Some heroes are polished, perfect, and predictable. These are not. Imperfect Humans: Rise of the Imperfects throws ordinary people into ruthless off-world experiments, tears apart their old lives, and rebuilds them into something the invaders never planned for: flawed, furious, and impossible to control. If you’ve ever wanted superhero fiction with real scars, real stakes, and an alien war hanging over Earth, this is where the resistance begins
Explore entrancing adventures through key chapters, from enigmatic experiments in the lab to Maya’s journey in the core of the Amazon.
Human subjects are captured, and the first brutal experiments expose the true cost of resistance.
Maya’s transformation is completed, forcing her to confront power she never asked for.
Reiko survives the impossible, discovering abilities born from catastrophe and fire.
Dr. Keith Killam crosses an irreversible line, turning himself into both scientist and experiment.
The Imperfects are assembled, but trust fractures as motives and loyalties collide.
Missions escalate, revealing that the real threat may come from within the team itself.
Choices are made, lines are drawn, and the Imperfects rise, no longer experiments, but a force the universe must reckon with.
On a planet targeted by an invading force, salvation doesn’t come from shining heroes in capes; it comes from people who never asked to be chosen.
Maya, a fierce protector from the Amazon, is ripped from her village and turned into a living weapon. Reiko, a quiet physics prodigy from Kyoto, survives a catastrophic lab explosion that should have killed her and discovers fire has never truly been her enemy. Dr. Keith Killam, a chronically sick biodefense scientist, injects himself with unstable experimental agents in a last-ditch attempt to keep humanity safe, and begins to unravel from the inside.
Behind it all stands Professor Leonard Niles, an off-world scientist who believes the only way to stop the invasion is to design a new kind of soldier: The Imperfects.
Part sci-fi thriller, part character-driven drama, Imperfect Humans is a superhero origin story turned inside out, where consent is a luxury, survival is messy, and “upgraded” humans might be the galaxy’s last, best mistake.
Terri lee Johnson has never been interested in perfect heroes—or familiar futures. A lifelong fan of comic books, animated series, and big-idea science fiction, he grew up devouring stories set in worlds completely removed from our own. Real-world headlines didn’t capture his imagination; strange laboratories, alien wars, and larger-than-life misfits did.
From that obsession came The Imperfects: a cast of characters who owe more to Frankenstein’s monster than to polished, PR-ready superheroes. Johnson’s creations are flawed by design: they are experimented on, manipulated, and pushed far beyond their limits, but they’re also stubborn, human, and impossible to fully control.
In Imperfect Humans, he brings together his love of cinematic action with a deep curiosity about power, ethics, and the cost of survival. The result is a story where world-ending stakes collide with intimate personal battles, and where “upgrades” don’t erase trauma, they complicate it.
When he isn’t building new universes on the page, Johnson is imagining what might happen if those universes collided, and how ordinary people might rise, or break, when confronted with forces far beyond their control.
Watch Imperfect Humans: Rise of the Imperfects ignite a new kind of superhero story: where broken pasts, dangerous experiments, and cosmic war collide in one relentless, heart-pounding rebellion against invaders everywhere. Experience the moment ordinary lives are shattered, rebuilt, and thrown into a war they never agreed to fight.
Readers of sci-fi, dystopian thrillers, and superhero fiction are already calling Imperfect Humans a fresh, unsettling twist on the genre. Here’s what early readers are saying about Rise of the Imperfects:
This book completely charmed me from the beginning. Maya’s character is so relevant, and her struggles feel real. The way the story connects science fiction with emotional depth kept me engaged in reading. I found myself cheering for her with every challenge she confronted. It was a memorable journey that I couldn’t leave until its completion.
I was enthralled by how well the author built this world. The vivid details made me feel like I was in the Amazon. Each section of the story discloses new twists that keep me guessing. The elements of strength and survival are integrated seamlessly into the plot. Truly, this is a fantastic read that attracts long after the book is closed.
Reading this book was an adventure. The pacing was perfect, with just enough tension and relief. I appreciated how the story unfolded, revealing the darker secrets of the lab alongside Maya’s journey. Each character added layers to the story, making it a rich experience. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good story.
This book powerfully combines science and human emotion. The author does a fantastic job of exploring ethical dilemmas within a thrilling narrative, and I reflected on the moral complexities long after finishing. Maya’s strength and determination inspire and motivate readers to think deeply about their lives.
“Imperfect Humans: Rise of the Imperfects” by Terri Lee Johnson is an influential exploration of endurance. I was struck by the depth of Maya’s character and her fierce love for her daughter. The plot twists were surprising and engaging, keeping me attached to the pages. It’s a stimulating story that made me appreciate the lengths we go to for family. An outstanding read for all.
© 2026 Terri Lee Johnson.
