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The Young Protectors #1
The Young Protectors: Engaging the Enemy
Evil can be seductive...
Kyle--a closeted, teen superhero who can control fire--has finally summoned up the courage to enter a local gay bar. It's his very first step towards accepting himself. Unfortunately for him, his very next step out of the bar places him face-to-face with The Annihilator, "the most dangerous supervillain in the world." And the price that The Annihilator demands to keep Kyle's secret will lead Kyle down a path fraught with danger, adventure and unexpected romance. It's a path that will force Kyle to question what it really means to be a hero and will ultimately thrust him and his young teammates into an epic conflict against vastly superior foes.
The Young Protectors: Engaging the Enemy is a multi-chapter superhero comic with explosive action, sly comedy, tender romance and powerful drama that both women and men will enjoy.
Kyle--a closeted, teen superhero who can control fire--has finally summoned up the courage to enter a local gay bar. It's his very first step towards accepting himself. Unfortunately for him, his very next step out of the bar places him face-to-face with The Annihilator, "the most dangerous supervillain in the world." And the price that The Annihilator demands to keep Kyle's secret will lead Kyle down a path fraught with danger, adventure and unexpected romance. It's a path that will force Kyle to question what it really means to be a hero and will ultimately thrust him and his young teammates into an epic conflict against vastly superior foes.
The Young Protectors: Engaging the Enemy is a multi-chapter superhero comic with explosive action, sly comedy, tender romance and powerful drama that both women and men will enjoy.
This Kindle edition uses Kindle's advanced Panel View technology. Double-tap on the first panel [or any panel] and then tap on the right side of the screen to flow through the panels and pages. Try it! It's cool!
160 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 26, 2016
36 people are currently reading
159 people want to read
About the author
Alex Woolfson
9 books116 followersAlex Woolfson writes action-packed adventures with lovable gay heroes.
An East-Coaster who now calls the Bay Area home, Alex spent twenty years editing films and video before turning to comics, where he created the Lambda Literary Award finalist graphic novel Artifice and the long‑running LGBTQ‑superhero webcomic The Young Protectors.
His debut MM urban‑fantasy novel, The Reluctant Incubus, kicks off the Alvin Alonso's Secret Files duet, delivering high‑stakes action, slow‑burn romance, and queer heroes who save the world and each other.
When Alex isn't at his treadmill desk writing, you'll find him traveling the globe with his husband, on the hunt for the perfect taco.
An East-Coaster who now calls the Bay Area home, Alex spent twenty years editing films and video before turning to comics, where he created the Lambda Literary Award finalist graphic novel Artifice and the long‑running LGBTQ‑superhero webcomic The Young Protectors.
His debut MM urban‑fantasy novel, The Reluctant Incubus, kicks off the Alvin Alonso's Secret Files duet, delivering high‑stakes action, slow‑burn romance, and queer heroes who save the world and each other.
When Alex isn't at his treadmill desk writing, you'll find him traveling the globe with his husband, on the hunt for the perfect taco.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
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June 17, 2020This comic is highly regarded, as you can see from its other reviews. Personally, I couldn't get onboard with a romance between a 17-year old and a 58-year old.
May 18, 2018
4 stars. A-freakin'-dorable. A gay superhero and a gay villain. What else could you possibly want? I've seriously been grinning like an idiot since finishing this, it was that adorable.
The art style is vibrant and fun. The humor was great and relevant. The whole scene with the heroes finding slash fan art of themselves online *cough*tumblrbecauseofcourse*cough* had me in stitches. It was great. The characters are likable and I like the beginning of Kyle and Duncan's relationship so far. There's also a huge age gap between the two of them. Kyle is 17-18 and Duncan is in his 50s but the comic handles it well I think. I appreciate that they address it because that's a drastic difference. I'm glad this is a webcomic and I can continue on now instead of having to wait because this was entirely too short. I was so invested and into it and then it just ends. Rude.
