Teenager Dave Lizewski is a comic book fanboy who decides to take his obsession as inspiration to become a real-life superhero, even though he has no powers, training or meaningful reason to do so. His life is forever changed as he inspires a subculture of copy cats, meets up with a pair of crazed vigilantes, and forges a friendship with another fledgling crime fighter. But thanks to the scheming of a local mob boss Frank D'Amico, the new alliance will be put to the test.