Superhero Ethics

Who is the true monster in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein? Who was Mary Shelley, what was she saying in this novel, and why is the novel so different from how it is remembered and portrayed in popular culture? 19th-century English literature student extraordinaire Danielle WrittenInTheStars joins us to dissect the book, the author, and how to understand it in the context in which it was written. Plus, we debate which film adaptation we think is most faithful.Member Bonus content: Danielle and I delve into the upcoming final season of Star Wars: The Bad Batch! We’ve started the conversation. Now we want to hear from you!Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or add your own thoughts? We’ve got options for you!Email: ✉️ Matthew@TheEthicalPanda.com

The final episode of the Disney+ TV show Percy Jackson and the Olympians is out, and we're discussing it. We talk about what we loved about the books and what did and didn't work in the show.Topics covered include:Was Luke right? Was Luke a Magneto/Killmonger-style villain with a valid point?How were the gods portrayed in the show compared to the books? Is Percy right to want the gods a chance to be better parents?How was Medusa portrayed in the show versus the books?Which actors worked or didn't work and why is it so hard for live-action to portray kids not belonging in a casino?Bonus content for members:We share our thoughts on potential future seasons and whether the story would be better told in an animated rather than live-action format.We’ve started the conversation. Now we want to hear from you!Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or add your own thoughts? We’ve got options for you!Email: ✉️ Matthew@TheEthicalPanda.com

Matthew Carroll of the MCUCast joins me to talk Marvel's Echo TV series and its connections to the wider MCU. We dive deep into the characters, the morality, the show's groundbreaking representation, and the implications for upcoming MCU stories.Topics we cover include:Where Echo and Kingpin each fit on the scale of heroes and villainsConnections to the Netflix "Defendersverse" shows and debates around canonicityHopes for the future of the Echo character and MCU's approach to interconnectedness vs standalone storiesThe authenticity of how the various parts of Maya’s identity are portrayed and why so many  members of indigenous, amputee, and deaf communities are loving this character and this show.Matthew Carroll (Biped) asks Matthew Fox (Unipod) about the logistics of Maya's prosthetic leg and how the damage/repair process was portrayed accuratelyWe’ve started the conversation. Now we want to hear from you!Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or add your own th

How does a Japanese pilot—and his nation—come to terms with survivor's guilt after WWII? What is the legacy of the kamikaze in Japanese culture, and how is it seen in America? And can these issues and more be explored in Godzilla Minus One, a movie about a fire-breathing monster directed by Takashi Yamazaki? Riki Hayashi joins me to discuss these questions and more! We’ve started the conversation. Now we want to hear from you!Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or add your own thoughts? We’ve got options for you!Email: ✉️ Matthew@TheEthicalPanda.com

As an amputee, Echo holds a special place in my 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 enters the pantheon of disabled representation done right.In this episode, Will and I analyze the show’s triumphs. We discuss Maya’s thoughtful portrayal as a deaf, Indigenous American amputee. We appreciate the respect given to Choctaw culture. And of course, we analyze the return of Wilson Fisk.As always, Will provides insightful context from the comic books. Meanwhile, I share my personal reactions as an amputee seeing myself represented on screen.Echo recaptures the spirit of the Netflix Marvel universe. It delivers an uplifting, kick-ass story centered on a new deaf indigenous hero. This show resonates with so many people. I can’t wait for you to hear our perspectives. We’ve started the conversation. Now we want to hear from you!Want to continue the discussion wit

What are the different ways we can find meaning in the midst of suffering? What is the nature of myth, and can we find it in the most mundane of places? And how did Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 and a Thanksgiving podcast tradition of the McElroy brothers and friends lead us to these topics? We’ve started the conversation. Now we want to hear from you!Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or add your own thoughts? We’ve got options for you!Email: ✉️ Matthew@TheEthicalPanda.com

Paul and I look back on the themes that emerged during 2023 as we reflect on a year of ethics in genre media. We discuss the strike, people and communities being heard and speaking in their own voices, relatable villains, video games as interactive novels, and other topics. And somehow we manage to tie almost all of it back to Blue Beetle, which we both recently viewed. We’ve started the conversation. Now we want to hear from you!Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or add your own thoughts? We’ve got options for you!Email: ✉️ Matthew@TheEthicalPanda.com

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 favorite Christmas movies, and settle that age-old debate — is Die Hard a Christmas movie? We’ve started the conversation. Now we want to hear from you!Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or add your own thoughts? We’ve got options for you!Email: ✉️ Matthew@TheEthicalPanda.com

