Ciara sounds perfectly polite on the phone -- quite underwhelming for a superhero. She apologizes for eating melon while discussing her current project, Fantasy Ride, and she peppers the conversation with many "thank yous." She's just really real. No façades like Superman's Clark Kent.

Of course the superhero the pop star created for Fantasy Ride, Super C, is a superhero of a different kind. According to Ms. Ciara Harris, comic book Super C has the typical super powers to stop foes, like flying, but she's more interested in the hero's real world powers. For the young star, Super C is the empowering force that drives her to succeed.

"It's... about my personal strength... within my work world, whether it's relationships or work," Ciara says. "I have to be strong all the way around, so that's the Super C superhero in me."

Now she wants Super C to inspire her fans to find their own superheroes within them and fight for their dreams.

"I'm just here to let people know that no matter where you come from that doesn't determine or set any limitations on who you can become or what you can do with your life," the starlet explains. "I hope to inspire people to pursue their dreams and whatever they believe in because it really took me believing in myself to become who I am today. And that's the power of Super C."

On a superficial level, the songstress' image and album seem to be all about whimsy and magic; an escape from the real world. She went all out to create her dream world -- she recruited famed comic book artist Bernard Chang (Wonder Woman, Superman Plus) to create the album artwork. Her costumes are inspired by Thierry Mugler, a designer made famous for his metallic armor-like dresses. In her music videos she looks like a sexy, futuristic Wonder Woman. It seems worlds away from the "two-steppin'" girl next door from 2004. But for the former tomboy her fascination with the world of superheroes is normal.

She collected Bazooka Bubble Gum on an almost religious level for the funny Bazooka Joe comics. She also loved reading comic books and watching superhero movies as a kid. It's no shocker that the dark and mysterious Batman is her favourite superhero and she even admits to being a fan of the really old Batman films. In fact, the Caped Crusader embodies her idea of a real hero, fighting crime with no super powers or mutations, just his natural talent, morals and drive. Like Bruce Wayne, Ciara leads a charmed life and wants to do good -- just not as a vigilante.

"I'm really in love with Batman," she confesses. "I also think he's very sexy too... [He] is one of the ultimate inspirations for my superhero."

In the fantasy world Batman is as close as it gets to everyday heroes -- the single mom, the kid who stands up to the school bully, a doctor. And those are the people Ciara is really trying to pay tribute to with her concept album.

"There is a superhero inside of all of us," Ciara states matter-of-factly. "And every superhero isn't known to do the abnormal, like flying and stuff like that. It just isn't very personal. Whether it's a person who's overcome cancer or a person that has pushed through their adversities to do whatever they wanted to do that's the superhero to me."


Words By: Carol Santos