It is with great excitement, even with some feelings of imposter syndrome creeping in, that we can announce the book is published, printed, and in our hands. Please go forth and find a copy. Yes, it is priced for the academic market and is a bit unapproachable for the regular reader, but I am urging people to ask their libraries for it, so that they can read it, and then they can recommend it to others.

The academic audience will include a lot of culture studies, popular culture, and media studies audiences… but I have been assured that gamers, game designers, comic book creators and consumers, and fandoms of ever style and fashion will also be very interested in what is inside.

Content we are informed by and in many cases discuss, sometimes in great detail, include:

Franchises

Avatar: The Last Airbender. Created by Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konitzko. Nickelodeon.

Animated Series, 2005-2008.

Television Series (Netflix), 2024-

Comics, 2006-

Avatar: The Legend of Korra. Created by Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konitzko. Nickelodeon.

Animated Series, 2012-2014.

Comics, 2016-

Doctor Who. Created by Sydney Newman, C. E. Webber, Donald Wilson. London: BBC.

First Doctor, featuring William Hartnell, 1963-1965.

Second Doctor, featuring Peter Troughton, 1966-1968.

Third Doctor, featuring Jon Pertwee, 1970-1973.

Fourth Doctor, featuring Tom Baker, 1974-1980.

Fifth Doctor, featuring Peter Davison, 1982-1984.

Sixth Doctor, featuring Colin Baker, 1985-1986.

Seventh Doctor, featuring Sylvester McCoy, 1987-1989.

Eighth Doctor, featuring Paul McGann, 1996.

Ninth Doctor, featuring Christopher Eccelston, 2005.

Tenth Doctor, featuring David Tennant, 2006-2008.

Eleventh Doctor, featuring Matt Smith, 2010-2012.

Twelfth Doctor, featuring Peter Capaldi, 2014-2017.

Thirteenth Doctor, featuring Jodie Whittaker, 2018-2021.

Fourteenth Doctor, featuring David Tennant, 2023.

Fifteenth Doctor, featuring Ncuti Gatwa, 2024-

Godzilla. Created by Ishirō Honda et al. 1954-

Marvel Cinematic Universe. Produced by Kevin Feige. Burbank: Marvel Studios.

The Infinity Saga Phase One

Iron Man, 2008.

The Incredible Hulk, 2008.

Iron Man 2, 2010.

Thor, 2011.

Captain America: The First Avenger, 2011.

The Avengers, 2012.

The Infinity Saga Phase Two

Iron Man 3, 2013

Thor: The Dark World, 2013.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier, 2014.

Guardians of the Galaxy, 2014.

Avengers: Age of Ultron, 2015.

Ant-Man, 2015.

The Infinity Saga Phase Three

Captain America: Civil War, 2016.

Doctor Strange, 2016.

Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2, 2017.

Spider-Man: Homecoming, 2017.

Thor: Ragnarok, 2017.

Black Panther, 2018.

Avengers: Infinity War, 2018.

Ant-Man and Wasp, 2018.

Captain Marvel, 2019.

Avengers: Endgame, 2019.

Spider-Man: Far From Home, 2019.

The Multiverse Saga, Phase Four

Black Widow, 2021.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, 2021.

Eternals, 2021.

Spider-Man: No Way Home, 2021.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, 2022.

Thor: Love and Thunder, 2022.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, 2022.

The Multiverse Saga, Phase Five

Ant-Man and Wasp: Quantumania, 2023.

Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3, 2023.

The Marvels, 2023.

Deadpool & Wolverine, 2024.

Captain America: Brave New World, 2025.

Thunderbolts, 2025

The Multiverse Saga, Phase Six is proposed at the time of this writing.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps, 2025.

Star Trek. Created by Gene Roddenberry. Paramount.

Television Series

The Original Series. Showrunners Gene Roddenberry and Fred Freiberger, 1966-1968.

The Animated Series. Showrunners Gene Roddenberry and D.C. Fontana, 1973-1974.

The Next Generation. Showrunners Gene Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller, 1987-1993.

Deep Space Nine. Showrunners Michael Piller and Ira Steven Behr, 1993-1999.

Voyager. Showrunners Michael Piller et al, 1995-2000.

Enterprise. Showrunners Brannon Braga and Rick Berman, 2001-2004.

Discovery. Showrunners Gretchen J. Berg et al, 2017-2024.

