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.

Juan Scaliter is a journalist and the science editor for the Spanish magazine Revista Quo, which specializes in topics relating to science and technology. He was formerly the science editor at the magazine Muy Interesante in Argentina. He is the author of La ciencia de los superhéroes. Manuel Cuadrado is an award-winning writer and scriptwriter.