Superheroes are fictional characters who have incredible skills or powers that they employ to protect the innocent, combat evil, and uphold peace and justice in their respective fictitious universes. They frequently appear in comic books, films, television shows, and other forms of popular culture. Research found that superheroes have had a significant impact on contemporary popular culture and they have become iconic figures who capture people’s imaginations all across the world. One of the main aspects of superheroes is that superhero films and television series have established themselves as a dominant force in the entertainment industry. The success of series such as Marvel Cinematic Universe and DC Extended Universe has catapulted superheroes into the mainstream. These films and series have huge fan bases and grossed billions of dollars at the box office. They’ve also brought superheroes to new audiences, broadening their appeal and popularity.

Joseph Campbell’s concept of the hero’s journey implies that myths and stories from various civilizations have a similar pattern. He defined a series of steps that a hero often goes through, including the call to adventure, crossing the threshold into the unknown, confronting difficulties and challenges, attaining change, and returning with newfound wisdom or a gift to society. Joseph Campbell, the famed mythologist and author of “The Hero with a Thousand Faces (1949)” did not directly include superheroes in his works. However, his views about the hero’s journey (1990) and the monomyth can provide light on the archetypal characteristics that superheroes frequently embody. While Campbell focused on old myths and tales, his concepts can be adapted to modern narrative, such as the superhero genre. Superheroes frequently follow a similar story arc, in which they are called to action, face challenges, grow personally, and eventually use their powers or skills to protect others and fight for justice.

The Hero with a Thousand Faces

In saying that, it is apparent that what he says about his philosophy is applicable to our daily lives. Our lives are full of tasks and goals to do every day, we just don’t realize it. We have been surrounded by problems and different situations in our lives since the day we were born. So, what Campbell was trying to convey was that we humans are all in the same predicament; we face challenges and obstacles in our daily lives. Some are in difficult situations, some have major problems, and some have minor problems, but it is all the same; it is human nature. Campbell theorized that the terms “Monomyth” and “The Hero with a Thousand Faces” are metaphorical contexts that tell us that we are all the same; we are heroes, superheroes, doing our own thing and pursuing our goals every day; we simply have different faces. What we do is basically the same, just with different faces.

Apparently, Campbell stressed the transforming character of the hero’s journey, emphasizing the hero’s personal growth and impact on the world. This is consistent with the belief that superheroes frequently experience personal growth, struggle with moral quandaries, and use their amazing powers to make a positive influence in the world. Overall, superheroes have become an essential component of modern mainstream culture. They have inspired a wide range of media, commerce, fan communities, and even societal conversations.