Picard. Showrunners Michael Chabon et al, 2020-2023.

Lower Decks. Showrunner Mike McMahan, 2020-2024.

Prodigy. Showrunners Kevin and Dan Hageman, 2023-2024.

Strange New Worlds. Showrunners Akiva Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers, 2022-

Films

The Motion Picture. Directed by Robert Wise, 1979.

The Wrath of Khan. Directed by Nicholas Meyer, 1982.

The Search for Spock. Directed by Leonard Nimoy, 1984.

The Voyage Home. Directed by Leonard Nimoy, 1986.

The Final Frontier. Directed by William Shatner, 1989.

The Undiscovered Country. Directed by Nicholas Meyer, 1991.

Generations. Directed by David Carson, 1994.

First Contact. Directed by Jonathan Frakes, 1996.

Insurrection. Directed by Jonathan Frakes, 1998.

Nemesis. Directed by Stuart Baird, 2002.

Star Trek. Directed by J.J. Abrams, 2009.

Star Trek Into Darkness. Directed by J.J. Abrams, 2013.

Star Trek Beyond. Directed by Justin Lin, 2016.

Star Wars. Created by George Lucas. 20th Century Fox/Disney

The Skywalker Saga

The Phantom Menace. Directed by George Lucas, 1999.

Attack of the Clones. Directed by George Lucas, 2002.

Revenge of the Sith. Directed by George Lucas, 2005.

A New Hope. Directed by George Lucas, 1977.

The Empire Strikes Back. Directed by Irvin Kershner, 1980.

The Return of the Jedi. Directed by Richard Maquand, 1983.

The Force Awakens. Directed by J.J. Abrams, 2015.

The Last Jedi. Directed by Rian Johnson, 2017.

The Rise of Skywalker. Directed by J.J. Abrams, 2019.

Films

The Star Wars Holiday Special. Directed by Steve Binder, 1978.

Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure. Directed by John Korty, 1984.

Ewoks: The Battle for Endor. Directed by Ken and Jim Wheat, 1985.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Directed by Gareth Edwards, 2016.

Solo: A Star Wars Story. Directed by Ron Howard, 2018.

Animated Television

The Clone Wars. Created by George Lucas, 2008-2020.

Rebels. Created by Simon Kinberg, Dave Filoni, and Carrie Beck, 2014-2018.

Resistance. Created by Dave Filoni, Carrie Beck, and Kiri Hart, 2018-2020.

The Bad Batch. Created by Dave Filoni, 2021-2024.

Live-Action Television

The Mandalorian. Created by Jon Favreau, 2019-2023.

The Book of Boba Fett. Created by Jon Favreau, 2021-2022.

Obi-Wan Kenobi. Directed by Deborah Chow, 2022.

Andor. Created by Tony Gilroy, 2022-

Ahsoka. Created by Dave Filoni, 2023-

The Acolyte. Created by Leslye Headland, 2024.

Skeleton Crew. Created by Jon Watts and Christopher Ford, 2024-

Studio Ghibli. Founded by Hayao Miyazaki, Toshio Suzuki, and Isao Takahata.

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, 1984.

Castle in the Sky. Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, 1986.

My Neighbor Totoro. Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, 1988.

Grave of Fireflies. Directed by Isao Takahata, 1988.

Kiki’s Delivery Service. Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, 1989.

Only Yesterday. Directed by Isao Takahata, 1991.

Porco Rosso. Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, 1992.

Ocean Waves. Directed by Tomomi Mochizuki, 1993.

Pom Poko. Directed by Isao Takahata, 1994.

Whisper of the Heart. Directed by Yoshifumi Kondō, 1995.

Princess Mononoke. Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, 1995.

My Neighbors the Yamadas. Directed by Isao Takahata, 1999.

Spirited Away. Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, 2001.

The Cat Returns. Directed by Hiroyuki Morita, 2002.

Howl’s Moving Castle. Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, 2004.

Tales from Earthsea. Directed by Goro Miyazaki, 2006.

Ponyo. Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, 2008.

Arrietty. Directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, 2010.

From Up on Poppy Hill. Directed by Goro Miyazaki, 2011.

The Wind Rises. Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, 2013.

The Tale of Princess Kaguya. Directed by Isao Takahata, 2013.

When Marnie Was There. Directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi, 2014.

The Red Turtle. Directed by Michaël Dudok De Wit, 2016.

Earwig and the Witch. Directed by Goro Miyazaki, 2020.

