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!Hero is a rock opera about Jesus. It is based on the question, "What if Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania?". After the original tour ended, it was released on DVD, CD, and was written into a trilogy of novels and series of comic books.

!Hero is a rock opera modernizing Jesus's last two years of life, as described in the Bible. The story takes place in New York City, in Brooklyn. The world's government in this near-future dystopic Earth is centered under the International Confederation of Nations, aka I.C.O.N. Under the iron fist of I.C.O.N., nearly all religion in the world has been wiped out, except for small occult and mystic sects. Only one synagogue in Brooklyn exists. Currently, New York City, is a police-occupied warzone between ethnic gangs and small, isolated revolutionary groups fighting I.C.O.N. Of all the ancient world religions, only Judaism survives and flourishes, at least, as much as it can.

In Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, a child named Jesus (as described in the gospels of the Bible) is born and forced to flee with his family to the small Jewish section of Brooklyn. Jesus grows up and begins to preach and teach the principles of Christianity to the people of New York City, teaching people to love their enemies and care for each other. Immediately, I.C.O.N. realizes Jesus is a threat, and the Chief of Police Devlin, with the help of chief Rabbi Kai, conspire to end the threat of Jesus's revolutionary teachings.

The Opera is narrated by "Agent Hunter", a former I.C.O.N. agent who met Jesus and was soon thrown into prison for joining him against I.C.O.N. The three main characters are Jesus, Petrov (a derivative of Peter from the Bible), and Maggie (a derivative of Mary Magdalene from the Bible). The three are also joined by Jude, a derivative of Judas, who conspires with Kai (possibly a derivative of Caiaphas, the high priest at Jesus' trial) and Devlin to betray Jesus. The storyline progresses through several stories about Jesus's miracles and sermons, using references from the Bible's four gospels, continues through Jesus's execution at the hands of an angry mob that I.C.O.N. turned against him, and eventually ending with the resurrection.

• Michael Tait as Hero
• Mark Stuart of Audio Adrenaline as Petrov
• Rebecca St. James as Maggie
• Paul Wright as Special Agent Hunter
• Nirva as Mama Mary
• John Cooper of Skillet as Chief Rabbi Kai
• Michael Quinlan as Jude
• Matt Hammitt of Sanctus Real as Blind Cripple
• T-Bone as Jairus
• Donnie Lewis as Jairus' Wife
• Pete Stewart as Police Chief Devlin
• Bob Farrell as Governor Pilate
• John Grey as Preacher Rabbi at the wedding
• Nathan Lee as Janitor Angel
• GRITS as the Wedding Party
• Pete & Donna Stewart as the bride and groom at the wedding

See !Hero (album).

• !Hero, The Rock Opera Official Website

• !Hero Universe.com
• !Hero Tour Dates
• Hero! Live On Stage DVD review at Jesus Freak Hideout