Line #13 ComicBook/AltHero


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ah001_page_1.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350: "Welcome to the Global Justice Initiative."]]
3
4	->''The dawn of the era has led to a new arms race, albeit one that involves superhumans instead of super weapons.''
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7	''Alt★Hero'' is a comic book published by Castalia House under the Arkhaven Comics imprint. It was crowdfunded in 2017 and launched the following year. White nationalist and conspiracy theorist Creator/VoxDay is the creator and writer, with art by Cliff Cosmic and Richard Bonk. Given the author's extremist political views, it's not surprising that his worldview bleeds into the very foundation of the comic. The name itself comes from the "alt-right" movement, an [[ANaziByAnyOtherName American Neo-Nazi movement]] that came to prominence in the 2010s.
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9	The comic is set on an alternate history Earth and focuses on superhumans, aka "specials", who are classified as a separate sub-species, ''Homo Sequens''. Two international bodies have been created to keep them in check. The Global Justice Initiative recruits them to serve [[TheNeedsOfTheMany the greater good]]; the Superhuman Protection Council, a United Nations body, polices them. There is some resistance to these bodies, from superhumans and regular people alike.
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11	There are two main parallel story arcs. One is set in Europe and revolves around the Global Justice Initiative; the other is set in the US and deals with the SPC. A third arc was introduced in the web version (see below) about a Chinese super team operating in America and a secret super team brought in to combat them.
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13	''Alt★Hero'' is available in both print and webcomic format. Originally, Day published the web version on Platform/{{Webtoon}} before moving it to his own platform, Platform/{{Arkhaven}}. You can read it free [[https://www.arkhaven.com/comics/superhero/alt-hero here]], albeit in a [[OutOfOrder different publication order]] from the print run.
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15	Crowdfunding for a film adaptation was successful, but the money was lost in a scam and is presumed lost, with no further plans to adapt the series to screen.
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17	The comic has spawned two spin-offs: ''ComicBook/ChuckDixonsAvalon'' and ''Webcomic/{{Shade}}''.
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20	----
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22
23	!! ''Alt★Hero'' provides examples of:
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25	* AlliterativeName: '''J'''anelle '''J'''eanneret; '''M'''ichael '''M'''artel; '''S'''oul'''s'''ight.
26	* AMindIsATerribleThingToRead: Soulsight can glimpse moments of people's past and feel their resulting pain. "Poor bastard," remarks Martel. It could be worse though: at least he [[NonIndicativeName can't actually see people's souls]].
27	* AsTheGoodBookSays: Immotus quotes Ecclesiastes 3:1, telling the resistance "there is a season for everything". He himself calls it "the Good Book".
28	* AuthorTract: Part of the appeal of the comic is that it serves as one for the author, being an opportunity to share his disdain for the globalists and liberals and champion everything from Christianity to the Confederacy.
29	* BadassBoast: Martel. "One hundred percent '''''genuine''''' American badass. With a '''''fastball!'''''"
30	%% Doesnt explain how they are a badass * BadassInDistress: Shiloh Summers' introduction sees her sedated and taken prisoner by the SPC.
31	* BluntNo: Shade, when Dynamique excitedly asks if she can drive his car.
32	* BulletCatch: In her first scene, Janelle does this with a tranquiliser dart and taser electrodes, using the latter to [[CatchAndReturn shock the hapless shooter]].
33	%% * CampGay: Rainbow—yes, that's his name—plays this image for all it's worth.
34	* CheeseEatingSurrenderMonkeys: Invoked and defied by Durand. When Captain Europa's appearance causes some of the Paris protesters to lose heart, Durand tells them it's time the French fought back instead of fleeing all the time. Despite being physically outmatched, he faces and ''beats'' the Captain, inspiring the nationalists to rout their Antifa opposition.
35	* CompanyCrossReferences: To Castalia House publications:
36	** Dreamforge gives his fellow dissidents copies of their new "warfighting manual", ''[[https://shop.aer.io/castalia/p/4th_Generation_Warfare_Handbook/9789527065754-1875?collection=Castalia_Nonfiction-9422 4th Generation Warfare Handbook]]'' by William S. Lind and Gregory A. Thiele.
37	** Dr Nano offers to liven up a road trip with an audio book implied to be C.R. Hallpike's ''[[https://shop.aer.io/castalia/p/Ship_of_Fools_An_Anthology_of_Learned_Nonsense_Abo/9789527065556-1875?collection=Castalia_Nonfiction-9422 Ship of Fools: An Anthology of Learned Nonsense About Primitive Society]]''. His fellow passengers are [[IncrediblyLameFun less than enthused]].
