Superhero Ethics

The Clone Wars TV series adds layers of nuance and moral complexity to the well-known stories of Anakin's fall and the demise of the Jedi, while also exploring questions that resonate with our own world. What becomes of peacekeepers when they take on the role of generals? What is the moral value of clones, and how is their treatment justified? And what are the consequences when a war is fought wit...

What happens to normal people when others get powers? What rights do they have, and are those rights respected? And when the people in power push the non-powered around, what happens when the non-powered push back? Paul and I discuss non-powered individuals in worlds where others wield extraordinary abilities. We focus particularly on Avatar: Legend of Korra , Season 1, and how it addresses this q...

While Ozark is a bit outside our normal topic and doesn’t have many heroes, it certainly has a lot of villains with different ethical perspectives, all of whom are convinced they're the good ones! Stranded Panda extraordinaire Ashley Coffin joins me as we talk about each of the characters and the difficult choices they have to make. Whether you love the show or have no idea what's going on, there...

What could be more entertaining than applying an ethical system from one universe to our favorite characters from others? In this episode, we take the ethical color pie from Magic: The Gathering —which categorizes ethics based on motivations and mindsets rather than actions—and see how it aligns with other characters. Don't worry if you're not familiar with MtG; if you enjoy discussing the ethical...

Why does James Bond have a dangerous pattern of involving women in his missions, often leading to their harm? Can one truly engage in the art of espionage without causing collateral damage? Paul Hoppe rejoins us to delve into the ethics of espionage, this time through the lens of the TV show, Burn Notice . Whether you're a longtime fan or new to the series, we explore universal questions pertinent...

The beloved Avatar: The Last Airbender has made its return to Netflix, and it's time for a deep dive. This episode, we're focusing on the Ba Sing Se story arc and its incredible resonance with the world we live in. Why is denial so appealing, and what drives people to close their eyes to the problems around them? How do you reach someone who believes any contradicting information is a lie? And mos...

Stan Lee was not only a great storyteller but also never shied away from expressing his strong convictions or from using his stories to offer new perspectives on the issues of his time. The writers of Black Panther , Avatar the Last Airbender , Star Wars , and so many other beloved shows have followed in his footsteps. Matt and Jeff are back, and we had a great episode on the ethics of Star Wars p...

What did Ben Parker mean when he told Peter the famous words about power and responsibility, and do we agree with him? Who decides to whom a hero is responsible, and for what? Can believing in the responsibility that your power gives you lead you to become a villain? Matt and Jeff from the Marvel Cinematic Universe Podcast join us to delve into these questions and more! ***************************...

Jess Plummer and Becky Allen join us to discuss She-Ra ! What makes Catra such a compelling character? How does this show blur the lines between hero and villain, friend and dating, and different shades of morality? What makes this show such a powerful example of representation, on so many levels? And just how hard do you have to work in this world to NOT get a redemption arc? Jessica Plummer live...

Heroes can be boring—let's talk villains! Riki Hayashi joins us to talk about the villains who have a point, the ones we can sympathize with, or even sometimes agree with. What makes someone a villain? What are the lines between a villain and a hero who is willing to do anything for the cause? We talk Sinestro, Killmonger, and what happens when Ben Sisko goes for a walk in the "Pale Moonlight". Ri...

This week, parent, geek, and holder of strong opinions, Jared Sylva, joins us to talk about watching geek media with kids. How do you decide what media to watch with kids, and how do you talk to them about it? What geek media offers entertainment and lessons for kids and parents alike? And how can parents deal with the so-called 'Princess Problem?' Whether you have kids of your own or not, this co...

Who has agency in Picard ? Is Seven finally getting to define her own life, on her terms? Did the Romulans have a point, and why did Picard give up on the rescue and on the Federation? This week, Matthew is joined by two of his podcasting inspirations, Matthew Carroll and David C. Roberson, to discuss season 1 of Star Trek: Picard . David C. Roberson is a life-long tv/film/book geek who likes to p...

This week, we’re joined by returning guest Rob McKenzie, and first-time guest Dan McCreary to talk about the ethics of Artificial Intelligence. What is AI, and what do we mean by concepts like sentience? Why does so much sci-fi assume AI will be our enemy? And what is the moral value of robotic life? Rob McKenzie is a science fiction and fantasy reader and Magic the Gathering judge from Minnesota....

