Superhero Grief and the Multiverse of Loss

Jill A. Harrington, DSW, LCSW, is a former assistant professor of social work at Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia, and maintains a small private clinical practice in the Washington, DC, region.Darcy L. Harris, PhD, RN, RSW, FT, is a professor emeritus of thanatology at King’s University College at Western University in Ontario, Canada, where she also maintains a private clinical practice.

“Superhero Grief and the Multiverse of Loss is a wonderful companion to Superhero Grief. It is a stimulating, erudite, and overwhelmingly enjoyable exploration of non-death losses through the experiences of a wide range of contemporary superheroes. The book is both a delight for students yet scholarly enough to enthrall professionals.”Kenneth J. Doka, PhD, vice president for grief programs, The Hospice Foundation of America“Through vivid case studies, psychological insight and creative engagement with iconic characters, this volume validates the pain of disenfranchised grief while revealing its power to transform. Essential for grief scholars, clinicians and anyone whose invisible losses have altered their lives, Superhero Grief and the Multiverse of Loss is an inspiring reminder that from the ruins of what once felt unshakable, we can rise. That grief can be carried, not only as a weight, but as a flame to guide the path ahead.”Christopher Hall, AM, JP, MA, chief executive officer, Grief Australia“An insightful and timely contribution to thanatology, Superhero Grief and the Multiverse of Loss provides a deep dive into the realm of non-death losses, long overlooked not only in literature but also in society. The reference to superheroes is both poignant and powerful, honoring the grief of those who support while illuminating the significance of these losses and their ability to shape and even transform the hero’s journey.”Andrea Warnick, MA, RN, RP, education director, co-owner, and CEO, AWC Grief Support

• Introduction: The Echo of Non-Death Loss: A Personal StoryPart I: Framing the Work 1.It’s Not All About Thanos – Loss Comes in Many FormsPart II: Loss of Time and Control 2. Personal Blips: Re-emerging from a Loss of Time3. Inability to Change the Past: Loss of Control and Lessons from the Flash and Doctor Strange4. Thor: The Importance of Self-forgiveness in the Face of Failure5. Non-Death Loss and the Human Condition: The Hulk, Autism, and Mental Health in ConversationPart III: Relational Losses 6. Lucifer: Bringing Light to Loss from Family Estrangement 7. The Avengers: Loss of Friendship and Trust in a Team8. Guardians of the Galaxy: The Quest for Calling in the Face of Loss of Belonging9. Black Panther: Losing Faith in Our Fathers10. Divorce, Children, and Non-Custodial Parents: Ant-Man and the Quantum Realm of Loss11. Luke Skywalker: Adopted Children —Feeling Loved, Feeling LossPart IV: Navigating Losses of Health, Function, Ability 12. Unveiling Stark’s Heart: Loss and Living with Chronic Illness13. Hands of a Surgeon: Dr. Stephen Strange and Professional Identity Loss14. Black Widow and Non-Death Loss: Bodily Autonomy and Forced Sterilization15. Professor X and Wolverine: Navigating the Journey of Loss Due to DementiaPart V: Navigating Difference 16. Drax and the Loss of Metaphors - Autism, Grief, and a Parent’s Journey: A Conversation with Jill A. Harrington17. Mutation, Loss, Community, and Love: Non-Finite Losses in the LGBTQ CommunityPart VI: Transgenerational Loss 18. Zuri's Legacy: Healing Transgenerational Grief and Loss through Spiritual Practice19. Luke Cage: Giving Power to the Silenced Grief of Incarceration Loss20. Journey to Captain America and the Double Consciousness of African American PatriotismPart VII: Loss of Beliefs, Purpose, and Meaning 21. Exploring Complex Relational and Spiritual Loss in Superhero Narratives22. Okoye: Lessons from a Warrior on Job Loss, Identity, and Disparities23. Loss of A Balanced Life: Am I Wearing the Mask or is It Wearing Me?24. What Captain America Teaches Us About Non-death Loss and Positive Coping with GriefPart VIII: Superhero Identity and Childhood Trauma 25. Unraveling the Scarlet Threads: Displaced Children, Grief, and What We Can Learn from Wanda Maximoff's Journey26. Shadows in Context: Two-Face, Batman, and Losses Associated with a Traumatic Childhood27. America Chavez: Navigating Betrayal Trauma, Intersectionality, and Resilience in the Multiverse of Loss28. The Mandalorian and Fear of Attachment: Loss of the Mask – Din Djarin Allows Himself to Be SeenPart IX: Loss of Homeland/Environment29. The Asian Experiences of Non-Death Loss and the Last Airbender30. Wayne Manor and Rebuilding Your Life After the Loss of Your Home31. Wonder Woman: Chosen Migration and Inhabiting a Liminal Space32. From Poison Ivy to the Justice League: A Psychological Approach to Environmental and Political GriefPart X: Mental Health, Addiction, and Loss 33. Addiction and Ambiguous Loss: Tony Stark's Long-Lasting Struggles 34. Lost to the Darkness: Wanda Maximoff and the Non-Death Losses of Mental Illness Part XI: Conclusion 35. Conclusion: From the Multiverse of Loss to Empowerment