Bad News (ePub)

When the media worships superheroes, the people will follow. So, what happens when someone decides to flip the script?

Randy "Figs" Figueroa is a man on a mission. He wants the superhero community held to the same standards as the ones they've labeled as supervillains, making them accountable for their action and inactions. He's gotten a new job at VNN, a cable news network on the brink of circling the proverbial drain. When he changed the network's format to reflect a more villainous state of mind, he never expected it to erupt in such a spectacular manner.

As Figs soon finds out, however, there's always a reaction to change, and none are bigger than the one coming from the superhero community as they lash out against him and VNN. A trenchant priest called Father Badass has his sights set on Figs, leading up a cast of do-gooders like the electrifying Silver Stunner, the Amazon turned dominatrix crime fighter Masked Mistress, and indestructible powerhouse Mr. Hardcore-just to name a few.

Meanwhile, Figs has a wide array of anchors and producers dogging his every move. Robin Sacks-VNN's premiere anchor-has an agenda of his own, and he doesn't care who knows it. Mindy Greene sees the changes as troublesome, and she's vocal about how much she refuses to take in the name of change. Topping off the VNN hierarchy is Brett Vernon, son of billionaire mogul Jeb Vernon-head of the network.

In Bad News, Daniel Aegan explores the world of televised news in a world full of superhumans, cosmic egos, and a translucent veil between hero and villain that paints a vivid interpretation of real life. Can Figs deal with the consequences of his network's actions while dealing with the inflated personalities he's forced to cultivate and create to keep the news fresh and entertaining, or will a culture where ratings equal disaster prove to be his and VNN's undoing?