Disney Press’s The Zodiac Legacy: Convergence will be released on January 27. Take a look at some of the sample pages below.
In This Article...
Who is the central figure in the Zodiac saga?
An action-packed, beautifully diversified look at superheroes in the twenty-first century, as well as the Chinese Zodiac pantheon.
A brand-new, spectacular, super-powered adventure from Stan Lee! When twelve magical superpowers are unleashed on the planet, Steven, a Chinese-American teen, will be catapulted into the heart of a global chase. He’ll have to master odd abilities, outrun super-powered mercenaries, and discover the Zodiac’s hidden capabilities.
A class trip to China for fourteen-year-old Steven Lee does not go as planned. For starters, despite being Chinese-American, Steven, a Northern California native, has always felt a little out of place, and on this trip to his grandparents’ homeland, the feeling is even stronger. Then there’s Steven’s discovery in the New China Heritage Museum. Specifically, that magical talents exist in the world, and that they are linked to the Chinese Zodiac and a specific shipan that can release magical power and dormant energy. Oh, and finally, Steven is given with the Tiger’s powers after being blasted by a ray of convergence energy, and is drawn into a desperate struggle against a malevolent company known as the Vanguard, whose commander seeks to amass the Zodiac’s powers and dominate the globe.
With the assistance of new allies and friends
Jasmine, a resistance leader and Dragon; Carlos, a brilliant programmer and researcher; Roxanne, a Parisian rocker and Rooster; Jasmine, a resistance leader and Dragon; Jasmine, a resistance leader and Dragon; Jasmine, a resistance leader and Dragon; Jas Liam of Ireland, as tough as a ram; Kim, a swift teleporting Rabbit, and Duane, a smart hacker and Pig Steven Lee is prepared to confront Maxwell and his Vanguard soldiers. After all, the future is at stake.
The Zodiac Legacy: Convergence is the first installment in a planned trilogy, and it’s packed with action, intriguing new characters, and the beginnings of an epic rivalry between two ideologically opposed superhero (for want of a better phrase) teams. It’s structured similarly to X-Men Origins, but with a more diverse cast and understanding of superpowers, which is a wonderful (and much-needed) addition. The first thing I noticed and thought while reading Convergence was how well the novel followed a classic superhero team arcthere’s the awakening of power, the reluctant call to action and response, and the scramble to recruit and train a team on two diametrically opposed sides. Rather of being near contemporaries like Charles Xavier’s Professor X and Eric Lehnsherr’s Magneto, the two opposing forces in this universe have vastly different resources and skill sets. The Vanguard forces are led by the elder and more experienced Dragon power, Maxwell, a vicious war profiteer with his own army and plenty of cash. The team opposing this military-style force, on the other hand, is commanded by the younger, less-experienced Jasmine, who wields the Dragon’s power without the expertise, unrestricted resources, or troops. She does, however, have a firm sense of right and wrong, as well as guts and a motley crew of newcomers learning to harness their newfound skills on her side. Including, but not limited to, Steven Lee.
The most compelling aspect of this book, in my opinion, is the characterizations, not the numerous battle sequences (and believe me, there are a lot of fight scenes). Our primary character, Steven Lee, is the most well-rounded of the many Chinese-American teenagers who feel out of place in both the United States and, much more so, in China. Steven’s character and decisions are shaped by this distance, this sensation of solitude.
He remembered how everyone in Hong Kong had expected him to speak Cantonese. When he ate the lunches his grandfather had made for him, he imagined the strange stares he’d get from his peers. He even considered the Steel Mongoose, with his seemingly limitless reserves of daring and resourcefulness. The way he seemed at comfortable in any situation.
For the first time, he feels like he can make a difference and that he could actually belong with Jasmine, Carlos, and the team, which motivates and centers Steven, allowing him to establish his own path and sense of self.
This voyage of self-discovery isn’t confined to Steven; the entire Zodiac team (including Jasmine herself) grapples with similar powers and identity dilemmas under Jasmine’s leadership. Jasmine puts on a brave face as she guides and leads her troops into battle, despite the fact that she is clearly suffering and pushing her own abilities to their limits. Roxanne, a French musician, is more like Steven in that when her talents are unleashed, she is terrified and rejected by her family, but she eventually learns to manage her supersonic voice (and fight those who would try to silence her). All of the characters on this squad have similar arcs, and I had a great time learning about them all.
Another strength of the Zodiac Legacy, both as a hero and a villain, is the diversity of the cast. These many ethnic backgrounds, appearances, and voices are reflected in each character’s backstory and actions, as well as aesthetically through the outstanding Andie Tong’s paintings. Diversity was a well researched and crucial aspect for the Zodiac Legacy series overall, as we found from our chat with creators Stuart Moore, Andie Tong, and Nachie Marsham, and it shows in Convergence. While I can’t attest to the realism of the (original) Chinese setting, or the power structure and worldbuilding influenced by the Chinese Zodiac, Convergence reads authentically, as well-researched and respectful of the civilizations it depicts.
But, while there are a lot of things I like about this book, there are also certain elements that aren’t as well-developed as I’d like. In the end, this is a setup book: the lines are drawn and sides are chosen, with the future and the fate of the world hanging in the balance. Teams are formed, and plenty of action happens, but it’s all set up for a bigger clash in volumes 2 and 3.
However, The Zodiac Legacy: Convergence does an excellent job of setting the scene. I will undoubtedly return for the following two volumes, and everyone who like fast-paced, comic-book-style action is invited to join me.
Important Quotes/Parts: I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Andie Tong’s outstanding artwork and representation of the characters in this series. Consider the following examples:
Also, be sure to read Stuart Moore and Andie Tong’s interview, which includes a wonderful giveaway, HERE.
In the Zodiac universe, how old is Steven?
Steven, at 16 years old, has spent years surrounded by the Tiger’s power. But now, on the verge of a disaster that might wipe out not only Steven and his superpowered buddies, but every Zodiac on the planet, Steven must determine how far he would go to protect those he loves.
Is there going to be a Zodiac Academy book 8?
This is the final installment in the Zodiac Academy series. A full overview will be available soon. *** Don’t expect a pleasant magic school with pals around every corner in this dark, bully romance.