Superhero Ethics

We're familiar with the X-Men of today, but what were their origins? What questions did they explore that still hold relevance for us today? And what in the world was happening on Batman '66 ? Jess Plummer joins us for Part 2 of our dive into the Silver Age in Comics History. ************************************************************************** This episode is a production of Superhero Ethics...

How did Marvel revolutionize the comic book industry in the 60s? Who were Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and what made the idea of relatable superheroes resonate so deeply with readers? Jessica Plummer and I explore these questions and more in the third episode of our Comics History Series! Jessica Plummer resides in New York and is an ardent Superman fan. Discover the extent of her passion on her Super...

Dr. Doom is one of the most iconic villains in comic book history. Yet, he often transcends the traditional role of a villain, assuming the mantle of an anti-hero, a reluctant ally, or sometimes even a hero, all while maintaining his distinctive identity and perspective. Special guest J. Scotty St. Claire joins me for an in-depth discussion on Doctor Doom, exploring how his varied depictions illum...

When you do the right thing and bad things happen, does it mean you made a mistake? Paul and Matthew delve into the concept of results-oriented thinking and examine how Johnny succumbs to this pitfall with respect to morality and consequences in Season 3 of Cobra Kai . We also discuss the repercussions of violence, question why no one receives therapy in the Miyagi-verse, and explore how a show th...

The new Wonder Woman movie is out, and Jessica Plummer and I have opinions! What have we learned about Wonder Woman, and what questions do we still have? What is the significance of a final battle fought with words, not weapons? And did a movie set in the 1980s need to draw on so many of the sexist and racist tropes of that era? *********************************************************************...

What makes canon and continuity such vital components of modern genre media? What are the dangers of becoming too focused on canon? MCUCast co-hosts Matthew Carroll and Jeff Randle join me to unpack these questions. ************************************************************************** This episode is a production of Superhero Ethics , an Ethical Panda podcast and part of the TruStory FM Enter...

What is it like to read a book about a world-ending pandemic in the time of Covid? How do we find shades of grey in a tale of a final battle between good and evil? And is it possible to tell a compelling story where the characters have almost no agency, and the plot is the least important part of the book? A new limited series of The Stand is coming in December, and to help get us ready (and prep...

What did Supernatural have to say about found family and the conflict between agency and determinism? Why did the ending of Castiel and Dean’s story cause so much controversy? And can Matthew, Jacob, & Ashley get through this episode without humming enough of “Carry On My Wayward Son” to get us all sued? ************************************************************************** This episode is...

What are the ethical responsibilities of a king? When do the ends justify the means? And what does it mean to create a relatable disabled character in a world of magic? Rob McKenzie returns to discuss these questions and more as we get ready for Rhythm of War , the latest book in the Stormlight Archive . Whether you’re a huge fan of the books or have never heard of them, this discussion has plenty...

With the passing of Alex Trebek, we reflect on the impact of Jeopardy! and trivia contests. While trivia may not be a superpower, these competitions have a significant overlap with our fandoms. In this episode, we explore the show's importance in our culture. What is the value of objective fact? Why was a show about knowing facts so popular? And just how should we pronounce 'genre'? To catch Paul...

What does it mean to be a fan with a critical eye? How do we relate to the stories we loved as kids, as we come to see some of their problematic aspects? How do we balance our values with the desire to be entertained in an imperfect world? Logan Grendel returns to the podcast as we talk about these questions and more. Logan Grendel is a dog guru, photographer, activist, urban gardener, magick prac...

Paul and I talk about tropes in our favorite movies and shows, using the Netflix series The Queen's Gambit as our launch point. What makes a trope annoying or problematic, and where can they be helpful to a story, especially one involving superheroes? How does The Queen's Gambit both embrace and subvert tropes in ways that make it such an engaging story? And we ponder the question: Is chess a supe...

Season 2 of The Boys has wrapped up, and we're diving into some of the ethical questions it raised. When superheroes are the product, who holds the real power? How did this season hold up a mirror to questions in our own world? And what role will AOC... I mean Congresswoman Neuman play in season 3—will she be an anti-hero, or the new big bad? *******************************************************...

