Book cover for “Superhero Grief and the Multiverse of Loss,” edited by Jill A. Harrington and Darcy L. Harris, featuring a fractured galaxy surrounded by scenes of grief and loss.

Superhero Grief and the Multiverse of Loss

Considerations and Case Studies in Non-Death Losses

Grief is not only about death.

The pain of divorce, illness, estrangement, addiction, job loss, and futures that never unfold is real, and it deserves to be recognized.

Edited by Jill A. Harrington, DSW, LCSW & Darcy L. Harris, PhD, RN, RSW, FT
Routledge Publishing

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Stylized dark blue masquerade mask with gold trim and pointed sides

ABOUT THE BOOK

Superhero Grief and the Multiverse of Loss explores the unseen grief people carry: the pain of non-death losses such as divorce, illness, disability, job loss, identity change, estrangement, relocation, addiction, mental illness, betrayal, and the loss of future hopes and dreams.

Drawing on powerful metaphors from modern superhero narratives, the book shows that grief arises not only after the death of a loved one, but also from the tangible and intangible losses of everyday life. Through case studies and practical insights, it validates grief that others may not recognize and offers strategies for coping.

Each of us has a hero’s journey through loss. This book offers readers the hope of finding a way forward.

WHO IT’S FOR

Clinicians and counselors
Case-based frameworks and practical strategies for supporting clients with disenfranchised, ambiguous, and non-finite losses.

Educators and students
Memorable stories that make grief theory accessible for courses in counseling, social work, psychology, nursing, and thanatology.

People living with loss
Language and perspective for grief that others may not understand, and the reassurance that your loss counts.

Comic-book style starburst with bold blue lettering spelling “SUPER” over a tan polka-dot background.
Comic-book style starburst with bold blue lettering spelling “SUPER” over a tan polka-dot background.
Comic book-style "WOW!" text in bold orange letters inside a dotted white explosion bubble
Comic book-style "WOW!" text in bold orange letters inside a dotted white explosion bubble

WHAT’S INSIDE

35 chapters across 11 sections, written by clinicians, scholars, educators, and people with lived experience. Chapters draw on Wanda Maximoff, Tony Stark, Black Panther, Thor, Wonder Woman, Batman, Captain America, Luke Skywalker, the Mandalorian, and many more.

  • Loss of Time and Control

  • Relational Losses

  • Losses of Health, Function, and Ability

  • Navigating Difference

  • Transgenerational Loss

  • Loss of Beliefs, Purpose, and Meaning

  • Superhero Identity and Childhood Trauma

  • Loss of Homeland and Environment

  • Mental Health, Addiction, and Loss

View the full table of contents

Stylized silhouette of a superhero wearing a flowing red cape against an orange sun

What people are saying about Superhero Grief and the Multiverse of Loss

  • “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

  • “A wonderful companion to Superhero Grief” and a “stimulating, erudite, and overwhelmingly enjoyable exploration of non-death losses.”

    Kenneth J. Doka, PhD, Vice President for Grief Programs, 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

Dedication

To my son, Alex, who taught me about the spectrum of life and my ability to adapt. To my daughter, Madeline, my tiny fighter, who has taught me to remain steadfast in the face of uncertainty. To my stepchildren, Jax and Mari, who remind me that in life there is always room for growth. To my sponsor midshipmen, Cameron and Alex, who helped me restore a meaningful bond. To my husband, David, who has reaffirmed that change is not always an ending, but an invitation to begin again.

-JAH

For Brad and Lauren — whose love is my anchor in an ever-changing world.

