Photographer Josh Rossi, along with his wife Roxana and costume designer Julie Whiteley, have transformed a group of disabled and seriously ill children into the various members of the Justice League in an inspirational and heartwarming photoshoot. Warner Bros.' forthcoming Justice League movie will feature Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash and Cyborg, as well as a revived Superman, as the diverse group of heroes band together to take on the mighty Steppenwolf.

Although modern superhero movies are largely aimed at both children and adults (not so much Logan), the original incarnations of the characters were designed for a younger audience and although the average fan age may have increased since then, the likes of Batman and Wonder Woman are as popular with children today as ever before. However, superhero stories don't just keep kids entertained, they can also provide inspiration and can provide a brief escape during times of difficulty. And whether they admit it or not, at some point in their childhood, every kid dreams of being superhero.

Ok here it is! My super passion project that I've been working on for the past 2 months. I worked with 6 kids with unique disabilities and turned them into The Justice League. Click link in bio for the full article... costumes by Julie whiteley @henrycavill @dccomics @warnerbros @wbpictures @justiceleague #superman A post shared by Josh Rossi (@joshrossiphoto) on

With this thought in mind, photographer Josh Rossi and his wife set out on a mission to find six children living with a disability or disease that would comprise what Rossi calls "the REAL Justice League." The purpose of the shoot was to highlight how each child's illness can also be what makes them strong and as such, each of the kids photographed shares something in common with their superhero counterpart. For instance, the young boy representing Cyborg was chosen because of his determination to learn to walk with prosthetic legs and Zaiden - Rossi's Flash - is an ADHD sufferer who loves to run, even when it gets him in trouble.

The message the photoshoot conveys is certainly an inspirational one and although some of the children involved have truly heartbreaking stories and have suffered greatly in their lives thus far, their determination and strength in the face of adversity is the very definition of what it means to be a superhero. It's also very clear from the above video and the photos themselves that the six children simply had a fantastic time dressing up in the movie-realistic costumes and trying out their best superhero poses.

With both Marvel and DC now ruling the big screen, it can be easy to get caught up in the seriousness of these big-budget movie universes. Whether it be the debate over which comic company is the best or whether Jesse Eisenberg was miscast as Lex Luther (he definitely was), the sheer scale and profitability of today's superhero incarnations automatically lends them to be taken more seriously than ever before. Josh Rossi's "Real Justice League" photographs are a heartwarming reminder of why these characters exist in the first place.

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Source: Josh Rossi

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