38	---> '''Nano''': At least you learned something.\
39	'''Rainbow''': Yeah, never let you pick the audiobook.
40	%%* CoolCar: Shade's. Dynamique wants one just like it, and she doesn't even have a driving permit.
41	* DarkerAndEdgier: The American SPC storyline has a considerably more serious tone than the European arc. The dissident specials are ready to kidnap and even kill to protect their families and themselves, the art is less cartoonish, and there is less humour and more internal conflict.
42	%%* DeadpanSnarker: Shade. Emphasis on ''deadpan''.
43	* DesignatedGirlfight: Averted. When preparing to apprehend the dissidents, Sparassi volunteers to take on Hammer, leaving Kelvin Nought to deal with Rebel.
44	* DestructiveSavior: Ryu No Seishin, with Fairytail's help, rescues Hammer and Rebel by using her [[KillItWithFire fire power]] to put Nought and Sparassi to flight. Unfortunately this takes place at a motel, and the resulting blaze claims six innocent lives. Ryu [[HeroicBSOD does not take it well]].
45	* DistinctionWithoutADifference: Durand did '''''not''''' beat Captain Europa. He just took him by surprise. Cue AsideGlance from Dynamique.
46	* DoubleMeaningTitle: Volume Two, entitled "Rebel's Cell", introduces an anti-SPC cell of rebel superhumans. They rescue Shiloh, who later adopts the name Rebel, from a prison cell.
47	%%* FieryRedhead: Dynamique and especially Rebel.
48	-->'''Shiloh''': You want Bama? You want Bama? You '''''got''''' Bama!
49	* GildedCage: Trying to draw Shiloh and her allies out, the SPC take her parents into custody. They are unharmed and given all the comforts of home, but are still prisoners.
50	* GoshDangItToHeck: Shiloh's reaction to the police car signaling her is "Well, fudgesticks!"
51	* HeroAntagonist: Kelvin Nought is introduced as a heroic man of integrity, soon recruited by the SPC to help apprehend the rebel specials.
52	* InvulnerableKnuckles: Played straight a lot, due to the characters' super-powers, but averted in "The Dark Hunt". A haymaker from Dynamique sends a huge wolfman flying, and leaves her clutching her wrist in pain and envying Shade's thick gloves.
53	* NamedAfterSomebodyFamous: Michael's surname ''and'' alias match eighth century French (Frankish) leader Charles "The Hammer" Martel, best known for his victory at the Battle of Tours.
54	* PoliticallyIncorrectHero: Hammer. Prior to joining the resistance he targets criminals who are illegal immigrants. He repeatedly addresses female special Raptor with YourLittleDismissiveDiminutive, and tells her American-born Korean partner "You have to go back!"
55	* RhymesOnADime: Rainbow likes to drop rhyming couplets into his conversations.
56	-->'''Rainbow''': I've been in London, I've been in France, I've been in ''[[GratuitousFrench beaucoup]]'' underpants!
57	* ShipperOnDeck: Rebel, for Hammer and Ryu No Seishin. At one point she gets so playfully zealous that she and Hammer draw the attention of the police and consequently the SPC. [[ATragedyOfImpulsiveness Tragedy ensues]].
58	* ShoutOutToShakespeare: Shade heralds Rainbow's arrival with "[[Theatre/{{Macbeth}} Something wicked this way comes]]."
59	* StevenUlyssesPerhero: Kelvin Nought has [[AnIcePerson ice powers]] and his name means the temperature at which all matter would freeze.
60	* StrongButUnskilled: Or at least, strong but inexperienced at first. Hammer can punch through walls and take down half a dozen armed thugs, no trouble. Yet the first ''homo sequens'' he faces in a fight, FragileSpeedster spider-woman Sparassi, overcomes him with ease.
61	* TrustPassword: Durand and Foucault must reply to "Avanti" with the countersign "Azzurri", completing the battle cry of Italian football (soccer) fans. Possibly chosen because no other self-respecting Frenchman would respond this way, or maybe [[ItAmusedMe just to troll them]].
62	* WelcomeEpisode: Volume One for Janelle/Dynamique. Volume Two introduces the American-based resistance cell, and Michael/Hammer who joins them. Shiloh also meets the dissidents in Volume Two but does not join them as Rebel until the next volume.
63	* YouHaveNoIdeaWhoYoureDealingWith: After Martel beats up a gang of Antifa thugs who confronted him, Immotus informs him that one of them is the son of the Lieutenant Governor. Martel is unfazed until he learns his actions will attract the SPC's attention.
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Context ComicBook / AltHero