Heroes in Crisis

by Tom King, Clay Mann (Illustrator)

Overview

There's a new kind of crisis threatening the heroes of the DC Universe, ripped from real-world headlines by CIA-operative turned comics writer Tom King: How does a superhero handle PTSD?

Welcome to Sanctuary, an ultra-secret hospital for superheroes who've been traumatized by crime-fighting and cosmic combat. But something goes inexplicably wrong when many patients wind up dead, with two well-known operators as the prime suspects: Harley Quinn and Booster Gold! It's up to the DC Trinity of Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman to investigate—but can they get the job done in the face of overwhelming opposition?

Superstar comics writer and former CIA operative Tom King (Batman, Mister Miracle) examines the potential long-lasting effects of saving the world in this groundbreaking new graphic novel with jaw-dropping art from the team of Clay Mann and Lee Weeks!

Collects Heroes in Crisis #1-9.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781779503039
Publisher:	DC Comics
Publication date:	11/24/2020
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	159,013
Product dimensions:	6.60(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Tom King is a comic book writer and novelist, best known for his work at DC Comics including Batman, Mister Miracle, Grayson, and Omega Men. He often relies on his experience as an ex-CIA agent and experiences during the recent conflicts in the Middle East in his writing, especially apparent in Grayson (alongside co-writer Tim Seeley) and Omega Men and in The Sheriff of Babylon, published under the Vertigo imprint.

Editorial Reviews

Heroes in Crisis is a fresh look at the normalization of hypermasculinity, which leaves no room for emotional vulnerability.” —Newsweek

“Dives into the far-reaching effects of post-traumatic stress disorder, all through the lens of a superhero comic.” —Inverse
 
“The nuanced look at characters both iconic and obscure adds an even greater sense of richness to this story.” —IGN
 
“Hooked us in from the first few pages.” —Nerdist
 
“Treats death like what it is—tragedy.” —Polygon
 
“Mythological and grandiose.” —io9
 
“It's a gut punch for readers and Wally's fellow heroes alike.” —SyFy Wire

“Clay Mann’s art and Tomeu Morey’s colors are enthralling, and the warm, September afternoon feeling of the book only adds to the overall sense of dread.” —Den of Geek

“Absolutely compelling.” —Black Nerd Problems

“Writer Tom King weaves a tense whodunnit into a sometimes controversial plotline that examines the psychological turmoil beneath the costume, from PTSD to addiction.” —The Ringer

"An underlying story about emotional pain and trauma among superheroes...a story of heroic, larger than life characters who must also deal with the very real fallout of post-traumatic stress disorder in the wake of the brutal circumstances surrounding their adventures."  —Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

10/14/2019

King (the Mister Miracle series) considers the psychological toll of being a hero in this unusual and provocative narrative set in the DC Comics universe. There’s been a mass murder at Sanctuary, a psychiatric facility where superheroes (and some of their adversaries) immerse themselves in holographic therapy, replaying stuck points in their past. Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman join up to solve the case, while Batman antagonist Harley Quinn and hero Booster Gold attempt to resolve it in parallel, mutually suspicious of each other. Interspersed are alternately amusing and affecting confessionals from heroes and villains who reveal their anxieties while in treatment at Sanctuary. Typical of the genre, the dénouement requires familiarity with an array of other DC story lines. But King’s writing is incisive and witty, paired with energetic artwork by Mann, who excels with acrobatic fight scenes, such as a page of the Flash zipping about at super-speed and battling Booster Gold. It’s left as an open question whether the “counseling machine” approach at Sanctuary was effective, having removed the human element in a (failed) effort at secrecy. King has a military background, and beneath the dramatic superhero character play is a heartfelt message that even the most stoic heroes deserve help processing their trauma. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly