A review by joshwrose
Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots

5.0

This is a story about a Hench who is a data analyst seeking revenge against a superhero who accidentally hurt her and the ghost-lighting trauma caused by the "good guys" afterwards. I've read stories about henchmen in the day in the life, evil supermen, and corrupt organizations that support supers, but this is nothing like those.

The author writes with the idea that evil isn't actually more than just breaking the law and doing bad, mean things which is actually very interesting. The "bad" guys in the book are actually polite and honest about who they are and what they do. The "good" guys are hypocrites.

What makes this book so interesting is how the main character who is on the "bad" team isn't shown as bad, and the good side isn't any better. The whole super powers conflict of this world is more like corporate competition. The cast of henches is diverse. Men, women, and non-binary folks all work together, and the inclusion of other LGBTQ identifying characters feels like a natural inclusion.

A thought provoking, superhero drama about the unintended consequences, and doing good versus the greater good.