The Marvel Cinematic Universe has transformed comic book stories from niche serials into mainstream cultural staples. While I’ve enjoyed my fair share of superhero movies, I wouldn’t call myself a die-hard fan—more of a casual viewer with limited knowledge of the comics that inspire them. Still, when Alex Segura’s publisher sent me a copy of his latest novel, Alter Ego, I was immediately drawn to its premise. Combining the imaginative flair of comic books with the tension of a modern thriller, the story delivers a unique and exhilarating page-turner.

Annie Bustamante has experienced all the highs and lows of being a great artist. She’s been hailed as an auteur filmmaker, a celebrated author, and the visionary behind one of the most acclaimed superhero comics of recent years. Yet she’s also been labeled a hack, a sellout, and countless other disparaging names—par for the course, especially as a woman navigating a male-dominated industry. Through it all, one project has always eluded her grasp. Since she stumbled upon a tattered copy of The Legendary Lynx #1 as a child, Annie has dreamed of bringing the long-forgotten character to life. Obscure and out of print, The Legendary Lynx is known only to die-hard fans, but it remains Annie’s ultimate creative ambition.

The rights to The Legendary Lynx have been shrouded in mystery for decades, but now they appear to be within Annie's reach. She’s wary of the offer's source—Bert Carlyle, heir to Triumph Comics, whose late father long claimed ownership of the character. Her unease deepens when she receives cryptic messages warning her not to trust anyone. To complicate matters further, Carlyle insists on partnering her with a disgraced filmmaker in a risky bid for publicity. Faced with mounting suspicions and her lifelong dream hanging in the balance, Annie must decide how far she will go to make the Lynx her own.

In Alter Ego, Alex Segura delivers a thrilling novel that taps into comic book culture while offering a taut, contemporary suspense story. Annie's quest to balance a career shaped by commercial success and creative dreams immediately drew me in. The novel expertly explores the tension between profit and passion, heightening the stakes as Annie navigates a world where those lines can easily blur. Although this is a sequel to Segura's 2022 novel Secret Identity, I had no trouble diving into the story and quickly became engrossed in the action. Pages from The Legendary Lynx comic are interwoven throughout the story, adding a unique depth and connection to the world Segura builds. Alter Ego is a fast-paced, captivating thriller that is a pure joy to read.

That’s what I get for not paying attention—totally did not realize this was a sequel (to Secret Identity)! But that did not diminish, one iota, my complete enjoyment of this thoughtful, timeless/timely tale of the oh-so tricky world of comic book creation. This was a true caper with plenty of suspense, a complex main character, gaslighting galore, not to mention a series of exciting superhero interstitial moments. Hats off to narrator Frankie Corzo who had a lot of heavy lifting to do and acquitted herself handily. Excuse me while I go back and download the first book now…

Annie Bustamante is now best known for being an acclaimed director, but her latest project has been shelved for a tax break. As she is looking for new projects she is drawn back to one of her greatest passions in the arts, comic books. Her passion for the longest time has been to work on the Lethal Lynx comics, an old character that is now long out of print. Then she gets an offer from Triumph Comics, claiming to own the Lethal Lynx character, and offering Annie the chance to work on a new line of Lethal Lynx comics. But the offer has a lot of strings attached, including a maligned director trying to tie the Lynx into a new film series. Annie begins working for Triumph, only to discover that everything about the character's origin and Triumph's motivations may not be what it seems.

Full disclosure I did not read Secret Identity before reading this book, not fully realizing that it was a side sequel. That said the opening chapter did a good job covering the ground that I imagine Secret Identity covered before the book moves on to mostly new characters set in the same world (but it is a sequel, the book very much comes back around to the aftermath of Secret Identity in a very good way). Alex Segura seems to have a lot of fun writing about the background deals that help comics get made and the new interactions between the comics industry and Hollywood motivations. Annie is a fantastic lead, always questioning others motivations and fighting for who she cares about. Segura splices Annie's backstory into the character to create a fuller picture of the woman she became and why she is so passionate in her fight to save the Lethal Lynx. The book builds to a very exciting climax and has plenty of reveals to keep the reader invested. Between chapters there are also excellently drawn comics pages the help add to the story, and the audiobook does a great job with sound effects to bring those pages to life. A great book for comics lovers or those wanting to learn a little more about the comics industry, and a great thriller on top of that.

Thank you to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for a copy of Alter Ego in exchange for an honest review.

I throughly enjoyed this book! It was a gripping from start to finish. If you arent really into thrillers, this is a good one! Its pretty mild, but still suspenseful. Also women supporting women is amazing

Thank you to Flatiron Books and Macmillan Audio for the #gifted copies to review.

