Welcome true believers, this is Stan Lee. We’re about to embark the exploration of a fantastic new universe and the best part is that you are gonna create it with me…
I never thought I would hear his voice again expect from some videos on YouTube, but here he is, sharing his brilliant mind with his audience for the last time: The Man. The Myth. The Legend. Mr. Stan Lee. You may cry, you’ll explore, and you’ll see yourself in some of it. You’ll try to imagine the scenes and take the gift of a beautiful message with you.
You may know me as a storyteller, but hey on this journey consider me your guide. I provide the witty and wonderful worlds and you create the sights, sounds, and adventures. All you need to take part is your brain. So take a listen and think big, no bigger, we make it an epic.
Created by Stan Lee, Luke Lieberman, and Ryan Silbert with it co-written by Kat Rosenfield, A Trick of Light is the first instalment in the Alliances series, which combines new heroes and their adventures in a fast-evolving world. It also focuses on what makes us unique and the need to be connected and to not feel alone. What makes this project even more special is that we cannot dive into the pages of a comic book and see the story unfold before our eyes, but instead, you are invited to create this world by yourself while listening to Yara Shahidi‘s (The Sun is also a Star, Grown-ish) voice.
Within the story, 17-year-old genius hacker, Nia, is the loneliest girl in the world. Her world consists of only two people, herself and her father. She spends her days in a hologram classroom to learn everything there is about the world she so desperately wants to experience for real. She is not permitted to get out and know anyone in person, but she is allowed to go online and have her own social media accounts. But this is not enough for her and she intends to free herself.
Then there’s “unmuscular nerd” Cameron who goes out on his boat to shoot a new video for his YouTube channel when a storm appears, and he is struck by lightning. This video will bring him the attention he was looking for at last. Finally, he will become famous. Waking up in hospital, he realises that he has changed and he is able to connect to every electronic device. He is overwhelmed by the sudden onslaught of information, and it seems he has become cyberkinetic. With technology ever evolving, Cameron also puts his new abilities to use and creates VR contact lenses and AR goggles.
Cameron must now accept what he has gained and soon he meets Nia in an online game. They quickly become friends and have the idea to create their own space in the internet where they are safe from everyone who monitors online activities. At some point, they cross paths with OPTIC who wants their skill set for their own evil plans. However, no one is aware of the mysterious galactic threat which is on its way to earth to destroy humankind.
Together and with the help of Cameron’s best friend, Juaquo, and Nia’s father, they have to have the power to master even the most impossible situations.
…Remember when I created characters like the Fantastic Four and the X-Men? We were fascinated by science and awed by the mysteries of the great beyond…
Cameron, Nia, and Juaquo all had at least one person in their lives which they loved, but they still felt alone. For them, and many of us here in reality, the internet provides connections and the ability to meet others so A Trick of Light really explores this evolving way of connecting with people. For Nia, the digital world is everything she has. She calls strangers friends even though she probably will never meet and still, she is grateful that she has them. However, as much as the internet connects us, it can also divide us with many spending the day in their own bubble checking social media and not spending time in the real world.
…Today we consider a nearer deeper unknown one inside ourselves. […] we asked: What is more real? A world that we are born into or the one we create ourselves…
As the story progresses, Nia discovers that most of her life was a lie and she does not know who or what she is anymore, while Cameron discovers how Nia was involved in his freak accident that caused his powers. Juaquo on the other hand has to ask himself if he still wants to hold on to his past, or slowly let go of it and star truly living. These three characters really embody how many young people, and really people of any age, can feel lost or out of touch at some point in their lives. It shows that no matter what they are facing, they all want to feel accepted as the individuals they are. You have to believe in yourself and find that confidence. The trio also find themselves in a battle against a cosmic evil power and they have to find their true power within themselves. They have to realise that they do not need to stay on the path they happened to be on just because someone or something has put them there.
Online or offline, we are the masters of our fate!
…As we begin this story, we find humanity lost within is own techno bubble. With each citizen the star of their own digital fantasy. […] But the real conundrum is, just because we have the ability to recreated ourselves, should we? […] Excelsior!
For the last time, Stan Lee has not only has given us a new adventure which takes place in our modern world, but he also shares with us his wisdom and gives us a last powerful message. We are all seeking acceptance. We want to be a part of something and know that we are loved and give that love back. We want to connect. We need to connect! We are stronger together and both respect and love are stronger than hate. Thanks to creation of the internet, we have the possibility to reach out and do far more than we can imagine, if we chose to use it wisely.
You will not find a stereotypical superhero in this story. You will find a group of young adults who use the technology around them to conquer loneliness and even an unknown galactic power. In a way, it’s almost a metaphor as there’s times where it feel like we will never be able to conquer something, but in fact only need to look inside ourselves and around us because the answer could be right in front of you. Without giving too much away, Nia’s journey is the one that shows the path which we all have to take at some point.
Although it’s a new original story and a new story universe, there are some hints that Nia, Cameron, and Juaquo’s adventure is taking place in the same universe as previous stories in which we get to know Thor or S.H.I.E.L.D. As the book ends, we know that the cosmic threat will take a bigger part in the upcoming books and that three people fighting it will not be enough. They need to build an army!
A Trick of Light is now available from Audible! There’s also some good news for those of you, who are not fans of audiobooks as A Trick of Light will be available in print this September!
Thank you to Audible for providing The Nerd Daily with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
