In a fast-paced, accessible narrative, award-winning young adult author Paul Volponi explores the real-life science, history, and literature behind comic book superheroes’ powers and origins.

To Be A Hero is a modern day setting allowing players to step into the roles of super-powered heroes and villains. In this setting, super-powered beings have existed throughout the ages and the classic conflict of hero versus villain has spurned on history's most defining moments. The battle of good against evil, justice against injustice, freedom against tyranny continues to be played out to the modern day with the player characters at the head of this epic struggle.The main book contains 7 brand new origins, the To Be A Hero's unique take on races. It also contains 6 basic classes, 20 all new prestige classes, as well as new skills and skill uses, feats, unique equipment, firearms and complete rules for super-powers and super-powered beings with over one hundred unique powers. To Be A Hero captures the essence of the super-hero genre and makes it playable and balanced in a way previously unseen.

A Hero Like You looks at everyday heroes and highlights qualities such as loyalty, compassion, resourcefulness, justice, and courage. The lyrical rhyme and relatable illustrations remind us that we all have the opportunity to be a hero by helping others, doing right and making the world a better place. "What the world needs is a hero like you!"

Why are so many of the superhero myths tied up with loss, often violent, of parents or parental figures? What is the significance of the dual identity? What makes some superhuman figures "good" and others "evil"? Why are so many of the prime superheroes white and male? How has the superhero evolved over the course of the 20th and early 21st centuries? And how might the myths be changing? Why is it that the key superhero archetypes - Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Spider-Man, the X-Men - touch primal needs and experiences in everyone? Why has the superhero moved beyond the pages of comics into other media? All these topics, and more, are covered in this lively and original exploration of the reasons why the superhero - in comic books, films, and TV - is such a potent myth for our times and culture.>

Latinx Superheroes in Mainstream Comics offers the first thorough exploration of Latino/a superheroes in mainstream comic books, TV shows, and movies--Provided by publisher.

Meet one hundred of the strangest superheroes ever to see print, complete with backstories, vintage art, and colorful commentary. You know about Batman, Superman, and Spiderman, but have you heard of Doll Man, Doctor Hormone, or Spider Queen? So prepare yourself for such not-ready-for-prime-time heroes as Bee Man (Batman, but with bees), the Clown (circus-themed crimebuster), the Eye (a giant, floating eyeball; just accept it), and many other oddballs and oddities. Drawing on the entire history of the medium, The League of Regrettable Superheroes will appeal to die-hard comics fans, casual comics readers, and anyone who enjoys peering into the stranger corners of pop culture.