American comics: It’s over, I’m surrounded by father-worriers!

If you are looking for a fresh, chaotic, and laugh-out-loud take on the superhero genre, Wo Shi Jin San Shun’s "American comics: It’s over, I’m surrounded by father-worriers!" is an absolute must-read. Departing from the typical "I’m the hero" trope, this novel flips the script by placing the protagonist, Lin Fang, in the most precarious position imaginable: being the foster father to the most dangerous beings in the multiverse.

The story kicks off with a hilarious subversion of the Superman origin myth. Lin Fang, a time traveler living as a simple Kansas farmer, expects to raise the Man of Steel. Instead, he discovers he is stuck parenting Homelander—a sociopathic powerhouse with a god complex. This bait-and-switch sets the tone for a narrative that thrives on high-stakes absurdity. Watching Lin Fang try to instill "family values" into a child destined to be a tyrant is both darkly comedic and surprisingly tense.

What makes this novel stand out is the character development. Lin Fang is a relatable, pragmatic protagonist whose primary goal is simply to survive his own children. The dynamic between the "father" and his increasingly powerful, morally ambiguous "sons" creates a constant sense of dread mixed with humor. The world-building is equally impressive, seamlessly blending various comic book universes into a single, volatile reality where the arrival of a new spacecraft is no longer a miracle, but a cause for a panic attack.

The pacing is snappy, and the internal monologue of a man constantly trying to "lie down" and retire while the world burns around him is endlessly entertaining. If you enjoy urban fantasy with a heavy dose of irony and character-driven chaos, this story is a masterclass in superhero satire. It is unpredictable, witty, and undeniably addictive.