Superhero Ethics

My guest this week is JP Fairfield, of the Nerdgasm Noire Network and Operation Cubicle podcasts. Together we explore the latest season of Arrow, Oliver’s bad choices, and why long suffering Quentin Lance deserves a b

Krystal Kara joins us to discuss Wonder Woman, the Be Super project, and how we can use Superhero stories to teach about justice in our own world.

"First you have to realize that it's not just a game, it's a community... In the end it’s each of us making the choice, not the character, of what’s going to happen; what we’re going to say, how we’re going to do

What is the value in fighting fair? Paul and Matthew explore the trope of the Fair Fight, looking at its value and its problems. What does a hero do, when the opponent refuses to follow the rules? If one side follows rul

If aliens and superpowers were real, would we need SHIELD? Are Lex Luthor and Amanda Waller right to be scared of Superman? Why do government agencies dealing with powered people have to work in secret? Paul & Matthew co

Logan the guest comes back, to discuss Logan the movie! He joins Matthew for a discussion of violence, the value of seeing the flaws in our heroes, and the movie's implications for our own world.

Paul and Matthew discuss Iron Fist, exploring questions of identity, martial arts, and who to blame when a piece of an extended universe goes wrong.

Is Magneto a villain, or a hero? Can we agree with his goals, even if not his methods? How does the fight for mutant justice echo similar discussions in our own world? Paul and Matthew talk about Magento and the X-men mo

Captain America punched a lot of Nazis - does that mean we should too? We are pretty pro Nazi punching, but we want to explore the questions around it. On this episode, Paul and Matthew explore the ethical issues involve

Did Galen Erso make the right choice, helping to build the Death Star, but adding a fatal flaw? What lessons can Rogue One teach us about rebellion, and what it means to find your own way to combat tyranny. Paul and Matt

Paul and Matthew talk about Gotham's Clown Prince of Crime. Does he need Batman, or does Batman need him? And who was the best Joker?

This week, Rebecca Rose Vassey joins Matthew for a discussion of the Chosen One trope in superhero media. Does a hero need to be chosen? Who gets to choose and who gets to accept or reject being chosen? What are other

This week, special guest Robin Gee joins Matthew to discuss balancing ethics with story as a writer. They talk about Robin's webcomic, Pin Porter, as well as Supergirl, Calvin & Hobbes, and Lord of the Rings. Robin is

Paul is back and joins Matthew for a discussion of the new Dr. Strange movie. They dive deep on the nature of identity, the emergence of magic in the MCU, the nature of hubris, and the power of nonviolent confrontation.

What does someone have to do to be a hero? How have our ideas of heroes changed, and does playing a hero on screen make you a hero in real life? Special guest Adam Hulse joins Matthew as we discuss these questions and m

This week, Paul and Matthew are joined by Logan Grendel, who talks with them about V for Vendetta, dystopian stories, and the ethics of violence. (It all ties together, we promise!) "Dog man" Logan Grendel is a writer

Paul and Matthew talk about the Luke Cage series in its entirety, diving deep on Cottonmouth vs. Diamondback, what it means for a comic book show to comment on real world situations, and portrayal of the police in the MC

This week, Matthew talks with special guest Dr. Katy Valentine about Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and the idea of apocalypse in the stories we love. We talk about the show and some of the questions it raises, especially in

Is fighting crime the best use of a superhero's powers? Is there a better way Bruce Wayne could spend his money to make Gotham a safer place? And who is the superhero for the people in the suburbs?

Was Astra, from Supergirl Season 1 right, that some terrible acts can be justified in order to save the world? Is there some value to authoritarism if it leads to solving our problems? Should we just put the scientists i

More on Luke Cage & Identity, along with the upcoming Iron Fist and Dr. Strange.

With the launch of Luke Cage, we talk about identity politics, and the signifcance of a black bulletproof hero for today's world. We had a lot to say on the topic, so this is part 1 of 2.

Dr. Greg Haley, a lifelong fan with a doctorate in rhetoric and identity construction, joins us this week to talk about the ethics of mind-reading. Focus on Prof. X, the Jedi, and Babylon 5.

Do Chitari lives matter? Analyzing how superhero movies/TV shows justify who the heroes can kill, and how it relates to our own world.

This week Paul returns to talk about revenge. Why do we cheer when Inigo Montoya finally gives the six fingered man what he deserves, yet think Frank Castle is wrong in Daredevil? Major spoilers for Daredevil, Princess B