Interview with “Hero” author Perry Moore

Thanks for the interview, and bravo to Perry Moore to writing such a wonderful and witty book about a gay teen superhero. Thom Creed is an incredible kid, and he's surrounded by a delightful cast of characters that includes takeoffs of established crusaders (like Uberman) and wholly offbeat creations (like Typhoid Larry, who has the power to make others sick with a dizzying array of diseases).  ''Hero'' is really about finding the inner courage to deal with yourself, and the secrets of your family & friends.

I think Moore is a little hyperbolic when he says there are NO gay role models around (just pick up a copy of the Advocate's list of 40 heroes), but I sure wish this ''Hero'' existed when I was a kid. I can't wait for the movie of this book, so it can carry out its mission: inspiring a whole new generation of gay and gay-friendly youth.

Everbody loves this book.  Perry created a great book.  I agree with WW; I wish this was out when I was a kid. 

I  just read it and it's -- dare I say it -- super! I loved Thom, Ruth, and everyone else...even Larry. Hee.  I'm glad Perry Moore wrote it because we all need more (gay) superheroes in ourr lives.

... but I've just ordered it and will post a comment when I'm done.

I can't wait to get my hands on it, to be honest!

There is a one-star review for this book on amazon.co.uk that reads:

"A hero named Hal, became a pariah.
A 'League' of heroes.
A girl who can control fire but has issues with her temper.
That's just the start - rip off of DC comics.
Wise old woman who can predict the future.
A boy growing to be a man who is struggling to get out of the shadow of his father.
Marvel rip off.

Derivative to the hilt, and perfect for the under 12s with regards to the characterisation.

Any older, don't waste your money!
Pity, because I like the movies PM's been involved in!"

Sounds a bit harsh...

I finally finished reading 'Hero' last week (I've had a lot on!) and although I enjoyed it, I'm surprised DC Comics haven't sued!  The characters in the league were thinly veiled copies of Superman, Wonder Woman, etc.  That didn't spoil my enjoyment of the book though because they worked as new views on existing, established characters.  I particularly liked the depiction of the Wonder Woman-type character as a brutal, hard-nosed warrior and wouldn't mind seeing more of this in DC Comics treatment of The Amazon Princess.

Hats off to Perry for writing this book.  I'm off to plot my own masterpiece :)

I did not mind the retro-references, and do not see a copyright infringement issue as they have similar chacteristics but are not plagarized. I look forward to future volumes and seeing how all the characters develop.

I know it is a year late to be coming to this party but I just finished the book and really enjoyed it. 

For those that might have missed it Thom Creed is the ultimate outsider. A teenager on the outs with his dad, his classmates and even society, coming to grips with his identity--what's not to like.

I love that the author has created a world whose complexities mirror our own, but whose canvas of characters allows us to see the hero so clearly and even without a mask.