Steve Peterman is back to discuss Q from Star Trek . Does Q fit the mold of a Trickster God? Do the Q have, or need a prime directive? And what happens when immortal, all-powerful beings get bored? You can find a full list of Star Trek episodes with Q in them here . ************************************************************************** This episode is a production of Superhero Ethics , an Ethi...

Jessica Plummer is back to talk Birds of Prey ! What happens when Margot Robbie gets to make a Harley movie HER way? Can you be a villain who only punches up? And is this the cinematic equivalent of a compliment in the bathroom from a drunk girl? Jessica Plummer lives in New York and loves Superman very much. You can listen to just how much on her Superman podcast, Flights and Tights . She also wr...

As promised, I've been working overtime to bring you content to help get through social isolation, or to keep you company while you're at one of the essential jobs we're all so grateful for. We've got episodes coming soon on Birds of Prey , The Ethics of Q from Star Trek , and many more. Over on the Bingers Assemble podcast, Matt Carroll and I have started a special quarantine project on the TV sh...

Today’s episode is bittersweet as it marks Jacob’s last as co-host. To give him a proper send-off, we’re diving into a topic he’s been eager to talk about—using mind control to make people stop doing bad things, particularly in the video game, Persona 5 . Is altering, or even completely changing, someone’s brain, a morally appropriate way to stop people from hurting others? If so, what acts justif...

Who heroes are accountable to is a question we frequently explore on this show. In this episode, we dive into the movie and comic book versions of Watchmen and its intriguing take on the question of accountability. What happens when so-called heroes shrug and watch as their friends commit atrocities? Would the threat of an alien invasion bring peace to our planet? And is anyone in this story remot...

We cheer when our heroes deliver an evil bad guy to their much-deserved fate. But what happens when our hero has to fight someone who isn’t evil, just in the way? Should more heroes be like Jessica Jones ? Should it matter to our hero if the person they are fighting is being mind-controlled, lied to, or is otherwise not at fault? Should it matter to the audience? **********************************...

We’re on the road again, and we’re reflecting on 2019! As we did last year, we’re looking back at the past twelve months—what were the most compelling ethical questions raised, what are our hopes for genre media in 2020, and what concerns do we have? ************************************************************************** This episode is a production of Superhero Ethics , an Ethical Panda podcas...

Picard , the new Star Trek show, is about to launch, and we’ve got questions! Matt Carroll, of the MCU and Star Trek Universe Podcasts , joins Matthew to discuss the ethical questions we think Picard will explore. Has Data’s fear of a race of slave androids come to pass? Are the Borg still the enemy? What questions will the Borg and the androids raise about who is a person? What has decades of war...

Now that we’ve all seen The Rise of Skywalker , we’ve brought Becky back to talk about it! On our last episode, the three of us talked about the ethical questions, hopes, and concerns we had going into this movie—this episode, we revisit them and ask: How did this movie address them? What happened with the Jedi? Did Rey get the character arc she deserved? And does Hanukkah Harry use the same merit...

With just two days left before the release of Star Wars Episode IX, we’ve got theories! Can force users find a third path, neither Jedi or Sith? What does the future hold for Rey, Leia, Finn, and the rest of them? And how much respect will JJ Abrams have for the choices Rian Johnson made in The Last Jedi? We’re pleased to have Becky Allen join us for this discussion. Becky Allen is the author of B...

This is a special cross over episode between Superhero Ethics and Matthew’s new Star Wars universe Podcast. Matthew and original superhero ethics podcast co-host Paul Hoppe, look back at all of the Star Wars movies and TV shows to date, ranking them and talking about what we loved or didn't love, and the questions they raise. We hope this a great way to get an overview of all that has come up till...

“By all means, keep selling Mad Love. But do you have to sell it as a coloring book?” Jessica Plummer, “A Close Look at the Paradox of Harley Quinn” in BookRiot. Harley Quinn has quickly become one of the most popular, and the most controversial, characters in comic book media. Returning guest and comic book nerd and critic extraordinaire joins us for an in depth look at this fascinating character...