‘Alter Ego’ by Alex Segura. Flatiron, 320 pages, $28.99
It’s been a while since comics and graphic novels were just for children. Look no further than the plethora of Marvel Universe movies that attract teens, and adults of all ages, and, of course, some children.
The stories in comics and graphic novels make good on their promise of action-packed stories, heroic characters, the never-ending search for justice.
Alex Segura returns to the comic book world in his emotionally charged “Alter Ego,” which evocatively looks at how art is created, as well as finance, sexism and dual personalities. It’s also about the joy of loving your profession and the pain when that career doesn’t love you back.
In a way, “Alter Ego” is a sequel to Segura’s terrific “Secret Identity” that won the 2022 Los Angeles Times Book Prize. (Full disclosure, I was one of the judges for that prize.) “Secret Identity” looked at the comic book world during the 1970s when misogyny locked women out of the creative process.
“Alter Ego” revolves around comic book artist-turned-filmmaker Annie Bustamante, whose career in movies has stalled, despite some award nominations. She and her 11-year-old daughter, Margot, move back to New York City to regroup. There, she’s offered the chance to be the lead artist on the reboot of The Legendary Lynx, the female superhero who had a limited but vital publication during the 1970s.
The Lynx launched Annie’s love of comics when she was growing up in Miami Beach, eventually inspiring her to become a comics artist. The Lynx also has a controversial history as to who originated the idea. Many people, including Annie, credit Miami native Carmen Valdez with the Lynx, which was the subject of Segura’s “Secret Identity.”
Finding out who actually came up with the idea for the Lynx is more important to Annie than any job. Lynx’s providence could bring in millions to the company that claims to own the rights. Greed always is a motive in any mystery, and can bring out the worst in people.
Segura vividly shows the creative process in “Alter Ego,” exploring how working in the arts can be a “joy” that can sustain a person’s emotional well-being for years. Segura also delves into how seeing yourself in pop culture is important. Annie knows one reason the Lynx appealed to her was because it was created by a Cuban American woman like her. Strong characters enhance “Alter Ego.” Intricate drawing added through “Alter Ego” further shows Lynx’s appeal.
Segura’s respect for comics and graphic novels shows in “Alter Ego,” as it did with “Secret Identity,” aided by his own background writing graphic novels including “Star Wars: The Battle of Jakku,” “The Question” and “Spider-Society,” among others.
“Alter Ego” is storytelling at its best.
Meet the author
Alex Segura (“Alter Ego”) will be among the authors discussing their works at the Miami Book Fair at Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus in downtown Miami. Segura, along with Ace Atkins (“Don’t Let the Devil Ride”) and Ben Mezrich (“Breaking Twitter: Elon Musk and the Most Controversial Corporate Takeover in History”), will be on the Dark Truths & Hidden Agendas panel beginning at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, in Room 8203 (Building 8, second floor), 300 NE Second Ave., Miami. Visit miamibookfair.com.
Segura also will discuss “Alter Ego” in conversation with Alejandro Nodarse (“Blood in the Cut”) at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 9, at Books & Books, 265 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables; 305- 442-4408; booksandbooks.com. The discussion is free but reservations are requested.
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