3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best superhero book around today!, July 11, 2004
This review is from: H-E-R-O: Powers and Abilities (Paperback)
If you didn't get the original comic book editions of the first few issues of "H-E-R-O" then this collected edition is a great place to start. It's all about one of the most exciting and fun ideas (in my opinion) to ever come out of superhero comic books so here's a bit of history to help understand what the book's all about:
"H-E-R-O" is the continuing story of the mystic "H-Dial" which can transform people into superheroes by dialling the letters H-E-R-O. This object has been around in the DC Comics universe since the 1960's and, through the decades, has turned up in various forms by various users - the most well known being Robby Reed (who turns up in later issues of the regular "H-E-R-O" comic book series). The stories were known as "Dial H For Hero" - they were always part of multi-strip comic book series like "House of Mystery" and "Adventure Comics" (although they often took up entire issues of those books) which ended its' run as the regular back-up story in the 80's series "New Adventures of Superboy". "Dial H For Hero" never got its' own title until now and it's just simply known as "H-E-R-O" (which I think is rather cool!).
The original 60's "Dial-H" stories were pretty silly but a lot of fun. The same goes for the 80's version which was a bit more serious and a bit more down to earth. The coolest thing about "Dial H" was that the heroes and villains were all created by the readers!
Anyway, the idea of readers sending in their character designs/ideas has been scrapped with "H-E-R-O" (and it is probably all the better for it!). And this series is a lot darker in tone and a bit more reality based - which is also why it has a rather strong dark sense of humour. Different people get to use the dial - most use it for good but others use it for evil purposes (which is the reason Robby Reed turns up again later on in the series - a brilliant story well worth reading).
Most of the people who use the dial aren't clean cut like the previous H-diallers from the 60s-80s but are regular people who are normal and have their own (realistic) problems such as homelessness, alcoholism, suicidal, depression, relationship troubles, unemployed, etc. This adds an extra, much needed realistic dimension tot he whole H-Dial mythos as we see what it would really be like to have to deal with gaining fantastic super powers and how to control and use them.
Anyway, I don't really want to give too much away about "H-E-R-O" as it is a total thrill to read. Very enjoyable, full of surprise revelations and entirely unpredictable (which is why I ain't saying much about it!). It is such a great book all the way: The writing is smart, the art is excellent, crisp use of colour & lettering - the book just has a style which I'd have to say is a breath of fresh air.
It is, in my opinion, the best comic book around and I hope it lasts a long time to come...
(One final note: As you probably gathered from reading my review, this book is more aimed at a mature reading audience than previous "Dial-H" comic books!)
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Jump on the Bandwagon now!, February 11, 2004
By A Customer
This review is from: H-E-R-O: Powers and Abilities (Paperback)
If you are not reading this book I highly recommend it! The H-E-R-O device is such an interesting concept, that shows a new side to the over-used genre of superhero's. Start reading this book now before it becomes too popular, and you can't get your hands on it.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
A suprisingly good book, January 27, 2004
This review is from: H-E-R-O: Powers and Abilities (Paperback)
I have read many good graphic novels over the last 2 years. I think any book written by Brian K Vaughn, Mark Millar, Brian Michael Bendis and Geoff Johns are of excellent quality. I picked up this book after remembering Geoff Johns guaranteed the first issue saying he would personally buy back any issue #1 that someone did not like. I have to agree this book is amazing there is no superman (okay one panel), batman or Spiderman in it. It asks a simple question what would happen if a regular person got super powers. How many times have you fantasized what it would be like to fly, or be super strong? This takes a realistic approach if a regular person got superpowers. With superpowers does not come the answer to all your problems actually getting superpowers would be another problem in your life. The first person that receives the super powers realizes there is a lot more to being a super hero than super powers and at the end gives them up voluntarily and believably. The second person who receives the HERO device learns it is not so easy to be a superhero, have a family, job and friends. Trust me this is my first review and this book is worthy of your limited money. Please don't let the strange cover scare you off. My favorite scene is the book is where the new super hero is flying to stop a car with a drunk driver behind the wheel, as he is flying he is saying to himself how awesome it is to have flight, super strength and invulnerability. So like a superhero he lands in front of the car and puts out his hand for the car to stop, and of course the car doesn't and rams into him, next we see him sprawled out on the ground looking totally like you or I would look if we got hit by a speeding car all broken bones and all and he says to himself, I was kinda wrong on the last one though (invulnerability). If you like superheros or even if you don't give this book a try.
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