|
 Hero, the debut novel by Hollywood producer and longtime comic book fan Perry Moore, is a deliciously entertaining read that will have you asking for seconds well after the final page has been turned (whether you"re a comic book enthusiast or not).
The protagonist of the story is a teenager named Thom Creed, who has
recently learned that he has an unusual but wonderful new gift, the power
to heal himself and others. Unfortunately, not everyone thinks Thom or
his new talent is worthy of praise.
His father, Hal Creed, was once one of Earth’s greatest heroes until a horrible accident left him disfigured and humiliated. Thom’s mother, a former superhero named The Invisible Lass, left both him and his father soon after the accident. Furthermore, most of Thom’s superhero teammates are less than eager to be working with him. And, to top it all off, Thom is gay.
This is definitely not your typical angst teenage story. Instead, what we do get, is an unforgettable novel with extraordinary characters that remind us about the significance of teamwork and family, while recognizing that it is not so important how someone loves, but that they do love, and, as Thom proves, to do so can heal the world.
Perry Moore wrote Hero with teenagers in mind, hoping to create a positive representation of a gay character that young adults can look up to, which he believes is sorely lacking with many of today’s arts and entertainment genres. The novel (from Hyperion Books) is receiving a major marketing campaign, with plans of a big screen adaptation in the works (with the support of comic book legend Stan Lee).
Moore is the executive producer of the Chronicles of Narnia film series, and is the co-writer and co-director of the forthcoming film Lake City starring Sissy Spacek.
|
