Wild cards series

In 1946, an alien virus that rewrites human DNA was accidentally unleashed in the skies over New York City. It killed ninety percent of those it infected. Nine percent survived to mutate into tragically deformed creatures. And one percent gained superpowers.

Twenty-eight young people with superhuman powers sign on to be contestants on the reality television show "American Hero" which pits them against one another in a series of tasks and stunts, but as the weeks go by and the show nears its conclusion, horrifying events in the Middle East prompt some of them to leave the show and attempt to become real heroes.