Superhero Ethics

Latest Episodes:

Ep 77 - Harley, Harley, Harley Nov 20, 2019

Show notes

“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 she references her recent article on BookRiot, “A Close Look at the Paradox of Harley Quinn,” quoted above.
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/CapedEthicist
Jacob is BotsRPeopleToo https://twitter.com/BotsRPeopleToo
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? We now have a store where you can buy any of those things and more! https://www.teepublic.com/user/superheroethics
Want to hear more of Matthew’s perspectives? Check out his other two podcasts:
The Orville Universe Podcast.
The Star Wars Universe Podcast- coming soon!
Or check out some of the other great podcasts by friends of Superhero Ethics, including:
The Marvel Cinematic Universe Podcast
DC on Screen
Star Trek Universe Podcast
Who Watched the Watchmen
Lastly, you probably heard some great music at the start and the end of our podcast. That music comes from the deeply talented Jack Hesse.. You can follow him on Twitter at Jack_608, https://twitter.com/jack_608

Ep 76: Problematic Favorites Oct 24, 2019

Show notes

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 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 their own twitter:
Matthew is CapedEthicist, https://twitter.com/CapedEthicist
Jacob is BotsRPeopleToo https://twitter.com/BotsRPeopleToo
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? We now have a store where you can buy any of those things and more! https://www.teepublic.com/user/superheroethics
Lastly, you probably heard some great music at the start and the end of our podcast. That music comes from the deeply talented Jack Hesse.. You can follow him on Twitter at Jack_608, https://twitter.com/jack_608

Ep 75: Is Batman on Tinder? Oct 10, 2019

Show notes

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 Twitter
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/CapedEthicist
Jacob is BotsRPeopleToo https://twitter.com/BotsRPeopleToo
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? We now have a store where you can buy any of those things and more! https://www.teepublic.com/user/superheroethics
Lastly, you probably heard some great music at the start and the end of our podcast. That music comes from the deeply talented Jack Hesse.. You can follow him on Twitter at Jack_608, https://twitter.com/jack_608

Ep 74- Ethically Wrastlin' Sep 20, 2019

Show notes

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 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/CapedEthicist
Jacob is BotsRPeopleToo https://twitter.com/BotsRPeopleToo
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? We now have a store where you can buy any of those things and more! https://www.teepublic.com/user/superheroethics
Lastly, you probably heard some great music at the start and the end of our podcast. That music comes from the deeply talented Jack Hesse.. You can follow him on Twitter at Jack_608, https://twitter.com/jack_608

Ep 73 - Into the Ethicsverse Aug 22, 2019

Show notes

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 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 their own twitter,
Matthew is CapedEthicist, https://twitter.com/CapedEthicist
Jacob is BotsRPeopleToo https://twitter.com/BotsRPeopleToo
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? We now have a store where you can buy any of those things and more! https://www.teepublic.com/user/superheroethics
Lastly, you probably heard some great music at the start and the end of our podcast. That music comes from the deeply talented Jack Hesse.. You can follow him on Twitter at Jack_608, https://twitter.com/jack_608

Ep 72- Who Teaches Ethics at Hogwarts? Jul 31, 2019

Show notes

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/CapedEthicist
Jacob is BotsRPeopleToo https://twitter.com/BotsRPeopleToo
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? We now have a store where you can buy any of those things and more! https://www.teepublic.com/user/superheroethics
Lastly, you probably heard some great music at the start and the end of our podcast. That music comes from the deeply talented Jack Hesse.. You can follow him on Twitter at Jack_608, https://twitter.com/jack_608

Ep 71: The Knights Radiant of the MCU Jun 28, 2019

Show notes

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 Bondsmith
Steve Peterman as a Windrunner
Here are the links mentioned in the episode:
For more on the Knights Radiant - https://coppermind.net/wiki/Category:Knights_Radiant
A 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 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/CapedEthicist
Jacob is BotsRPeopleToo https://twitter.com/BotsRPeopleToo
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? We now have a store where you can buy any of those things and more! https://www.teepublic.com/user/superheroethics
Lastly, you probably heard some great music at the start and the end of our podcast. That music comes from the deeply talented Jack Hesse.. You can follow him on Twitter at Jack_608, https://twitter.com/jack_608

Ep 70: The Ethics of Endgame Jun 12, 2019

Show notes

Ep 70 - The Ethics of Endgames
The 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/CapedEthicist
Jacob is BotsRPeopleToo https://twitter.com/BotsRPeopleToo
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? We now have a store where you can buy any of those things and more! https://www.teepublic.com/user/superheroethics
Lastly, you probably heard some great music at the start and the end of our podcast. That music comes from the deeply talented Jack Hesse.. You can follow him on Twitter at Jack_608, https://twitter.com/jack_608

Ep 69 - Punisher, Season 2 May 16, 2019

Show notes

Ep 69: A Punishing Take on Heroism, & Moral Agency
In 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 meet up and discussion!
www.wiscon.net
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, 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/CapedEthicist
Jacob is BotsRPeopleToo https://twitter.com/BotsRPeopleToo
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? We now have a store where you can buy any of those things and more! https://www.teepublic.com/user/superheroethic
Lastly, you probably heard some great music at the start and the end of our podcast. That music comes from the deeply talented Jack Hesse.. You can follow him on Twitter at Jack_608, https://twitter.com/jack_608

Ep 68: John Winchester, Howard Stark & Other Healthy Fathers Apr 25, 2019

Show notes

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 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 their own twitter,
Matthew is CapedEthicist, https://twitter.com/CapedEthicist
Jacob is BotsRPeopleToo https://twitter.com/BotsRPeopleToo
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? We now have a store where you can buy any of those things and more! https://www.teepublic.com/user/superheroethics
Lastly, you probably heard some great music at the start and the end of our podcast. That music comes from the deeply talented Jack Hesse.. You can follow him on Twitter at Jack_608, https://twitter.com/jack_608

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