I highly recommend this comic. I'm glad I found it from just randomly searching the comic section of KU on amazon. This is a great first volume and I look forward to reading more.
The art style is vibrant and fun. The humor was great and relevant. The whole scene with the heroes finding slash fan art of themselves online *cough*tumblrbecauseofcourse*cough* had me in stitches. It was great. The characters are likable and I like the beginning of Kyle and Duncan's relationship so far. There's also a huge age gap between the two of them. Kyle is 17-18 and Duncan is in his 50s but the comic handles it well I think. I appreciate that they address it because that's a drastic difference. I'm glad this is a webcomic and I can continue on now instead of having to wait because this was entirely too short. I was so invested and into it and then it just ends. Rude.
I highly recommend this comic. I'm glad I found it from just randomly searching the comic section of KU on amazon. This is a great first volume and I look forward to reading more.
April 8, 2016
You all know how I feel about gay superheroes, and having read and loved Artifice, I was on board with the Young Protectors from the first panel posted online. This first collection puts together the first major arcs of the story in one volume, and it's so darn pretty.
The short version of the narrative is this: a group of young super-powered folk (the Young Protectors) are more-or-less heroes in training with some restrictions placed upon them. They include Red Hot (who has mastery over flame), Commander (a telepath), Flyboy (who can fly and bring anything he touches with him), Fluke (a manipulator of luck), Spooky Jones (a wizard) and Tsunami (who has mastery over water). They're out there to do good in the world.
And one is coming to terms with being gay.
Handled with Woolfson's deft skill at telling a tale (as well as his skill with freaking cliffhangers), the story progresses from Red Hot's courageous first visit to a gay bar to things getting way out of control—and fast—when one of the bad guys learns his secret.
The pacing is solid, the storytelling works, and my only wish is that there was more than there currently is. I suppose in the meanwhile, I'll go re-read Queeroes, Hero, and maybe work on a sequel to Light.
The short version of the narrative is this: a group of young super-powered folk (the Young Protectors) are more-or-less heroes in training with some restrictions placed upon them. They include Red Hot (who has mastery over flame), Commander (a telepath), Flyboy (who can fly and bring anything he touches with him), Fluke (a manipulator of luck), Spooky Jones (a wizard) and Tsunami (who has mastery over water). They're out there to do good in the world.
And one is coming to terms with being gay.
Handled with Woolfson's deft skill at telling a tale (as well as his skill with freaking cliffhangers), the story progresses from Red Hot's courageous first visit to a gay bar to things getting way out of control—and fast—when one of the bad guys learns his secret.
The pacing is solid, the storytelling works, and my only wish is that there was more than there currently is. I suppose in the meanwhile, I'll go re-read Queeroes, Hero, and maybe work on a sequel to Light.
June 16, 2020
This is a case where the culture shock hit, because the superhero is 16/17 years old, and the villain is around 50 years old. Both are gay and start a loving relationship. Here in Brazil, this is considered pedophilia, but in the USA, it's only a crime if one of the two is up to 15. It's a very high age difference, the authors and illustrators knew how to handle the situation very well.
There were parts where I laughed a lot, there were parts where I got very ~animated~ if you understand me. The other characters are nice and there wasn't one I didn't like.
I was just upset that volume 2 is not available in Brazil. Maybe I have to use illicit means? It will be my last option because I really want to read the following and know what will happen to them.
There were parts where I laughed a lot, there were parts where I got very ~animated~ if you understand me. The other characters are nice and there wasn't one I didn't like.
I was just upset that volume 2 is not available in Brazil. Maybe I have to use illicit means? It will be my last option because I really want to read the following and know what will happen to them.
August 10, 2020
There were parts of this that were really cute, and I would've rated this a lot higher had the romance not been between a literally CHILD and 58-year-old man. To make it even worse in their first few interactions the 58-year-old pressures the 17 year old into kissing him and going out with him and it's all played off as a joke. There was even a part when they joked about how the 17-year-old wasn't "totally legal" yet...”not that that would matter to [the 58-year-old]” 🤢
September 3, 2018
Genial ❤️
May 10, 2018
Whew, what a ride! My rating/review is for the webcomic version that can be found here: http://webcomics.yaoi911.com/archives...