This was quite a different read for me, but once it got started, I found I could not stop, and the audio was great, complete with sound effects on some of the chapters which worked so well. I liked the comic tie in, and the cat and mouse chase combined with the Hollywood setting. The pacing was fast and steady all the way through, and I liked the short chapters. I did not realize this was the second book in a series but it read just fine as a standalone. Very entertaining, I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this book.

I picked this book as my Aardvark box pick for December, but also thank you to the Publisher and Netgalley because they approved me for the ability to have the ARC audiobook as well! So I am able to review both formats.
I would say I actually used the audiobook about 80% of the time. The only reason you may want the physical over the audio is that some chapter breaks have a comic strip page of “The Lynx” comic that is created in this book. The audio does a great job with making this page like a mini action film clip complete with sound effects and music. It's up to you what you prefer, or maybe pick up both like I did.
This book is listed as a #2 and the author does explain how this book morphed from book #1 in the end acknowledgments. I didn't find that I needed to have read book one, it seems like its a crossover more than a continuation. Annie Bustamante has her own story in this. I do want to read book 1 eventually though, to see the connections.
I don't think someone should go into this thinking “thriller”. Its pacing is quick, but we get a lot of flashbacks of Annie's past as a childhood, relationships and life that sets her up for where she is in the now as an artist. I almost feel like the murder mystery is the backdrop to a lot of different drama.
It deals with a lot of the comic book industry and corporate greed. I really loved this commentary from Annie's perspective as an artist putting love into the work she creates. I don't want to spoil what happens with specifics, but I'll say this book touches on so many topics within the current creative sphere. As an artist myself, I couldn't help but root for Annie.
If you go into this with those things in mind, I believe you will enjoy this as much as I did!

Great story. Wonderfully narrated. The narrator does great voice work without seeming too same or over the top with each character.

12-5 update: Posted expanded review on TikTok

I'm glad I chose the audiobook. The narrator is talented, and brought to life the voices of the various characters. I enjoyed her clear and expressive vocal performance. The sound design for the comic book segments enhance the listening experience.

Based on the description, I expected a fun, exciting book. Although I had some empathy for the frustrations, struggles, and passions of the central characters, this book was not for me.

I liked the glimpses of the comic book world. The details of how the creators were treated, the personalities, and the economics of it kept my attention. The intriguing mystery of the Cuban woman who created the Legendary Lynx character hooked me. The young comic artist’s passion for the first issue of the comic and how it inspired her resonated.

I found the pace extremely slow due to loads of time spent in flashbacks. The prolonged interior monologues became aggravating. Too many times, I’d start becoming interested and then there’d be another jump away or slow memory segment with the character doing nothing but sitting around thinking.

The MC has a few gutsy moments that kept me from giving up on the book. Unfortunately, I couldn't believe key elements of the plot, and some of the MC’s decisions made no sense to me.

Many readers find this novel enjoyable. I would not want to discourage anyone from trying this book. These things are a matter of taste. The book works as a standalone, and Seguero’s previous book achieved popularity and acclaim. I rounded up my rating to 3 stars due to the excellent audio production. The acting, music, and sounds greatly improved my experience of Alter Ego.

Recommended for comic book and mystery fans.
Thank you, Macmillan Audio for the ALC via NetGalley for consideration. These are solely my own opinions.

3.5. As a huge comic book fan this was a really fun read. Felt like I got to peek behind the curtain a lot on the industry and there are so many great nods to writers and artists within. The audiobook was well done and the sound design for the Lynx portions was fun. Segura clearly loves noir and set the story up well to live in a noir like space surrounded by well fleshed out characters and a simple but also complex mixing of mystery and industry. In the end the quick, simple, and obvious bad guy took away from it all a bit for me. Annie is a great lead though, and every character felt thought out. At its core is a story of creativity and capitalism and their struggle to coexist. It dives into rights and who truly owns anything. How easy it can be to take someone else's voice and relabel it your own. Which is all wrapped up in real and flawed people. Honestly, the main reasons it is not a 4 or higher for me are the easy end and it was a lot of exposition. It helps with story but I wish more of it was shown then just told. Overall well plotted and maybe a tad over long but I still enjoyed it and would recommend to novel and comic fans alike. I see Segura has a Daredevil novel as well and I will def be jumping on that. I think his style based on this will lend itself well to that gritty world. Thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron for the advanced audiobook.

Alter Ego by Alex Segura offers an engaging blend of mystery and comic book culture. Though it is the second book in a series, it functions well as a standalone novel, requiring no prior knowledge to follow the story.

The novel excels in its world-building and character development, particularly in its detailed exploration of the comic book industry. The narrative weaves together different generations of artists, creating a mystery driven by deep emotional connections - family bonds, friendships, artistic passion, and storytelling. Segura's evident expertise in the comic book (and film) industry provides readers with an authentic immersion into this specialized world.