-DLH

  • Introduction: The Echo of Non-Death Loss: A Personal Story
    Cody Thomas Blackbird


    Part I: Framing the Work
    1.It’s Not All About Thanos – Loss Comes in Many Forms
    Darcy L. Harris and Jill A. Harrington


    Part II: Loss of Time and Control
    2. Personal Blips: Re-emerging from a Loss of Time
    Pamela A. Malone and Jill A. Harrington
    3. Inability to Change the Past: Loss of Control and Lessons from the Flash and Doctor Strange
    Jill A. Harrington, Sharon Strouse, and Kim Burditt Bartlett
    4. Thor: The Importance of Self-forgiveness in the Face of Failure
    Jakob van Wielink and Leo Wilhelm
    5. Non-Death Loss and the Human Condition: The Hulk, Autism, and Mental Health in Conversation
    Sara Pula and Alexander D. LaMorie


    Part III: Relational Losses
    6. Lucifer: Bringing Light to Loss from Family Estrangement 
    Jill A. Harrington, Pamela A. Malone, and Debi Jenkins Frankle
    7. The Avengers: Loss of Friendship and Trust in a Team
    Marnix Reijmerink and Jakob van Wielink
    8. Guardians of the Galaxy: The Quest for Calling in the Face of Loss of Belonging
    Leo Wilhelm and Jakob van Wielink
    9. Black Panther: Losing Faith in Our Fathers
    Greg Adams
    10. Divorce, Children, and Non-Custodial Parents: Ant-Man and the Quantum Realm of Loss
    Jill A. Harrington and Ami Neiberger
    11. Luke Skywalker: Adopted Children —Feeling Loved, Feeling Loss
    Jill A. Harrington, Karen McSweeney, and Teresa E. Doniger


    Part IV: Navigating Losses of Health, Function, Ability
    12. Unveiling Stark’s Heart: Loss and Living with Chronic Illness
    Debi Jenkins Frankle
    13. Hands of a Surgeon: Dr. Stephen Strange and Professional Identity Loss
    Noah M. Raizman
    14. Black Widow and Non-Death Loss: Bodily Autonomy and Forced Sterilization
    Brooke Baker, MacKenzie A. Kibler, and E. Goldblatt Hyatt
    15. Professor X and Wolverine: Navigating the Journey of Loss Due to Dementia
    Shannon A. Matthews


    Part V: Navigating Difference
    16. Drax and the Loss of Metaphors - Autism, Grief, and a Parent’s Journey: A Conversation with Jill A. Harrington
    Rebecca Morse, Kailey Bradley, and Jill A. Harrington
    17. Mutation, Loss, Community, and Love: Non-Finite Losses in the LGBTQ Community
    Bradford Leary


    Part VI: Transgenerational Loss
    18. Zuri's Legacy: Healing Transgenerational Grief and Loss through Spiritual Practice
    Raé N. Lundy
    19. Luke Cage: Giving Power to the Silenced Grief of Incarceration Loss
    Reverend Eric Brewer
    20. Journey to Captain America and the Double Consciousness of African American Patriotism
    Jillian M. Blueford and Kertesha B. Riley


    Part VII: Loss of Beliefs, Purpose, and Meaning
    21. Exploring Complex Relational and Spiritual Loss in Superhero Narratives
    Brendan Prout
    22. Okoye: Lessons from a Warrior on Job Loss, Identity, and Disparities
    Jasmine Cobb
    23. Loss of A Balanced Life: Am I Wearing the Mask or is It Wearing Me?
    Kent Tonkin
    24. What Captain America Teaches Us About Non-death Loss and Positive Coping with Grief
    Paul T. Bartone and David F. Carey


    Part VIII: Superhero Identity and Childhood Trauma
    25. Unraveling the Scarlet Threads: Displaced Children, Grief, and What We Can Learn from Wanda Maximoff's Journey
    Donna A. Gaffney
    26. Shadows in Context: Two-Face, Batman, and Losses Associated with a Traumatic Childhood
    Mark Shelvock
    27. America Chavez: Navigating Betrayal Trauma, Intersectionality, and Resilience in the Multiverse of Loss
    Lauren Cortéz and Diane Diaz
    28. The Mandalorian and Fear of Attachment: Loss of the Mask – Din Djarin Allows Himself to Be Seen
    Sharon Strouse and Jill A. Harrington


