Suck it Up

Suck it Up, by Brian Meehl, is another great story about why being a vampire, well, sucks. 
       Morning McCobb has never been the greatest vampire.  Skinny and nerdy, and the most well-accomplished reader of Marvel comics in the IVLeague (International Vampire League), he doesn't fit human's, and most vampire's, ideals of a good vampire:  beautiful, sleek, and intelligent.  But the IVLeague wants to integrate their members with the world of humans, and Morning McCobb has been chosen as their new poster boy.  Assigned public relations agent Penny Dredful, Morning meets her daughter, Portia Dredful, and gets a reminder of what it's like to be human.  Fighting envy and himself with every public appearance, Morning gets a taste of what it's like to be an actual hero, something he's wanted since before he can remember, and a taste of what it's like to fall to the dark side.

This book was eh.  Funny and fresh in many ways, but predictable in many others.  Yeah, guy falls for girl.  Vampire slayer wants to kill guy, and uses girl to get at him.  Oops, did I just give away some of the plot?  Ah, well, it doesn't matter, you would've seen it coming anyway.
      The sarcasm is great though.  I loved the line, "I am going to be a solider in the 501st legion and march in the Rose Bowl every year!", which was declared by Morning McCobb himself.  Fellow nerds, unite.  So, it's pretty funny.  And the kitchen people who try to use the stake, wooden, meant for killing a vampire, as bread?  That was smooth too.  There's also this vampire, Birnam, who makes really cheesy vampire puns nearly every time he talks.  The author really isn't afraid to poke fun at his characters. 
     The story does shed yet another light on the dozens of vampire myths.  Every modern writer tries to take a different angle on what vampires really are, and each of them have a different theory.  That can get bland sometimes, and it's no different in this book.  Though, at least here the vampires aren't trying to live in secret--they are trying to be accepted.  I can buy that.
       Anything else?  Oh, yeah, book does not have as many swear words as one would think, considering the title.  They are all skirted around in a very smooth manner. The theme of being a superhero is a very strong theme in the book, and what does or does not make a person a hero is looked at closely. 
        So, if you're looking for a good, short, and humorous read to sink your teeth into, I'd check this one out.  It may not be oozing with blood, guts, or gore, nor is it over sentimental or romantic, but it should satisfy your need to feed until you can get yourself another fix of something more . . . meaty.