In part two of our history of comic book superheroes, we round out the golden age with a discussion of the Comics Code Authority, which sought to rescue America's youth from the "10 cent plague!" Jessica Plummer lives in New York and is a passionate Superman enthusiast. You can hear the extent of her Superman love on her podcast, Flights and Tights . She also writes about comics and the broader li...

'Do not market a black character as important and then push them aside.' - John Boyega, GQ Magazine In a recent interview, John Boyega, who played Finn, expressed his frustration and anger at how his character was treated in the Star Wars sequels. Jared Sylva and Matthew Westfox use that interview as a jumping-off point to discuss all the potential this character had and how it wasn’t fully realiz...

Rob & Matthew's excellent time travel episode! After months of ranting about the logical and ethical problems with time travel, Matthew invited OG Time Lord Rob McKenzie to explain it all. We look at different theories of time travel, and which movies and TV shows make the most sense. We explore moral questions such as human agency versus a predetermined timeline, who gets to decide what the t...

Mercy. Honor. Heroes. Bullies. Teen love triangles. 80’s music. Karate. Paul and Matthew dive into the Karate Kid 'verse with the hit TV show Cobra Kai . What does it mean to be a bully or a hero, and how do we lock ourselves, and others, into those boxes? What happens when the victim gains enough power to become a bully themselves? Is physical violence an ethical response to verbal bullying? ****...

You’ve killed the evil queen—but what happens to the kingdom? Does the evil gang/company/movement just go away when you kill their leader? And if your goal is to kill that leader, is it your responsibility to come up with a plan for what happens next? Paul joins Matthew to dive into these questions and more. We use Avatar: Legend of Korra as a jumping-off point and look at how the questions are ad...

We don’t know when the movie is coming out, but we’re talking Black Widow ! My cousin (to be) Ellie joins me to dive into questions like why this character is so important, to the team and to us fans, her death and how it was handled, and our thoughts on the upcoming movie. Originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, Ellie McCreary is a senior at Creighton University studying psychology and philosophy...

When discussing superheroes and the decisions they make, a favorite topic among fans is the origins of these characters and how they have evolved through different writers and mediums. Today, we kick off a special series where Matthew is joined by superhero history expert Jess Plummer. Together, we will trace the history and development of these caped crusaders. Expect new episodes about once a mo...

How do you value human life when yours cannot end? What responsibility comes with the great power of (near) immortality? And is there anyone left who is NOT in love with action star Charlize Theron? Special guest Fox Kaye joins Matthew for a discussion of the ethical questions raised by The Old Guard , available on Netflix. Cleveland creative Fox Kaye spends most of their days as a data integratio...

What happens when the revolution ends, and it's time to give up power? Is there value to fighting with honor? And what is a robot society like when they are the only form of life? Paul and Matthew dive into these questions and more. Their conversation starts with Transformers: War for Cybertron , but no matter how much or little you know about Transformers , the discussion has plenty to explore. *...

Who should Tony Stark answer to for Ultron? What about Scarlet Witch, for the events in Nigeria? Who should the Avengers be accountable to, and were the Sokovia Accords reasonable? Paul and I discuss issues of accountability across many of the Avengers movies and wrestle with the age-old question—Team Tony, or Team Cap. ************************************************************************** Thi...

With Matthew experiencing an internet outage, we're taking this opportunity to introduce you to our new show, Pandavision! This episode dives into Amazon's The Boys . Give it a listen and be sure to subscribe to Pandavision for more! ************************************************************************** This episode is a production of Superhero Ethics , an Ethical Panda podcast and part of the...

For our milestone 100th episode, we assembled a panel of FIVE distinguished guests for a riveting discussion on some of our favorite ethical quandaries. Who should heroes answer to? What defines a compelling villain? And in these trying times, would it be ethical for a person with mind-control powers to compel universal mask-wearing until the pandemic's conclusion? Joining our all-star line-up wer...