**Review: A Clever Dive into the Shadows of Creativity**
**Rating: 3.5/5**

Alex Segura’s *Alter Ego* is an engaging exploration of creativity, nostalgia, and the murky world of intellectual property, blending a love for comic book lore with a tense, character-driven narrative. While it shines in its commentary on the pitfalls of artistic ambition and corporate greed, the story sometimes stumbles under the weight of its lofty ambitions.

Annie Bustamante is a compelling protagonist—sharp, flawed, and relatable. Her passion for the Lethal Lynx resonates deeply, especially for readers who understand the cultural and personal weight of beloved characters. Segura captures the thrill of rediscovering a forgotten gem and the frustration of navigating the cutthroat entertainment industry. Annie's struggle to balance her creative vision with the compromises demanded by Triumph Comics is authentic and thought-provoking.

The novel’s pacing is uneven, however. The first half excels in setting up the stakes, particularly Annie’s skepticism about Carlyle’s offer and the intriguing anonymous warnings. But the second half occasionally bogs down in exposition and industry jargon, which might alienate readers less familiar with the comic book world. The mystery surrounding the Lynx’s rights and the “dark truth” Annie uncovers is satisfying, but it doesn’t deliver the jaw-dropping impact the buildup promises.

Segura’s love for storytelling is palpable, and his meta-commentary on the creative process—particularly the labels society places on artists—adds depth to the narrative. Yet, the novel’s emotional arcs sometimes feel secondary to its cleverness, leaving Annie’s personal journey somewhat underexplored.

*Alter Ego* is a strong read for fans of comic books, behind-the-scenes dramas, and morally complex protagonists. It’s not perfect, but it delivers enough intrigue, sharp dialogue, and heartfelt moments to make it worthwhile. For those with a love for superheroes and the creators who bring them to life, Segura’s novel is a thought-provoking tribute to both.

Another wonderful hit from Segura. An amazing follow up for fans of Secret Identity while not being a mandatory read to enter. Segura gives an amazing voice to his lead. Many moments in this book got very large reactions from me while reading. I hope for more from this world in the future.

Alter ego is the sequel to segura 2022 novel, secret identity. While the earlier novel was set mainly in the past, this one takes place in the present with a strong anchor to the past, Annie is a burgeoning film writer who left the comic book world to pursue this other career. However, she finds herself pulled back in after the death of her journalist friend and discovers many secrets that tie to the legendary lynx-a beloved comic from the 1970s.

This book is a love letter to comic books and comic book lovers. The timeline shifts all over from the 1970s to the early 2000s to present day and Annie is a fully developed character through these shifts. We see her heartbreaking relationships with her family and her best friend Danny and her battle to overcome alcoholism. I loved Annie and rooted for her. The shifts are a bit jarring at first so make sure you pay attention to what timeline you are reading. The chapters are short so moving between the timelines is like a jolt of whiplash,

While it is not imperative to read the secret identity it will help. I made the mistake of not reading it first and was somewhat disoriented by all of the callbacks. This again is a reader issue and not the writer issue.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Setting a thriller in the world of 1970s comic books was a winning combination for author Alex Segura’s 2022 novel Secret Identity. He returns to the modern world in his new sequel Alter Ego.

Alter Ego takes a critical look at the present landscape of comics, corporations, and IP, while plotting a new thrilling mystery involving the creation of comic "The Legendary Lynx."

This time the story focuses on Annie Bustamante, a revered filmmaker who cut her teeth in comics before leaving the medium behind. She’s convinced to return with an offer to work on her favorite obscure character, The Legendary Lynx.

When the company behind the comic’s revival begins to act shadily and fires Annie from the project, Annie realizes there is more at stake than just her story being published.

The character of Annie takes a little while to connect with on the page because the early sections heavily use shifting timelines to connect Annie’s past, present, and the murder of her friend, journalist Laura Gustines. As you get further along in the book the flashbacks flow better and Annie starts to feel like a more fleshed-out character.

Her origin in comics, her tragic relationship with her best friend Danny, and her life after motherhood all lead to the crossroads presented to her with the Lynx. Saving the Lynx’s legacy is Annie’s driving force — and source of danger.

