Several reviewers described book as clever, well written, engaging, amusing, and fun. The prose was described as "effortless", "colorful", "kinetic and often witty". Numerous reviewers thought the Dr. Impossible character was the highlight of the novel. The "Library Journal" review "highly recommended novel for all public libraries" calling it "fun and thought-provoking book". In "The New York Times Book Review" reviewer Dave Itzkoff wrote that the novel "can't completely measure up other superhero fiction and film, but its ambition and persistence in the face of formidable odds make it an admirable addition to the genre". The "Publishers Weekly" review noted that the comic book scenario written in a prose novel, with "thoughtfully portrayed" characters, would broaden the appeal of the genre. Similarly, regarding the comic book set-up written in prose, Mat Johnson in "USA Today" wrote that Grossman's "fabulist vision is meticulously captured so that it might be gleefully explored, nostalgically, within its traditional boundaries". Journalist Carlo Wolff wrote that "it takes some time to engage because...Grossman is so enamored of the worlds he's fashioning that he overstuffs them...it is a fresh, warm take on comic books, science fiction and pop culture." The "Kirkus Reviews" summary notes that the action scenes are "unimpressive, interrupted by more talk as...the battle seesaws in an arbitrary fashion. For all the special effects, a debut novel that's lifeless and inert." Both the reviewers for "Entertainment Weekly" and "Christian Science Monitor" gave the book a "B" grade, though "The A.V. Club" gave it an "A" grade. It is currently ranked #2 as the Best Superhero fiction Books on ListNerd.