resinrats

You know what I've never seen? A original novel about superheroes that ISN'T tied to a comic/movie. Everything in the book is 100% new.
Yes I know there are books based on Marvel/DC characters.

Requirements:
1) Novel is first time this character has ever appeared.
2) Character not from a comic/graphic novel/game.
3) Book not based on a TV/movie created character -spin-off book

Do any exist?

Josh-da-man

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon. Not exactly a superhero story, but it's rooted in the golden age of comics and is loosely based on Siegel and Shuster.

Superfolks by Robert Mayer. It is often claimed that this novel was a major influence on Alan Moore's "Watchmen" and "Miracleman."

DaveCole

Wild Cards by George RR Martin. The comic adaptations came after the books were in print.

Philzilla

I really enjoyed Soon I Will Be Invincible by Austin Grossman

and I second the Wild Cards series

mhg83

The Maximum ride series by James Patterson. I only read the first book and it came off as a superhero series.

Strapped4Cash

There's also an Anthology that fits the bill. "Masked" (2010) edited by Lou Anders.

Nick Danger

There's The Executioner (Mack Bolan) series of books. He doesn't wear black and white spandex, but Marvel took the idea to create The Punisher.

Nick Danger

There were a lot of weird crime-fighters in the pulps from the 1920s and 1930s. The Saint, The Shadow, Doc Savage, The Avenger, and so forth. They weren't superpowered, but they were smarter, faster, and stronger than anyone else, and they often had strange abilities like hypnosis. Even Conan and Tarzan were better than anyone could possibly be in real life, although they didn't always fight crooks.

Space opera in the 40s and 50s often had people with extraordinary psychic powers (or whatever), like the Lensman books or the Telzy books.

New-AgeOutlaw

Odd Thomas

Not really a superhero but close to what you are looking for

DJLinus

I enjoyed that book, too.

Coincidentally, Heroes R Us is free right now for the Kindle. I haven't read it, but just "bought" it.

http://www.amazon.com/Heroes-Us-Supe...d_rhf_gw_p_t_2

And two novels that recently came out and have gotten good reviews (both are on my "to read" list):

Prepare to Die!

http://www.amazon.com/Prepare-Die-Pa...6037143&sr=1-1

A Once Crowded Sky

http://www.amazon.com/Once-Crowded-S...ref=pd_sim_b_1

It probably wouldn't hurt to browse the "customers who bought this also bought" section to get some other ideas.

Josh-da-man

Have you read Warren Ellis and John Cassaday's Planetary? It takes this and runs with it.

bishop2knight

Prepare to Die is a blast. One heck of a fun read.

I also enjoyed A Once Crowded Sky, but read them back-to-back, and the latter was such a different tone, it took me awhile longer than normal to get into.

Two debut novelists with plenty of talent. I hope they do more in the near future.

iggystar

Great and imaginative book! Very original.

Jon2

Gladiator by Philip Wylie. Never read it myself, although I have read about it many times. It was published in 1930, so it will probably read a little dated. Reportedly the inspiration for Superman.

pelenor

Ex-Heroes and Ex-Patriots by Peter Clines deals with a group of super heroes trying to protect and survive during a Zombie apocalypse. They were a fun read.

mhg83

There were also a lot of super hero books in the choose your own adventure series.