Could we create a real-life superhero by changing human biology itself?The form and function of the human body, once entirely delimited by nature, are now fluid concepts thanks to recent advances in biomedical science and engineering. Professor, author, and comic book enthusiast E. Paul Zehr uses Marvel's Captain America - an ordinary man turned into an extraordinary hero, thanks to a military science experiment - as an entry-point to this brave new world of science, no longer limited to the realm of fiction. With our ever-expanding scientific and technological prowess, human biological adaptability is now in our fallible human hands. Thanks to the convergence of biology, engineering, and technology, we can now alter our abilities through surgery, pharmaceutical enhancement, technological fusion, and genetic engineering.Written in an accessible manner, Chasing Captain America explores these areas and more, asking what the real limits of being human are, how far we should bend those limits, and how we may be forced to reshape human biology if we are to colonize planets like Mars. Publication date coincides with the release of The Avengers: Infinity War, which will be a good tie-in for publicityPitch feature to science and technology magazines like Scientific American and Discover, and to current events magazines like Newsweek, The Walrus and Maclean'sThe subjects covered are "trending topics" in popular science, such as the recent approval by the FDA for leukemia gene therapy, as covered in the New York Times (www.nytimes.com/2017/07/12/health/fda-novartis-leukemia-gene-medicine.html)
Industry Reviews
"Chasing Captain America is an exhilarating and illuminating romp through the wild frontiers of real science that until recently only existed in the pages of comic books." Daniel H. Wilson, bestselling author of Robopocalypse "With Chasing Captain America, E. Paul Zehr once again takes the reader on a tour of cutting-edge science while exploring an iconic superhero, this time Steve Rogers, the Sentinel of Liberty. Zehr writes with the expertise of a practicing scientist, the clarity of an experienced teacher, and the unabashed enthusiasm of a comic book fan, resulting in a book that's a joy to read and mindblowing in its scope and detail. Chasing Captain America is a must-read if you're a science nerd, comics geek, or both." Mark D. White, author of The Virtues of Captain America and chair of the Department of Philosophy at the College of Staten Island/CUNY "A fascinating study of the real-life potential for a superhuman, deeply researched, philosophically challenging, and often disturbingly plausible." Warren Ellis, author of Normal, Gun Machine, and Transmetropolitan PRAISE FOR PREVIOUS WORKS "As a study of human physiology, this detailed and accessible discussion could appeal to Batman fans and those interested in intensive physical training who are prepared for serious science rather than fantasy. But Batman is only the scaffolding on which Zehr hands his detailed look at the role of genetic makeup, diet, strength training and development of motor skills in attaining the 'outer limits' of physical performance." Publishers Weekly on Becoming Batman "This is a thoughtfully imagined work that uses escapism to make solid scientific points that can benefit almost anyone. And for those who aspire to don a cape and cowl, it's essential reading." Edmonton Journal on Becoming Batman "Becoming Batman is your next step to supercool." Globe and Mail
