What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedSuper
James Gunn · Film · 2010
If you loved Super, start with Misfits (Howard Overman, 2009) — a series on the same thread. Below: 3 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Super across media.
What hooked you in Super was the way it weaponizes social outcasts and their fractured mental states against a deeply cynical world.
Books on the same thread
The Crow
James Vance · Book · 2004
Explores: Revenge, Justice, Morality.
If the desperate, violent quest for justice in Super resonated with you, this story of a vengeful soul crossing the line into pure brutality will feel like a familiar descent.
Misery
Stephen King · Book · 1987
Shares a thread with Super: Obsession.
The obsession that drives the protagonist of Super finds a chilling, captive reflection here, where the boundary between fan devotion and lethal psychological instability vanishes in a claustrophobic nightmare.
Holly
Stephen King · Book · 2023
Explores: missing persons, elderly sociopaths, investigative process.
Much like the amateur sleuthing in Super, this narrative explores the dark secrets of ordinary people, proving that the most dangerous threats often hide behind the most mundane social facades.
Series on the same thread
The Boys
Eric Kripke · Series · 2019
Shares a thread with Super: Vigilantism.
You loved the blue-collar grit of Super; this series takes that same grounded, violent approach to vigilantism and applies it to a world where superheroes are the corrupt villains.
Misfits
Howard Overman · Series · 2009
Shares 2 threads with Super: Superhero Comedy, Dark Comedy.
If you enjoyed watching social outcasts stumble into superhero roles in Super, you will appreciate this group of delinquents whose newfound powers are as chaotic as their broken lives.
Peacemaker
James Gunn · Series · 2022
Shares a thread with Super: Violent comedy.
Since you appreciate the violent, black-comedy tone of Super, this series offers a perfect companion piece featuring an unhinged, morally compromised protagonist navigating a world of absurd, high-stakes brutality.
Invincible
Series · 2021
Explores: Father-Son Relationship, Superhero Legacy, Brutal Superhero.
The deconstruction of the superhero mythos found in Super continues here, focusing on the brutal reality of what happens when a normal person tries to live up to heroic ideals.
Podcasts on the same thread
Small Town Murder
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: provincial life, tragic irony, forensic breakdown.
The blend of dark comedy and tragic irony that defines Super is mirrored in this podcast, which examines the grim, real-world consequences of crime through a sharply cynical comedic lens.
Crime in Sports
James Pietragallo, Jimmie Whisman · Podcast · 2026
Explores: athlete misconduct, legal absurdity, scandalous behavior.
If you enjoyed the way Super mines the absurdity of human failure for dark laughs, you will find this investigative deep dive into the scandalous lives of athletes equally compelling.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Super based on a comic book or other source material?
Super is an original film written and directed by James Gunn. It does not have any source-material siblings in our catalog, as it was not adapted from a pre-existing book or graphic novel.
What is the premise of the movie Super?
Super follows an everyday man who decides to become a superhero named Crimson Bolt after his wife falls under the influence of a drug dealer. He attempts to fight crime despite lacking any actual heroic skills or training.
Who directed the 2010 film Super?
The 2010 movie Super was written and directed by James Gunn. The film centers on a man who adopts the persona of Crimson Bolt to combat the drug dealer who corrupted his wife.
Does Super feature a protagonist with traditional superhero powers?
No, the protagonist of Super does not have traditional powers. He is an everyday guy who transforms into Crimson Bolt with the best intentions, but the film specifically highlights that he lacks the necessary heroic skills to be an effective crime fighter.