Lost in isolation and loneliness, I discovered the world of Gundam. From the model kits, video games, and anime, I found that the characters’ struggles often mirrored my own mental health problems. But Gundam inspired hope. In the words of Banagher and Gundam quotes, I found motivation. And in Gundam Unicorn Anime, I finally discovered the true power of possibility.

The portrayal of mental health in Marvel’s Moon Knight has been a messy one. From the early years when his personas were simple disguises, to his mental trauma as a result of supernatural phenomena, to the recent depiction of Moon Knight having DID. His journey reflects not only the changes in the character but society’s prejudices and its eventual understanding of those with mental illness.

Who is your favorite hero? From movies, to books, to gaming, we are surrounded by heroic figures in our lives. What is a modern hero? These figures that motivate, encourage and inspire us. Each of us has one that stands above the rest as our personal favorite. What do your heroes say about you?

Marvel’s Squirrel Girl may have started as one of the weirdest superheroes, but her quirky nature led her to become a beloved character. Why is Squirrel Girl so powerful? Beyond her superhuman strength, it’s her personality of positivity and acceptance. Her ability to accept herself and others helped transform her from a joke character to one of real power.

In Darwyn Cooke’s The New Frontier comics, the Martian Manhunter, or J’onn J’onzz faces fears and rejection from the humans. But through his connection with King Faraday, J’onn J’onzz finds goodness in humanity. Through the story of the Martian Manhunter, we see that it is our compassion and empathy that make us the best version of humanity and ourselves.

Superheroes are, by their very nature, special. They exhibit incredible powers and hold themselves to incomparable moral standards. They exist to show us the best possible versions of ourselves. But the X-Men in particular serve to remind us that sometimes we all struggle with self-acceptance and feeling different. But that it is our own uniqueness that makes us special.

All Green Lantern had to do was think about something and his ring would make it real. But it’s more than creativity, the ring that runs on willpower and courage. And for me, the Green Lantern has come to mean overcoming fears, both external and those the reside inside of us.

Superman and Captain America – powerful symbols that represent the same ideals. Two characters with such different origins and abilities that, at their core, represent divinity and the humanity. And inspire us to be heroes ourselves.

Comic book heroes have been part of the American culture for over eighty years. For the past few, there have been many reports of the comic book industry dying. What is going on? The industry is undergoing major changes and there is still a lot of issues. But, the comic book industry is far from dead and in fact, has a strong future on its horizon. This year, come get re-introduced to your favorite heroes and celebrate Free Comic Book Day.