Sometimes, pop culture gifts us with sexuality media. The CSPH takes a look at Hero by Perry Moore.
Thom Creed lives with his father while working several jobs to help keep them afloat. Their lives are built on secret identities; identities that they keep hidden even from each other. These secrets appear not only through the concept of the superhero’s secret identity, but the idea of being closeted.
Secret identity is often used as a metaphor for queer sexuality; in Hero, sexuality is very much an explicit part of the story. Thom hides his gay identity from others for fear of losing their support and friendship. He develops a crush on a major superhero and feels as though this must be kept as an even bigger secret than his superpower; the power to heal.
In this novel, the character’s powers manifest as reflections of themselves. Thom, who just wants to make everything better, has the power to heal; Scarlett has a wild temper, and thus her powers make and control fire; and Thom’s father, Major Might, is revealed to have no powers of his own, teaching readers that people, not powers, make a hero.
While many may think that having the power to fly or turn invisible can solve most life problems, Moore shows that it adds to them, and is a reflection of who heroes really are. Thom becomes overwhelmed when he is asked to try out for the famous league of superheroes as he feels as though he cannot control his powers, he has other big secrets to keep, and has a busy schedule already. He’s only (super)human, something is bound to give eventually.
The book is by no means perfect – the story tends to jump around in some parts, and needs further editing for grammar. In spite of this, Moore introduces a wonderful new group of hero. We meet characters who are gay, chronically ill, young, old, and/or who have fallen out of favor. There is a character for everyone to relate to, resulting in a more diverse story than the typical superhero tale.
This book is geared towards young adults, those who are struggling to find out who they are in a world that wants to keep them children, or force them into adulthood. However the audience is by no means limited to young adults; those who want a fresh perspective on superheros or who just want a great new adventure to dive into can find happiness within these pages.
The post Book Review: Hero by Perry Moore appeared first on The Center for Sexual Pleasure & Health.