Janelle Monáe Is an Anti-Bullying Superhero in Her New Music Video

She's got the best kind of superpowers.

janelle monae
(Image credit: Meredith Jenks)

We've spent hours on end watching Janelle Monáe music videos in awe of her fierce dancing, powerful vocals, quick-fire rap, and sumptuous menswear-inspired costumes (Katharine Hepburn would be proud). They're truly in a league of their own — and the same can be said for her newest video, a short film set to her cover of David Bowie's "Heroes."

You might be surprised to find that instead of showcasing Monáe belting it out and cutting a rug, the short film revolves around a group of young children. These youngsters are dealing with school bullies, but find solace by flipping through JANELLE!, a superhero comic book that teaches outcasts to unite and avenge (peacefully, of course!). Where can we grab our issue?

The awe-inducing film, directed by Young Astronauts, is the latest offering from Pepsi's Beats of the Beauiful Game album. The 11-track compilation LP boasts numbers from Rita Ora, Santigold, Kelly Rowland, Timbaland, and more, and will be released on June 10. See the full track list and film credits, below:

Janelle Monae, "Heroes," with filmtrack by The Young Astronauts
Don Omar
, "Pura Vida," with filmtrack by Jessy Terrero
Rita Ora
, "I Will Never Let You Down (Switch Remix)," with filmtrack by Diego Luna
R3hab
 feat. Eva Simons, "Unstoppable," with filmtrack by Idris Elba
Jetta
,"Crescendo"
Kelly Rowland, "The Game," with filmtrack by Spike Lee
Santigold
, "Kicking Down Doors," with filmtrack by Andy Morahan
Timbaland
 staring Rachel Assil, "Whoever We Are," with filmtrack by The Kolton Brothers
Pearls Negras
, "Guerreira," with filmtrack by Cine Favela
Jolin Tsai Yl-ling
,"Now is the Time," with filmtrack by Cai Yiqi
Hassan el Shafei
, "Ahlam Men Gedial"

Lauren Valenti
Beauty Editor

Lauren is the former beauty editor at Marie Claire. She love to while away the hours at coffee shops, hunt for vintage clothes, and bask in the rough-and-tumble beauty of NYC. She firmly believes that solitude can be a luxury if you’ve got the right soundtrack—that being the Rolling Stones, of course.