[1] No Hero is regarded as the second series in Ellis' Avatar Press-published "Superhuman Trilogy" dealing with the creation of superheroes, preceded by Black Summer, and followed by Supergod.

The Levellers eventually evolved into "The Front Line" who derive their superpowers from a drug called FX 7 that have side-effects as dangerous as the powers they gain.

The exact makeup of FX 7 is a tightly guarded secret, with many government groups having tried to emulate its effects with disastrous consequences.

The story focuses on a man named Joshua Carver who comes to Front Line's attention after performing several minor acts of vigilantism in his hometown, and is offered the chance to use FX 7 to become a superhero by Carrick Masterson, the original inventor of FX 7 and founder of Front Line, who is immortal and ageless from the use of the drug.

However, it's not until the climax of the story where the truth is revealed: Joshua Carver is a secret FBI operative raised since childhood by the agency after his parents were murdered by a serial killer who taught him his skills and turned him into a sociopath.