Ex-Heroes: A Novel

I'm an avid reader of most anything post-apocalyptic and Ex-Heroes was a welcome deviation from the standard zombie survival novel. At first I thought the inclusion of super heroes was a recipe for ridiculousness put gosh darn did Mr. Clines pull it off. Strong characters utilizing (relatively) realistic tactics made this a great read.

Being a Los Angeleno I found the geographic accuracy particularly entertaining, from the landmarks to the street names. I could actually visualize exactly where the action unfolded.

I generally enjoyed reading Ex-heroes, however there were some very glaring negatives for me.

Pros -
Zombies and super heroes, what more can you really ask for? killer combination.

An interesting read. (refer to zombies vs super heroes).

Zombies. (I really like zombies)

Lots of action, the book actually felt more like a movie to me rather than a book in this sense.

Cons -
Mr. Cline needs to look into proof reading his books (or having them proof read). I came across several easily avoided mistakes, such as a work completely absent from a sentence ("The police could not them. The military could not stop them. We could not stop them." (page 86). A word missing from a sentence is a fairly obvious mistake and detracts from the reading experience in my opinion.) The other mistakes I can hesitantly dismiss due to my English major girlfriend pointing out to me that they could very simply be attempts at dialect, I do not feel they were attempts at dialect though.

Again on the proof reading, one of the characters in the book (Zzzap) usually has his speech written in italics (while in energy form) in order to emphasize the fact that they sound static like or buzz like while he is in his pure energy form (atleast this is the purpose I assume). There are multiple parts in the book though where I believe Zzzap is supposed to be speaking but his speech is not italicized nor is it indicated with quotation marks, can make for some confusing reading.

While his heroes and characters are interesting, I never really developed any kind of attachment or caring about them. The characters are generally introduced in the present, then the book flashes back in the next chapter in order to develop the history behind the characters, their powers, and the super hero persona they tried to build behind said persona. Regardless of this development I never really grew to care of any of the characters (specifically the super heroes as they are the ones that spend the most time in the lime light). I grew to understand their motivations and the morals that were used to define them, just never came to care about any of them.

Plot holes/conflicts! I can't remember tons of them, but there were several very very glaring issues to me (I pay a great deal of attention to the mechanics and explanations of how things work in books.) For example *POTENTIAL SPOILER* *POTENTIAL SPOILER* *POTENTIAL SPOILER* there is a character in the book that has a wolverine like ability to instantaneously heal, he also has the ability to share this healing ability with others. However the character gets bitten by a an ex (zombie) and essentially loses his super powers because all his powers have to focus on preventing the infection from the bite (which possibly should not even be an issue once the nature of how the zombie bite kills and the virus works). Later in the book said character gets shot in the face, and manages to heal from it, I'm forced to wonder why they do not simply cut off the offending arm (as they do with other infections) and allow him to regrow a plague free arm (he can regrow his face and brain? he can regrow an arm.) *POTENTIAL SPOILER* *POTENTIAL SPOILER* *POTENTIAL SPOILER*

Overall:

While the book has some fairly "loud" issues that degraded the overall reading experience for me, it was none the less an interesting read. The super heroes come off as fairly human in multiple parts of the book, which is refreshing. Additionally most of the heroes have somewhat interesting super powers (I'm still not sure what stealth's super powers are though). There are a few twists and turns that caught me by surprise as well. Additionally the authors depiction of post zombie apocalypse societies was interesting and (I believe) fairly accurate.

I would never have ordered this for the Kindle if the price hadn't been so low. With the recent rash of bad zombie novels, I didn't have high expectations.

I was definitely wrong! The characters were really well developed and the mingling of superheroes with zombies was really great.

Don't hesitate to read this! I can't wait to read the next novel (Ex-Patriots).

First, Clines has created new heroes that are not imitations of already existing heroes. How difficult that must have been considering a lot has already been done in the hero world. Second, is ZOMBIES!! Heroes vs. Zombies created in real world settings, fighting for very real reasons. Peter Clines has created a world that a reader can connect to and easily imagine and place themselves right in the action. After reading this I bought Ex-Patriots immediately.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!! THIS NOVEL ROCKS!!!! An innovative mix of The Watchmen meets the better Romero films, with elements of Escape from New York. But don't fear, this is a truly original concept and expert execution. While the heroes have incredible powers, they are uniquely human, with self doubts and fears, in the faces of almost unimaginable horror. They attempt to maintain, for all they know, the last human outpost where rule of law still exists.
Ex-Heroes is begging to be adapted into graphic novel form. I would love to see these characters and this story, visually depicted.

