Superhero Ethics

With just two days left before the release of Star Wars Episode IX, we’ve got theories! Can force users find a third path, neither Jedi or Sith? What does the future hold for Rey, Leia, Finn, and the rest of them? And how much respect will JJ Abrams have for the choices Rian Johnson made in The Last Jedi?We’re pleased to have Becky Allen join us for this discussion. Becky Allen is the author of Bound by Blood and Sand and the sequel, Freed by Flame and Storm. She grew up outside Ithaca, New York, and graduated from Brandeis University with a major in American studies and a minor in journalism. She is the product manager for TheBody.com, an online HIV resource, and loves New York, brunch, and feminism.*Spoiler note - We kept most of the discussion of things we have learned in the trailers in the 2nd half of the episode, after a spoiler warning, on behalf of those people who are avoiding those.  We do mention two details from the trailers in the first half, but they were both very widely publicised pieces of in

Star Wars Ethics - Ranking the Movies and TV Shows! This is a special cross over episode between Superhero Ethics and Matthew’s new Star Wars universe Podcast. Matthew and original superhero ethics podcast co-host Paul Hoppe, look back at all of the Star Wars movies and TV shows to date, ranking them and talking about what we loved or didn't love, and the questions they raise. We hope this a great way to get an overview of all that has come up till now, as well as get into some good debates over them! You can download the episode with a right click  and clicking “save link as” or subscribe by searching for Superhero Ethics on Itunes or on Stitcher 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, or talk to us on the podcast’s Twitter account, or email us at superheroethics@gmail.com. Each of your co-hosts also has th

“By all means, keep selling Mad Love. But do you have to sell it as a coloring book?”Jessica Plummer, “A Close Look at the Paradox of Harley Quinn” in BookRiot. Harley Quinn has quickly become one of the most popular, and the most controversial, characters in comic book media. Returning guest and comic book nerd and critic extraordinaire joins us for an in depth look at this fascinating character, whose portrayals span the range from wacky kids show villain  to abuse survivor to kinky sex symbol. In this episode we look at the evolution and development of the character, the questions she raises both in her stories and about her stories, and our hopes for her future. 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.  In this episode

What should you do when your favorite author turns out to be a transphobe? When your childhood favorite movie has a cringe-worthy romance? When the star of the movie you where really excited for gets called out for being awful?How do we separate the art from the artist, and should we? How do we draw the lines of what we can or cannot accept, and how we will spend our money and our attention? In this episode, Jacob and Matthew dive into this complicated set of issues. Instead of offering answers, they discuss how they each approach these questions, and what it means to try and be an ethical consumer of media. Also, stick around to the very end to hear a song about skype connection problems!You can download the episode with a right click  and clicking “save link as” or subscribe by searching for Superhero Ethics on Itunes or on StitcherWant 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 respo

This week, we are joined by special guest Morgan Wentworth as we discuss the ins and outs of superhero dating! Should heroes only date other heroes? What are the problems with trying to ‘protect’ your love by making decisions for them? And why do so many superheroes gaslight their love interests in order to protect their secret identity?Morgan Wentworth is a long time gamer and a soon to be librarian. For more from her, check out morgantriesinsta on Instagram and Mtgvalkyrie on TwitterWant 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, or talk to us on the podcast’s Twitter account, or email us at superheroethics@gmail.com. Each of your co-hosts also has their own twitter, Matthew is CapedEthicist, https://twitter.com/CapedEthicistJacob is BotsRPeopleToo https://twitter.com/BotsRPeopleTooSupport this podcast through our

This episode, we’re talking about the ethics of professional wrestling- both the stories themselves, and the meta questions about wrestling as entertainment. How far can or should a heel go, before it becomes a problem? Can wrestling storylines be cathartic for the performers? What role do performers have in picking their story, and so many more!This episode, we are joined by two of the wrestling aficionados who got Jacob and Matthew interested, Tim Aubel and Addison Fox. Tim spends a lot of time getting emotionally invested in fictional characters and/or athletic competitions, both real and predetermined.  He also enjoys games of all sorts and spending time alone if he can find it. Tim can be found on Twitter at @AubelTim.Addison is a hoopy frood who can't get enough over the top melodrama and speaks with undue authority on topics. He is survived by his two cats.” He can be found as @damullet on Twitter, Mastadon, and many other platforms.Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what w

How many kings could a kingpin king, if a kingpin could king pins?Jacob and Matthew are talking Spiderverse! What are the ethical questions about multiple dimensions and the role of destiny, or fate? What makes this movie so important, and so damn good? How do these spiderfolk approach the question of a hero’s responsibility?You can download the episode with a right click  and clicking “save link as” or subscribe by searching for Superhero Ethics on Itunes or on StitcherWant 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, or talk to us on the podcast’s Twitter account, or email us at superheroethics@gmail.com. Each of your co-hosts also has their own twitter, Matthew is CapedEthicist, https://twitter.com/CapedEthicistJacob is BotsRPeopleToo https://twitter.com/BotsRPeopleTooSupport this podcast through our Patreon page! P

