Superhero Ethics

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 Archives. Whether you’re a huge fan of the books, or never heard of them, there is lots in this discussion to enjoy ( and no spoilers for Rhythm of War!)Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or want to add your own thoughts? We’ve got options for you!You can post questions, or respond to our episode threads in our Superhero Ethics Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/superheroethics/) or talk to us on the podcast’s Twitter (https://twitter.com/SuperheroEthics) account, or email us at superheroethics@gmail.com. Support this podcast through our Patreon page! Patreon is a great way to support creators like us through donations, and get great rewards for your help.

Alex Trebek has passed away and while trivia may not be a superpower, Jeopardy and trivia contests hold so much overlap with our various fandoms that we wanted to take this episode to explore the show and its 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 find Paul Hoppe’s stream, go to - https://www.twitch.tv/zenmadmenTo hear Alex Trebek teach us how to say genre, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmNK8R-YuEc&ab_channel=whoisalexjacobTo hear Matthew on trivia podcast The Geek Bracket, go to - https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-geek-bracket-a-trivia-podcast/episode/episode-27-oh-youre-a-monster-77742801Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or want to add your own thoughts? We’ve got options for you!You can post questions, or respond to our episode threads in our Superhero Ethics Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/superheroethics/) or

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 practitioner, artist, musician, and Nonbinary Black leftist rabblerouser, who discuses all that and more on the Focused on Infinity podcast and Twitch stream. A lifelong fan of comics, fantasy, and dystopian tales of all kinds, Logan’s own photo/graphic novel creation Harlequin’s Song was completed in 2006, and has never seemed more timely. Click here for the many places Logan's work can be found online. https://linktr.ee/FoILGWant to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or want to add your own thoughts? We’ve got options for you!You can post questions, or respond to our episode th

Paul and I talk about tropes in our favorite movies and shows, using the Netflix show 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 a superhero one? How does Queen’s Gambit both embrace and subvert tropes in ways that make it such an engaging story? And is Chess a superpower?Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or want to add your own thoughts? We’ve got options for you!You can post questions, or respond to our episode threads in our Superhero Ethics Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/superheroethics/) or talk to us on the podcast’s Twitter (https://twitter.com/SuperheroEthics) account, or email us at superheroethics@gmail.com. Support this podcast through our Patreon page! Patreon is a great way to support creators like us through donations, and get great rewards for your help. You can even pick a topic for an upcoming episode! https://www.patreon.com/super

Season 2 of The Boys has wrapped up, and we’re diving in to 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 will AOC... I mean Congresswoman Neuman be an anti-hero, or the new big bad in season 3?Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or want to add your own thoughts? We’ve got options for you!You can post questions, or respond to our episode threads in our Superhero Ethics Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/superheroethics/) or talk to us on the podcast’s Twitter (https://twitter.com/SuperheroEthics) account, or email us at superheroethics@gmail.com. Support this podcast through our Patreon page! Patreon is a great way to support creators like us through donations, and get great rewards for your help. You can even pick a topic for an upcoming episode! https://www.patreon.com/superheroethics Want to show your love for Supe

In part two of our history of comic book superheroes, we round out the golden age with a discussion of the Comics Code Association, which tried to rescue America’s youth from the “10 cent plague!”Jessica Plummer lives in New York and loves Superman very very much. You can listen to just how much on her Superman podcast, Flights and Tights (http://flightsandtights.libsyn.com/). She also writes about comics and books in general at BookRiot.com (https://bookriot.com/author/jessica-plummer/). Find her on Twitter @jess_plummer. Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or want to add your own thoughts? We’ve got options for you!You can post questions, or respond to our episode threads in our Superhero Ethics Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/superheroethics/) or talk to us on the podcast’s Twitter (https://twitter.com/SuperheroEthics) account, or email us at superheroethics@gmail.com. Support this podcast through our Patreon page! Patreon is a great way to

