HEROES: MY HEROES ACTUALLY HAVE REAL SUPER POWERS

Bart Cooper expands his groundbreaking Heroes series with ten new portraits that honor women whose lives embodied strength, sacrifice, and vision far beyond the pages of comic books. Each painting reimagines these cultural giants through the lens of superhero mythology, pairing them with archetypes that echo their real-world legacies.

Ida B. Wells dons the mantle of Spider-Man, weaving webs of truth as a fearless journalist who exposed injustice. Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman in Congress and presidential candidate, carries the vigilant determination of Daredevil. Mary McLeod Bethune, educator and founder, emerges as Professor Xavier, nurturing generations with wisdom and collective vision.

From Assata Shakur’s rebellion as Catwoman, to Claudette Colvin’s youthful courage aligned with War Machine, each portrait reframes history through the language of comics. Wilma Rudolph, the Olympic champion, blazes across the canvas as The Flash, while Maya Angelou’s voice and spirit rise anew as the eternal Phoenix. Billie Holiday channels the sonic force of Black Canary, and Miriam Makeba, “Mama Africa,” commands the elements as Storm. Closing the collection, Toni Morrison, whose words reshaped American literature, embodies the resilience and ferocity of Wolverine.

Forged from Cooper’s lifelong love of history and comic books—the very inspirations that set him on the path of becoming an artist—Heroes stands as the last chapter of this body of work. It continues his mission to challenge cultural memory: why do we know fictional heroes more readily than the real women who fought for justice, creativity, and freedom? Through bold color, handwritten text, and iconic symbolism, this final collection calls us to recognize the extraordinary powers that have always lived among us.