We Could Be Heroes

I’m not up to speed on superheroes. Other than the big ones—your Avengers, your X-Men, the Justice League crew—I know absolutely nothing. Yet I had a blast reading We Could Be Heroes, which I can report is a delight from start to finish even if, like me, you don’t know the difference between Batman and Robin.

Jamie, aka the Mind Robber, is a villain who’s not all that villainous. He’s a kindly man who woke up one day with newfound powers and no memory of his past. Zoe, the real identity of the heroic Throwing Star, is also a hot mess. Sworn enemies on the streets of San Delgado, they unexpectedly meet at a support group for victims of memory loss and sort of, kind of become friends who must team up to fight the Big Bad who took their memories in the first place.

While the book contains enough heroics to fill a three-hour Marvel movie, what makes it truly special is the way it portrays Jamie and Zoe as two relatable misfits bucking against the labels that have been thrust upon them. For these two, being extraordinary is easy. The hard part is being their true selves.

Jamie woke up in an empty apartment with no memory and only a few clues to his identity, but with the ability to read and erase other people’s memories—a power he uses to hold up banks to buy coffee, cat food and books.

Zoe is also searching for her past, and using her abilities of speed and strength…to deliver fast food. And she’ll occasionally put on a cool suit and beat up bad guys, if she feels like it.

When the archrivals meet in a memory-loss support group, they realize the only way to reveal their hidden pasts might be through each other. As they uncover an ongoing threat, suddenly much more is at stake than their fragile friendship. With countless people at risk, Zoe and Jamie will have to recognize that sometimes being a hero starts with trusting someone else—and yourself.