Annie isn’t just an avatar for comic book fans who fall in love with older stories, she has a surprising personal connection to the comic that fuels part of the intrigue of the story. You'll be invested as she tries to unravel what really happened during the creation of the Lynx and why someone is now willing to resort to murder to hide the truth.

Although technically the novel provides enough details about the events of Secret Identity that you don’t have to read the first book to understand the second, having an existing connection to the Lynx’s origins will endear you more to the plot. It’s easier to understand Annie’s obsessions with these figures of the past if you’ve already spent time with them, though being a deep fan of anything can also help you relate.

It also allows you to focus more on the primary mystery of who wants to cover up the Lynx’s creation rather than making sense of the minute details of what happened during the creation. The details of those events is enough to be its own book and it was!

If you've read Secret Identity you'll also be familiar with the work of artist Sandy Jarrell, who has adapted her style to create "Annie's" beautiful pages sprinkled throughout the book. What fun is a book about comics if you can't include any artwork?

Like the original, the novel still borrows from the real world of comics for references and world-building that will speak to comic book fans while also relying on the history of the purely fictional Triumph Comics. The world-building expands further this time to also include Hollywood and a director figure, Arturo Spinoza, who feels like a hodgepodge of lauded directors, some of whom have been exposed for bad behavior.

The focus on the danger of AI and struggle for creator's rights will feel timely for anyone who follows any of the creative industries (and should be a flag to anyone not familiar to become aware of how it impacts the ethics of consuming entertainment).

For fans of mystery thrillers who love the world of comics, or who at least won’t mind the heavy dose of comic book enthusiasm in the pages, Alter Ego is a great pick.

I always enjoy a book that teaches me something, and I very clearly learned that I didn't know a lot about comics, or the timeline of their history, until reading this. I have not read Secret Identity, so I think there's some context I missed, but that did not make this any less of any engaging mystery and a character whose story I wanted to know, and that I wanted a safe resolution for.

Annie Bustamante is delightful. A mix of strong, creative, and working to heal her broken parts, she was a character I could respect even when I questioned her decisions. She had such good perspective on the people around her, the men and the women, and was aware of her biases even if she did not deny them.

Not to mention, the LYNX! What a character. What a parable within the story that helps explain why so many people were so attached to this comic, and wanted it to come back. I would love to read it, but I'm okay with it only existing in this imaginary world.

There were sometimes too many references - where 3-4 would've sufficed you get 7-10, even 15-20, and it started to feel more like a textbook than a fictional story. That's my only complaint though.

If you want a mystery thriller, with or without a love of comics, you will enjoy this.

Thank you so much to @netgalley , @flatiron_books , and @alexsegurajr for this advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

Bam! 💥 POW! 💥 Smash! ‼️

This comic book driven read is a super fun time! The plot follows a comic book artist trying to revive her favorite character without getting caught up in the muckety muck of the business side of the industry with all the action you’d want from a comic book.

The mixed media of having some of the comic book pages was a welcomed surprise. They were inserted in all the right places. The plot flowed smoothly through the rise and falls of the female lead and the comic book itself. Annie Bustamante, the FMC, is the heroine we all need as a real life super hero.

There was mystery, suspense, heroism, and nostalgia wrapped into an excellent package. The cast of characters was colorful and all had a specific and clear role to the story. The writing style made this an easy read that kept me turning pages just to see how everything would turn out.

If your a comic book or superhero movie fan, this is a must-add book for your TBR

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I received a copy of this from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I will start by saying that I did not read the first book in this series, however, Alter Ego is advertised as a standalone sequel, which I definitely think is true. You do not need to have read about Carmen Valdez, as you are told about her in this follow-up anyway. This premise was right up my alley. I enjoy comic books and graphic novels, but I have never read a fiction book about someone involved in their creation. This felt unique because of that. What I also enjoyed was that you did not need to be a comic fan to enjoy this. It will help, for sure, but I don't think it's necessary.