A book about several comic-book style superheroes trying to help survivors amid the zombie apocalypse ought not to work. Clines tells his story by alternating chapters in gritty, post-apocalyptic LA and flashbacks that illuminate heroes' origins and the fall of civilization. This makes for strangely compelling reading. The writing only falters when Clines widens the focus to include a few of the normal people the heroes are trying to protect. Clearly, the author's sympathies are with the characters who can fly, breathe fire, distort the time-space continuum and so on.

Ultimately what makes this book work is the one wholly novel superhero the author creates--the zombie. The zombie, as a collective entity, is immensely strong, immune (in the aggregate) to all attacks, and utterly remorseless. As an archvillain, LA's zombie population is really interesting. And Clines gives his anti-hero an excellent and compelling origin story.

If you enjoy unusual zombie novels, or just the vision of LA eating itself alive, you might enjoy Sleepless: A Novel.

After thoroughly enjoying 14 by Peter Clines, I was excited about reading his version of the zombie apocalypse. To be fair, I'm a big fan of horror, particularly zombie fiction, and maybe a little less than lukewarm on superheroes. Still, the idea of adding superheroes to the zombie uprising seemed original and interesting and I was hoping for a fun adventure. Unfortunately, I think this book suffered from an identity crisis. The superhero and zombie genres didn't marry well and almost canceled each other out. The story didn't seem to be committed enough to either camp, so neither the zombies nor the superheroes were given enough flesh to make them engaging. I didn't feel connected enough to any of the characters. The plot rambled and stretched itself in directions that felt forced, preposterous, and worst of all, predictable. It was like scenarios were set up just to prove the badassed-ness of the superheroes, and I knew they were going to win. The zombies were just part of the scenery; more of an annoyance than a real threat to survival. I had a hard time figuring out if this book was supposed to be funny, scary, campy or what. Fans of a good ass kicking will probably enjoy this book, and I could even see it being made into a TV series. I wouldn't say this is bad fiction or poorly written, but I wanted it to be so much more than what it was. The concept seemed promising, but it fell short for me.

Great twist on the zombie genre. The addition of superheroes was a great idea that didn't kill the zombie genre. A few times, I caught myself asking, "What the...?" Not because the story was bad but because there were a few things in the story that I didn't anticipate. There are chapters that go back in the past and depicts a clearer understanding of some of the heroes and how the virus spread. Tons of action and exciting moments that I wish I could see on the silver screen.

Now to the downsides. There weren't many but I still have to mention them. There were several grammatical errors and misspellings, but not enough to throw me off from the story. I felt that the story was solid, but wished that the author talked a little more about the heroes before the infection. Some heroes were mentioned but very little was explained about them and their powers. After finishing the book, it left me with a sense of wonder as to who these characters were which left me wanting more. So to get that fulfillment, I wished the book was a little bit longer.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested into the zombie, horror genre. A great read from beginning to end, looking forward to more stories from Peter Clines.

I found this story quite by accident and really enjoyed it over vacation. The idea of vulnerable heroes doing their best is very engaging. There are a few places where it was tough for me to follow the details of the fight scenes but this is such a minor gripe. The author does a great job of helping you understand living in a world gone crazy. I also enjoyed the heroes still have their normal human tenancies. If you enjoy stories about fighting overwhelming odds and heroes super and normal then you should enjoy this story.

Pay attention Marvel,

This is how you get zombies and superheroes in the same universe done right. An explaination on how a zombie apocalyse occurs has always been a mystery or some type of gas, toxic waste, genome mix up, etc. Read thru this and see how it became and you'll not only be shocked and amazed how it came about, but will make you want more books now! I consumed this book in a day. IF you are a fan of Superheroes or zombies and better yet both, pick this one up now.

I think this series has alot of gas and expect quite a few more books to come!

Genre crossing "superheroes vs. zombies" novel. The deeper into this book I got, the more the fanboy in me wished we knew these heroes before the apocalypse. If you're a fan of either heroes or zombies, you'll enjoy this book.