The Boy and the Heron. Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, 2023.

Harry Potter Franchise by that questionable author.

Television and Web Series

The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends. Created by Jay Ward, Alex Anderson, and Bill Scott. Costa Mesa: Jay Ward Productions, 1959-1964.

Agatha All Along. Directed by Jac Schaeffer, Rachel Goldberg, and Gandja Monterio. Burbank: Marvel Television, 2024.

Atlanta. Showrunner Donald Glover. Los Angeles: FXP, 2016-2022.

The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Directed by Vinton Heuck. Burbank: Marvel Animation, 2010-2012.

Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse. Created by David Wiebe. Ottawa: Arc Productions, 2012-2015.

The Bastard Son and the Devil Himself. Directed by Colm McCarthy, Debs Paterson, and Rachna Suri. London: The Imaginarium, 2022.

Bewitched. Directed by William Asher. Los Angeles: Screen Gems Television, 1964-1972.

Bonanza. Directed by Christian Nyby et al. New York: NBC Productions, 1959-1973.

The Boondocks. Created by Aaron McGruder. Culver City: Adelaide Productions, 2005-2014.

The Boys. Showrunner Eric Kripke. Los Angeles: Kripke Entertainment and Amazon Prime, 2019-

Breaking Bad. Showrunner Vince Gilligan. Upper Marlboro: High Bridge Entertainment, LLC. 2008-2013.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Showrunners Joss Whedon and Marti Noxon. Los Angeles: Mutant Enemy, 1997-2001.

Charmed. Created by Constance M. Burge. Los Angeles: Spelling Television, 1998-2006.

Charmed. Created by Jennie Snyder Urman, Jessia O’Toole, and Amy Rardin. London: Reveal Entertainment, 2018-2022.

The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Developed by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa. Pelham: Archie Comics, 2018-2020.

Cowboy Bebop. Directed by Shinichirō Watanabe. Tokyo: Sunrise, 1998-1999.

Cowboy Bebop. Directed by Alex Garcia Lopez and Michael Katleman. London: Tomorrow Studios, 2021.

Dash & Lily. Directed by Brad Silberling, Pamela Romanowsky, and Fred Savage. New York: 21 Laps Entertainment, 2020.

Davy Crockett (miniseries). Burbank: Buena Vista, 1955.

A Discovery of Witches. Directed by Juan Carlos Medina et al. Cardiff: Bad Wolf, 2018-2022.

DuckTales. Directed by Alan Zaslove et al. Burbank: Walt Disney Television Animation, 1987- 1990.

DuckTales. Directed by Dana Terrace et al. Burbank: Disney Television Animation, 2017-2021.

Firefly. Directed by Joss Whedon et al. Los Angles: Mutant Enemy, 2002.

The Flintstones. Directed by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. Los Angeles: Hanna-Barbera Productions, 1960-1966.

Galavant. Directed by Chris Koch et al. Los Angeles: Rhode Island Ave. Productions, 2015- 2016.

Game of Thrones. Showrunners David Benioff and D. B. Weiss. New York: HBO Entertainment, 2011-2019.

The Good Place. Created by Michael Schur. Los Angeles: Fremulon, 2016-2020.

Gravity Falls. Created by Alex Hirsch. Burbank: Disney Television Animation, 2012-2016.

Gunsmoke. Developed by Charles Marquis Warren. Los Angeles: CBS Productions, 1955-1975.

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. Developed by Lou Scheimer. Reseda: Filmation Associates, 1983-1985.

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. Developed by Rob David. Burbank: Mattel Television, 2021-2022.

I Love Lucy. Produced by Jess Oppenheimer. Los Angeles: Desilu Productions, 1951-1957.

The Jetsons. Created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. Los Angeles: Hanna-Barbera Productions, 1962-1963.

Kevin Can F**k Himself. Directed by Anna Dokoza et al. New York: AMC Studios, 2021-2022.

Leave It to Beaver. Created by Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher. Universal City: Revue Studios, 1957-1963.

Loki. Directed by Kate Herron et al. Los Angeles: Marvel Studios, 2021-2023.

The Lone Ranger. Created by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker. Los Angeles: Apex Film, 1949-1957.

The Muppet Show. Created by Jim Henson. Los Angeles: Henson Associates, 1976-1981.

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. Directed by Jayson Thiessen and James Wootton. Silver Spring: Discovery Family, 2010-2019.

