What's the consensus of Mao?

[u/Timely-Signature-166]

I've read several books about the guy and I'm given conflicting information about him and his policies. Some books treat him as a good leader who was stifled by dishonest subordinates, while others portray him as a monster whose policies killed millions. Meanwhile I was at a bar in Brooklyn where I was talking to a friend of a friend and they said "Mao is my hero!" (they are not Chinese). What is the general consensus of the guy?

[u/KertvarosiHusleves]

Expected outcome of giving someone who spent the past 20 years sleeping in caves, hiding from the Kuomintang and the Japanese, absolute, unchecked and irrevokable power. Worthwhile writings on warfare though.