Anti/Hero is a middle school graphic novel about superhero Hummingbird and Grey Owl (formerly known as Grey, villain) coming to Gotham. First, Hummingbird is a bit of an anti-hero (she makes more destruction than save the days) and Grey is a baddie through and almost through. Yet, when an accident causes the two to switch bodies, all heck breaks loose.
As I am not familiar with DC’s “Not Big Ones” (such as Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Catwoman, etc.) I am not sure how in cannon these two are. Yet, the story is still a fun and good one for the ages aimed at. Piper and Sloane are two girls who could not be more opposite. Piper, living with her grandmother and uncle as her parents are off doing secret scientific research and Sloane living with her single mother and working for East Gotham’s crime boss, The Bear (who is Scottish and has one MOTHER of a bear as a pet). Yet, they have secrets and ones that tie the two together in ways they really do not want to be but turns out is the best for everyone. A story about literally walking in another person’s shoes (and body) and as a result hopefully some insights into the other and themselves, comes out of it.
One of the perhaps more interesting aspect of this graphic novel is the fact words in the title and chapter headings will have one right-side up and one upside down. Of course, the words used are important to the overall story or that chapter as well as being an allusion to the upside down turn our two heroines take.
Kate Karyus Quinn likes these characters. Probably imagined themselves as a superhero themselves (after all, if you have not imagined that I am not sure we can be friends to be honest). And Demitria Lunetta also was right there, too. And of course, Maca Gil knew they were going to be an artist when they became grown up. Yet, they might not have known they would be doing brightly colored illustrations that blast off the page, allowing you to see the action unfold. Humor, adventure, and family come together. There are little Easter Eggs that show what might have happened in the past (let us say, we might need Jerry Springer to tell us if I am right on who Sloane’s father is) and an ending that wraps up the story but allows for a sequel or two. And do not forget one interesting camo by a certain man in black (and I don’t mean Johnny Cash).
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