(Image Comics, 2014)

Created, Written, & Drawn by Bryan Hitch
Inked by Paul Neary with Andrew Currie
Colored by Laura Martin
Lettered by Chris Eliopoulos
Production by Drew Gill

***Spoilers***
If you have not read Real Heroes number one, please do so. I do not want to be responsible for giving the ending away.  Thank you!

Alright, everyone, I’m back with Real Heroes #2 and once again Hitch has given us a comic that keeps you on your toes.

Now when we last left our actors they had just discovered that they were teleported to an alternate universe where the characters they play in the Olympians movies are actual heroes. Not only are they actual heroes, they died being those heroes. Now their caretaker, Smitty, has asked our actors to “play their rolls for real.” If you remember with Issue #1, I spoke about how our actors are selfish people and I left you all with two questions. First, I asked if our actors have what it takes to become real heroes? Second, I asked if they would even want to?  Well the second of those two questions was answered this time. And the answer…

The comic starts out with Chris back in his superhero costume with his costars dead all around him. After a few agonizing minutes of seeing New York destroyed and realizing he has lost an arm, Devastators come up to him and kill him. At this point I’m asking my self what the heck just happened. Then I turned the page to discover it was a video recording that our actors were watching about how the real Olympians’ died. Upon seeing this, you would think our actors would be horrified and want to help this world they have found themselves in, but they don’t. Jennifer, the actress who plays Tiny Titan (her superpower is to change her body size), says, “Okay, screw this! I don’t know if this is real or not, but if it is, this asshole just kidnapped all of us.” She gives no condolences, doesn’t offer to help, she blames him for kidnapping them. This just goes to show how selfish of a person she is. Yes, she has every right to be pissed off at him – who wouldn’t? – But, call me crazy, wouldn’t you 1) be giving condolences to someone who just lost everyone and 2) be wondering why you were brought to this other world?

Shortly after seeing the film, Smitty tells them he has to take them someplace safe because Brainchild is coming (Brainchild is the villain of the story).  The safe location is that of Pantheon- a floating safe house in the sky. I bring this up because Chris makes the comment that he saw sketches for Pantheon along with a copy of the script for Olympians 3 and says that one of them dies. Now I bring this up because I can’t help wondering if Hitch is hinting at something to come, especially with what happens next. Our actors finally settle in to Pantheon and ask the question that would have been first on my mind, why were they brought here? Smitty explains that with the Olympians gone, Brainchild will take over the world and remake it for the mutants (beings that have come from another world). So in order to keep that from happening he wants to give the Brainchild an alternative idea.  Nichola, the actress who plays Longbow, responds with “You can’t expect us to fight them. We’re Actors.” Once again showing their unwillingness to do something other than for themselves. Smitty responds with “But that’s what I want you to do; pretend. It’s simple. You’ve played these parts, you know the characters.” He then goes on to explain that he wants them to make a worldwide broadcast as the Olympians, offering a resolution to end the war; and as soon as they are done, he will send them home. After a moment of silence, Chris agrees and delivers the broadcast offering a truce to the Brainchild and asking if they can share Earth with them. With the broadcast a success, Smitty goes to send them home. But of course, nothing ever goes according to plan. And before he can send them off… well you will just have to read the comic to find out the rest, but I guarantee you, it’s a good one.

So, do our actors even want to be real heroes? Well, personally, I don’t think so. They agreed to do the broadcast because it is a means to an end to them – do the broadcast, go home, and back to their lives as famous movie stars. Our actors are the exact opposite of the traits a hero should have. And this behavior continues to make me wonder if they have what it takes to be a hero? Honestly, I don’t see it. But, as we all know, heroes are made in a single moment, one life changing moment – and that moment is just a turn of a page and a whole other issue away. Until then!

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Ali is a creative writer with an emphasis on Sci-Fi/Fantasy and Comic Books. She first fell in love with superheroes when they were used to teach her to read. When not practicing at her dojo or out seeing the latest superhero movie with her friends, Ali can be found curled up on the couch with her dog and a good book.