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fairybookmother's review against another edition
4.0
3.5, but I'm rounding up for super snappy dialogue and action as well as a really interesting take on the spread of zombie infection. If you like superheroes and zombies and both together, you'll like this!
mkaber's review against another edition
5.0
Holy cow. This book was SO good. I'm both shocked and thrilled that I hadn't read it before... because now I have a whole dang series to look forward to!
Seriously, this was both original and well worn in all the right places. As dozens of others have said, this is a zombie/ superhero mashup, think Watchmen meets 28 Days Later. However, it doesn't feel overdone or hackneyed. Honestly I just can't describe it well enough to do it justice. Just do yourself a favor and read it. You can thank me after.
Seriously, this was both original and well worn in all the right places. As dozens of others have said, this is a zombie/ superhero mashup, think Watchmen meets 28 Days Later. However, it doesn't feel overdone or hackneyed. Honestly I just can't describe it well enough to do it justice. Just do yourself a favor and read it. You can thank me after.
healsdata's review against another edition
3.0
This book had an interesting way of making zombies but it had some pretty big flaws. Minor, but it isn't internally consistent when it comes to handling zombie bites for super heroes.
But more egregious was the fact that the entire climax / final fight is completely pointless. It could have been resolved in exactly one second and no attempt was made to explain why it wasn't done. That's the problem with using super heroes. If one of them would be the "perfect" solution to a problem, you must explain why they didn't solve it.
But more egregious was the fact that the entire climax / final fight is completely pointless. It could have been resolved in exactly one second and no attempt was made to explain why it wasn't done. That's the problem with using super heroes. If one of them would be the "perfect" solution to a problem, you must explain why they didn't solve it.
old_tim's review against another edition
3.0
While superheroes vs zombies seems like some sort of satirical sendup of Hollywood, the concept does capture something in the zeitgeist of the 21st century. In fact I’m somewhat surprised that we haven’t seen a series of movies on SyFy featuring this theme.
In Peter Clines’ debut novel, he goes all in on the genre tropes. The story takes place after the zombie apocalypse. A small group of superheroes and a larger group of normal humans have taken shelter on a converted movie studio lot in Los Angeles. They’re trying to survive, but in addition to the millions of swarming “exes” (Clines word of choice instead of zombie), they are also menaced by the remnants of a street gang who want the weaponry the superheroes have access to.
The strength of Ex-Heroes lies in the pacing and action sequences. With so many constant threats to survival, there are plenty of opportunities for heroics. Zombies to kill, humans to rescue, evil gangbangers to overcome. Clines does a good job of taking a story that seems to fit more naturally into a comic format & convert it into a novel.
The weakness of the novel lies in the characterizations. Clines chooses to basically simply file the serial numbers off several famous superheroes. This approach is fine, but even the flashbacks used to establish the heroes identity before the outbreak are not enough to make me really care about any of the characters. This diminishes the stakes significantly.
In short, while a quick & fun read, Ex-Heroes was on the whole disappointing. I wish I’d read the graphic novel instead.
In Peter Clines’ debut novel, he goes all in on the genre tropes. The story takes place after the zombie apocalypse. A small group of superheroes and a larger group of normal humans have taken shelter on a converted movie studio lot in Los Angeles. They’re trying to survive, but in addition to the millions of swarming “exes” (Clines word of choice instead of zombie), they are also menaced by the remnants of a street gang who want the weaponry the superheroes have access to.
The strength of Ex-Heroes lies in the pacing and action sequences. With so many constant threats to survival, there are plenty of opportunities for heroics. Zombies to kill, humans to rescue, evil gangbangers to overcome. Clines does a good job of taking a story that seems to fit more naturally into a comic format & convert it into a novel.
The weakness of the novel lies in the characterizations. Clines chooses to basically simply file the serial numbers off several famous superheroes. This approach is fine, but even the flashbacks used to establish the heroes identity before the outbreak are not enough to make me really care about any of the characters. This diminishes the stakes significantly.
In short, while a quick & fun read, Ex-Heroes was on the whole disappointing. I wish I’d read the graphic novel instead.
matosapa's review against another edition
4.0
Yet another zombie series but this one has a new component that I've wanted for some time - super heroes (actually, more closer to mutants but you get the idea). It's a mash-up of a zombie apocalypse (set in LA) and superheroes who are fighting to protect an enclave in the middle of a city of zombies.
It worked for me on all levels. The plot was nothing new but the super powers where well-done and , in some cases, damn interesting. The main characters were engaging, believable, and developed in interesting ways as the story progressed. One of the mechanics I thought worked very well was the short flash-backs for each of the main characters; mainly focusing on the time when they acquired their powers or were actively using them before the apocalypse hit.
All in all, a great read for those who are looking for something new from the walking dead and those caped crusaders.
It worked for me on all levels. The plot was nothing new but the super powers where well-done and , in some cases, damn interesting. The main characters were engaging, believable, and developed in interesting ways as the story progressed. One of the mechanics I thought worked very well was the short flash-backs for each of the main characters; mainly focusing on the time when they acquired their powers or were actively using them before the apocalypse hit.
All in all, a great read for those who are looking for something new from the walking dead and those caped crusaders.
majkia's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not very interested in zombie tales, but this one had a few interesting twists.
thaydra's review against another edition
3.0
Superheros vs. Zombies. Need I say more?
The writing was a little weak for me. I think it could have done with a bit more thorough editing, as there were a few typos I found that made me have to reread some sentences a few times to understand what was meant. It took me awhile to get into the book. I never really felt any sort of connection with any of the characters. I will say that about half-way through the book I did feel spurred on to finish it to find out how the story ended.
The writing was a little weak for me. I think it could have done with a bit more thorough editing, as there were a few typos I found that made me have to reread some sentences a few times to understand what was meant. It took me awhile to get into the book. I never really felt any sort of connection with any of the characters. I will say that about half-way through the book I did feel spurred on to finish it to find out how the story ended.
gls_merch's review against another edition
3.0
A quick, fun read combining super-heroes and zombies. And yes, super-heroes can become zombies. Had some other interesting twists and turns so it wasn't totally predictable. Quick fun read.
10billionghosts's review against another edition
2.0
THIS BOOK HAS IT ALL: DC and Marvel Analogue Superheroes with very little changed from their source material, graphic violence against zombies that are overwhelmingly women and children as though this is somehow more shocking than extreme violence enacted against male zombies, an almost all-white cast of good guys, an almost all non-white cast of bad guys, women whose defining character traits are their bodies, boobs and butts that get more description than character actions or personalities, women in refrigerators, "strong" female characters who are "strong" because they are bitchy and physically strong and otherwise apparently flaw free and a characterization of Los Angeles so poor that even a person who has never been to Los Angeles can tell how poor the characterization is.
I enjoyed the pulpy action bits because I like pulpy action novels, but the fun bits were far too frequently interrupted by things that made me make this face: ":I" and occassionally this face "9_9".
I enjoyed the pulpy action bits because I like pulpy action novels, but the fun bits were far too frequently interrupted by things that made me make this face: ":I" and occassionally this face "9_9".
pkrawr's review against another edition
5.0
Fascinating take on both the superhero and zombie genres. Highly recommended, as it's strong on character development and relevant action, unlike some other zombie gore-fests.