Action movies ain’t what they used to be. Sure, computer imaging has helped Hollywood create some of the craziest action scenes you could possibly imagine, but when CGI replaces lower-tech tricks like intrigue, strong characters, and good old-fashioned explosions, what’s an ’80s action nostalgic to do?

Author Manuel Gonzales may have the answer with The Regional Office Is Under Attack!, which I recommend to anyone who would rather get their summer-movie fix on paper—and who hungers for that rare mix of crazy action and phenomenal character introspection.

This review contains a few spoilers, not least of which is the book’s title. The Regional Office is a secret organization, disguised as a boutique travel agency, that sends an army of young women superheroes to fight the “forces of darkness,” including zombies, alien invaders, and mad scientists.