Superhero Ethics

Feb 03 2025 336 ep. 80 mins 8
Superhero Ethics Podcast artwork

Exploring ethical questions from Superhero movies and TV shows, sci-fi, and everything else geeks love!

  TV & Film  Society & Culture
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I Saw the TV Glow

Feb 03 2025 60 mins  
Unpacking the Powerful Trans Allegory in I Saw the TV GlowMatthew and Riki dive deep into the indie horror film I Saw the TV Glow and explore how it serves as a poignant and powerful allegory for the trans experience. The hosts discuss the film's unique approach to horror, its nostalgic 90s setting, and the way it allows a trans person to potentially realize their identity through

Core Questions: Vengeance • Member Bonus

Jan 27 2025 94 mins  
Matthew and Riki dive deep into one of the most compelling ethical questions in superhero media: the role of vengeance as a motivator for heroes, villains, and anti-heroes. Joined by comic book expert Jessica Plummer, they explore how vengeance shapes character arcs and storytelling across various franchises.With this episode, we’re launching our member-bonus-episode series. Each

Superman, Hope, and the New Trailer

Jan 20 2025 60 mins  
Matthew & Riki join returning guest Jessica Plummer to dive deep into the new Superman trailer and what it reveals about James Gunn's vision for the iconic superhero. The discussion explores how this interpretation appears to be returning to Superman's core essence as a beacon of hope and protection, rather than just another powerful being who solves problems with his fists.Wha

Tuvix

Jan 13 2025 55 mins  
The iconic Star Trek: Voyager episode "Tuvix" continues to spark ethical debates nearly 30 years after its original airing. In this episode of Superhero Ethics, hosts Matthew and Riki dive deep into one of Star Trek's most morally complex stories, examining Captain Janeway's controversial decision to effectively end one life to restore two others.The hosts explore how the episode�

Echo, Amputees, & Intersectionality • Rebroadcast

Jan 06 2025 95 mins  
The Superhero Ethics gang was with their families over the New Year, but enjoy this rebroadcast of a favorite episode!As an amputee, Echo holds a special place in my (Matthew’s) heart, so I’m excited to have comics expert Will Freeland join me to discuss this meaningful new MCU show. Seeing a superhero who shares some of my experiences is incredible. Maya Lopez immediately ente

What is a Christmas Movie? • Rebroadcast

Dec 30 2024 70 mins  
The Superhero Ethics crew is on break for the holidays, but we wanted to bring you one of our favorite holiday episodes, in which we discuss Christmas Movies!What is a Christmas movie? Does it have to have a specific message or aesthetic feel? What is the Christmas romance, and why has it become so popular? Andy and Abby join me to dive into these questions, share each of our own f

Red One

Dec 23 2024 51 mins  
Red One: When Santa Goes Marvel (feat. Pete Wright)Is Amazon's $250 million Christmas blockbuster Red One a fresh take on holiday magic, or a cynical cash grab? Join Matthew and special guest Pete Wright as they unwrap this action-packed holiday film starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Chris Evans. From buff Santas to beach-fighting snowmen, this episode explores how Hollywood's

Prey and Indigenous Representation

Dec 17 2024 77 mins  
Matthew and Riki dive deep into Indigenous representation in media, using the 2022 film Prey as a launching point for a broader discussion about the evolution of Native American portrayals in Hollywood. The conversation explores how this Predator franchise entry breaks new ground while honoring both the source material and Indigenous culture.How does Prey set a new standard for Ind

A Man on the Inside

Dec 10 2024 63 mins  
Paul and Matthew jump into the ethics of aging, mysteries, ‘cozy’ storytelling and the ways that elder care is treated in media as we discuss the new Netflix show A Man on the Inside.Bonus member content about some of our other favorite mystery shows and movies.Here is a link to the book Paul mentioned! **************************************************************************T

Gundam and Fascism in Anime

Dec 03 2024 92 mins  
Join hosts Matthew and Riki as they analyze Netflix's Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance through the lens of ethics, narrative responsibility, the wider context of the Gundam story as a whole, and the implications of telling stories from the villains' perspective.This episode tackles a crucial question in modern media: When telling a story from an antagonist's perspective, what responsi