Superhero Ethics

This week, I'm joined by special guest Matt Carroll as we take a deep dive into the character of Tony Stark. What responsiblity does he hold for Ultron, and what lessons has he learned? Did he have a point in Civil War? And is mentoring Spiderman his way of working out his daddy issues? Matt Carroll is one of the co-hosts of the Marvel Cinematic Universe Podcast. You can find them on any podcast platform by searching for MCUcast. Matt is also a musician. Check out his band, Matt Carroll and the Browncoats, and keep watch for their first album, coming soon!  Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or want to add your own thoughts? Let us know! You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, or email us at superheroethics@gmail.com

For some time, we have been given villains whose actions need no explanation-- they're just "crazy." The aftermath of the Vegas shooting reminds us how strong the stigma against mental illness still is in this country, a

What can Captain America teach us about Kapernick, and vice versa? Are heroes just on screen, or can we have heroes in our own world? And what happens when our heroes fall from grace?Note- we added a brief addendum to address an issue that came up in our discussion. Thank you again to our fans for your feedback, both when we do well and when we stumble. 

Is Data a person? What about C-3P0 or Aida? Jacob and Matthew explore the ethical questions around artificial life.

Would Daredevil share information about Nazis? Would Superman or Captain Mal? How would our heroes react to Charlottesville and what can that teach us?

Babylon 5 is almost 20 years old, but the questions it raises about telepathy, fear, and how we treat the 'other' are still relevant. Jacob Milicic is our guest.

The Hero's Journey is one of the strongest tropes in literature, and Star Wars its clearest example. How does this troupe limit our stories, and the messages we can take from it? What other kind of journeys and stories c

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