The characters are a little flat and the prose is nothing special, but it is entertaining, if a bit simple. If you can get it for cheap it is a good way to kill a little time. It has me interested enough that I plan to check out some more of the "Ex" series.

The potential of this book is amazing but unfortunately it wasn't tapped. It's a good book, but it could be a whole lot better.

The story line is really good with a few minor flaws but which are easily overlooked. Great action and suspense with good fighting scenes. The ex hero characters are built solidly and their backgrounds are explained to an extent. But what this book lacks in is visualization. Mr. Cline describes the ex heroes but because of the very descriptive details they are hard to imagine in your head. I would love to see the characters on paper or pages, preferably in a comic book format. This book would be awesome! I don't mean a thin paged comic book but like on the lines of Joe R. Lansdale's "Drive In" or Robert Kirkman's "Walking Dead" series. Looking at the ex heroes and seeing them in action would give the story line a whole new spin. I first read "Drive In" in a book format and the story was good but then I bought the book in comic book format and it was absolutely awesome! Again the visualization gave a whole new meaning to the book.

Ex Heroes is still a good read, but it would be nice to see the characters and in action.

Four volumes so far, and Clines does an excellent job telling this superheroes-versus zombies tale. If you can believe (or rather, suspend disbelief) in either heroes or zombies, you'll love this series.

Even though I bought this book after seeing a few favorable customer reviews, I was concerned that it would disappoint (as the vast majority of zombie or post-apocalyptic fiction does). But I was overwhelmingly surprised at the entertainment it provided. Clines places his imagined super heroes in a world disintegrating by a zombie plague. The flashback style throughout the book was enjoyable and provided the back stories on how the virus began and how a precious few had gained certain powers. It is a fun romp that would lend itself to the graphic novel format seamlessly. The nobility of the heroes is explored which gives the book character and avoids making it a one dimensional effort. A surprising find and worthy of a series.

I always wonder about the people who write reviews of zombie stories and talk about how "stupid" the characters are; or how it's "unrealistic" because if it were to really happen the zombies are slow, shambling, stupid creatures and would be put down immediately. Because of course; people would immediately assume that a run of seemingly random attacks could only be perpetrated by zombies and that those responsible need to be killed with head-shots rather than taken into custody and questioned for the crimes they committed. That a bite would of course infect you and inevitably turn you into a zombie after only a few hours. That families would have no problem; even after finding out that it really is a zombie plague, killing their own spouses and children if they were bitten, or taking their own lives if they themselves were bitten or perhaps asking calmly inform those around them that they are infected.

That's of course how it would go down. Not at all like this rather well thought-out and written book.

It's the near future; and zombies have once again brought humanity to the brink of Armageddon. There are references to pop-culture abound in this book and gives a real sense of reality to the situation. References to Hurricane Katrina, the Republicans losing control of the House and Senate, and the tanking economy are all mentioned to give a sense of timelyness. At one point a non-powered human is arguing with one of the main Super Heroes "The Mighty Dragon" (aka St. George) about whether or not Spider-Man could kick his ass. The main crux of the argument being that Spider-Man is "made-up" and this is "real life".

With plenty of other Super Powered vigilanties running around one going by the names of "Gorgon" "Stealth" "Zzzap" and "Cerberus" you would think that life would be pretty easy and the hordes of ex-humans (or just ex's) wouldn't be a problem. But like any other time you get people dependent on those more powerful than them, there is friction and distrust amongst the ranks.

The chapters are divided into "Then" and "Now" sub-headings the former being origin stories about nearly all the heroes mentioned at one time or another in the book and adds a good bit of backstory about the fall of humanity.

While dialogue seems a bit choppy at times it flows naturally, just like a normal conversation. (There's a reason why we call it talking and not speaking, it isn't all formal) The characters are fleshed out relatively well with the exception of "Zzzap" I thought. The guy can turn himself into a miniature sun, but when powered down he's paralyzed from the waist down. How did that happen? When did he get his powers? How did he learn to control them? None of these are answered.

All and all a good book. Not great but worth the price and worth a read. A bit short (I found myself finishing it off in one night) and a bit of a lame plot devise near the end but all and all a solid 4 out of 5.

