Bleeding Hart

I’ve never been to San Diego Comic-Con, nor any others in the Comic-Con International calendar; Australia misses all the excitement. I have been to smaller comic book and associated conventions in bygone years, but nothing with that kind of breadth. I’ve met a number of celebrities at these, though none whom I hold in anywhere near as high esteem as Chris, the protagonist of Conor Metz’s Bleeding Hart, does actress Marie LeBeau. Yet in the book’s opening chapter, the memories of these conventions came flooding back to me, as the book captures the essence of what it’s like to attend one of these conventions, and what it’s like to be a fan.

Comic book conventions and fandom only scratch the surface of Bleeding Hart, with these elements only playing a somewhat minor role in the tale. It’s also the only parts of the book that elicited familiar memories. As the story continues, it becomes all the more fantastical, but the reality the author has grounded it in anchors the story. I may have met a number of celebrities at conventions, but I’ve never rescued one from a ninja. And I’ve certainly never been in any of the increasingly outlandish situations the novel’s characters find themselves in as the book progresses. What these situations are, I won’t touch upon, because the less the reader knows going into the book, the more they’ll enjoy its particular brand of craziness.

It’s somewhat difficult to explain Bleeding Hart’s plot without providing any details about its twists and turns. The book tells the story of Chris Hart, a comic book fan excited to meet the cast and crew behind the upcoming film adaptation of his favourite comic book, including the woman of his dreams, Marie LeBeau. After humiliating himself in Marie’s presence, Chris is invited to an exclusive party, where he once again meets Marie, before saving her from a ninja. He’s soon offered a job as the head of Marie’s security, protecting her from whomever wants her dead. What follows is a humorous action adventure story, with a healthy dose of horror, full of various twists. It’s an entertaining premise and plot, and the various twists work well, although at points, it feels like it’s throwing more out there for the sake of it.

With its horror trappings, Bleeding Hart is a violent book. It doesn’t pull back on its violence, but it is presented with a humorous slant, which helps avoid it being overly confronting. Readers entertained by light-hearted but grisly violence will find themselves entertained, but it might disappoint readers who like horror to be suspenseful. Although the book is humorous, it never goes so far that the book could be considered a humour title; it’s more of a horror romp. At 322 pages in paperback and hardcover (and an estimated 307 pages on Kindle), it moves at a brisk pace that serves the book well as it leans into the story’s pure entertainment.

The novel plays with themes around Hollywood and the elite, but only does so with a light touch. It doesn’t break any new ground, or provide any real insights. Given the book’s tone, readers may expect a parody of the people who populate Tinseltown, but the book doesn’t go much further than citing them as a bunch of characters who may not be as endearing as their public personas may have you believe. Bleeding Hart is written with a love of film, however; with plenty of references to movies, including one particular film I suspect had an influence on the story, that this book’s subject and pacing reminded me of. Film fans will appreciate the references, though people who aren’t as enamoured with movies may find these a little tiresome.

Although Bleeding Hart doesn’t dig deep into the Hollywood elite, these characters are written with enough nuance to make them entertaining. This is also true of the non-Hollywood characters who populate the story. None of these characters is particularly deep, but they all serve the story. The most nuanced character, understandably, is Chris. As the protagonist, the story is about him, his decisions, and why he makes them. Although he’s largely entertaining, not to mention a relatable everyman, he’s not always likeable. However, in the moments where is less likeable, I’m not sure that it’s a deliberate decision by the author, or simply how he’s written.

The book features a fair amount of dialogue. Whilst there are some parts that don’t ring true, it sounds largely natural, particularly in the context of Bleeding Hart’s heightened world. The characters all have distinct voices who sound like real people. The prose serves the book well. It isn’t particularly colourful, but inder through the story and the events. Given the humorous tone of the story, its heavy violence and visceral horror, the prose manages to balance the elements, letting the reader know when to chuckle and when to gasp at the appropriate moments.

Bleeding Hart sets out to do one thing, and that’s entertaining the reader. If you’re a fan of humorously violent horror stories, you’ll find the book does exactly what it sets out to do. Whilst the horror elements and Hollywood satire don’t hit as strongly as they could, it’s grounded by a relatable protagonist and populated by fun characters. The various plot twists will surprise the reader, with each moment bringing them along for the ride.