What didn't feel as unique was the main character, Annie, and her decisions that made no sense given what was happening to her. One of her main goals is to keep her daughter safe, yet when presented with explicit death threats she ignores them? The other characters felt somewhat one-dimensional as well. We had the crappy boss, the creepy coworker, the megalomaniac, etc. I also had a really hard time believing that anyone would seriously care that much about the Lynx when it was stated multiple times that she was an obscure and much forgotten character. Why would this character that no one seems to remember even have a massive panel at comic con? And why would people be willing to kill over her IP. The plot was so frustrating because it didn't seem to make sense.

The pacing was okay, but this book does have a lot of flashbacks. The reveal was predictable, but the ending was satisfyingly given everything else. Overall, I don't think I'll be reading anything else in this series, but I would be interested in reading the actual comic, as the Lynx's powers were never really discussed. 2.5/5 stars, rounded up to 3.

I got to read Alter Ego by Alex Segura. Alter Ego is the standalone sequel to Secret Identity and after reading this book, I definitely need to go back and check out Secret Identity. The story follows comic artist Annie Bustamante who gets hired by a mysterious new studio that owns one of her favorite heroes growing up, the Legendary Lynx. This book quickly steers into a pulpy mystery with conspiracy and murder. With Alex also having worked in comics, you see his love for the art form in how he has Annie talk about it as well as the themes of this book revolving around art vs corporations. While I haven’t read Secret Identity, this book worked really well to place me in this world as along with the written word we also have beautiful art with excerpts from the fictional Lynx Reborn comic throughout the novel. I highly suggest this book to anyone with a love for comics, film, and superheroes.

Alter Ego by Alex Segura, I read the Kindle version and listen to the audio narrated by Frankie Corzo, and I do think I preferred the audiobook although I was not a big fan of the attitude Miss Frankie was trying to portray. I know a lot of reviewers didn’t like this book in despite the confusing time distortion a really like the story it was trying to tell. I also found the story somewhat believable because since the 1940s and 50s mobsters have been trying to get in to Hollywood, but for a niche comic, IDK that part wasn’t so believable. I also want to mention instead of a daughter. She could’ve been replaced by a pet dog for all the importance. She meant to the story. She was almost a non-character. Now having said all that for those who like being entertained and especially those who read the first book I think, we’ll find this one pretty OK if you can keep up with the time jumps the contradictions I must admit I still enjoyed the story. I do believe if the book could be reworked with a more believable reason why an award-winning director became persona non grata then this would’ve been a five star read because the main character was an awesome character. In the comics she was trying to push sounded just as awesome. There were just certain things in the book that didn’t jell, but I would be lying if I said, I didn’t like it because I did. #NetGalley, #McMillanPublishing, #AlexSegura, #Alter ego,

This is such a fun mashup of mystery, thriller, comic books and character development!

Annie Bustamante is successful as a filmmaker, author and comic book artist who's always wanted to work with her favorite superhero the Lethal Lynx. When Bert Carlyle, son of the founder of Triumph Comics, asks her to work with another filmmaker with dwindling fame on a Lethal Lynx project, she's torn. Then, ,she starts receiving anonymous messages and her paranoia feels grounded in reality. Although she feels the creative spark with the Lethal Lynx, she has to face uncomfortable truths about the character.

I always love a book where I can feel how the author was having fun writing it, and Alter Ego is absolutely one of those books! I really enjoyed how Segura intermingled different storytelling elements to create a suspenseful, immersive ride.

I wish I would've known this was a sequel/companion to a previous book so I could have started there, but I had an absolute blast reading this. It somehow captures the feeling of a comic book arc but in novel form. Memorable characters, excellent pacing... I'll be seeking out Secret Identity and looking forward to Segura's next.

When filmmaker Annie Bustamante’s masterpiece is shelved before release, she finds her way back to her first love - comics. Annie is asked to revive one of her favorite characters of all time, the Legendary Lynx, but things quickly go sideways and Annie becomes tangled up in a decades-long mystery - who is the true creator of the Lynx, and who owns the rights to her now? In this follow-up to Secret Identity, the legacy of Carmen Valdez lives on through the Lynx and through Annie’s commitment to exposing the truth.

I found myself getting confused in the beginning with all the timeline switching. Annie’s personal connection to the Lynx’s creators seemed a little too convenient, but I guess it was necessary for the plot to work. Scenes with Margot and Danny gave Annie’s character depth and history, but the mystery unfolding in the present-day timeline was what kept me reading.