I really enjoyed breaks from the main story here and there to give the reader some background into each of the main characters. I'm glad this is a series of books because I'm anxious to see what happens to the group over time.

Great job Mr. Clines.

I must admit that the whole concept of mixing superheroes and zombies sounded as appealing as a sardine covered donut, but hey, Nathan Fillian liked it so I decided to try it. I read it in one evening. If you've ever read a comic book or watched a zombie movie, trust me, buy this book.

Wow the author has an interesting vision on gore. There were parts where i would feel so squeamish I actually shifted in my seat. First time a book has ever done that to me and looking back on it, I loved it.

The beginning was slow to the point where I just wanted to drop the it all together but things paid off once I hit the half way mark. Interesting characters (some hero names were a little HAMMY though) interesting premise. Loved the chapter "The Luckiest Girl in the World". I really enjoyed it.

The downsides were numerous. Slow build up. Got some Mary Sue vibes from the protagonist, especially by the ending. The words "hurdle", "crack", and "leap" were EVERYWHERE.

In the end I liked this book. Maybe I just love the superhero genre too much. Maybe I love zombies too much as well. Both could be true but i can't deny that this book has potential. Buy it.

Ex-Heroes by Peter Clines is an interesting foray into zombie apocalypse fiction. Superheroes vs. Zombies! In some spots the actions seems a bit rushed and potentially interesting plot threads are left unexplored (yes, I know there's a sequel), still the book largely satisfies. And the origin of the zombie plague is certainly unique and well-played.

If you like apocalyptic novels this book puts a fun twist on it. I like superhero novels,movies and television shows so this book played to my personal preference. I will read the other ex-books the author has written. I hope AMC or HBO pick this up it would make for a fun series.

If you have an itch for superpowers battling it out, throwing zombies into the mix makes it an itch you didn't know you had, and a good one at that. Looking for a new read to try out? Give this series a go!

I enjoyed this book.

If you enjoyed comics growing up, you will truly enjoy this book. I consider it to be a bridge from comics to an adult genre of the same.

If you are unsure, try it as a sample.

Loved the switch from present to past and back to tell the stories of the various heroes and their powers. Enjoyed reading every page couldn't put it down. This book is great for zombie fans and superhero fans, you'll love it.

I just bought Ex-Heroes tonight and proceeded to read it all. I couldn't stop. My opinion of Ex-Heroes grew the longer I read it.

The biggest problem I had at the beginning was the notion that a Superman-lite-type character, an Ironman-type character, and a superhero who is comprised entirely of energy and can melt anything he touches would have such a problem with zombies. I was expecting the story to be a bit more about survival amongst a devastated society and less on the actual threat zombies would pose to these types of characters. It was hard for me to swallow, and I still wasn't buying it by the end. We're talking about people who can lift cars and tear people in half being threatened by what essentially amounts to naked people who can bite. So, as a reader, I wasn't entirely sold on that.

However, the most egregious part of the story for me was:

***spoilers***

At the very end, when they are fighting the zombie horde. First off, Zzzap doesn't thin out the horde before they attack because... touching things to kill them gives him a very uncomfortable feeling.

Uh huh.

Then, during the final battle, Zzzap is conspicuously absent, even after dealing with Midknight. The worst part, though -- the absolute worst part -- is when Gorgon is fighting that zombie boss dude, and Zzzap flies by and then flies away. Because it's not like they couldn't use his help to melt the zombie dude. Or to melt the lizard demon guy. Or really, do anything.

I was just rolling my eyes at how contrived that felt.

***end of spoilers***

This story also had the problem I've seen with a few others, that being a bit of text was cut out when reading the Kindle version.

That being said, I still enjoyed Ex-Heroes. Don't get me wrong on that. I enjoyed it enough that I'm going to buy Ex-Patriots. I did like how the whole zombie infection started in the first place. I thought that was an interesting idea. Plus, some of the characters grew on me over time. I didn't like St. George at first, but his speech later on did make me like him more.

All in all, it was good. I think it's worth recommending if you're interested in the genres it represents. Do certain parts feel contrived? Sure. But it's still worth a read.

