I was browsing through my local bookstore and nearly dROPPED my entire life and soul when I saw Naomi Novik's name in the manga bargain bin. I've read all nine of the Temeraire books cover to cover, including the little author biographies in the back, and none have mentioned that Novik dipped her pen in the superhero shojo manga universe. I pointed at the book and gaped like a fish.

Once I bought the volume, I was pleasantly surprised by the plot. I was expecting a color-by-numbers superheroes at school story, but while some familiar tropes made an appearance, most were complicated or inverted. Our heroine is Leah Taymore, and the first volume follows her (disastrous) first week at Liberty Vocational, a high school dedicated to training the next generation of big-time superheroes. Classes include the usual powers training, the unexpected costume design class, and the absolutely-riveting-I-didn't-realize-I-needed-this-everywhere-until-now superhero ethics class. What do you mean supers are going to think about their actions from the get go?? That's incredible!

For such a short book, heavy themes are discussed. Morality is a big one, especially if sacrificing a few people (or your super self) to save a lot of people is a moral good. In a refreshing turn of events, Leah is already super duper powerful, with the ability to alter things on an atomic level, but the practicality of such a ridiculous power is called into question by the very existence of Paul Lyman. Paul has 0 powers, but reliably saves people, solves problems, and fights villains with much less collateral damage than Leah. Yuzana Myat, Leah's roommate and best friend, is an empath, which sounds cool on paper, but invades the privacy of the heart constantly. Dr. Santos, the headmistress/principal, grapples with the fact that if she doesn't properly prepare her students, they will legit die fighting.

I am a fan of superheroes and a fan of manga, so in no universe was this book going to disappoint me. Novik brings her signature racial diversity to the fore, which about tickled me pink. The art notes in the back are interesting, though they were the source of a disappointment so big that I initially rated the manga 3 stars. While Novik wanted Leah to look like a Czech-Jewish Wonder Woman, the artist demurred because "the only muscular female characters are villains (most of the time there aren't any muscular female in shojo at all!)". Which is a terrible reason, and the only justification I can think of is WILL VILLAINS was produced before TRIGGER HAPPY PANIC's Sakura Ogami graced the English-speaking screen.

My only other complaint is the series seems to have been abandoned, or at least put on indefinite hiatus (maybe because of artistic differences?). WILL SUPERVILLAINS BE ON THE FINAL? is an excellent, well-written romp into superhero high school, with likeable characters and important questions. It's quick too, so if you have a spare half hour, I encourage you to pick it up.