(The kindle version is way shorter than what is available online and doesn't (yet) include chapters 3 and following.)
I'm very impressed by this comic, high quality writing and drawings, love it! I want more. Kudos to everyone involved in creating this gem. And I'm usually not into comics at all, go figure.
(The kindle version is way shorter than what is available online and doesn't (yet) include chapters 3 and following.)
I'm very impressed by this comic, high quality writing and drawings, love it! I want more. Kudos to everyone involved in creating this gem. And I'm usually not into comics at all, go figure.
April 9, 2024
Good
This is my first from the author and I enjoyed it. I can't wait to check out what else Woolfson has.
This is my first from the author and I enjoyed it. I can't wait to check out what else Woolfson has.
February 7, 2017
This was a fun, well-drawn comic that I could see myself liking a lot more if not for the fact that the main romance is between a 17-year-old and a 58-year-old, which is just not my thing. The characters are intriguing, though, particularly Spooky Jones, who is a background character for most of the book but gets a short bonus comic about his backstory at the end. Despite my reservations regarding the main pairing, I will probably continue reading this comic online.
Edit: So it turns out Young Protectors Vol. 1 is significantly more enjoyable when viewed as a setup for the chapter that immediately follows!!!! If only some of this had been brought forward into the first chapter!
Edit: So it turns out Young Protectors Vol. 1 is significantly more enjoyable when viewed as a setup for the chapter that immediately follows!!!! If only some of this had been brought forward into the first chapter!
January 4, 2016
This was a fun, fast read. I look forward to seeing more from these characters. It makes me think of Young Avengers and Queer as Folk in some ways.
. It's set in a world where super heroes and super Villains are the norm. The first story is about Kyle, a closeted superhero who comes across a much older super villain who wants to change his ways and woo the young superhero. If you can get past the vast age difference, it becomes somewhat charming
. It's set in a world where super heroes and super Villains are the norm. The first story is about Kyle, a closeted superhero who comes across a much older super villain who wants to change his ways and woo the young superhero. If you can get past the vast age difference, it becomes somewhat charming
January 3, 2020
Engaging characters!
I really loved this comic, the storyline is compelling and the characters likeable. I would like to read more about Kyle and his fellow young heros. I also like the tasteful handling of sexual situations. I don't mind seeing everything in 3d technicolor, but it's great to have the wonderful artwork show me expressions and emotions rather than penises. Just as sexy really!
I really loved this comic, the storyline is compelling and the characters likeable. I would like to read more about Kyle and his fellow young heros. I also like the tasteful handling of sexual situations. I don't mind seeing everything in 3d technicolor, but it's great to have the wonderful artwork show me expressions and emotions rather than penises. Just as sexy really!
May 25, 2016
A beautifully rendered, charmingly scripted tale of superheroes with extra hidden identities. I can't wait to read more!
September 17, 2021
I wanted to read LGBT superhoes, but that age difference was gross. Everything other than that was fine, but ugh, can't get past that.
March 24, 2018
This is where I find that stumbling pays off. Being clumsy and a bit of an irregular traveler can bring you to the most divine places. Think Akteonas stumbling upon the legendary Artermis as she took time to bathe in a body of water one evening, minus the divine wrath and the brief terror before being eaten by your own hunting dogs. Focus on the "Oops, where am I- Oh, as I live and breathe!" moment.
That was me when I inadvertently found Yaoi911. I think the branding is something the artist just goes with, despite the content being the opposite of yaoi in essentially every aspect. I found a short webcomic about being brave by Alex and then I found this one on the same website. Obviously, this one was much bigger, as it's spawned it's own book. Which is the wonderful peice of material I am actually reviewing! For no other purpose than the fact I can.
