Bridging Transpersonal Ecosophical Concerns with the Hero’s Journey and Superheroes Through Comicbook Lore: Implications for Personal and Cultural Transformation
International Journal of Transpersonal Studies September 1, 2017 Mark A. Schroll, Claire Polansky 1 citation
Mythical figures and comicbook superheroes can inspire personal growth, social and planetary change, and illuminate concepts from deep ecology and transpersonal ecosophy. The paper is divided into two parts: Part 1 examines how definitions of myth, hero, and the hero's journey frame personal and transpersonal growth. Part 2 analyzes individual comicbook characters, evaluating their significance for raising collective archetypal awareness of the psyche's relationship with Earth within an ecopsychological framework. Practical examples show how comicbook lore can cultivate a new quality of life on a planetary scale.