This version is optimized for MySQL 4 with no views.
SELECT hero.name AS 'hero', mission.description AS 'mission', mission.villain AS 'villain', mission.plot AS 'plot' FROM hero, mission WHERE hero.missionID = mission.missionID; AND hero.name = '$hero'
SELECT power.name AS 'power' FROM hero, power, hero_power WHERE hero.heroID = hero_power.heroID AND power.powerID = hero_power.powerID AND hero.name = '$hero'