It was fantastic and incredibly spot on. How do I know? Been there, lived that. Not in exactitudes but I can assure, you don't need to 100% read something not to connect the hows and the whys for your personal connection. And that's just the personal emotion aspect I have for The Young Protectors! No, the art and story are a testament to both Alex, the grand story teller, and his primary artists Adam DeKraker and Veronica Gandini!
The culmination of heroics, because in case you missed the blurb this is a superhero society world, and coming of age are wonderfully handled and you need to be paying attention to the details the artists are putting in because just like in a face-to-face interaction, body language and gestures are 70% of the conversation.
Kyle, aka Red Hot (he was 12, give him a break), is our protagonist for this tale. Closeted and putting everything into being the best hero and role model he can be, he's putting his personal life last. One personal brave act, the entering of his first gay bar briefly, leads to be a series of events that remind you all over again why being young is never easy and that Ariel from the Little Mermaid really needed to stop and listen to her father and sisters a little more.
This is only part one, with the special extra of how Commander met Spooky, and I am beyond excited to revel in the wonder of owning the second book. It is still free to read online but you can purchase it the big A company that isn't related to fruits or you can visit Alex's personal website and click shop.
It' worth it.
That was me when I inadvertently found Yaoi911. I think the branding is something the artist just goes with, despite the content being the opposite of yaoi in essentially every aspect. I found a short webcomic about being brave by Alex and then I found this one on the same website. Obviously, this one was much bigger, as it's spawned it's own book. Which is the wonderful peice of material I am actually reviewing! For no other purpose than the fact I can.
It was fantastic and incredibly spot on. How do I know? Been there, lived that. Not in exactitudes but I can assure, you don't need to 100% read something not to connect the hows and the whys for your personal connection. And that's just the personal emotion aspect I have for The Young Protectors! No, the art and story are a testament to both Alex, the grand story teller, and his primary artists Adam DeKraker and Veronica Gandini!
The culmination of heroics, because in case you missed the blurb this is a superhero society world, and coming of age are wonderfully handled and you need to be paying attention to the details the artists are putting in because just like in a face-to-face interaction, body language and gestures are 70% of the conversation.
Kyle, aka Red Hot (he was 12, give him a break), is our protagonist for this tale. Closeted and putting everything into being the best hero and role model he can be, he's putting his personal life last. One personal brave act, the entering of his first gay bar briefly, leads to be a series of events that remind you all over again why being young is never easy and that Ariel from the Little Mermaid really needed to stop and listen to her father and sisters a little more.
This is only part one, with the special extra of how Commander met Spooky, and I am beyond excited to revel in the wonder of owning the second book. It is still free to read online but you can purchase it the big A company that isn't related to fruits or you can visit Alex's personal website and click shop.
It' worth it.
August 14, 2025
Najśmieszniejsze jest to, że dopiero w połowie (mniej więcej) poznałam imię naszego bohatera - i już je zapomniałam. Ale za to Anihilatora... oj pamiętam. Zatem nasz drogi rudodziub spotyka swojego przyszłego bzykalnego partnera przed klubem dla gejów i, po krótkiej szamotaninie, prosi go, aby nikomu nie rozpowiadał, jakiej jest orientacji. Finał? Rudy szuka powodu - dlaczego Anihilator jeszcze go nie upokarza i nie szantażuje, a Ani próbuje, a potem w oczywisty sposób uświadamia chłopaka, o co mu naprawdę, naprawdę chodzi... No pewnie, że chce się dobrać mu do dupy.
Orientuję się, żeee to nie będzie fabuła powalająca na kolana i tak, taka nie jest. Mam typowy romans. Tak, wiem, różnica wieku, superbohaterowie i antybohaterowie, zakazany romans i to wszystko ma mnie wciągnąć, bo nowość, bo łamie stereotypy, ale... Ale ja już to gdzieś widziałam i ani mnie szokuje, ani wciąga. Sporo odniesień do pierwszego komiksu autora, co nie do końca mi przeszkadza, ale jest jedna scena gdzie dosłownie razi po oczach.