    Part IX: Loss of Homeland/Environment
    29. The Asian Experiences of Non-Death Loss and the Last Airbender
    Yong Hao Ng
    30. Wayne Manor and Rebuilding Your Life After the Loss of Your Home
    Lindsey Whissel Fenton
    31. Wonder Woman: Chosen Migration and Inhabiting a Liminal Space
    Maria Georgopoulos and R. Abby Spilka
    32. From Poison Ivy to the Justice League: A Psychological Approach to Environmental and     Political Grief
    Mark Shelvock


    Part X: Mental Health, Addiction, and Loss
    33. Addiction and Ambiguous Loss: Tony Stark's Long-Lasting Struggles
    Laura Vargas
    34. Lost to the Darkness: Wanda Maximoff and the Non-Death Losses of Mental Illness Cheryl H. Dodson and Jill A. Harrington


    Part XI: Conclusion
    35. Conclusion: From the Multiverse of Loss to Empowerment
    Jill A. Harrington 

  • Greg Adams. Ch. 9

    Brooke Baker. Ch. 14

    Kim Burditt Bartlett. Ch. 3

    Paul T. Bartone, PhD, Visiting Research Fellow at the Institute for National Security Policy, National Defense University. Ch. 24

    Cody Thomas Blackbird. Introduction

    Jillian M. Blueford. Ch. 20

    Kailey Bradley. Ch. 16

    Reverend Eric Brewer, DMin, Director of Field Education and Program Coordinator of the Black Church Resource Center, School of Divinity, Howard University. Ch. 19

    David F. Carey, MS, BS, LTC, U.S. Army (Retired), Combat-Veteran (OIF/OEF); National Security Contractor, U.S. Department of Defense.* Ch. 24

    Jasmine Cobb. Ch. 22

    Lauren Cortéz. Ch. 27

    Diane Diaz. Ch. 27

    Cheryl Hogsten Dodson, DNP, MBA, RN, CCM, Assistant Professor of Nursing, Department of Nursing, Methodist University.* Ch. 34

    Teresa E. Doniger. Ch. 11

    Lindsey Whissel Fenton, MEd, CT, grief educator and filmmaker; founder, Empathic Media. Ch. 30

    Debi Jenkins Frankle, MS, LMFT, Calabasas Counseling and Grief Center; founder, Private Practice Grief Workshops and Trainings for Mental Health Clinicians. Chs. 6, 12

    Donna A. Gaffney, DNSc, FAAN, psychotherapist (specializing in loss, grief and trauma among children and families), educational consultant, and founder of DAGaffney Consulting LLC.* Ch. 25

    Maria Georgopoulos. Ch. 31

    Erica Goldblatt Hyatt, DSW, LCSW, MBE, Assistant Director of the DSW Program, Assistant Teaching Professor, School of Social Work, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.* Ch. 14

    Jill A. Harrington, DSW, LCSW, former assistant professor of social work at Marymount University, and maintains a small private clinical practice. Lead Editor. Introduction and Chs. 1, 2, 3, 6, 10, 11, 16, 28, 34, 35

    Darcy L. Harris, PhD, RN, RSW, FT, professor emeritus of thanatology at King’s University College at Western University, where she also maintains a private clinical practice. Co-Editor. Ch. 1

    MacKenzie A. Kibler. Ch. 14

    Alexander D. LaMorie, in loving memory. Ch. 5

    Bradford Leary, LCSW, CT, clinical social worker in private practice. Ch. 17 [VERIFY]

    Raé N. Lundy. Ch. 18

    Pamela A. Malone, PhD, LCSW-S, FT, Assistant Professor-in-Practice, University of Texas at Arlington School of Social Work; Clinical Supervisor; Private Practice, Blue Lapis Consulting, PLLC.* Chs. 2, 6

    Shannon A. Matthews. Ch. 15

    Karen McSweeney. Ch. 11

    Rebecca S. Morse, PhD, Associate Professor, Director of Research Training, Institute for Psychological Sciences, Divine Mercy University.* Ch. 16

    Ami Neiberger. Ch. 10

    Yong Hao Ng, PhD, MSocWk, Senior Tutor, Department of Social Work, National University of Singapore. Ch. 29

    Brendan Prout, MDiv, CTC, CGC, CISR, Worship Pastor, Quest Church.* Ch. 21

    Sara Pula. Ch. 5

    Noah M. Raizman. Ch. 13

    Marnix Reijmerink. Ch. 7

    Kertesha B. Riley. Ch. 20

    Mark Shelvock, MACP, MA, RP, registered psychotherapist; lecturer, Western University. Chs. 26, 32.