The Mysterious Benedict Society. Directed by James Bobin et al. Los Angeles: Halcyon Studios, 2021-2022.

Once Upon a Time. Created by Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz. Burbank: ABC Studios, 2011-2018.

The Orville. Created by Seth MacFarlane. Universal City: Fuzzy Door Productions, 2017-2019.

Our Flag Means Death. Created by David Jenkins. Auckland: Waititi, 2022-2023.

The Owl House. Created by Dana Terrace. Burbank: Disney Television Animation, 2020-2023.

The Powerpuff Girls. Directed by Craig McCracken. Los Angeles: Hanna-Barbera, 1998-2005.

Reservation Dogs. Directed by Sterlin Harjo et al. Auckland: Waititi, 2021-2023.

Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Created by Nell Scovell. Pelham: Archie Comics, 1996-2003.

Shadowhunters. Developed by Ed Decter. Frankfurt: Constantin Film, 2016-2019.

She-Ra: Princess of Power. Directed by Gwen Wetzler. Reseda: Filmation Associates, 1985- 1987.

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. Showrunner ND Stevenson. Glendale: DreamWorks Animation Television, 2018-2020.

Steven Universe. Created by Rebecca Sugar. Los Angeles: Cartoon Network Studios, 2013- 2019.

The Twilight Zone. Created by Rod Serling. Los Angles: Cayuga Productions, 1959-1964.

Umbrella Academy. Created by Steve Blackman. Milwaukie: Dark Horse Entertainment, 2019- 2024.

What We Do in the Shadows. Directed by Kyle Newacheck et al. Los Angeles: FXP, 2019-2024.

WandaVision. Directed by Matt Shakman. Burbank: Marvel Studios, 2021.

The Witcher. Showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich. Encino: Little Schmidt Productions, 2019-

Films

A Wrinkle in Time. Directed by Ana DuVernay. Burbank: Walt Disney Pictures, 2018.

Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret. Directed by Kelly Fremon Craig. Los Angeles: Gracie Films, 2023.

Barbie. Directed by Greta Gerwig. London: Heyday Films, 2023.

Bell, Book, and Candle. Directed by Richard Quine. Los Angeles: Columbia Pictures, 1958.

The Day the Earth Stood Still. Directed by Robert Wise. Los Angeles: 20^th Century Fox, 1951.

Everything, Everywhere, All At Once. Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Sheinert. New York: A24, 2022.

The Goonies. Directed by Richard Donner. Universal City: Amblin Entertainment, 1985.

Groundhog Day. Directed by Harold Ramis. Los Angeles: Columbia Pictures, 1993.

Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters. Directed by Tommy Wirkola. Los Angeles: MTV Films, 2013.

Harriet the Spy. Directed by Bronwen Hughes. Los Angeles: Nickelodeon Movies, 1996.

The Little Rascals/Our Gang. Created by Hal Roach. 1922-1944.

Logan. Directed by James Mangold. New York: Marvel Entertainment, 2017.

The Man with No Name Trilogy. Directed by Sergio Leone. Beverly Hills: Metro-Goldwyn- Mayer.

A Fistful of Dollars, 1964.

For a Few Dollars More, 1965.

The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly, 1966.

Ocean’s. Los Angeles: Warner Brothers.

Ocean’s 11. Directed by Lewis Malone, 1960.

Ocean’s Eleven. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, 2001.

Ocean’s Twelve. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, 2004.

Ocean’s Thirteen. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, 2007.

Ocean’s 8. Directed by Gary Ross, 2018.

Seven Samurai. Directed by Akira Kurosawa. Tokyo: Toho, 1954.

Snow White and the Huntsman. Directed by Rupert Sanders. Los Angeles: Roth Films, 2012.

Tank Girl. Directed by Rachael Talalay. Culver City: United Artists, 1995.

War Games. Directed by John Badham. Los Angeles: United Artists, 1983.

Weird Woman. Directed by Reginald Le Borg. Universal City: Universal Pictures, 1944.

The Wizard of Oz. Directed by Victor Fleming. Beverly Hills: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1939.

Books, Comics, Novels

Alcott, Louisa May. Little Women. Boston: Roberts Brothers, 1868 & 1869.

Baum, L. Frank. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Chicago: George M. Hill Company, 1900.

Blume, Judy. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. New York: Bradbury Press, 1970.