‘Do not market a black character as important and then push them aside.’ - John Boyega, GQ Magazine https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/john-boyega-interview-2020In a recent interview, John Boyega, the actor who played Finn expressed his frustration and anger at how the character was treated in the Star Wars postquels. Jared Sylva and Matthew Westfox use that interview as a jumping off point to discuss all the potential this character had and how they weren’t realized. Could we have had two jedi? What stories could you tell my digging deep into the mindset of a stormtrooper who goes rogue, and how does he inspire others? What happens when a soldier raised by the army from birth, has to shoot at his formers compatriots who are also former child soldiers?Jared Sylva is a life-long Star Wars fan and a professional geek as the Organized Play department manager for Star City Games. who loves sharing the movies and shows he loves with his two young children. You can reach out to Jared on Twitter @JaredSyl

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 look at moral questions such as human agency vs. a predetermined time line, who gets to decide what the timeline ‘should’ be, what is the responsibility of someone who can go back in time to make things ‘right,’ and will Matthew ever find a time travel story that doesn’t drive him up the damn wall. Particular focus on Star Trek: City on the Edge of Forever, Umbrella Academy, and Bill & Ted. Support this podcast through our Patreon page! Patreon is a great way to support creators like us through donations, and get great rewards for your help. You can even pick a topic for an upcoming episode! https://www.patreon.com/superheroethics Want to show your love for Superhero Ethics with a t-shirt, hoodie, cell phone case, m

Mercy. Honor. Heroes. Bullies. Teen love triangles. 80’s music. Karate. Paul and Matthew dive into the Karate Kid ‘verse with 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 can post questions, or respond to our episode threads in our Superhero Ethics Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/superheroethics/) or talk to us on the podcast’s Twitter (https://twitter.com/SuperheroEthics) account, or email us at superheroethics@gmail.com. Support this podcast through our Patreon page! Patreon is a great way to support creators like us through donations, and get great rewards for your help. You can even pick a topic for an upcoming episode! https://www.patreon.com/superheroethics Want to show your love for Superhero Ethics with a t-shirt, hoodie, cell phone case, mouse pad, or other swag

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 addressed in a number of ‘verses. Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or want to add your own thoughts? We’ve got options for you! You can post questions, or respond to our episode threads in our Superhero Ethics Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/superheroethics/) or talk to us on the podcast’s Twitter (https://twitter.com/SuperheroEthics) account, or email us at superheroethics@gmail.com. Support this podcast through our Patreon page! Patreon is a great way to support creators like us through donations, and get great rewards for your help. You can ev

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, our thoughts on the upcoming movie.Originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, Ellie McCreary is a senior at Creighton University studying psychology and philosophy. She likes listening to true crime podcasts, contemplating the meaning of life, and baking.Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or want to add your own thoughts? We’ve got options for you! You can post questions, or respond to our episode threads in our Superhero Ethics Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/superheroethics/) or talk to us on the podcast’s Twitter (https://twitter.com/SuperheroEthics) account, or email us at superheroethics@gmail.com. Support this podcast through our Patreon page! Patreon is a great way to support creators like us through donation

Comics History - The Golden Age, Part 1- WWIIWhen talking about superheroes, and the choices they make or how they do what they do, a favorite topic is to wonder where they started, and how they've evolved from writer to writer, and from page to screen and back again. Today we kick off a special series in which Matthew will be joined by superhero history whiz Jess Plummer, as we trace the history and development of these caped characters. Look for new episodes about once a month.Today in our inaugural episode we’re going back to the beginning, and looking at the start of the golden age, from Superman’s first appearance, to the end of World War II. We’re talking about the Jewish origins of Superman, the gender theories of the creator of Wonder Woman, what is the nature of a hero, and why do so many of these characters have so much fun punching Nazis/Jessica Plummer lives in New York and loves Superman very very much. You can listen to just how much on her Superman podcast, Flights and Tights (http://flightsa

How do you value human life, when yours cannot end? What responsibility comes with the great power of (near) immortality. And is 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, on Netflix.Cleveland creative Fox Kaye spends most of their days as a data integration specialist, fantasizing about their next D&D session or video game adventure between queries. In their free time, they can also be found on both sides of a camera: working as a model and character entertainer as well as a photographer. They can be found on most corners of the web as Voidfox21.Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or want to add your own thoughts? We’ve got options for you! You can post questions, or respond to our episode threads in our Superhero Ethics Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/superheroethics/) or talk to us on the podcast’s Twitter (https:/

What happens when the revolution ends, and its time to give up power? Is their 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 lots to explore. Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or want to add your own thoughts? We’ve got options for you! You can post questions, or respond to our episode threads in our Superhero Ethics Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/superheroethics/) or talk to us on the podcast’s Twitter (https://twitter.com/SuperheroEthics) account, or email us at superheroethics@gmail.com. Support this podcast through our Patreon page! Patreon is a great way to support creators like us through donations, and get great rewards for your help. You can even pick a topic for an upcoming episode!