As with most zombie books, the main problem I have with Ex-heroes is that it's too short. This is a completely different view of the zombocalypse. If you've ever wondered........'how would superheroes help against zombies?', here is your answer. You get a sense of the duty the heroes feel to protect the normal population......and feel their regret that they couldn't do more to stop the zombie horde. As it was published this year, there are many references to today's culture, ie: the Dr. Who scene.

I enjoyed every page, and the 'then/now' layout is interspersed perfectly throughout the story. I only hope there is a sequel soon.

The start of a great series and recommended reading! I will not repeat blurbs or reword them. I will not give spoilers to the story. I will say that character development and a great story that sets the stage for several other Ex-Heroes books to be a screaming success! It reads very fast and when you are done, it feels very good...like a victory celebration in a comic book.
These heroes are not squeaky clean. They are human egos with human failings that allow the story (and series) to ebb and flow like they were real people. The other characters in the story (other survivors) are crafted so even the least of them, you can feel their pain and loss. Clines holds very little back in the hardships his characters are enduring, so when there is a victory, the main characters celebrate, the supporting cast celebrates and so does the reader. This alone makes it a great reason to start with this book. You WANT to see the characters grow and survive. You will WANT to read more. Thank goodness Mr. Clines has offered this as the beginning of his series.

I feel compelled to review this book for a couple reasons. One, I thought nearly every conceivable tweak of the zombie genre had been explored, published, and remade several times if not several dozens of times. So when I heard an author named Peter Clines had written a different kind of zombie book I was intrigued. When I heard it involved super heroes, as in comic book style heroes, I was overtly skeptical. I have never read a comic book. I have never quite understood the whole fascination comic book enthusiasts engender. The comic book based movies like Spiderman are okay but I won't be sighing up for any such fan clubs any time soon. That said; I doubted Mr. Clines could pull off such a melt between genres - at least without the corniness one might anticipate. It is my opinion that Peter has succeeded. He has breathed "new life" or should I say, "new death" into the zombie genre. What he has accomplished is an extremely enjoyable escape fiction type novel chuck full of fun. I had a stinking blast reading it.

The second reason I feel compelled to write this review is simply to acknowledge Mr. Clines creativity. The plot was fun and made sense. The dialog was believable and the world he created was incredibly imaginative. If I could only give one criticism it would be that I don't personally like strong language. This is a book I would like to recommend to my teenagers since it is really written at a teen level but the language is a little too strong for my liking. It doesn't escape my sensibilities that I, a lover of zombie literature, would find offense to the f bomb and related strong language but I do. Aside from that, I say "kudos to Mr. Cline for Ex Heroes." What a fun book to read and I will be recommending it for anyone looking for a little bit of well written escape fiction involving zombies and super heroes.

Mixing zombies with superheroes in a desolate Los Angeles. Peter Clines's world of Ex-Heroes is George Romero's Dawn of the Dead meets David Gemmell's Legend meets The X-Men. All chapters are either divided into "Then" or "Now" sections. Narration is in the first-person for all "Then" chapters and in third person for all the "Now" sections. The POV's both first person and third person are via Stealth, Gorgon, Cairax, Regenerator, Cerberus, Zzzap, The Mighty Dragon, Lady Bee, Banzai, St. George and a few minor characters. The author has quite cleverly divided the book into the past "then" and present "now" sections and thereby maintaining the tension in the story while going forward as well giving us the crucial back story. The "now" begins in the current where a sizeable portion of humanity is holed up in Paramount Studios which has now been renamed "The Mount". The humans within are surviving from the horror outside wherein zombies freely roam and look for fresh human meat, the zombies in this world are called "Exes" as in Ex-humans. The human population though has an upper hand with the super heroes who are protecting them.

Stealth, Gorgon, Regenerator, Cerberus, Zzzap, Lady Bee, St. George and a few others have shepherded humanity and are doing their best defeat the zombies while also searching for a cure. The "then" sections focus on each superhero separately and we are given a clear look into their beginnings, this leads to a very precise picture about each of them while differentiating their personas in the reader's minds. The story then begins as the heroes forage on almost a daily basis and try to retrieve as many tangible goods as they can with a few normal volunteers however they have been noticing that some one is competing with them and also leaving booby traps which creates further problems. The story then escalates as the people of the Mount find out who it is that has been hindering their survival and what do they want which leads to the question "what will they do to survive?"

