Superhero Ethics

Matthew Fox and Riki Hayashi are joined by Will Freeland and Steve Stormoen from the Hype Is My Superpower podcast to dive deep into the complex themes and character arcs of X-Men ‘97. The animated series revival has reignited discussions about tolerance, activism, and the challenges of retiring from the superhero life.The conversation kicks off with an exploration of the idea of

Host Matthew Fox dives deep into the world of Dune: Part Two with special guest Professor Matthew Kapell, an expert in anthropology, mythology, and religious studies. Together, they explore the complex themes of religion, destiny, and the power of myth in shaping the identities of individuals and entire civilizations, and how that is explored in the novel, and the second movie of D

Is Tolerance Extinction? Was Magneto Right?Matthew Fox and Riki Hayashi dive into the complex moral questions raised by the new Marvel animated series X-Men ‘97 on Disney+. The show, a continuation of the beloved 90s X-Men cartoon, explores themes of tolerance, assimilation, and the fight for mutant rights in a world that fears and oppresses them. The central question debated by

What Makes Anime ‘Anime’? Exploring the Unique Elements of Japanese AnimationIn this episode of Superhero Ethics, hosts Matthew Fox and Riki Hayashi dive deep into the world of anime, exploring what sets this beloved Japanese animation style apart from its Western counterparts. As an American with Japanese roots, Riki offers unique insights into the cultural and stylistic eleme

Do superheroes promote fascist ideology? In this episode of Superhero Ethics, hosts Matthew Fox and Riki Hayashi dive deep into an interview from Screen Rant with renowned comic book writer Alan Moore, who argues that the concept of superheroes contains elements of fascism. Join us as we explore the complex relationship between superhero culture, authoritarianism, and the impact th

Was Yoda right when he told Luke, "The greatest teacher, failure is," in Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi? What did he mean, and how does this idea play out in the rest of the movie?Riki and Matthew dive into this question, asking just what Yoda means. Is he referring to his own failures, and those of the Jedi? How does this fit with his idea of "do, or do not. There is no t

Matthew Fox and Riki Hayashi dive into the question of whether a pirate can truly be a hero. Using the popular anime, manga, and live-action series One Piece as a focal point, they examine the complex nature of piracy and its relationship to morality.The discussion begins by defining the term "pirate" in both English and Japanese contexts, considering its historical and cultural im

We welcome Riki Hayashi as the new co-host alongside Matthew Fox. Riki brings a wealth of knowledge and fresh perspectives to the show, promising engaging discussions on fandom ethics, media analysis, and much more. Join Matthew and Riki as they unveil their plans to take the podcast in new directions, diving deeper into the fascinating world of superhero and geek culture.Key discu

While writing season 2 of Superhuman Public Radio (SPR), Maximilian Clark and John Dorsey reached out to Matthew to talk about a disabled character they were planning to include. In this episode, the three of them talk about that discussion – and the resulting episode – along with how Max and John made a point to bring voices and perspectives from communities other than their o

Matthew recently participated in an in-depth analysis of Dune: Part Two on The Film Board podcast, also part of the TruStory FM entertainment podcast network. We're thrilled to share this discussion here, originally recorded for The Film Board, with our audience.In the vast expanse of cinematic storytelling, few tales grip the imagination quite like Frank Herbert's "Dune." With Den