Sammy J: Hero Complex (MICF)

There's a moment in Sammy J's musical memoir, Hero Complex, where he imagines travelling back in time to give his terminally dorky adolescent self some reassurance. If he could make that quantum leap back two decades, he'd tell teen Sammy that despite the evidence to the contrary, things will eventually all work out for the best.

Of course, having been such a consummate mega-nerd from an early age, responsible young Sam McMillan (as he was known in those tender years) would probably have turned the suspiciously familiar 30-something stranger into the cops. But, hypothetically speaking, if Sammy's in-the-past pep talk had managed to alter the course of his personal history, it may well have robbed the world of a truly remarkable evening of musical comedy, joyous storytelling and superhero trivia.

Hero Complex is indeed as intricate and multi-layered as its double-hinged title suggest. Spanning more than 20 years, its twists and turns traverse states and countries, friendships and romances. It's a story of unexpected connections, mistaken intentions, and chance encounters. Of intimate calamities and impossible coincidences, galvanised by the most unlikely topic, one of the least well known and most un-PC superheroes around, The Phantom.

But perhaps the most remarkable thing about the yarn Sammy spins is that it's entirely true, and it's this foundation of factual credibility that gives this show such captivating power. The nose to tail brilliance of this narrative is brought vividly to life via a series of corroborating projections (this comedian can add "world-class archivist" to his lists of skills, if the two decades worth of photos, diaries, scraps of paper and other artefacts found in this show are anything to go by), and of course, the lyrically witty song comedy you might expect from Sammy J.

This story is too rich and rewarding to betray with a synopsis — much of its charm is powered by the discovery of its unfolding surprises — but suffice to say, it's a near flawless, beautifully crafted tale that is guaranteed to bring a grin to even the grimmest of faces. Equally accomplished is Sammy J's delivery: warm, charmingly self-deprecating, with just the right amount of chutzpah while remaining adorably humble. Even though he has been touring this smash-hit show since late last year, his performance still bristles with excitement, as if he were telling it for the first time. Goodness knows, we need a hero in these dark days we're living through, and armed with such a mega-watt jolt of uplifting, soul-cleansing joy, Sammy J might well be it.

Sammy J presents Hero Complex till 23 Apr at the Victoria Hotel, part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.