Review: Malevolence (Machinist #1) by Alexander Maisey

I've decided to feature reviews of superhero novels on this blog and am starting out with Malevolence, the first part of the The Machinist series by Alexander Maisey.
In this novella we follow a supervillain called The Machinist as he leaves jail on parole. Soon he is suspected to be behind the giant prison outbreak that has supervillains putting New York under siege. Trying to fight his way out of trouble he ends up helping the superheroes he hates.
What makes this one so great is that it doesn't try to be too smart or literary. Lots of superhero fiction tends to make fun of the genre or is afraid to don colorful costumes on their heroes. Not this one!
In a story that could have an comic book written by Warren Ellis we get cool new heroes and villains (loved Baron Brass) that owe a lot to the well-know characters of Marvel and DC but are not copies.
The action is fast and furious and the dialogue very readable. I was really transported into The Machinist's world.
If you loved Austin Grossman's Soon I Will Be Invincible you will love this one. Looking forward to part 2!