It’s been recounted in almost every conversation about gays and comics; that we relate to the duality of the super hero; having to keep a secret from the rest of the world, finding camaraderie in others with ‘special’ abilities, wearing stylish outfits after dark, etc. As obvious as it is, we still have to read between the lines to put our experiences into a heterosexual context. As hunky as Kyle Rayner is with his spandex and the accessory with unlimited power, he still has a girlfriend to talk to about the change in his life when he becomes a Green Lantern (or Ion, or Parallax, or whatever he is this week).
Perry Moore’s debut novel Hero seeks to address this. Written for the young adult crowd, ‘Hero’ tells the story of Thom Creed, a 2nd generation Super who discovers he has powers about the same time he discovers boys. Moore does an exceptional job of winding a gay coming of age story in with a great Silver Age feeling comic action story.
Thom is living with his father, the former Major Might, a disgraced former hero who doesn’t like to talk about his past. Thom’s mother disappeared years ago, and no one has seen her for a very long time. Thom is playing a basketball game when an opposing player is injured. Thom runs over to help, and that’s when he discovers he has the ability to heal people at an accelerated rate. It’s at the same game that a player winks at him and stirs emotions Thom had never felt before.
Through a series of events, Thom ends up having to use his powers in front of The League (an impressive Justice League/Avengers pastiche). The leader, Justice, asks for Thom to try out for a League membership. Thom makes probationary status, and now he has 2 secrets to keep from his dad.
Thom’s probationary teammates are so D List, they make Kathy Griffin look like Black Canary: Typhoid Larry (can induce sickness), Scarlett (control of fire, but with dire consequences), Golden Boy (a speedster in the Kid Flash-as-an-asshole mold) and Ruth, a senior citizen with minor precog abilities (think Raven of the Teen Titans collecting Social Security). Training together, all the members of this ragtag team have their own secrets, but even here, Thom feels like an outsider.
Like many of us, Thom often sits outside the local gay bar daring himself to go in. Finally he meets a guy and shares his first kiss in the parking lot outside the bar. Just as in real life, it ends up costing him in ways he could never imagine.
Through all of this, Thom is followed by Dark Hero, a vigilante on the outskirts of the hero community. Dark Hero’s identity is easily figured out, but hey, this was written for teens so what do you expect?
Moore’s writing is crisp and fluid, never sacrificing character for plot, or vice versa. His action sequences flow in such a way you can almost see them in a panel to panel in your mind. Thom’s anguish at his dishonesty with his father is real but it adds to the story without overpowering it. It’s a tough balancing act, but Moore pulls it off with panache.
I would have given anything to have a book like this given to me at the age of 15; it would have really made a difference in my life. I can only hope it finds its way into the hands of those who need it now.
