What makes a superhero a superhero, and why does it matter now? Building on Peter Coogan's defining criteria of mission, powers, heroic identity, costume, and generic distinction, this interactive panel examines how these elements shape both classic and contemporary understandings of the superhero genre. Antero Garcia (Stanford University), Susan Kirtley (Portland State University), and Peter Carlson (Green Dot Public Schools) introduce a practical, classroom-tested rubric for analyzing superhero construction, drawing from their comics pedagogy framework and community-centered activities. After modeling how Coogan's criteria illuminate characters across publishers and eras, panelists guide attendees through hands-on evaluation and rapid-creation exercises. Participants name, assess, and finally design their own superheroes rooted in real-world identities, communities, and needs. This session invites scholars, educators, and fans to rethink the superhero not merely as a genre figure but as a cultural tool for storytelling, self-authorship, and collective imagination.
