Heroes r us by Mainak Dhar

"Heroes r us" by Mainak Dhar - Homegrown superhero!

This book is published by CreateSpace Independent Pub in 2011 and has 188 pages. 

Arnab Banerjee is an assistant librarian. One day he receives severe beating causing head injury. Fate plays strangely and Arnab receives special gifts, superpowers. Mishti likes him for his honesty rather than his money and looks, or the lack of them.

Will Arnab use his superpowers for his good or good of others? Will his relationship with Mishti fructify? Will he reveal his secret to Mishti? Who will his sidekick be? What is operation 5HT?

Normally all superhero stories are a series. That gives the author time to establish protagonist as a simple human being and then take the reader through discovery of superpowers, internalizing them, getting used to them, exploring them and finally using them. Here the hero goes through all of it in a haste because author has to narrate the real story, after all this happens, within the same book. It puts restraints on the author and creates imbalance in the story. 

Narration is good. Story is decent. Apart from helping destitute and fighting small time crime, Arnab also has to foil a big plot and save thousands of lives.

Mainak has given the superhero aspects similar to Marvel superhero Flash. He runs fast and has inhuman strength. He also has night vision. However, he is selfless like Spiderman. In short,  although this superhero is lovable,  he doesn't sound original. 

The quandary superhero finds himself in is: 'Can one man, no matter how strong or with whatever superpowers, change the rot and corruption in the system?'

Aggarwal, owner of Woodpecker, is a flashy liquor baron with salt and pepper beard and a paunch. You know who hernia character is modelled after. 

This book was first published as Herogiri by Randomhouse in 2010. It appears that new publishers were impressed by 'Homes r us' and 'Toys r us', so decided to rechristen the book.

Why did I read this book? Curiosity about Indian superhero.  

What I didn't like? Tooth capturing. 

What did I like? Selflessness.  

Read if you like superheroes.