(Tor)

In this collection of illustrated original stories, the writers offer new interpretations of what it means to be a superhero. Their heroes range from a house cleaner to civil servants and refugees. In Chambers’ story, “Avatar,” the superhero, an orphan from southern Sudan, confronts Chinese officials who are providing money to the Sudanese government. Other contributors include Lorenzo Carcaterra and Walter Mosely. Chambers is a professor of journalism at Georgetown University’s School of Liberal and Continuing Studies.