The story successfully balances multiple elements: the protagonist's internal struggles, complex mother-daughter relationships across generations, and a compellingly nuanced romantic subplot. These components mesh together to create a cohesive narrative.

The audiobook ventures into the thrilling style of an audio drama with its immersive sound effects and atmospheric elements. This format enhances the comic book atmosphere and brings the story to life. The narrator's performance also captures the protagonist's voice with remarkable authenticity.

This book should particularly appeal to readers interested in comics, filmmaking, mysteries, Latinx stories, and narratives featuring strong female protagonists, among other subjects. With its well-crafted mystery and engaging characters, Alter Ego proves to be a rewarding read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting access to this audiobook.

I found this story to be honestly a little bit confusing. I found that the plot and characters were not as developed as they could've been. If I am being honest, I went into this book pretty blind and the main reasons I requested this book were because I liked the cover and Frankie Corzo is an amazing audiobook narrator. So this book is a slight dissapointment for me.

I had been meaning to read Secret Identity since it came out and receiving this copy was the push I needed. I absolutely loved it and immediately started this after finishing it. While both the novels are set in the same universe, Secret Identity takes place in the 70s and establishes how the Lynx came to be. Alter Ego takes place in the present day and while I think it can be enjoyed as a standalone without knowing all the background details, it is so much richer when you do have all the info. I really proceed with caution when male writers have FMCs but for both novels I loved that there wasn’t a trace of ‘women written by men’ issues. Segura is a prolific comic book author and I loved getting the commentary on the industry and really liked the strong FMCs he built. I think I loved Secret Identity a bit more than Alter Ego, it had stronger Noir vibes and the era was more interesting to me. But as far as the mystery went, Alter Ego definitely stands fine on its own.

The audiobook is narrated by Frankie Corzo, who I really loved in Mexican Gothic. Similar to Secret Identity (narrated by Aida Reluzco), this one had immersive sound design included (think footsteps, door creaks, rain etc.) and I absolutely loved it. I recommend both of these novels on audio.

Let me just start by saying that although this is book 2 of Segura’s Secret Identity series, it reads extremely well as a standalone. In fact, I had no clue it was a sequel until I went to add it in my tracker. Also, the book is built around a love for comic books, but you certainly don’t need to be a comic fanatic to enjoy this story. That being said, I now want to read book one, because this one was so fun.

The gist:
Annie Bustamamte grew up loving the art of comic books. It was her sanctuary. Her obsession lied with one heroine - The Lynx - which was co-created by a Cuban woman which gave Annie great inspiration. Many years later, as an accomplished filmmaker, writer and artist, she is given the opportunity to recreate the legend of The Lynx but finds herself unraveling long lost dark and dangerous secrets along the way.

As an audiobook, this was Top Notch! With great character development and dynamics and the coolest comic interludes. This honestly is no where near a go-to genre for me but WOW did I have fun with it. Very much recommended 👍🏼

*thanks to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for the arc opportunity*

The second in a duology that is such a love letter to comics. I would say this is a pretty great standalone, however, I believe that Secret Identity needs to be read before tackling Alter Ego, at least for the background information regarding the Legendary Lynx.
Annie Bustamante is a jack of all trades; award-winning director, artist, visionary and she has a chance to bring the Lynx back to life. However, she soon discovers that Triumph Comics (or what's left of it), is just making a giant cash grab and not staying true to the character. They don't even want the world to know that Triumph doesn't actually own the Lynx. Annie will find out more than she bargained for and team up with the Lynx's creator, Carmen Valdez to bring the comic back to life.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio e-arc.*

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 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 the more believable reason why an award-winning director became persona non grata then this would’ve been a five story 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,

Such a good follow-up to Secret Identity. Segura has created a world I want to stay in and hear from again and again; there are so many more characters I wish there were stories for! I love how the characters tie together and everything that connects us to the first book. The story has the high stakes feeling of a detective mystery with characters who are real and unapologetic. Who knew the world of comic books would leave me feeling this way?

Annie is a movie director and comic book writer. Her latest movie is shelved and she is upset. She gets an offer to work with a publisher to bring back the Lynx - a comic book character Annie loved as a child, and who happened to have been illustrated by her father (whom she didn't know). When Annie agrees to work with a disgraced movie director to bring the Lynx to the big screen, strange things begin to happen. Mysterious deaths, murder, and chaos. It's up to Annie to figure it all out.

This was my first Alex Segura book. I really liked it. I know nothing about comics, but even knowing nothing, Segura does an excellent job of explaining without it sounding like expository. I was truly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I really liked Annie and her daughter Margot. The characters were well developed and very entertaining.

I read this book as an audio book. The narrator was so wonderful. Frankie Corzo is so wonderful. Her voice is so rich and she does voices so well. The extra production value with the small clips of the Lynx are also amazing.

This was an excellent mystery.

