ovie after movie, series after series, it seems that superheroes are inescapable. The past decades have seen a resurgence in their popularity, with much of this driven by the Marvel and DC Comics’ universes. While the more recent headlines may be focusing on these franchises’ underperformance, the cinematic universes are only the most recent phenomenon and the tip of a greater iceberg of superhero and comics’ lore. Lest we think that this is a modern trend, the story of the superhero is as old as human storytelling and mythmaking. The ancient heroes and warriors of epic poems and modern superheroes embark on similar journeys, confront many of the same challenges, and often stand against the embodiment of the darkest forces humans can imagine.
In Power Up: Leadership, Character, and Conflict Beyond the Superhero Multiverse, Steven Leonard, Jonathan Klug, Kelsey Cipolla, and John Niccum have brought together thirty-five case studies by a diverse-in-every-sense range of authors exploring how the stories of superheroes from various multiverses, plot lines, comic books, cinema, and TV can educate us about the real world. Casemate, the publisher, kindly provided a copy. Using the strengths and flaws of these larger-than-life characters—as well as the complex fantasy universes and worlds we create—these writers’ case studies reverse the lens to look at how the stories we create apply to strategic thought, institution building, leadership methods, and ethical decision-making.
Power Up easily passes the first test of any anthology of case studies: it is greater than the sum of the parts. Reading this cover to cover, one gains a better understanding of the important lessons we can draw from how the heroes of the silver screen, TV screen, and comic book can teach us to lead. At the same time, the work also benefits from the case studies being easily digestible, well-written, and therefore excellent stand-alone pieces for searching out a specific topic, diving into the lessons therein, and enjoying a quick read.
Leonard and Klug have previously used such a case study model, as their previous work To Boldly Go: Leadership, Strategy, and Conflict in the 21st Century and Beyond used a similar model to Power Up but with science fiction franchises instead of superhero multiverses. With Power Up they successfully repeat the careful balance of using the superhero lore while providing practical leadership lessons. In any themed work like this one, there is a two-way street when it comes to the accessibility of the topic. Power Up avoids being too steeped in superhero lore to make it inaccessible to more casual comic fans while also not watering down the practical lessons for the sake of admiring the heroes of the worlds created for them. Additionally, Power Up successfully uses the well-known stories of Batman, Superman, the X-Men, and others to teach leadership lessons to a reader who is entangled in superheroes—particularly, one who may not reach for the military manual, business school case, or any of the other traditional leadership training texts.
Power Up is divided into six sections, each cleverly named with a reference to one of the greater works in the superhero pantheon while also grouped around the themes and thoughts prompted by the superhero lore and analyzed by the case studies’ authors who are a diverse group with a wide range of professional experiences.
Section 1: “With Great Responsibility”
Delving right into the lessons and themes of leadership, the first section covers decision-making, marshaling a team, the call to serve, and the overall burden and responsibility of being a leader. Some of the case studies that stand out in this section include the example of John Cena in the recent HBO Max series The Peacemaker—exploring how an individual can be called to leadership from within an organization—while another provides examination of the many superhero sidekicks—demonstrating the importance of aides, trusted advisors, and close friends when evaluating our decision-making and leadership.
Section 2: “Avengers Assemble!”
Section 2 respectively teaches about team building. The more compelling case studies explore the recent hits of The Hunger Games to look at how political resistance movements form while another shows us that the diverse leagues of heroes in these movies and comics work because the strengths of each member are empowered in mutually reinforcing ways for the team.
Section 3: “Green Lantern’s Light!”
This section explores the role that integrity plays in leadership. Here, Chris Reeve’s Superman once again reminds us of the power of a leader who does what is right, simply because it is right. This compares well with a discussion of the ethics of justice and vigilantism in the tales of Gotham’s caped crusader and another case study’s analysis of redemption in the story of Marvel hero Natasha Romanoff.
Section 4: “It’s Clobberin’ Time!”
“It’s Clobberin’ Time!”clearly deals with matters of conflict and combat, with case studies providing a fascinating comparison of the Batman and James Bond movies from 2005 to 2021—exploring how they reflect our anxieties around war and terrorism as well as how the Dark Knight and 007 evolved alongside our understandings of bravery and heroism in today’s society. Another compelling case study uses The Watchmen, as many have, to teach nuclear deterrence.
