Enjoy both the first chapter and a small excerpt

Prologue

*BEEP BEEP BEEP*

The red lights flashed across the halls.

*BEEP BEEP BEEP*

The blaring alarm drowned out the screams of the scientists. Screams echo louder as the doors electronically seal. It seemed a good idea at the time, a failsafe to contain the blast. Now it contains victims. If only they were smaller, they could crawl through the vents.

*BEEP BEEP BEEP*

A somber hush falls upon the group as they accept their impending fate. If they had known their fate was not death, but something far worse, perhaps they wouldn’t be so accepting.

*BEEP BEEP BEEP*

The red lit halls become white as the reactor reaches a critical level. A rush of energy fills the compound, experimental elements colliding with every surface. Excess leaks through the vents.
Chapter One

One Hour Earlier.

Campbell Chowderman sits alone in his apartment. Despite his name, Campbell had always been ordinary. His blue jeans and V-neck tee were almost as basic as his lunch. On this particular day it was a bowl of canned clam chowder. By no means was this his favorite, but it was cheap and reliable. Campbell longed for the adventure of other soups. He dreamt of broccoli cheddar, he fantasized over beef broth. Campbell never branched out to these soups as he was as basic as a bowl of clam chowder.

*CLICK CLICK*

The stovetop always clicked twice before lighting. Perhaps it was the universe's way of reminding Campbell how he lived every day the same. Though today was different. Today when he opened the can, a putrid smell hit Campbell’s nose. This clam chowder had clearly soured. After opening the fridge and only being met with leftover rice, Campbell’s growling stomach led him to the local supermarket.
ED’S FOOD was almost as reliable of a store as clam chowder was a soup. For some families Walmart is king, others prefer to shop local. Campbell found ED’S FOOD the closest thing to an adventure.

“Good Morning!” greeted the greeter.

Campbell shuffled past, deciding not to reply back nor correct her that it was in fact the afternoon. Throughout his whole life Campbell was a quiet man. He was more of a homebody than his peers which led to a less than social childhood. The solace he found was in the library. After school, in the summer, even on his birthday, Campbell found the library comforting. Day in and day out he would read. Cheesy lines said by young protagonists became his dialect. Detectives with incredible minds became his mentors. Due to the library's nature as a quiet establishment, Campbell hardly spoke.

Oh boy.. Soup thought Campbell as he approached the all too familiar aisle. His eyes locked with the flavor he endured. The label seemed to stare back.

CLAM CHOWDER.
Every single day it was

CLAM CHOWDER.

Every single lunch it was

CLAM CHOWDER.

No excitement, only

CLAM CHOWDER.

Every time he closed his eyes he saw the off-white color. The lumps and creamy taste of

CLAM CHOWDER.

Campbell closed his eyes and looked up, as if he was readying his body for another grueling bowl. When he opened, he found a can of soup on the top shelf, partially obscured by others. For a moment, he almost looked past it. He saw the CH and expected the O to follow. It was the letter I that seemed to snap him to life.

Campbell reached his arm up, struggling to reach the can. His shoulder pushed up to give his outstretched hand more of a chance. But alas, it wasn’t enough. It seems that once again Campbell would be having clam chow-
“No” said Campbell. “I can reach”

He once again reached up his arm, but human anatomy would only let him reach so far.

There’s got to be something, he thought.

That something was the bottom shelf that his foot now rested on. Almost like a step ladder, Cambpell used it to gain extra height. Triumphantly, his hand grasps the unique can. Untriumphantly, Cambpell’s foot slips and he brings down the shelves full of soup on top of him.

"Ow.”

Dazed, Campbell looked at the can he continued to clutch.

CHICKEN NOODLE

Finally, something new he thought.

Out of all of the soups which Campbell had dreamed of trying, chicken noodle had been at the top of his list. He had seen other soups, stews, and bisques. None caught his attention like chicke-

***

*BEEP BEEP BEEP*
The red lights flashed across the halls.

***

-n noodle. Campbell wasn’t sure what specifically caught his attention. Maybe it was the viscosity, the lack of a cream base. Perhaps the long flat noodles, almost like ribbons. Even the co-

***

Experimental elements rushed out of the research station vents. Attaching themselves to the air and riding the wind like a wave. One cluster headed for a small supermarket.

***

-lor was a soft warm orange, much more appetizing than the off–white coloring he was used to everyday. Even the hot steam coming off the bowl seemed appetizing. The chunks of chicken, uniform from the factory yet clearly a different texture.

As the cluster of elements struck Campbell, he thought about tasting this soup.

TO READ THE REST OF CHAPTER 1, STAY TUNED FOR SOUP-MAN, RELEASING 2026
The following is a small excerpt from one of the book's many action scenes better showcasing Soup-Man's Powers

Soup-Man lurched his body towards the first Hound. Bullets flew in the air but only moved through the broth. Soup-Man spiraled his body into a long skinny shape, ensuring he was aimed straight for the rifle. More bullets flew as Soup-Man went inside the barrel. He felt the bullets move through him.

If you enjoyed, consider checking out more of Soup-Man, releasing 2026

The original sketch

Soup-Man

Soup-Man started as a collection of comics that I made in school. His origin, villains, and design were all a satire of comics and superheroes as a whole. Taking those elements and mixing it with a love and respect for the genre was a fun challenge. I always knew I would return to this world, though at the time I didn't foresee just how much I would enjoy it.

Potentially my favorite thing about the book is how the tone and world shifts so drastically between different perspectives and even emotions. It managed to create a campy happy feel when things are good and a dramatic dark feel when things are bad.

I hope you're able to enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing. Soup-Man is still under development and will be releasing in 2026. I am excited to share more excerpts, concept art, old sketches and covers with you all.