Hench [Paperback]

Adam Beechen (Author), Manny Bello (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 29, 2004

The fine line between hero and villain is just another of longtime super-villain henchman Mike Fulton's many scars. Now, faced with a terrible choice that could mean life and death for heroes, villains, his family, and himself, Mike ponders just how his normal life went so crazy.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Using ingenuity and a nice sense of humanity, Beechen and Bello provide an original take on the notion of superheroes and super villains by focusing not on the stars but on the bit players: the villains' henchmen. Readers don't pay much attention to such characters; they're just the awkward thugs in drab outfits who get thrown out of the way as the attractively costumed hero lunges at the equally stylish boss evildoer. Nobody really notices them as people or wonders how they ever could imagine that they'd be more than anonymous losers. Beechen's script gives one henchman, Mike, a convincing history, and Bello's simple but clear art gives him a stoic yet vulnerable face. Mike's just an average guy with more brawn than brains. He wants to provide for his family and thinks the pay a super villain offers for henching is worth the risk. Even knowing he's probably going to fail, Mike doesn't know how to stop. In-joke references fill the writing and art, but the overall effect is serious as Mike discovers things about himself and the other characters, in particular the fact that dangerously obsessive, monomaniacal heroes are much closer to the villains than they'd like to admit. At that point, Mike can stop being a henchman, and readers can put down the comic feeling satisfied that they've watched someone grow up.
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Product Details

• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: AiT/PlanetLar (June 29, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932051171
• ISBN-13: 978-1932051179
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 6.7 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,152,556 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't let the page count fool you!, June 6, 2007

By 

Particle409 (White Plains, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hench (Paperback)

For 80 pages, this book tells a great story. Mike, the protagonist, is your average blue-collar guy, that finds himself involved in the professional henching industry. It's basically a good look into the personal life of a henchman. The art isn't blockbuster, but works great with the script, and it's very easy to identify with the main character. Overall, a 4.5, and a great read.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I'll read anything by Beechen!, November 23, 2007

By 

Ramesh Kula "soulscribe" (Singapore) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hench (Paperback)

Okay, right off the bat, this ain't as much a review of HENCH as it is an ode to Beechen.

Adam Beechen is certainly the brightest star in the DC universe (and beyond)! His stories are fresh, fun and compelling. But what makes him such a gifted writer is his uncanny ability to write "all-ages" stories without insulting the intelligence of the adult reader or having to "dumb it down" for the kids. Think Mark Waid - another master of the comics medium. They are both able to capture the magic of the Silver/Bronze Age and tweak it just enough to make today's cynical and savvy readers not cringe or roll their eyes in mock condescension. That's sayin' sumthin!

Of all the stories he's written so far (and that includes the TV animated episodes of Batman and Teen Titans) HENCH is without a doubt the best! To my mind no one has ever tackled this subject before (well, perhaps the late great Will Eisner, back in day, in THE SPIRIT!)

Beechen delves deep into the world of the henchmen (generic flunkies to all manner of super-villains). We've all seen them in comic books but they were always faceless and nameless. Until now. And what a story this is! Beechen breathes life into the two-dimensional make-believe comic book universe. A world in which "real" people co-exist with "super-beings", human drama betwixt capes and spandex. Just do y'self a favor... pick up a copy! You can thank me later.

Now I wonder what Beechen's up to next?