Jacob and Matthew put on their house robes, pick up their quills and talk Potter! We’re talking Wizard-Muggle relations, the house system and whether Slytherins are all evil, and if Hermonie’s quest to save the House Elves is noble, colonialist, or a mix of both!To make this episode accessible to Potter fans of all ages, we made a point to keep our language PG this time. 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, or talk to us on the podcast’s Twitter account, or email us at superheroethics@gmail.com. Each of your co-hosts also has their own twitter, Matthew is CapedEthicist, https://twitter.com/CapedEthicistJacob is BotsRPeopleToo https://twitter.com/BotsRPeopleTooSupport this podcast through our Patreon page! Patreon is a great way to support creators like us through donations, and get great rewards for your h

  One returning and one new guest join besieged host Jacob Milicic to discuss the Knights Radiant, from Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archives, and where different heroes and villains from the MCU and other media would best fit?How do the Knights Radiant work?  What kind of heroes fall in the framework of the 10 orders?  What order of knights is Nick Fury? Loki? Javert?!?Guest Starring:Rob McKenzie as a BondsmithSteve Peterman as a WindrunnerHere are the links mentioned in the episode: For more on the Knights Radiant - https://coppermind.net/wiki/Category:Knights_RadiantA subreddit about the Stormlight Archives - https://www.reddit.com/r/Stormlight_Archive/A subreddit for hating on Moash, a character from the StormLight Archives- https://www.reddit.com/r/fuckmoash/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, or t

Ep 70 - The Ethics of EndgamesThe game is at an end but the debates are just beginning! What did we love, and what left us scratching our heads? What happens when killing the bad guy doesn’t change anything? Did Tony get the plot arc he deserved? Did Thor, or Natasha? And who did time travel better- The Avengers, or Marty McFly?Spoiler Warning for Avengers: Endgame and the entire MCU!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, or talk to us on the podcast’s Twitter account, or email us at superheroethics@gmail.com. Each of your co-hosts also has their own twitter, Matthew is CapedEthicist, https://twitter.com/CapedEthicistJacob is BotsRPeopleToo https://twitter.com/BotsRPeopleTooSupport this podcast through our Patreon page! Patreon is a great way to support creators like us through donations, and get great rewar

Ep 69: A Punishing Take on Heroism, & Moral AgencyIn Season 1, Punisher raised some hard questions about vengeance, justice, and why audiences enjoy revenge fantasy. How did season 2 measure up? Does Frank have any accountability for the people he puts in danger? And did the world need another Harleyesque plot where a therapist bangs her dangerous patient, and the writers try to make it sexy?Two important notes- we had some technical difficulties near the end, and by the time we got Jessica back, Jacob had to leave. Apologizes if for any confusion, but we finished the discussion!Second, during the podcast we talked about Wiscon- the awesome Feminist Sci-Fi/Fantasy con that happens in Madison Wisconsin, over Memorial Day Weekend. Not only is it an amazing event that you should try and come to- but we'll be holding a Superhero Ethics Brown Bag Dinner Meet Up. Saturday,  May 25th, from 5:30 - 7:30 we'll reserve space in one of the conference rooms set aside for impromptu planning. Grab dinner and come for a

What does co-dependence look like in a superhero?  Should heroes compromise their own ethics for the sake of the people they love? And can Matthew escape the wrath of the EZ Pass machine he offended?On our drive back from Cleveland, we once again took advantage of the drive to bring you a car talk episode, recorded on a phone in a car. Next episode we go back to the studio to talk Punisher Season 2, but for now, enjoy this wide ranging episode about the moral traps heroes can find themselves in. You can download the episode with a right click  and clicking “save link as” or subscribe by searching for Superhero Ethics on Itunes or on StitcherWant 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, or talk to us on the podcast’s Twitter account, or email us at superheroethics@gmail.com. Each of your co-hosts also has their own

How do you honor the rights of all in a society where some people have great powers, and others do not? What responsibility is it fair to put on those with great power, if any? And can Jacob and Matthew record a podcast, and a caraoke song, while zooming down a highway?We took advantage of another long car trip to bring you a car talk episode, recorded on a phone in a car. We’ll be back in the studio and with an actual outline, soon, but we got into some great questions this time we think you will enjoy.  Whether you enjoy, skip or suffer through, the caraoke at the end, is a question between you and your maker. 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, or talk to us on the podcast’s Twitter account, or email us at superheroethics@gmail.com. Each of your co-hosts also has their own twitter, Matthew is CapedEthi

