In a cultural moment saturated with multiverses, CGI battles, and mythic origin stories, “Captain Zero: Into the Abyss Part II” dares to tell a different kind of superhero story—one that trades invincibility for introspection.

Premiering Aug. 8 at Angelika Pop-Up in Union Market, this animated short by writer-director Z Cher-Aimé centers not on saving the world, but on surviving one’s own mind.

At its heart is Xerxes Hughes, a high school senior who moonlights as a masked hero but finds his greatest battle lies within. Behind the cape, he is not just fighting crime — he’s fighting depression, self-doubt, and the crushing pressure to be everything to everyone. Told through therapy sessions and internal monologues, the film reveals how even the strongest among us can feel like they’re fall

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