It was 2006 when we first met the superpowered weirdos of “Heroes,” born of Tim Kring’s imagination and given life by NBC. “Save the cheerleader, save the world!”
Flash-forward to 2015 and we have a new catchphrase: “Forget the past, save the future!”
The cartoon-style action-adventure fantasy series “Heroes: Reborn” premieres Sept. 24 (7-9 p.m. on KUSA-Channel 9). The superpowers remain spectacular, the violence is ever more game-like — literally, when one character jumps through a computer screen into a Japanese samurai video game — the whole thing a tribute to special effects.
It’s metaphysics: A butterfly flaps its wings and a four-season mini-phenomenon springs to life for 13 episodes.
The humans are fighting the evos (evolved, superpowered people) in an escalating war after a terror attack with a heavy metaphorical reference to 9/11. In this sci-fi universe, June 13 is the day that lives in infamy. Evos are starting to disappear, hunted like Salem witches, we’re told.
The backstory in brief: After a terrorist attack in Odessa, Texas, left the city in ruins, those with superpowers are in hiding, blamed for the catastrophic event. They are tracked by folks like Luke (Zachary Levi) and Joanne Collins (Judi Shekoni), out to avenge the loss of their son. Levi gives the best performance of the lot. Jack Coleman as Noah Bennet, father of Claire the cheerleader, remains fascinatingly wooden. Bennet meets Quentin Frady (Henry Zebrowski), a conspiracy theorist out to uncover the truth behind the Odessa tragedy.
Luckily, if one thread bores you, wait a moment and the scene shifts. In a wholesome America out of Norman Rockwell, awkward young Tommy (Robbie Kay) just wants to be normal and win the girl, Emily (Gatlin Green), but he’s got a new scary ability. In Tokyo, pretty young Miko (Kiki Sukezane) wants to track down her missing father while hiding an extraordinary secret. In Los Angeles, a hero emerges in the form of former soldier Carlos Gutierrez (Ryan Guzman). And so on.
“It’s coming!” That’s all we know for sure, and it’s going to be big. Maybe not ratings-wise, but in certain geek quarters where comic-book-style suspense is valued.
The adventure is given unearned profundity as the coming threat bears a metaphorical resemblance to climate change: “it is happening faster than we thought, I don’t think we can can control it much longer.” An iceberg, or is it a cloud, in the distance is apparently meaningful.
A number of heroes from the original run will reappear in guest spots, including fan favorite Masi Oka.
Remember, “everyone can be a hero!” Just click your heels together three times and say there’s no place like home.
Joanne Ostrow: 303-954-1830, jostrow@denverpost.com or