Bradley, Marion Zimmer. The Mists of Avalon. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1983.

The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Pelham: Archie Horror, 2014-

Fitzhugh, Louise. Harriet the Spy. New York: Harper & Row, 1964.

Harley Quinn. Burbank: DC Comics, 1992-

Herbert, Frank. Dune.

Dune. Boston: Chilton Books, 1965.

Dune Messiah. New York; Putnam Publishing, 1969.

Children of Dune. New York: Putnam Publishing, 1976.

God Emperor of Dune. New York: Putnam Publishing, 1981.

Heretics of Dune. New York: Putnam Publishing, 1984.

Chapterhouse: Dune. New York: Putnam Publishing, 1985.

The Justice League. Burbank: DC Comics, 1960-

Batman, 1939-

Superman, 1989-

Wonder Woman, 1941-

Konigsburg, E. L. From the Mixed-Up File of Mrs. Basil G. Frankweiler. New York: Atheneum Publishers, 1967.

L’Engle, Madeline. Time Quintet.

A Wrinkle in Time. New York: Ariel Books, 1962.

A Wind in the Door. New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1973.

A Swiftly Tilting Planet. New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1978.

Many Waters. New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1986.

An Acceptable Time. New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1989.

Le Guin, Ursula K. The Earthsea Cycle.

A Wizard of Earthsea. Berkeley: Parnassus Press, 1968.

The Tombs of Atuan. New York: Atheneum Books, 1970.

The Farthest Shore. New York: Atheneum Books, 1972.

Tehanu. New York: Atheneum Books, 1990.

Tales from Earthsea. San Diego: Harcourt Brace & Company, 2001.

The Other Wind. San Diego: Harcourt Brace & Company, 2001.

Lewis, C.S. The Chronicles of Narnia.

The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. London: Geoffrey Bles, 1950.

Prince Caspian. London: Geoffrey Bles, 1951.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. London: Geoffrey Bles, 1952.

The Silver Chair. London: Geoffrey Bles, 1953.

The Horse and His Boy. London: Geoffrey Bles, 1954.

The Magician’s Nephew. London: The Bodley Head, 1955.

The Last Battle. London: The Bodley Head, 1956.

Martin, George R. R. A Song of Ice and Fire.

A Game of Thrones. New York: Bantam Spectra, 1996.

A Clash of Kings. New York: Bantam Spectra, 1999.

A Storm of Swords. New York: Bantam Spectra, 2000.

A Feast for Crows. New York: Bantam Spectra, 2005.

A Dance with Dragons. New York: Bantam Spectra, 2011.

The Winds of Winter.

A Dream of Spring.

Riordan, Rick. The Heroes of Olympus. Glendale: Disney Hyperion.

The Lost Hero, 2010.

The Son of Neptune, 2011.

The Mark of Athena, 2012.

The House of Hades, 2013.

The Blood of Olympus, 2014.

Riordan, Rick. Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Glendale: Disney Hyperion.

The Lightning Thief, 2005.

The Sea of Monsters, 2006.

The Titan’s Curse, 2007.

The Battle of the Labyrinth, 2008.

The Last Olympian, 2009.

The Chalice of the Gods, 2023.

Wrath of the Triple Goddess, 2024.

Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Pelham: Archie Comics, 1971-

Spark, Muriel. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. London: Macmillan, 1961.

Stewart, Trenton Lee. The Mysterious Benedict Society.

The Mysterious Benedict Society. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2007.

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2008.

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner’s Dilemma. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2009.

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Riddle of Ages. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2019.

Stratton-Porter, Gene. The Girl of the Limberlost. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1909.

Tank Girl. Created by Alan Martin and Jamie Hewlett. Deadline Publications, 1988.

Tolkien, J. R. R. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Crows Nest: Allen & Unwin, 1954.

Tolkien, J. R. R. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Crows Nest: Allen & Unwin, 1955.

Tolkien, J. R. R. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. Crows Nest: Allen & Unwin, 1954.

