Ep 28: Be Super!
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.
Jun 26, 2017•1 hr 34 min
Superhero Ethics
Exploring ethical questions from Superhero movies and TV shows, sci-fi, and everything else geeks love
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Episodes
Ep 27: Larping! The Ethics of Role-Playing Games
"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
May 25, 2017•1 hr 10 min
Ep 26: A Fair Fight
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
May 10, 2017•1 hr 7 min
Ep 25: Do we need SHIELD
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
Apr 26, 2017•1 hr 6 min
Ep 24: Logan on Logan
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.
Apr 11, 2017•1 hr 16 min
Ep 23: Iron Ethics
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.
Apr 06, 2017•56 min
Ep 22: Is Magneto Right?
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
Apr 04, 2017•1 hr 13 min
Ep 21: Punching Nazis
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
Feb 07, 2017•1 hr 29 min
Ep 20: Rogue Ethics
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
Jan 18, 2017•1 hr 21 min
Ep 19: Why So Serious?
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?
Jan 04, 2017•1 hr 7 min
Ep 18: Chosen Ones, with Rebecca Rose Vassey
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
Dec 20, 2016•1 hr 16 min
Ep 17: Writing Heroes
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
Dec 13, 2016•1 hr 7 min
Ep 16: Dr. Strange
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.
Dec 08, 2016•1 hr 12 min
Ep 15: What Makes a Hero?
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
Nov 30, 2016•1 hr 4 min
Ep 14: V for Dystopia
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
Nov 15, 2016•1 hr 32 min
Ep 13: Luke Cage Wrap-Up
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
Nov 11, 2016•57 min
Ep 12: Buffy & the Apocalypse
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
Nov 07, 2016•1 hr 9 min
Ep 11: What Else Could They Do?
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?
Nov 03, 2016•1 hr 5 min
Ep 10: Killing President Luthor
Should Superman kill President Lex Luthor? What should superheroes do when the villains are elected by the people? Tune in as Paul and Matthew explore these questions and more- along with a surprise guest appearance half
Oct 25, 2016•1 hr 17 min
Ep 9: Villains Who Might Have a Point: Astra
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
Oct 18, 2016•1 hr 24 min
Ep 8: Luke Cage & Identity, Part 2
More on Luke Cage & Identity, along with the upcoming Iron Fist and Dr. Strange.
Oct 11, 2016•1 hr 5 min
Ep 7: Luke Cage & Identity, Part 1
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.
Oct 04, 2016•1 hr 17 min
Ep 6: Mind-reading with Dr. Greg Haley
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.
Sep 27, 2016•1 hr 4 min
Ep 5: Who Can We Kill?
Do Chitari lives matter? Analyzing how superhero movies/TV shows justify who the heroes can kill, and how it relates to our own world.
Sep 14, 2016•1 hr 56 min
Ep 4: El Mariachi & The Castle
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
Aug 30, 2016•1 hr 6 min
Ep3: Suicidal Villains
A deep dive into the new Suicide Squad movie, and how it breaks down the good guy/bad guy binary.
Aug 25, 2016•37 min
Ep 2: Who is my Batman? Part 2
Part 2 of my discussion with Paul Christopher Hoppe about Batman
Aug 22, 2016•42 min
Ep 1: Who is my Batman? Part 1
Our inaugural podcast is a discussion between myself and author and fellow superhero enthusiast, Paul Christopher Hoppe, about one of our favorite charecters- Batman. We cover Batman’s ideas about violence and killing,
Aug 18, 2016•1 hr 6 min
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