2001 TV News Archives

October 24, 2001: "Death to the Centurion" E-Novel

I had the good fortune of reading an advanced copy of the new e-novel "Death to the Centurion" written by Mark Misercola. What has this got to do with Superman? Well the story centers around the world of comic book publishing, and has an afinity with the "Death of Superman" concept... and it's a great read! I thoroughly enjoyed the story and invite all comic book fans to give it a read. Here's the Press Release about the e-novel which launches tomorrow (October 25th)...

Killer Stalks Comic Book Writer in New E-Mystery Novel, "Death to the Centurion".

Norwalk, CT - Death to the Centurion, an action-packed murder mystery that's likely to send cyber chills throughout the comic book industry, will be published online Oct. 25 by Twilight Times Books (www.twilighttimesbooks.com).

The e-novel is about a young comic book writer who is stalked by a killer when he is ordered to rub out the world's greatest superhero in a desperate bid to rekindle sales and save his publisher from bankruptcy.

Death to the Centurion, by author Mark Misercola, is set against a real-life backdrop of corporate intrigue, insider trading and underworld ties. An excerpt of the book can be previewed at: www.markmisercola.com

Mr. Misercola, a life-long comic book fan, was inspired to write the book following the highly publicized demise of several of his favorite superheroes - including Superman - nearly a decade ago.

"I was floored when they suddenly started killing off all the wonderful characters that I had grown up with as a kid," he said. "Then I felt used because it was all a marketing ploy and they brought everyone back from the dead. It was nothing more than a blatant rip-off of Spock's death and resurrection in Star Trek.

"So I started thinking about what would happen if somebody really snapped at the prospect of losing their favorite superhero and decided to do something about it. The result is a book that looks at what might happen when you tamper with an American icon."

The novel centers on the travails of Richard MacAllister, a young writer who is ordered by his publisher to kill off the Centurion in a desperate bid to boost sales and save the company from collapse.

But when word leaks out of the character's demise, MacAllister's colleagues are suddenly targeted by a killer who is bent on revenge.

MacAllister must use his skills as a crime writer, and his knowledge of comic book history, to outwit the killer before he becomes the final victim in a complex murder scheme that is taken from the pages of an early comic book serial.

"This will be of real interest to anyone who's ever picked up a comic book," Mr. Misercola said. "It explores the dynamics that drive the comic industry, and it reflects the growing discontent among long-time fans over what the comic book industry has done to their favorite superheroes."

The book is US$4.95 to download, US$6.95 on disk, and US$10.95 on CD.

Mr. Misercola has ghost written two business books - Silent Sabotage (Amacom, 1995), and Total Career Fitness (Wiley, 2000). He has worked as a speechwriter for senior executives at several area Fortune 500 companies, including Union Carbide in Danbury, IBM, PepsiCo, Avon and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

He currently works as a communications executive in New York. He also teaches at Manhattanville College in Purchase, N.Y., and Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, CT.

Enterprise Communications 105 Silvermine Ave. Norwalk, CT 06850
Contact: Ralph Hammock, 203-329-2879



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