Section 5: “To the Batcave!”
The penultimate section’s case studies provide timely discussions of technology starting with a thought-provoking analysis of the story of Ultron to explain the relationship between humanity and artificial intelligence in addition to outlining the magic of Dr. Strange to prompt discussion on cyberwarfare capabilities. The authors go on to discuss the story of Iron Man with actual defense production—after all, in the real world, if Iron Man were purchased through Pentagon procurement, Tony Stark would likely still be in a suit designed by his father.
Section 6: “Kneel Before Zod!”
The final case studies look at the appeal of the villain and the potential for redemption. For example, how the common themes of villain characters teach us about our darker motivations or how the shadowy and powerful HYDRA network acts as a window to the complexities of deep espionage—examining the impact of our paranoia on understanding the threats we face.
“Kneel Before Zod!” also contains one of the more powerful, and probably the timeliest, case studies, as bestselling World War Z author Max Brooks uses Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns to teach us about the fragility of society. Brooks reminds us that the Gotham of that comic is falling apart while the forces of radicalism destroy civil society and the rule of law. In the darkest versions of the comic universes, it is the failure of institutions that leads us to need masked marauders, extraterrestrial strongmen, or mutant vigilantes to even the odds for the average citizen.
Superheroes provide many lessons of leadership that we can apply to the challenges of today. Power Up’s case studies use these accessible stories and legends—mirrors to society—to dive into what a leader needs to know. Of course, superhero powers, or the magical MacGuffins that empower them, easily overcome the obstacles and fears of the world around us—both those that are natural and those that we create. A superhero does not have to worry about the same limitations be they bureaucracy, human endurance, or the laws of physics. However, back in the reality-verse readers can use Power Up to draw on superheroes’ lessons of leadership, character, and team building to form empowering institutions for very average and frail, but very real, humans to do great things.
a global affairs media network
Life Lessons From the Superhero Multiverse
Photo by Paul Green on Unsplash
December 18, 2023
The recently published “Power Up” is an anthology of case studies about what superhero stories can teach us about society. It easily passes the primary test of any anthology of case studies—it is greater than the sum of its parts, writes CSPC’s Dan Mahaffee.
M
ovie after movie, series after series, it seems that superheroes are inescapable. The past decades have seen a resurgence in their popularity, with much of this driven by the Marvel and DC Comics’ universes. While the more recent headlines may be focusing on these franchises’ underperformance, the cinematic universes are only the most recent phenomenon and the tip of a greater iceberg of superhero and comics’ lore. Lest we think that this is a modern trend, the story of the superhero is as old as human storytelling and mythmaking. The ancient heroes and warriors of epic poems and modern superheroes embark on similar journeys, confront many of the same challenges, and often stand against the embodiment of the darkest forces humans can imagine.
In Power Up: Leadership, Character, and Conflict Beyond the Superhero Multiverse, Steven Leonard, Jonathan Klug, Kelsey Cipolla, and John Niccum have brought together thirty-five case studies by a diverse-in-every-sense range of authors exploring how the stories of superheroes from various multiverses, plot lines, comic books, cinema, and TV can educate us about the real world. Casemate, the publisher, kindly provided a copy. Using the strengths and flaws of these larger-than-life characters—as well as the complex fantasy universes and worlds we create—these writers’ case studies reverse the lens to look at how the stories we create apply to strategic thought, institution building, leadership methods, and ethical decision-making.
Power Up easily passes the first test of any anthology of case studies: it is greater than the sum of the parts. Reading this cover to cover, one gains a better understanding of the important lessons we can draw from how the heroes of the silver screen, TV screen, and comic book can teach us to lead. At the same time, the work also benefits from the case studies being easily digestible, well-written, and therefore excellent stand-alone pieces for searching out a specific topic, diving into the lessons therein, and enjoying a quick read.