Czyta się szybko, obrazki są "tylko" ładne i zapomina się tak szybko, jak ja zapomniałam imię bohatera.
Orientuję się, żeee to nie będzie fabuła powalająca na kolana i tak, taka nie jest. Mam typowy romans. Tak, wiem, różnica wieku, superbohaterowie i antybohaterowie, zakazany romans i to wszystko ma mnie wciągnąć, bo nowość, bo łamie stereotypy, ale... Ale ja już to gdzieś widziałam i ani mnie szokuje, ani wciąga. Sporo odniesień do pierwszego komiksu autora, co nie do końca mi przeszkadza, ale jest jedna scena gdzie dosłownie razi po oczach.
Czyta się szybko, obrazki są "tylko" ładne i zapomina się tak szybko, jak ja zapomniałam imię bohatera.
July 30, 2020
I generally don't read superheroes comics. I picked this one up because of the gay superhero angle. It did not disappoint.
Engaging The Enemy is the first story arc in the series. It follows Kyle, a young gay superhero on the cusps of coming out and exploring his gay identity. In the first few chapters he met and was seduced by a much older supervillain.
Some people will be put off by the large age different between this pairing. If that's you, please know that this relationship is not what the series is about. It simply a starting point to explore the bigger story of identity, self discovery, friendship, trust, relationship, found family...
Not bad for a gay superhero webcomic eh?
My favourite part of this volume is the Truth or Dare bonus issue. It reminds me of the Firefly episode Out of Gas. It gave reader a much better understanding of each character in this superteam.
I am a little concerned about the bonus story of the team discovering slash comic of themselves on the internet. It probably deserves a MA15+ rating.
Engaging The Enemy is the first story arc in the series. It follows Kyle, a young gay superhero on the cusps of coming out and exploring his gay identity. In the first few chapters he met and was seduced by a much older supervillain.
Some people will be put off by the large age different between this pairing. If that's you, please know that this relationship is not what the series is about. It simply a starting point to explore the bigger story of identity, self discovery, friendship, trust, relationship, found family...
Not bad for a gay superhero webcomic eh?
My favourite part of this volume is the Truth or Dare bonus issue. It reminds me of the Firefly episode Out of Gas. It gave reader a much better understanding of each character in this superteam.
I am a little concerned about the bonus story of the team discovering slash comic of themselves on the internet. It probably deserves a MA15+ rating.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2019
3.5
I truly enjoyed this graphic novel series! I was searching for a good graphic novel to read and stumbled upon this gem. I thought this was a great start to a new series and flew through this!
Once I finished I just had to have more and thank god, more from this series can be found online, including the conclusion of this story arc. The more I read the more I fell in love with both the series and all of the Young Protectors.
Would highly recommend anyone who reads this to check out the rest of the story online as it just kept getting better. I hope we see more come out for this series!
I truly enjoyed this graphic novel series! I was searching for a good graphic novel to read and stumbled upon this gem. I thought this was a great start to a new series and flew through this!
Once I finished I just had to have more and thank god, more from this series can be found online, including the conclusion of this story arc. The more I read the more I fell in love with both the series and all of the Young Protectors.
Would highly recommend anyone who reads this to check out the rest of the story online as it just kept getting better. I hope we see more come out for this series!
December 31, 2021
I picked this up on sale and it's a great example of "if you want something done, do it yourself" as it's a Kickstarter-funded queer superhero comic--not exactly a sub-genre bursting with entries.
It's fun and a bit naughty and sometimes juvenile, but it keeps things PG-rated. The hero of the story is not yet 18 years old, so this is also a kind of YA adventure. The art is appropriate for a superhero comic and there are lots of explosions and things, along with the innuendo, sly side looks and snappy comebacks.
My own real beef (not to be confused with beefcake, which there is plenty of) is that the story stops abruptly, and I am not seeing a Volume 2...yet.
Otherwise, recommended.
