Superhero Ethics

What happens when social media and public opinion rule the world? How does an all-male species react to the birth of a female child? And can Seth MacFarlane leave behind the problematic elements of much of his earlier writing?

Jacob and Matthew take a look back at 2017, talking about our favorite characters and ethical questions from the year, and where we think we dropped the ball. We also look ahead to 2018, talking about what we are most excited about and what we are most concerned about, in terms of movies and TV coming to us in the next year.

Thor: Ragnarok is pretty and fun, but there’s nothing here that we can dive into for an episode, right? Challenge accepted!
This week we explore a number of themes from and about Thor. We talk about Odin’s revisionist history and the evolving relationship between Thor and Loki. We also discuss the value of movies that don’t hit us with deep ethical questions and how that balances with our love of heavier fare.

From the Justice League to the Avengers, we know that heroes work best in teams. And sometimes the obnoxious brilliant guy does have the best idea. But both of those things can also go wrong. Join us as we dive into questions from the Magic: The Gathering storyline, tying them into larger questions that are pervasive in geek literature and culture.

Jacob and I are joined by Lee Henderson. Lee is a Level 2 judge in the Magic: The Gathering world, an avid gamer, and an all-around nerd.

All three of our hosts, Matthew, Jacob, and Paul, come together to talk about Avatar: The Last Airbender. We take a deep dive into a number of characters, including Aang, Toph, and Uncle Iroh, examine the way the show portrayed martial arts and alternatives to violence, and discuss why it is so beloved by many.

This week, I’m joined by special guest Matt Carroll as we take a deep dive into the character of Tony Stark. What responsibility does he hold for Ultron, and what lessons has he learned? Did he have a point in Civil War? And is mentoring Spider-Man 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!

For some time, we have been given villains whose actions need no explanation—they are just “crazy.” The aftermath of the Las Vegas shooting reminds us how strong the stigma against mental illness still is in this country.

What can Captain America teach us about Kaepernick, and vice versa? Are heroes just on screen, or can we find 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-3PO 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?