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In a world where superhero stories are told and retold, it’s exciting to see a fresh take on new would-be heroes. Mike Chen’s We Could Be Heroes introduces you to two new “extraordinaries” with a twist on the superhero genre.
In We Could Be Heroes, a bank robbery and subsequent chase go awry. Jamie has the ability to read memories and creates the persona of the Mind Robber to rob banks so he can retreat to somewhere tropical with a cat. Meanwhile, Zoe is the resident vigilante hero, with super strength and speed with the ability to hover and sense heat signatures. Her escapades through town – in between her food delivery gig – gives her the reputation as the Throwing Star.
It isn’t destiny that brings this self-made supervillain and superhero together, but a support group for memory loss. While their powers are different, they have similar origin stories: finding themselves in paid-for apartments with short notes describing their powers – and no memory as to why or how. As they gradually get to know each other, they work together to learn the secrets of their pasts and their powers, and what the mysterious blackouts in the city have to do with it.
Chen is no stranger to science fiction: his previous books tackled time travel and life in a post-pandemic world (which felt more realistic as our world faced one at the same time as the novel’s release). While these sci-fi scenarios feel familiar, Chen reignites them by infusing authentic characters and relationships, consistently serving up heart, found families and more.
We Could Be Heroes is no different. While superheroes are the dressing, what’s truly extraordinary is what’s under the mask: the friendship between the two main characters. It’s an unlikely partnership that grows from adversaries to real friendship, as both Zoe and Jamie confront who they are on multiple levels. Zoe is an all-powerful hero to the public, but she longs to recover her own memories. Jamie, on the other hand, is less concerned with his past and focused on finding a quick resolution for his desire to start anew.
And what do self-made heroes and villains become when they find common ground?
I think that what good superhero stories do well are explore personal identity well beyond the actual extraordinary abilities of the heroes. And this is something Chen does well here. It’s as much about Zoe and Jamie’s personal histories, struggles, and the way those are impacted by their abilities.
There’s a moment in the book where one character says to the other that they are more than their abilities: they work to help others—there are all these other qualities that make up the whole person. It reminded me of a moment in the fifth issue of Ms. Marvel where Kamala says – as she makes her homemade costume – “Good is not a thing you are. It’s a thing you do.”
This, I think, exemplifies a good hero – and what makes a good superhero story. It’s less about the powers and the heroics – though Chen does a good job setting up the rules of this world, even hinting to other super-powered-vigilantes in nearby cities – it’s about the individual choices and actions a person makes to help others.
While there were moments where I tried to wrap my head around some of the logistics in the antagonist’s plot, what really kept me going through the story was the characters. Chen shifts focus between the two main characters, so you quickly understand worldviews. And though I would likely better understand the actual villain’s plan on a second reading, Chen makes their motivations clear – allowing you to relate on some emotional level.
As one of the heroes of this story – Zoe Wong – is Asian American, I would be remiss to note the disturbing rise in anti-Asian hate crimes in the past year. While Zoe doesn’t face this problem in this fictional city of San Delgado, it’s important to acknowledge and celebrate the Asian American community, and this kind of representation.
Chen recently contributed signed copies of his books, including We Could Be Heroes, as part of a fundraiser auction to fight racism against the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. Though the auction has ended, We Could Be Heroes is now available at booksellers everywhere.
Chen’s other books include Here and Now and Then and A Beginning At the End. Listen to an interview with him on the Temple of Geek podcast.
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