It's fun and a bit naughty and sometimes juvenile, but it keeps things PG-rated. The hero of the story is not yet 18 years old, so this is also a kind of YA adventure. The art is appropriate for a superhero comic and there are lots of explosions and things, along with the innuendo, sly side looks and snappy comebacks.
My own real beef (not to be confused with beefcake, which there is plenty of) is that the story stops abruptly, and I am not seeing a Volume 2...yet.
Otherwise, recommended.
December 29, 2018
I just finished the entire series last night and it was amazing! This story does not flow in the direction you think, although Kyle still remains at the center of the plot. The artwork is beautiful and the layout enhances the events as they occur. Overall, this was an excellent read.
The full series can be read online here: http://webcomics.yaoi911.com/archives...
The full series can be read online here: http://webcomics.yaoi911.com/archives...
May 31, 2020
Pretty good. I wasn't familiar with this comic until I stumbled over this volume on ComiXology a few weeks back. After reading this, I'll definitely follow up and read the rest online. I'm here for all the gay superheroes and supervillains!!! And the rest of the gang seems cool.
Notttttt crazy about how it started between Kyle and the Annihilator >:( butttttt he's a villain, so what're you gonna do, I guess... I guess.
We'll see where it goes!
Notttttt crazy about how it started between Kyle and the Annihilator >:( butttttt he's a villain, so what're you gonna do, I guess... I guess.
We'll see where it goes!
May 16, 2019
Red Hot is hot, but his intergenerational relationship with a super-villian is kinda weird. He’s 17, the supervillian is 58. *shudders* Granted, according to the writer, this sort of things was attempted in the 80s in Teen Titans with a Heterosexual pair, it just screams stranger danger for me. The art is great though, by real industry veterans. I’ll be up for a book 2
December 18, 2016
There's not a lot of gay comics out there that are this good, both in writing and art. I love the world that this book is detailing and I just wish there were more to this package....it's the beginning of a story and that's all. I hope there's another volume soon.
September 7, 2018
Excellent comic!
My only problem with this book was that it wasn't long enough, I want s more of this pair! Villains protecting their cute hero boyfriends is one of my favorite things! I definitely recommend this for anyone who like gay super heroes!!
My only problem with this book was that it wasn't long enough, I want s more of this pair! Villains protecting their cute hero boyfriends is one of my favorite things! I definitely recommend this for anyone who like gay super heroes!!
December 31, 2019
Marvellous!
Such a good comic. Loved the characters and the well paced story. There is a really good balance of action, comedy and drama in the storytelling that just makes it all fit together really well and the result is a standout comic!
Such a good comic. Loved the characters and the well paced story. There is a really good balance of action, comedy and drama in the storytelling that just makes it all fit together really well and the result is a standout comic!
October 13, 2022
Great story
I really enjoyed the story. The central action, between the young man and the older man, was interesting. I love the connection between the big, powerful, ‘villain” and the younger gay guy is pretty interesting. Did they ever make a sequel to this?
I really enjoyed the story. The central action, between the young man and the older man, was interesting. I love the connection between the big, powerful, ‘villain” and the younger gay guy is pretty interesting. Did they ever make a sequel to this?
April 21, 2023
Love the story
Love the story! Its nice to see a superhero comic where the main character is gay and exploring that side of themself. I am a sucker for enemy to lover stories. The artwork is nice as well. I smiled through out the whole book. I just wish there was more.
Love the story! Its nice to see a superhero comic where the main character is gay and exploring that side of themself. I am a sucker for enemy to lover stories. The artwork is nice as well. I smiled through out the whole book. I just wish there was more.
March 12, 2018
I want more!!!
February 18, 2019
A different take on superhero comics.
April 2, 2019
Ein wunderbares Comic für schwule Jugendliche. Es tut auf einfach und billig, ist aber gut überlegt und präzise.
May 16, 2019
Like it
Good work keep up the good work I enjoyed it was very hooked on by it hope there's more parts
Good work keep up the good work I enjoyed it was very hooked on by it hope there's more parts
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews