Hero by Perry Moore is such a fun, enjoyable book that I found myself constantly smiling throughout my reading it. Billed as a young adult novel, Hero tells the very comic-book-inspired story of a teenager named Thom (yes, Thom with an “H”) and his exciting, frightening and courageous journey as a new superhero - a new superhero who just happens to also be gay. Not only is this a wonderful novel filled with great archetypical superhero homages galore, but it is also a true “coming out” story for a new generation.

In fact, calling this book a "young adult novel" seems to diminish its power - like saying comic books are for kids - as Hero features a densely plotted storyline that is extremely engrossing, tremendously eventful and very meaningful to anyone who has ever loved superheroes, comic books, being gay, or just a plain old, well-crafted, good story. (Plus, being a "young adult novel" lover myself, I don’t believe I have ever read a book meant for the young'uns with as many “fucks” said in it as this one! Which is terrific if you ask me, as a well placed “fuck” just says it all sometimes.)

What better way to tell a story of a gay teen than within the context superheroes and super-villains? For many gay men, myself included, comic books were my escape from my often harsh high school life; a life filled with teasing peers, jerky bullies and the often shocking realization that no matter how are I tried I would never, ever, ever, be like the other boys. This realization can be quite scary and unnerving for some teens (like me), who are not only bursting with hormones, battling social awkwardness and but trying desperately to navigate under the crushing stereotypical pressures and expectations from society.

My favorite thing about this book was how many times Moore managed to surprise me. Being a comic book reader for over 20 years (aw, man I am getting damn old! Whaaa!) I can easily pick up on the typical comic book trophes being employed in a story, and normally I can guess the “surprises” before they happen, but happily, Hero had plenty of twists and turns that caught me pleasantly off guard. A good story should always keep the reader guessing, and Hero succeeds at never being too predictable.

I would say writing a novel featuring superheroes is a dangerous and difficult task to successfully pull off. If a writer does dare to venture into this daunting world of novelizing an original superhero story – when obviously superheroes primarily exist in the colorful visionary comic book medium – they'd better know what they are doing. Thankfully, Moore is smart enough to use familiar characters that a reader, relying purely on his/her imagination, can easily conceptualize and enjoy. As a mega-nerdy comic book fan it was great fun for me to see Hero deeply borrow and play with many of the pantheon of superheroes in our popular culture - these heroes that practically everyone knows and has some awareness of – by creating cute and cheery allusions to Superman, Wonder Woman, the Flash and Kid Flash, Aquaman and even those mofo Wonder Twins. Using such globally well-know figures in comic book lore, Moore is easily able take the reader into his new world of superheroes without having to totally reinvent the wheel.

Another aspect of this book that I found terrifically fun was Thom’s super-powered ability: healing. Generally healers are third-tier characters best kept in the back burner and only busted out in a story after some huge battle, so that the healer can swoop in and revive the ailing heroes. Having a healer be the main hero seemed like a rather lame and potentially damaging choice. Typically, heroic characters are powerful, god-like individuals that the everyday person can only dream to be like. My first thought was, “Well gee, this is going to be a boring story; a hero who can heal? Snoresville! Why take the time to write a novel about a freaking superhero and make him a healer? Talk about an utterly unexciting power!” Happily, I can say I was totally and completely wrong. I simply loved, loved, loved what Moore did with the formerly “loser” power to heal. He was able to take the (formerly) lame idea of having a healing ability, totally run with it and really push it (in ways I don’t want to spoil in this review) into something dynamic, dramatic and even gasp! desirable. Taking something with such limited expectations as a healing power and making it into something that is able to carry an entire novel is a major accomplishment.

Thankfully, Moore’s story never panders to his audience; it’s a straightforward (so to speak) story that never apologizes for its main character’s homosexuality. In fact, throughout most of the book, the reader is so immersed in the playfully familiar and fantastic world that the whole “gay” thing takes a backseat to the action and adventure, as well it should. In today’s fairly positive gay media - with so much advancement in allowing gay men and women to exist and, in many cases, thrive on TV (and sometimes movies) - it’s hard for anyone to not realize that we gays are no more threatening or dangerous than a My Little Pony. Books about “coming out” filled with pain and anguish, sadness and death, are a dime a dozen, but here Moore has written a thoroughly enthusiastic take on the “coming out” story without all the heavy-handedness.

Sure, the likable Thom struggles and faces much opposition, some over the gay issue, some as a budding hero, but overall, and in like many cases today, his biggest adversary is himself. Thom’s triumphant personal story in Hero is one of self acceptance, strength and a determination to be whoever it is he may be, the devil take whatever happens or whoever has a problem with it. That, super powers or not, makes for a genuine hero.

Editor's note: Buy this book here or at you favorite locally owned book store!