    R. Abby Spilka. Ch. 31

    Sharon Strouse, MA, ATR-BC, LCPAT, Associate Director, The Portland Institute for Loss and Transition; Private Practice, Art Therapist; Co-founder, The Kristin Rita Strouse Foundation.* Chs. 3, 28

    Kent Tonkin. Ch. 23

    Jakob van Wielink, MA, executive coach and partner, De School voor Transitie; faculty mentor, Portland Institute for Loss and Transition. Chs. 4, 7, 8

    Laura Vargas, MSW, LCSW, founder, Vargas Counseling and Consulting, LLC; adjunct faculty, Graduate School of Social Work, University of Denver. Ch. 33

    Leo Wilhelm, MSc, grief counselor, author, executive coach, and advisor to De School voor Transitie. Chs. 4, 8

  • Jill A. Harrington, DSW, LCSW is an Adjunct Professor for the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Washington DC Campus as well as a Part-Time Lecturer for Rutgers University School of Social Work.  Dr. Harrington also maintains an active clinical counseling practice in the Greater Washington DC Area.  She earned her Doctorate in Social Work from The University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy & Practice, Philadelphia, PA and is one of the first published authors on the subject of bereavement in U.S. military families. She has been a practicing social worker for over twenty years and has had a special focus on trauma, loss and bereavement.  Dr. Harrington is a former Senior Director of Field Research for Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress (CSTS), Bethesda, Maryland and has been a consultant to Columbia University Center for Complicated Grief.  Dr. Harrington is active on many national and international committees and working groups, addressing bereavement, clinical practice and grief awareness and education.  She is a member of The National Association of Social Workers, The American Association of Suicidology as well as a former Board Member (2011-2014) for the Association for Death Education & Counseling and currently serves as the Chair of the Conference Committee, Concurrent Program.  In her career, she has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters.  She is the creator and lead editor of the new, creative textbook, entitled, Superhero Grief: The Transformative Power of Loss (2021), published by Routledge.

    Email: drjillharrington@gmail.com

    Darcy L. Harris, RN, RSW, MEd (Couns), PhD, FT is Professor Emerita of Thanatology at King’s University College at Western University in London, Ontario, Canada, where she developed the undergraduate degree program in Thanatology, dedicated to the study of death, dying, and bereavement. Dr. Harris also maintains a private clinical practice specializing in issues related to change, loss, and transition. She began her career as a registered nurse, working for 15 years in oncology and hospice care before pursuing graduate training in counseling psychology and completing her doctoral studies in psychology and thanatology at Union Institute and University in Cincinnati, Ohio. She has dedicated her career to the study and clinical practice of grief and loss, with particular expertise in non-death losses, complicated grief, compassion-based approaches to grief therapy, and the social and cultural dimensions of bereavement. Dr. Harris is a faculty member of the Portland Institute for Loss and Transition, where she contributes to postgraduate training in grief therapy and Meaning Reconstruction in Loss. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Association for Death Education and Counseling and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the International Work Group on Death, Dying, and Bereavement. She is also a series co-editor for Routledge’s Death, Dying, and Bereavement Series and is an internationally recognized speaker, researcher, and author. Her publications include Counting Our Losses: Reflecting on Change, Loss, and Transition in Everyday Life (2010), Grief and Bereavement in Contemporary Society: Bridging Research and Practice (2011), Handbook of Social Justice in Loss and Grief (2016), Non-Death Loss and Grief: Context and Clinical Implications (2020), Principles and Practice of Grief Counseling (2021), and Compassion-Based Approaches in Loss and Grief (2023). Her research and writing continue to advance contemporary understandings of grief, emphasizing compassion, social justice, and the recognition of loss in its many forms.