What made the Netflix MCU different from most other ways of telling superhero stories? What questions were raised by Daredevil S3 and Iron Fist S2? And what happens when Jacob and Matthew are actually supposed to talk Netflix MCU, instead of just constantly going there on tangents?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, or talk to us on the podcast’s Twitter account, or email us at superheroethics@gmail.com. Each of your co-hosts also has their own twitter, Matthew is CapedEthicist, https://twitter.com/CapedEthicistJacob is BotsRPeopleToo https://twitter.com/BotsRPeopleTooSupport 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/superheroeth

Ep 65: The Angry HeroIs anger a righteous trait in a hero, or a dangerous one? Who gets to be angry, and who how does race and gender play into it? Where is the line between anger and hate, and what is the relationship between anger and power? Jacob and Matthew dive into these questions and more on this episode.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, or talk to us on the podcast’s Twitter account, or email us at superheroethics@gmail.com. Each of your co-hosts also has their own twitter, Matthew is CapedEthicist, https://twitter.com/CapedEthicistJacob is BotsRPeopleToo https://twitter.com/BotsRPeopleTooSupport 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

Are the Sith the mustache twirling villains the initially appear to be, or is there a method to their madness? Where did the Jedi go wrong? Are emotions something to be held back, or fully embraced in a space wizard, and how did the Jedi and Sith codes inform each other?Jacob and Matthew jump into these questions, with the help of friend and fellow Star Wars Nerd Extraordinaire, Jonah Kellman. Jonah cares far too much about Star Wars, particularly the extended universe. When not ranting, he can be found reading, playing video games or delving into worldbuilding. Find him on facebook or around the internet as Muscratt.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, or talk to us on the podcast’s Twitter account, or email us at superheroethics@gmail.com. Each of your co-hosts also has their own twitter, Matthew is Cape

Is Star Trek’s concept of the Prime Directive the only ethical way for one culture to act toward a less developed one? What are the rewards, and dangers, in intervening? And what do you do when someone builds an entire religion around you doing one nice thing?In this episode, Jacob and Matthew look at Mad Idolatry, the final episode of Season 1 of the Orville, and dig into the larger questions it examines. Whether you are a hard core Orvillian, or never seen the show, there is a lot here to think about and enjoy. We summarize the episode and focus on the larger issues at play, digging into questions asked by this show, Star Trek, and so much of Science Fiction. 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, or talk to us on the podcast’s Twitter account, or email us at superheroethics@gmail.com. Each of your co-host

Order or Chaos, or is that a false dichotomy? What are the dangers of one culture trying to guide and support the growth of another? Is Babylon 5 an allegory for the Cold War?In this episode, we take on these questions and more, as we look at the Vorlons and the Shadows from Babylon 5. There will be spoilers galore, but even if you have never seen the show, we will bring you up to speed so you can understand the questions the show raises that we are diving into. ALSO! This is the first new* episode of the year, and we have some bigs new to announce!Many of you have been asking how you can support the podcast. Now you can at our new Pateron 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/superheroethicsWant to show your love for Superhero Ethics with a t-shirt, hoodie, cell phone case, mouse pad, or other swag? We now have a store where you can buy any of those things and

Ep 61: 2018 Year in Review2018 was one hell of a year, and Jacob and Matthew go deep on some of their favorite characters and questions from the year that was. We re-examine old questions, talk about what we learned this year, and what we are excited to see in 2019.You can download the episode with a right click  and clicking "save link as" or subscribe by searching for Superhero Ethics on Itunes or on Stitcher.Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or want to add your own thoughts? Let us know! We recently started a Superhero Ethics Facebook Group, which is the best way to join in the conversations. You can also find us on Twitter or email us at superheroethics@gmail.comHere are each of their year end lists.BEST CHARACTERS OF 2018Matthew Luke Skywalker (Star Wars) Kingpin (Daredevil) Black Mariah (Luke Cage) Eric Killmonger (Black Panther) Tandy/Dagger (Cloak & Dagger)    Hon. Mention: SupermanJacob Kingpin (Daredevil) Misty Knight (MCU Shows) Jessica Jones (MCU Shows) Sam Winchester (Supernatural)

The Dark Knight and the Man of Steel. Why do we tell so many stories about the two of them together? How do their approaches to justice differ, and why does that matter? Do they work best as enemies, allies, or in their own worlds? Special guest Jessica Plummer joins Jacob and Matthew to discuss these questions and more!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.Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or want to add your own thoughts? Let us know! We recently started a Superhero Ethics Facebook Group, which is the best way to join in the conversations. You can also find us on Twitter or email us at superheroethics@gmail.com