In Hero Years Books in Order

Where to Start: The Ultimate Reading Path

For readers stepping into Michael A. Stackpole’s satirical, noir-infused superhero universe, the best starting point is the original 2010 flagship novel, In Hero Years... I’m Dead. Although the author later published a series of prequel stories in 2020 that depict the earlier careers of the characters, reading the main novel first is highly recommended. Starting with the core book allows you to experience the world through the eyes of the protagonist, Coyote, as he returns to a unrecognizable, commercialized Capital City. Once you have a firm grasp of the dystopian setting and its cynical rules, the prequel stories will have a much greater impact, offering rich backstory and depth to the heroes you have already met.

However, if you prefer a chronological journey from the very beginning, you can read the 2020 prequel stories first, starting with Need to Know and proceeding through the individual character vignettes before culminating in the main novel. This approach highlights the slow decline of the golden age of heroes into corporate-sponsored media figures.

What to Know Before You Start: The World of Capital City

Michael A. Stackpole’s universe is a sharp, gritty deconstruction of classic comic book tropes. In Capital City, superheroism is no longer a selfless calling; it is a highly commercialized, reality-television-style industry. Battles between heroes and villains are choreographed spectacle events staged for television ratings, and heroes are corporate-sponsored assets who live and die by their endorsement deals.

The story centers on Coyote, a gadget-reliant, Batman-style vigilante who was captured and held in isolation for twenty years. When he finally escapes and returns to Capital City, he finds his former peers—like the Batman analog Nighthaunt and the Superman-esque Graviton—either retired, dead, or compromised. In their place is a new generation of heroes who function as corporate puppets. Coyote's old-school grit and search for justice clash immediately with a superficial society where ratings matter more than saving lives.

The Core Novel: In Hero Years... I’m Dead

Published in 2010 as a digital-original novel, In Hero Years... I'm Dead is the anchor of the series. The narrative blends classic detective noir with superhero fiction. Following Coyote's return, the book unfolds as a mystery, as he attempts to uncover the conspiracy behind his decades-long imprisonment. Along the way, he exposes the corruption at the heart of Capital City's hero industry, dealing with old allies who have sold out and new enemies who view him as a threat to their commercial bottom line.

The 2020 Prequel Stories and Capital City Crime Subseries

A decade after the release of the main novel, Stackpole expanded the universe with eleven prequel stories and novellas. These stories were originally developed as part of his Scratch! writing project on Patreon and later released individually on digital platforms. They serve as character studies and world-building exercises, showing the early careers of the heroes whose stories conclude in the main novel.

Within these prequels, several stories form the Capital City Crime subseries, focusing on the dark underbelly and investigative aspects of the city. Notable entries include Haunted City, Cold Comfort, Cruel Summer, Bounty Grove (also known as Bad Time in Bounty Grove), and Yskarion. Additionally, the eleventh entry, XR-39 Tango, is a unique epistolary-style story co-authored with Chantelle Aimée Osman, told through emails between corporate departments regarding the deployment of a robotic hero.

In Hero Years Publication Order

While the prequel stories were all published in 2020, they were released in a slightly different sequence than their chronological timeline. The publication order for the main novel and the 2020 stories is as follows:

1. In Hero Years... I'm Dead (2010) — The primary novel.
2. In Service Days (2020) — Prequel story examining early hero deployments.
3. Need to Know (2020) — Introducing young heroes navigating the city's underbelly.
4. Easy As Pie (2020) — A short character-focused vignette.
5. Field Trip (2020) — Featuring Merlin and The Puma debating the ethics of heroism on a rooftop.
6. Lost Hiker (2020) — A rescue mission that explores the limits of public heroics.
7. Ill Met in Lyttleton (2020) — A story expanding the geographical scope of the hero network.
8. Capital City Crime: Haunted City (2020) — The start of the crime-focused prequel stories.
9. Capital City Crime: Cold Comfort (2020) — A gritty mystery set in the colder months of the city.
10. XR-39 Tango (2020) — Co-authored with Chantelle Aimée Osman, focusing on corporate robot development.

In Hero Years Chronological Order

For readers who want to follow the timeline of Capital City from the early days of its heroes up to Coyote's return, the chronological order differs slightly. The author has noted that because he continues to add stories, the timeline remains flexible, but the generally accepted chronological sequence is:

1. Need to Know
2. In Service Days
3. Field Trip
4. Easy as Pie
5. Lost Hiker
6. Ill Met in Lyttleton
7. Capital City Crime: Haunted City
8. Capital City Crime: Cold Comfort
9. Capital City Crime: Cruel Summer
10. Capital City Crime: Bounty Grove (or Bad Time in Bounty Grove)
11. Capital City Crime: Yskarion (or the co-authored XR-39 Tango)
12. In Hero Years... I'm Dead (The main novel)