well and the universe is one I'd like to see more of.
May 29, 2018
Finally got round to reading this amazing graphic novel. A fantastic story that shows you don't always need special powers to be a superhero.
August 2, 2019
I think I love reading books about women being heroes.
100% recommend to read.
November 11, 2019
Scowly hero. So very scowly. Cheesy story. Trope-a-licious.
May 5, 2020
I picked up this book at Worldcon, kind of by chance (get it?) kind of because I'd been to CE Murphy's reading of Redeemer and I figured it could not be bad.
I got past the uh, Hawkeye pose because I give women a pass for that, generally because... Listen, it's different if WE want to have sexy women on the front page, vs if a man puts one there. Also she's pretty realistic on that cover even so.
Anyways, I'm a sucker for a female superhero, and I really loved it. Chance is an interesting take on the powerless superhero, as the others around her are superpowered - and yet she still kicks ass, because training, baby! She's got her job, her past, her problems, and she still gets shit done. She has the makings of a Lena Luthor or a Kate Kane.
In terms of the art and the story, honestly I've read pro, DC comics (Wonder Woman comes to mind) and this is on the same level, despite being an indie comic! It's also got the added advantage of being a fully self-contained story, with none of these cliffhangers that mean you HAVE to buy the next one. And I would get the next one anyways, if there was one!
In short, take a chance on this! You won't regret it!
I got past the uh, Hawkeye pose because I give women a pass for that, generally because... Listen, it's different if WE want to have sexy women on the front page, vs if a man puts one there. Also she's pretty realistic on that cover even so.
Anyways, I'm a sucker for a female superhero, and I really loved it. Chance is an interesting take on the powerless superhero, as the others around her are superpowered - and yet she still kicks ass, because training, baby! She's got her job, her past, her problems, and she still gets shit done. She has the makings of a Lena Luthor or a Kate Kane.
In terms of the art and the story, honestly I've read pro, DC comics (Wonder Woman comes to mind) and this is on the same level, despite being an indie comic! It's also got the added advantage of being a fully self-contained story, with none of these cliffhangers that mean you HAVE to buy the next one. And I would get the next one anyways, if there was one!
In short, take a chance on this! You won't regret it!
August 6, 2010
I read this as 5 separate issues, not as the graphic novel. Not that I didn't try to acquire the graphic novel, but since Dabel was acquired it seems to be pretty well unavailable for purchase. I had a hard enough time finding all 5 issues.
The artwork started out pretty ridiculously boobilicious, which surprised me a bit because Catie has never described any of her other characters that way. However, the artist toned it down to a more reasonable level as the issues progressed.
The story itself was all right but didn't particularly grab me in any way.
The artwork started out pretty ridiculously boobilicious, which surprised me a bit because Catie has never described any of her other characters that way. However, the artist toned it down to a more reasonable level as the issues progressed.
The story itself was all right but didn't particularly grab me in any way.
April 25, 2016
Great drawings, great story. I enjoyed this series. I read it in the 5 installments instead of the one volume.
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January 9, 2010Amazon preorder
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews