Symbolism, character foil and carefully constructed plot all benefit when not constrained by the haphazardness of real life.

Comic books play it straight. Batman never kills, Superman is an indestructible Boy Scout, Spider-Man is filled with teenage angst -- even in his late 20s -- and Wolverine abides by a code of honor ...

What do Homer's Odyssey and R F Kuang's new novel 'Katabasis' have in common? We explain the ancient concepts of katabasis ...