The title, Super Corporate Heroes, tells it all.  This hilarious comic, the first of four volumes by indie comic publisher, 7 Robots, Inc., grabbed my attention within the first pages.

In this alternate reality, non-profit superheroes is a thing of the past, thanks to powerful companies and wealthy lobbyists.  Superheroes are now required to have a license, and work for an insurance company.  Superhero, Inc. is a large insurance company, and is the only company registered to legally distribute superhero licenses.

The superheroes work for Superhero, Inc. and they receive a paycheck.  They receive their assignments from the call center dispatchers.

People have to pay to be rescued.  If they don’t have rescue insurance, then they are offered a selection of packages by the rescuing superhero.  And superheroes are required to not perform a rescue if a purchase is not made.

The pages below are from the beginning of this hilarious mini-series.  Sir Shroud has to go over the legalities, before he can rescue a man from a burning building.

The people are able to pay by cash and credit cards.  Personal checks are not accepted.  The superheroes travel with a credit card reader, and they even print receipts.

When people don’t make their insurance payments on-time, they are paid a visit by the insurance collectors, Meerkat and Big Brother.  You are forced to pay one way or another.  In other words, pay or die.

You have to pay even if you don’t use your rescue(s).  You sign a legal contract when purchasing rescue insurance.  Therefore you are bound by its terms.  The man in the picture above, getting tortured by Meerkat, refused to pay because he didn’t use any of his rescues.

The package rates are so high, that you’re probably better off handing your wallet over to a thief.

In the case above, the victim compared the price of rescue insurance to the amount the robber tried to steal from him.  The robber said he only wanted whatever was in the wallet.  Since the amount in the wallet was less than rescue insurance, the guy happily gave the robber his wallet!

I was impressed after reading Super Corporate Heroes (Vol 1): Sticky Fingers.  Miguel Guerra and his better half, Suzy Dias, are the writers of this phenomenal story.  Character interactions are amazing.  Although this is a superhero comedy, dialogue is motivational, strong and realistic.  Guerra and Dias mixed comedy with real-life situations, and produced a great story that will have you laughing, angry, and crying at the same time.

Guerra also provided the visuals.  The panels are drawn to perfection and finely detailed.  Character facial expressions are so life-like, my emotions were sparked several times.  When I look at the cute, but arrogant American Icon (who’s always smiling, by the way) I just want to punch him.  Blue Collar can easily generate sympathy from caring and compassionate females.  He’s hardworking and runs his body to the ground, trying to stay afloat with his finances.  I just want to give him a consoling hug.

If you’re looking for new comics to read, I highly suggest that you jump on this indie comic.  This title focuses heavily on politics, about who gets what in a society.  Discrimination, wage inequality, corporate greed and control, and monopoly are some of the themes in this comic.

Some of my favorite characters are:

• Wyatt Lewis, aka American Icon.  Known as the World’s Strongest Hero, American Icon is the face of Superhero, Inc.  He also receives the highest pay.  But this pretty boy is also the bad boy of the industry.  Some of his many allegations include rape, assault, public urination, and being drunk in public.  I probably don’t even need to mention the paternity suits.
• Ms. Titanium.  Beautiful, aggressive.  Stronger than American Icon.  Performs more rescues than American Icon, but gets paid less.  American Icon’s pay is twice that of Ms. Titanium’s.
• Spinlar.  Part spider, part fly.  Very fast.  Has the super ability of shooting webs from his butt!
• Jack Clementine, aka Blue Collar.  Divorced father of young children.  Works a lot of overtime to pay attorney fees, alimony and child support.  To make ends meet, he takes any job the company gives him, even performing at kids birthday parties.
• Thomas Walters.  The original American Icon.  Has been in legal battle with Superhero, Inc. over 15 years.  Claims the company stole his identity and profits without his consent.  Walters never registered to be a licensed superhero, so his superhero identity went past the statute of limitation, and into the public domain.  At least that’s how the defendants see it.

With any superhero story, there has to be a villain.  Invisible Hand is the mastermind behind all the mass chaos.  He’s incredibly wealthy, powerful, controlling, and possess superhuman abilities.

For more information on this title or Guerra and Dias’ other creations, feel free to visit their website at www.7robots.com.

I definitely plan to read the entire series.

VERDICT (drum roll please)

There is no doubt that I strongly recommend this mini-series.  Super Corporate Heroes (Vol 1):  Sticky Fingers gets 5/5 stars.