Leonard and Klug have previously used such a case study model, as their previous work To Boldly Go: Leadership, Strategy, and Conflict in the 21st Century and Beyond used a similar model to Power Up but with science fiction franchises instead of superhero multiverses. With Power Up they successfully repeat the careful balance of using the superhero lore while providing practical leadership lessons. In any themed work like this one, there is a two-way street when it comes to the accessibility of the topic. Power Up avoids being too steeped in superhero lore to make it inaccessible to more casual comic fans while also not watering down the practical lessons for the sake of admiring the heroes of the worlds created for them. Additionally, Power Up successfully uses the well-known stories of Batman, Superman, the X-Men, and others to teach leadership lessons to a reader who is entangled in superheroes—particularly, one who may not reach for the military manual, business school case, or any of the other traditional leadership training texts.
Power Up is divided into six sections, each cleverly named with a reference to one of the greater works in the superhero pantheon while also grouped around the themes and thoughts prompted by the superhero lore and analyzed by the case studies’ authors who are a diverse group with a wide range of professional experiences.
Section 1: “With Great Responsibility”
Delving right into the lessons and themes of leadership, the first section covers decision-making, marshaling a team, the call to serve, and the overall burden and responsibility of being a leader. Some of the case studies that stand out in this section include the example of John Cena in the recent HBO Max series The Peacemaker—exploring how an individual can be called to leadership from within an organization—while another provides examination of the many superhero sidekicks—demonstrating the importance of aides, trusted advisors, and close friends when evaluating our decision-making and leadership.
Section 2: “Avengers Assemble!”
Section 2 respectively teaches about team building. The more compelling case studies explore the recent hits of The Hunger Games to look at how political resistance movements form while another shows us that the diverse leagues of heroes in these movies and comics work because the strengths of each member are empowered in mutually reinforcing ways for the team.
Section 3: “Green Lantern’s Light!”
This section explores the role that integrity plays in leadership. Here, Chris Reeve’s Superman once again reminds us of the power of a leader who does what is right, simply because it is right. This compares well with a discussion of the ethics of justice and vigilantism in the tales of Gotham’s caped crusader and another case study’s analysis of redemption in the story of Marvel hero Natasha Romanoff.
Section 4: “It’s Clobberin’ Time!”
“It’s Clobberin’ Time!”clearly deals with matters of conflict and combat, with case studies providing a fascinating comparison of the Batman and James Bond movies from 2005 to 2021—exploring how they reflect our anxieties around war and terrorism as well as how the Dark Knight and 007 evolved alongside our understandings of bravery and heroism in today’s society. Another compelling case study uses The Watchmen, as many have, to teach nuclear deterrence.
Section 5: “To the Batcave!”
The penultimate section’s case studies provide timely discussions of technology starting with a thought-provoking analysis of the story of Ultron to explain the relationship between humanity and artificial intelligence in addition to outlining the magic of Dr. Strange to prompt discussion on cyberwarfare capabilities. The authors go on to discuss the story of Iron Man with actual defense production—after all, in the real world, if Iron Man were purchased through Pentagon procurement, Tony Stark would likely still be in a suit designed by his father.
Section 6: “Kneel Before Zod!”
The final case studies look at the appeal of the villain and the potential for redemption. For example, how the common themes of villain characters teach us about our darker motivations or how the shadowy and powerful HYDRA network acts as a window to the complexities of deep espionage—examining the impact of our paranoia on understanding the threats we face.
“Kneel Before Zod!” also contains one of the more powerful, and probably the timeliest, case studies, as bestselling World War Z author Max Brooks uses Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns to teach us about the fragility of society. Brooks reminds us that the Gotham of that comic is falling apart while the forces of radicalism destroy civil society and the rule of law. In the darkest versions of the comic universes, it is the failure of institutions that leads us to need masked marauders, extraterrestrial strongmen, or mutant vigilantes to even the odds for the average citizen.
Superheroes provide many lessons of leadership that we can apply to the challenges of today. Power Up’s case studies use these accessible stories and legends—mirrors to society—to dive into what a leader needs to know. Of course, superhero powers, or the magical MacGuffins that empower them, easily overcome the obstacles and fears of the world around us—both those that are natural and those that we create. A superhero does not have to worry about the same limitations be they bureaucracy, human endurance, or the laws of physics. However, back in the reality-verse readers can use Power Up to draw on superheroes’ lessons of leadership, character, and team building to form empowering institutions for very average and frail, but very real, humans to do great things.