I completely loved this book and while it was a debut book, it didn't feel so at all. With a very clever but not wholly original premise, the author unleashes a very exciting story which grabs the reader's attention and then proceeds to charm the reader in a variety of ways. Firstly the plot is a great one as the story begins with a scenario which should appeal to most zombie/apocalypse enthusiasts. From then on the author keeps the story moving forward with some great twists as well as the past recollections of each superhero. This tactic keeps the twin story strands; the past and the present constantly entwined while delivering the clues about the enemy and also illuminating the mistakes of the past. I was thrilled with the way the story was presented and how in the end the author managed to pull it off by coalescing all the threads and resolving all the questions arising in the readers minds.

The author has also aced the characterization department as we are given access to many characters and all of them have vastly different personalities and agendas. This was what differentiated the characters from being comic book clones. And even though most of heroes have their own issues a la the X-men, the author has conveniently provided the back stories which clue the reader in to these issues. Another tremendously exciting point was the humor which is present in all forms through out the story, from the black humor laced conversations to the celebrity zombie hunts; the author manages to make the darkness of the situation a little lighter. There also tons of references to various comic book characters, movies, SFF shows, books etc. making it an interesting read in addition to all the previous plus points.

Lastly this book's climax draws parallels with David Gemmell's classic debut Legend, in the sense, the reader gets a sense of claustrophobia as the holed up survivors try to defeat an enemy who has massive strength in numbers while also facing problems from within. Granted that David Gemmell's book was built on that single premise whereas over here the book's climax is a one long drawn out fight which will have the readers flipping pages to see who survives & who doesn't and what is the final outcome. For me I got that overall Legend-like vibe and kudos to the author for making the climax that much exciting.

I really loved this book for all of its good points which made it such a fun read, however the parts combined together make it an excellent book all together. I would have point that I really couldn't find any deficiencies or things to nitpick. One can point out that the author utilizes various tropes among the superheroes like the all invincible hero with the heart of gold, the secretive hero who stays alone even among the hero ken, etc. But with all the tropes being utilized Peter has still managed to put his own spin to these characters and the story thereby making it his own and one which can stand all amongst other wonderful debuts. After all almost all SFF novels utilize tropes in one form or the other and it is up to the writer to make them seem seamless within the confines of the plot. To his credit Peter Clines passes with flying colors in his debut by giving the readers a tale which they can cherish for a long time to come.

CONCLUSION: An excellent debut which spans many sub-genres and has a little bit of everything to satisfy most of its readers. Ex-Heroes is a standout debut in the superhero and zombie genre. Simply put I was completely floored by this book's ingenuity and charm; I definitely hope that Hollywood never ruins this one by making it into a movie. Heartily recommended for all fantasy, thriller, horror fans who would want to read a book which best exemplifies the real meaning of a page-turner. Peter Clines's debut easily makes him the most under-appreciated author of 2010 and now I can't wait to read what he has done next in Ex-Patriots.

This book was like nothing I ever read before. When someone told me about it, I knew it was going to be amazing. Superheros, and zombies? It's like my dream came true. And after I read it I was so attached and committed to the characters I couldn't stop reading the rest directly after. This is by far one of my top 5 favorite apocalyptic books of all time.

I like zombie stories. I like super hero stories. When I found out there was a super hero/zombie book, I had to get it. Having not heard of the author before, I was cautious. However, I was very happy with the book. I read it in less than a week and have since recommended it to many friends.

The world that Peter Clines has created is full of potential stories. While Ex-Heroes has some flashbacks with the heroes, it would love to read a book of short stories that explores the heroes in further details before and during the lead-up to Ex-Heroes.

I understand there is a sequel in the works which I will buy on the first day I can.

This was a fun read and I highly recommend it to zombie fans or super hero fans!

This is a highly creative and entertaining read. Zombies and Superheroes - what more could you ask for!

Hopefully we have superheroes fighting for us when the Zombie Apocalypse finally arrives.

Loved "Ex-Heroes", Peter Clines' first book in the "Ex" series. There are few books that capture my attention enough that I actually finish them, and now I am looking forward to reading Peter Clines' second book, "Ex-Patriots. I highly recommend this book to fans of super heroes or zombies, or both!