I thought this book was great. It was a great inside look into the comics and entertainment industry. At times it read like a John Grisham novel but was also an interesting family drama. Will definitely be going back to read the first one.

Novel Concept: 5/5
Execution of Novel Concept: 4/5

Title: 4/5
Characterization: 4/5
Dialogue: 3/5
Plot: 4/5
Atmosphere: 3/5
Theme: 5/5
Prose: 4/5

Does this pass the Bechdel Test: Overwhelmingly Yes

Before I get in it, I just wanted to say that if you were wondering if you could read this book without reading the first book and still have a good time, the answer is yes. No idea this was a sequel, which is fully on me.

Title
Alter Ego is a term borrowed from the super-hero genre itself, which I think is good. However, it really is a general title and I can see this struggling to stand on its own as there are several books with this same title and The Alter Ego Effect is the first to show up in a web search.

Additionally, the first book in the series is called Secret Identity and while I could understand that there's nuance between the two words, that doesn't change the fact that Secret Identity and Alter Ego are basically interchangeable.

Characterization
All of the characters are interesting. Annie's struggle through alcoholism was an interesting thing to explore. It fit naturally in the story and created a natural sense of tension as people interacted with each other. Most of the characters are fully fleshed out and well articulated.

The character who struggled the most seemed to be Margo. Consistently she seemed to a little all over the place. I could not tell you if she was supposed to be 17 or 13.

And in terms of characters I just did not care about it was Danny. I'm sorry--I just could not bring myself to care about that man.

Dialogue
While for the majority of the cast, their dialogue seemed natural, Margo again is where it seemed to struggle the most. She at times felt less like a character and more of a "I'm telling you" font of exposition. She'd repeatedly tell the audience things about Annie and happens so often that I found it a little annoying.

Plot
This book seemed undecided in what it wanted to be. At times it felt like a general fiction about the comic book industry, and at others it wanted to be a thriller with a comic book industry backdrop. Both of these sides were entertaining, but I wished they were blended together a little bit more. I think part of why I didn't care about Danny is because the flashbacks did not serve the thriller, it served the general fiction ambiance, and I felt like it was more of a distraction than anything else.

I was totally sucked into the evil capitalist overlords verses the passionate artist. The greed, the underhanded tactics, the complete inability to understand how business works. I was totally here for it. The most natural stress I had about this book was Annie Vs The Man(tm) more than any of the real dangers impressed upon her.

Aside from that it's a fairly cohesive narrative.

Atmosphere
Even when characters were in danger, it never felt like a dangerous situation to me. The only time I was really feeling it was the subway scene. It was hard for me to connect to the action of the narrative.

I'm not a comic book person, so I cannot attest to the accuracy of this novel but it's enough that I'd buy into it being well researched. There is clearly a lot of heart and love put into bringing the comic book aspects of this novel to life.

Theme
This book is about the artist how to navigate capitalism, which the book argues is where creative ideas go to die. Annie wants to create with passion and leave her mark on the world, but she's got to pay the electric bill. She needs money. And to get money as a creative, you have to make do with a bunch of vulture capitalist's think is a good idea. The pivot to AI at the end was very good in solidifying a good thesis about the importance of human made art that's made by passionate people. The themes are theming in this book!


Prose
The prose is easy to read and flows naturally.

In terms of structure, I, again, I did not like the flashbacks. The jumping through time was generally more distracting than helpful. I thought my audiobook skipped ahead or maybe the POV changed when we went from freshly fired to living in a new town with a kid. I think that I would have liked it better if we kept a synchronous timeline as much as possible, while also having the far back flashbacks sprinkled throughout. I think the drama between Danny and Annie would have been a natural buffer in the set up so that way we can nose dive into the thriller at the midpoint.

The Lynx bits were phenomenal. I was listening on audiobooks and the musical cues to signal we're in comic book land was truly phenomenal and I absolutely ate that shit up.


Conclusion
I think, though I am a more critical voice, it's important to state here that I did have fun, and I would recommend people pick it up. I think that if you're really into comic books this is the book for you. I also think that the themes and messages of this book is very important and very well spoken. The author is very good at illustrating how capitalism can sometimes ruin artform. If I wanted to explain to someone how exactly artists get screwed over by executives, this is the book I'd tell them to read.

Alex Segura delivers a masterclass in storytelling with Alter Ego, a gripping thriller that celebrates the creative process while diving deep into the murky waters of the comics industry. Annie Bustamante is a compelling protagonist, balancing her artistic integrity with the pressures of fame and corporate greed. The narrative crackles with tension, thanks to anonymous threats, shadowy deals, and an unraveling mystery around the Lethal Lynx’s history. Segura's love for comics and storytelling shines through every page, making this a must-read for fans of thrillers and creative arts alike. Smart, suspenseful, and utterly unputdownable.

Thank you Alex Segura, MacMillan Audio, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!