Superheroes have long served as powerful archetypes of the goods and
ills of society and humankind's capabilities, from the irredeemable evil
of Carnage to the altruistic sacrifice of the Silver Surfer, the
brilliance of Reed Richards, and the artificial intelligence of
Deathlok. This study examines this symbolism, with an eye as well toward
what superheroes can reveal about the mechanisms of the human brain and
reactions. The authors discuss dozens of heroes and villains, including
Blackheart and the ability to read minds through empathy; Namor the
Sub-Mariner and the sense of good and evil; the Hulk and primitive
instinctual responses to aggression; Superman and the story of a timid
and insecure man; and Batman and the process of overcoming fears.
Through these and other characters, this book explores the physics and
chemistry of the brain in an engaging and entertaining way.