The Paladin

Devastated by the loss of his older brother, teenaged Jared Weiss dons a mask and cape in pursuit of vengeance. He becomes The Paladin. Unfortunately, the real world isn't like the pages of a comic book, and wherever The Paladin goes, disaster is never far behind. Will Jared be able to avenge his brother before he winds up in a grave beside him? Kevin G. Summers' "The Paladin" really stands out as worthy of note. The story focuses on a teenage boy who has no powers and decides to don a homemade style Batman suit to avenge his brother's death and rid his city of drug dealers. It's a fantasy every comic fan can relate to as well as a deeply emotional tale of a young man's struggle to find himself and his place in the world. The story is also full of references to everything from characters like Green Arrow and Nightwing to Dungeons and Dragons making it an even more fun read if you're a geek yourself. Above all though, the story stays true to real life and evokes a great deal of sympathy for its protagonist." -Eric S. Brown