I loved Secret Identity, and I think my experience reading Alter Ego was better from knowing all the backstory, but I think Alter Ego could stand on its own, if it had to. I strongly advise you to read and enjoy both!

In this dark take on the graphic novel industry, an accomplished and successful artist and movie producer, thinking she is promised a shot at writing a new story for a comic book hero she has always loved, discovers forces of greed, theft and injustice she must thwart. Heartfelt characters and relationships enhance this unusual mystery novel, and the reader is kept guessing until the end. Highly recommended even if one hasn’t read the first in the series.

"Alex Segura, award-winning author of Secret Identity, returns with a clever and escapist standalone sequel set in the world of comic books. In the present day, a comics legend is given the chance to revive a beloved but forgotten character. But at what price?

Annie Bustamante is a cultural force like none other: an acclaimed filmmaker, an author, a comic book artist known for one of the all time best superhero comics in recent memory. But she's never been able to tackle her longtime favorite superhero, the Lethal Lynx. Only known to the most die-hard comics fans and long out of print, the rights were never available - until now.

But Annie is skeptical of who is making the offer: Bert Carlyle's father started Triumph Comics, and has long claimed ownership of the Lynx. When she starts getting anonymous messages urging her not to trust anyone, Annie's inner alarms go off. Even worse? Carlyle wants to pair her with a disgraced filmmaker for a desperate media play.

Annie, who has been called a genius, a sell-out, a visionary, a hack, and everything else under the sun, is sick of the money grab. For the first time since she started reading a tattered copy of The Legendary Lynx #1 as a kid, she feels a pure, creative spark. The chance to tell a story her way. She's not about to let that go. Even if it means uncovering the dark truth about the character she loves.

Sharply written, deftly plotted, and with a palpable affection for all kinds of storytelling, Alter Ego is a one-of-a-kind reading experience."

I mean, it's like a car crash, you can't turn away. Unexploited IP in comics? Let the trolls run wild!

I have been obsessed with superheroes since I was a kid, but funny enough, I'm not really into reading superhero comic books. All of my superhero consumption has come from TV shows and movies. Still, that didn't take away from my enjoyment of this book, and I was honestly surprised by how intriguing I found this book to be.

The story primarily focuses on Annie Bustamante, a talented Oscar-winning filmmaker and comic book artist. Bustamante's passion for the iconic superhero Lethal Lynx - a character she may have closer ties to than anyone realizes - is what thrusts Annie back into the spotlight after lying low for a while. When the opportunity arises for Bustamante to finally revive her favorite superhero, the offer seems a little too good to be true, but Annie has had an idea brewing for years, and she desperately wants the story to be told. Annie agrees to the deal, but when anonymous messages warn her to tread carefully, Annie begins to uncover some shady happenings - something that may be connected to the death of one of her closest friends.

It was really nice to see a strong female leading the charge in the male-dominated world of comic books. Annie was definitely a character I rooted for the entire way.

What I really enjoyed was how the author weaves together elements of filmmaking and comic books with shady deals, secrets, and a compelling mystery to create a plot that was completely unexpected. Though the synopsis hints at obstacles along the way, I wasn't expecting the stakes to be as high and certainly wasn't expecting murder and secrets and intrigue along the way. All of that was a pleasant surprise. Segura's writing is engaging, the pacing is pretty tight, and the characters are strong and relatable.

A few minor complaints were that I felt like the few chapters after the opening scene dragged a bit, though once everything was set up, things picked up a lot. Another thing that made me scratch my head is that it's mentioned several times that Lethal Lynx (the comic book character) was this long-forgotten character that hardly anyone remembers, yet the studio felt they would make millions off rebooting her. You'd think they'd make more money off rebooting a well-known superhero first and maybe reintroducing this character in that reboot, but what do I know? I guess I'm just going on how many times Spiderman, Superman and Batman have been rebooted.