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 Avenger movies and wrestle with the age old question- Team Tony, or Team Cap. Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or want to add your own thoughts? We’ve got options for you! You can post questions, or respond to our episode threads in our Superhero Ethics Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/superheroethics/) or talk to us on the podcast’s Twitter (https://twitter.com/SuperheroEthics) account, or email us at superheroethics@gmail.com. Support this podcast through our Patreon page! Patreon is a great way to support creators like us through donations, and get great rewards for your help. You can even pick a topic for an upcoming episode! https://www.patreon.com/superheroethics Want to show your love for Super

Matthew is without an internet connection and so he asked to have this episode to the new show Pandavision dropped in the feed! It's about Amazon's The Boys. Check it out and go subscribe to Pandavision!

For our 100th episode we had FIVE guests, join us for a panel discussion of some of our favorite ethical questions. Who should a hero be accountable to? What makes a good villain? And, would it be ethical for someone with mind control to force everyone to wear masks until the pandemic ends? Our all star lineup included former co-hosts Paul Hoppe and Jacob Milicic, and frequent guests Jessica Plummer, Becky Allen, and Matthew Carroll. You can also watch the (recorded) live stream of the episode here- https://www.twitch.tv/videos/681820173 Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or want to add your own thoughts? We’ve got options for you! You can post questions, or respond to our episode threads in our Superhero Ethics Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/superheroethics/) or talk to us on the podcast’s Twitter (https://twitter.com/SuperheroEthics) account, or email us at superheroethics@gmail.com. Support this podcast through our Patreon page! Patreon i

The Clone Wars TV show takes the well known stories of the fall of Anakin and the Jedi and gives them nuance, and moral complexity, and explores questions with relevance for our own world. What happens to peacekeepers when they become generals? What is the moral value of clones, and how were they treated? And what happens when people fight a war without asking why? Star Wars fans and former guests Paul Hoppe and Jonah Kellman join me to dive into these questions and more as we look at the ethical questions from The Clones Wars TV show. Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or want to add your own thoughts? We’ve got options for you! You can post questions, or respond to our episode threads in our Superhero Ethics Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/superheroethics/) or talk to us on the podcast’s Twitter (https://twitter.com/SuperheroEthics) account, or email us at superheroethics@gmail.com. Support this podcast through our Patreon page! Patreon is

Ep: 98 - The RIghts of the Unpowered- Legend of Korra S1, and The Boys 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 talk about non powered people in powered worlds. We focus in particular on Avatar: Legend of Korra, season 1, and how it handles this question, but we broaden the topic, and cover a number of other stories. Whether you’re a hardcore Korra fan, or have never seen it, you’ll be able to follow the discussion. Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or want to add your own thoughts? We’ve got options for you! You can post questions, or respond to our episode threads in our Superhero Ethics Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/superheroethics/) or talk to us on the podcast’s Twitter (https://twitter.com/SuperheroEthics) account, or email us at superheroethics@gmail.c

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 one! Stranded Panda extraordinaire Ashley Coffin joins me as we talk about each of the characters and difficult choices they have to make. Whether your love the show, or have no idea what’s going on, there is a lot here to dive into and enjoy. Ashley Coffin is a nerd girl hailing from Philadelphia, Pa who loves all things Marvel. She is very into horror movies, has probably seen whatever show you are watching, and can frequently be found on Stranded Panda hang outs, commenting on podcasts and kicking all of our asses at MCU trivia. She would also like you to tell your dog she said hi.Instagram: electrical_ashTwitter: @AshleyannCoffin Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or want to add your own thoughts? We’ve got options for you! You can post questions, or respond to our