No Hero



""I'm no hero, Ben.""

The second super hero miniseries from Warren Ellis at Avatar Press. If Black Summer is what happened when the superhumans were too human, this is what happens when they're inhuman. The series started with issue #0 and lasted for 8 issues, from June, 2008 to September, 2009.

Taking place in 2011, the super hero group Front Line has just lost several members to attacks targeted at them, and are rushing to replace them when they find Joshua Carver, a young man who wants nothing more than to be a super hero. And he'll get his wish, if he can survive the process...

"Male Agent: Pigeon One has been caught, and Dick Dastardly's on his way back to the coop, over. Female Agent: Are we serious with those codenames? Male Agent: Don't get me started."
 * Alternate History: It's implied the Front Line has changed history significantly, including the dissolving of South Africa and the institution of "Black States" in the USA.
 * And I Must Scream:
 * Anti-Hero: Joshua
 * Art Evolution: Joshua becomes a little less deformed after the fourth issue, probably
 * Justified in issue 5: it's the next day, so he could still be changing. But the real change happens in issues 6 and 7 - barely some hours later.
 * Asexuality:  realizes this about himself after  . Check Body Horror and Personality Powers.
 * Beware the Superman: What happens when you give superpowers to a Complete Monster?
 * Body Horror: What FX 7 does to . It makes his skin, teeth and  fall off. Check Personality Powers, below.
 * Take a look at this and this, if you dare.
 * Code Name: Pretty funny ones used by a couple of government agents for

""It does people good to have super-powered heroes. It makes them think they're incapable of doing anything for themselves. That forms the basis of a society that is useful to me.""
 * Complete Immortality:
 * Curb Stomp Battle: . One of the most extreme cases EVER.
 * Deceptive Disciple:
 * Drugs Are Bad: This definitely seems to be a message, if not the message, of the story. Boy, does it go out of its way to show why.
 * Electronic Eyes: Mr. Marsh has computers in his head and it's revealed by glowing eyes.
 * Evil vs. Evil: This is what the story turns into when.
 * Eye Beams: Redglare has heat vision.
 * Fate Worse Than Death:
 * Genuine Human Hide: The cover of issue 7 shows Carrick sitting in a chair upholstered in human skin. You can tell because of the nipples and stitched-closed faces.
 * Goomba Stomp: Joshua's first in-panel kill, delivered to a mugger from three stories up. The unfortunate man's ears come right off in a spurt of blood.
 * Gorn: Lots of it, the most extreme being
 * There's a scan here. Don't say you weren't warned.
 * Holding Out for a Hero: :
 * Holding Out for a Hero: :

"Female Agent: What do you think that crazy little bastard's doing in there? Male Agent: Remember Allentown? Probably a bit like that. Female Agent: Christ."
 * Homage: Each issue had an alternate cover based on an iconic comic cover, such as Watchmen #1, Crisis on Infinite Earths #71, and X-Men #100.
 * I Am a Monster:
 * I Just Want to Be Special: Joshua Carver is this at the beginning.
 * Immortality Hurts:
 * Jumped At the Call: Josh really worked to get Carrick's attention.
 * Meaningful Name: Joshua Carver..
 * Necessary Evil:
 * Nice Job Breaking It, Hero:
 * Noodle Incident: Those Two Government Agents discussing :
 * Nice Job Breaking It, Hero:
 * Noodle Incident: Those Two Government Agents discussing :


 * Pragmatic Villainy:
 * Personality Powers: Justified since FX 7 brings out what is inside as super powers..
 * Psycho Serum: FX 7. So very much!
 * Shrine to Self: Carrick has a hallway of self-portraits done by various artists-- the style of Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol are the most immediately recognizable.
 * Super Serum: FX 7 is how the characters get their superpowers. Unfortunately, it is also Psycho Serum.
 * The Reveal: See the quote at the top of the page.
 * The Teetotaler: Josh never drinks, never smokes, and is a vegan. Until he chose to take FX 7.
 * Title Drop: See the quote at the top of the page.