This was another book that I alternated between reading and listening to, and once again, I have to give high marks to the narrator. Frankie Corzo handles all of the characters effortlessly. I also really liked the production value and the way they handled the comic segments peppered throughout the story.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one, mostly because I went in expecting one thing and ended up getting much more action and intrigue than I initially expected. If you're looking for a book with a strong female lead, Annie Bustamante is your gal.

Flatiron Books provided an early galley for review.

Back in 2022, Segura did his first novel set in the world of comics - Secret Identity. I was glad to see that he is taking us back into that world for this new novel. Interestingly enough, both books' titles are two sides of the coin when it comes to a super-hero - the two faces one would have, public and private.

Annie is an interesting, complex character with some very strong choices by the author. The narrative bounces around her life - from her childhood to the most current time in her adulthood as a creator. Segura knows the industry, so all of the interactions ring very true. The characters in her world have many layers, some very secretive.

Throughout, the reader also gets a ton of comic book and related movie references which (as a lifelong comic reader) I really enjoyed. I also too liked the occasional glimpses of artwork from the Lynx comics, presented to the reader as if they actually existed. This is a nice touch that was done in the first book in the "series" as well.

Just as the first novel was very much a period piece for the industry in the 1970's, Alter Ego had a lot to say about the industry in the 21st Century.

Given some of the obstacles she encounters, in some ways it's surprising that Annie Bustamante doesn't commit a crime, most likely assault of an obnoxiously and / or obliviously man in the comics industry, rather than solving one. When Triumph Comics seeks to relaunch its cult series The Legendary Lynx (familiar to readers of Segura's Secret Identity), there are numerous reasons to believe it's an amazing opportunity for Annie, who has cherished the character since her childhood. But she'll need to delve into the decades old mystery surrounding the Triumph City crimefighter and her legacy first.

This novel is a sequel of sorts to the author's prior "Secret Identity" insomuch as it is based off of events from that novel, though, for the most part, this follows a new cast of characters. Decades after the events of the earlier book, a former comic book artist is recruited to help revive a long dormant comic book character, but finds herself caught up in nefarious machinations and murder.

I found this to be another engaging read from the author, though perhaps not quite as much as the first book. While technically a mystery, this book hooked me more on the characters, their relationships and individual struggles. That's not to say the plot wasn't strong, simply that the author displayed a strength in character development that at times here exceeded the draw of the main story.

Ultimately, I'd recommend this to all. While set in the world of comics, it's not ss immersed in it as "Secret Identity" and, as such, might find wider appeal. While a welcome follow-up, this stands as a solid work on its own, not needing knowledge of its predecessor.

The saga of “The Legendary Lynx,” a lost comic book character from the 1970s, continues in this follow-up to 2022’s Secret Identity. This time, the troubled movie director and one-time famous comic book artist Annie Bustamante gets the chance to continue the story of the gritty urban heroine. The seedy owner of the reborn Triumph Comics wants a big Hollywood production after the comic comes out, and he partners her with a crazy, exiled, brilliant director. But resurrecting The Lynx is something some baddies are willing to kill for. A simple comic could result in murder.

It’s a fine idea, one to which comic fans will be drawn. Segura does a good job of setting the stage in New York, unafraid to share the dirty, shameful shadows. There’s complexity to Annie, an interesting story filled with failure and success, and it’s easy to root for her. There’s a strong sense of feminism, too: the book seems to focus on Annie’s quest to protect the legacy of the character’s creator, the reclusive Carmen Valdez. The panels from the would-be comic book are fantastic.

I like this theme a lot, and despite my rating or feelings, this is a series worth continuing. If anything, I might go read the comic book Segura plans to release in November: The Legendary Lynx. But I don’t want to blow up the guy’s spot, so I’ll bury my negative comments deep, deep into the ocean floor of this review. Scroll WAAAAAAAAAY down either on Goodreads or my blog to find it, and I won’t post it to Instagram or NetGalley. And remember: it’s just my snooty little opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for a free advance copy in exchange for my honest review. Alter Ego by Alex Segura comes out December 3, 2024.

I realized unfortunately quickly that this book was not for me. The writing seemed like it wanted you to know how cool and smart the narrator was without any substance and it was off putting enough to stop me from continuing and trying to find things to enjoy.

I sincerely hope this book finds it's audience, that audience just wasn't me