Hoods: The Beginning — David Niall Wilson

San Valencez is a city with many levels. Near the barrio, on the south side of town, gangs rule the streets, and those that don't find a way out tend to be sucked into the shadows and consumed. Not far away, near the border between the bad side of town and civilization, there are those standing up to the shadows. They aren't superheroes, exactly, but they aren't regular kids either. They have abilities, intelligence, strength, skill -- and a desire to see their city become a better place.

Four teenagers, Weaver, Cami, Shooter and Combo, come together with a mutual desire to make things better, to help those who need it and punish those who deserve it. When Shooter's old friend Mikey approaches them, concerned over his brother Dale's connections with a gang called Los Escorpiones, they organize and become something stronger than their separate parts. The city is in danger from a threat it doesn't even know exists. All that stands in the way of disaster is a group of “Hoods.”