The X-Men. New York: Marvel Comics, 1963-

RPG and Video Game Franchises

Doom. Created by John Carmack et al, 1993-

Dungeon and Dragons. Created by Gary Gygax and Dave Armeson. TSR/Wizards of the Coast, 1974-

Final Fantasy. Created by Hironobu Sakaguchi. Square, 1987-

Halo. Developed by Bungie. Bungie/Xbox Game Studios, 2001-

League of Legends. Directed by Andrei van Roon. Riot Games, 2009-

The Legend of Zelda. Created by Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. Nintendo, 1986-

Minecraft. Developed by Mojang Studios. Mojang Studios/Xbos Game Studios, 2011-

Pokémon. Created by Satoshi Tajiri. Nintendo, 1996-

Super Mario Brothers. Created by Shigeru Miyamoto. Nintendo, 1985-

Warhammer. Created by Bryan Ansell, Richard Halliwell, and Rick Priestley. Games Workshop, 1983-

World of Warcraft. Directed by Mark Kern and Chris Metzen. Blizzard Entertainment, 2004-

The main thing we had to figure out was where we would fit in the field we were both studying. We’re both mythologists and trained in comparative mythology and archetypal psychology, neither field known for being receptive to radical and innovative challenges to established theories. We knew we needed to take our theory in a new direction, but that also meant leaving the older ways behind. That’s why it was essential for us to finish our dissertations first.

For a deconstruction of these theories, including a bold analysis of the limitations of the monomyth and the Campbell Trap, see Chapter 1 of our book.

While we were developing our theory, the idea of a “collective hero” started to enter into the zeitgeist. We started to see posts and presentations appear in the community, which also validated that we were heading in the right direction with our analysis. The main fundamental difference we noticed, however, is that these approaches to “collective hero” try to stay within the confines of Campbell’s monomyth, meaning the collective hero journey is the same as the single hero’s journey.

We challenge that there is even a journey. It’s a convenient story plot, and serves some genres of myth more than others. But the goal of a collective hero isn’t always a journey of place, because the transformation that occurs to the group as a result of the collective might happen locally. The goal is, ultimately, restoring balance, and sometimes that requires one to engage in the local community rather than travel to lands far away.

Our latest project is a book being released by Bloomsbury publishing, February 5th, 2025.

The Heroic Shift: Emergence of the Collective as 21st-Century Hero

Priscilla Hobbs (Author) , Rebekah Lovejoy (Author)

The Official Description

During the 21st century, the collective hero has emerged as the defining archetype in media, reflecting shifts in global society and the necessity of cultural evolution.
Moving beyond the individualistic hero of Western myth, Priscilla Hobbs and Rebekah Lovejoy draw on contemporary popular culture and media to explore the challenges of today's world and propose a new heroic model characterized by thematic and ethical cores of collaboration and balance.
Hobbs and Lovejoy present the collective hero as a dynamic and diverse group where individual identities intersect, adapt, and contribute to a greater purpose. By engaging with and considering contemporary texts like Avatar: The Last Airbender, Star Wars, and Star Trek alongside historic movements and trends including the Civil Rights Movement, Woodstock, and Beatlemania, the authors analyze how collective heroes function both narratively and in reality. These examples demonstrate how archetypes are constructed within groups and how those groups mirror the complexity of real-world social dynamics.
Ultimately, the authors assert that collective heroism is not utopian fantasy, but a necessary cultural evolution for navigating social complexity, building resilient communities, and envisioning more democratic, pluralistic, and environmentally conscious futures.

Table of Contents

Authors’ Note
Introduction: The Multiverse and Collective Heroes
1. Deconstruction
2. Collective
3. Gender Expansive
4. Balance
Conclusion

This project has been many years in the making and we are so excited to be able to release it into the wild and see what conversations arrive. For more information about our new book go to Bloomsbury

But, of course, life happened. We both had to finish our dissertations, navigate life, and sort a few things out about our theory before we could write it down.

What resulted is our theory of the collective hero, and how this hero emerges during periods of social upheaval, discord, and or unrest. The reason for this is the fundamentally human need for social survival, meaning securing our survival through collective efforts.

Our book, The Heroic Shift: The Emergence of the Collective as 21^st Century Hero, published by Bloomsbury is landing in the early part of 2026.

The timing is good. Our mythic narrative clearly points to an imbalance, and many of us are feeling it acutely. While global energies are reaching an apex, and while various powers and factions are fighting for dominance, the stories we tell ourselves to entertain and give meaning have been preparing us for this moment. From the utopian collective of Star Trek, to the rebellious collective of Star Wars, to the extensive fandoms that have woven the global community, we look at the emerging messages and calls to action they are telling us.

This blog is the continuation of the dialogues that wrote the book as well as practical applications of the collective hero theory. All of us have a part to play.

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