How did Snow become the villain he was? What role does nature versus nurture play in shaping our moral choices? What connections to our own world does this Hunger Games prequel highlight that give us insight?Fan-favorite Danielle (WrittenintheStarWars) returns to discuss The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, the Hunger Games prequel, in both book and movie form!Danielle is a PhD researcher who spends too much time thinking about Star Wars and The Last of Us and the rest of her time working through a towering to-be-read pile. You can find her on TikTok at writteninthestarwars, Twitter at danies394, and Instagram at writteninthesw. Read her writings on The Bad Batch and other topics at Temple of Geek. We’ve started the conversation. Now we want to hear from you!Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or add your own thoughts? We’ve got options for you!Email: ✉️ Matthew@TheEthicalPanda.com

The Boys: Superheroes, Villains, and the Complex Psychology Behind Their MoralityIn this fascinating discussion, host Matthew Fox is joined by psychologists Dr. Lynn Zubernis and Dr. Matthew Snyder, editors of the new book "Supes Ain't Always Heroes: Inside the Complex Characters and Twisted Psychology of The Boys."They dive deep into the psychological themes and moral complexities of the hit Amazon Prime show The Boys, analyzing topics like:The appeal of antiheroes like Butcher and flawed supers like Homelander and Soldier BoyHow the show explores toxic masculinity, internalized misogyny, and gender dynamicsThe idea of "murder baby kittens" - villains we feel sympathy for despite their actionsWhy fans forgive certain problematic male characters more than female onesHow trauma and mental health struggles are portrayed realistically and multidimensionallyDr. Zubernis and Dr. Snyder provide fascinating psychological insights from their expertise while examining why this subversive take on the superhero genre re

New content returns next week! Until then, we’re kicking off the season with a rebroadcast of our episode on that classic Christmas movie — Batman Returns!Can a Tim Burton movie be TOO Tim Burton? Would Ashley Coffin have discovered blue eyeshadow if it weren't for this Catwoman? And why, oh why, does Bruce think you should bring up your ex on a first date? Paul and Ashley join me to discuss these questions, and ask, “Is this our Batman?” as we talk about Batman Returns!Member note: no bonus content on this episode, but we will be returning with bonus content starting next week! We’ve started the conversation. Now we want to hear from you!Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or add your own thoughts? We’ve got options for you!Email: ✉️ Matthew@TheEthicalPanda.com

Another blast from the past during the hiatus. Enjoy this conversation with Paul, Riki, and myself, and stay tuned for new episodes, starting in December!Can a sword bring about a new era? Can a former assassin find peace? Can a beloved anime translate to live action? Whether you've seen all or none of the Kenshin movies or shows, the discussion focuses on ethical and historical questions with relevance today. We’ve started the conversation. Now we want to hear from you!Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or add your own thoughts? We’ve got options for you!Email: ✉️ Matthew@TheEthicalPanda.com

Read more about the results of the WGA strike here.Learn more about the SAG-AFTRA strike here.An update on our hiatus, and a favorite episode from years past—The Ethics of Professional Wrestling.In 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 kinds and spending time alone if he can find it. Tim can be found on X (Twitter) at @AubelTim.Addison is a hoopy frood who can't get enough over-the-top melodrama and speaks with undue au

Read more about the results of the WGA strike here.Learn more about the SAG-AFTRA strike here.The historic Hollywood writers strike rocked Tinseltown, but it has come to an end. In this episode, I discuss the outcome with my guest Andy Nelson from the TruStory FM podcast network.We break down how the Writers Guild of America (WGA) won big at the bargaining table, gaining major concessions like pay increases and AI protections. But the actors strike continues as SAG-AFTRA pushes for similar protections.As entertainment enthusiasts and podcasters, Andy and I chat about how we handled covering pop culture during the strikes. And we look ahead – will this labor uprising inspire more industries to push for fair treatment?Tune in as we analyze the drama and implications of the latest Hollywood shakedown! I dish the insider scoop on what the WGA strike outcome means.LinksVariety: “The Writers Strike Is Over: WGA Votes to Lift Strike Order After 148 Days”More About the New WGA ContractSupport SAG/AFTRACheck Out Andy’

Bionic arms, hearing so good it makes up for a loss of eyesight - AK Maiden is back to talk with me about disability representation in the stories we love.A big-time nerd, big-time philosopher, and big-time lover of all things sci-fi and fantasy, AK Maiden is a 21-year-old with a philosophy degree and a focus on disability studies and rhetoric. She creates D&D art and content about a wide variety of nerdy topics on TikTok. We’ve started the conversation. Now we want to hear from you!Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or add your own thoughts? We’ve got options for you!Email: ✉️ Matthew@TheEthicalPanda.com

What stories emerge when superpowers enter the audio format? How can superheroes reflect real-world problems, and what would an NPR-style broadcast sound like if it existed in a world where superhumans were real? Max and John of Superhuman Public Radio join me to explore these questions and discuss Season 2 of SPR, with new episodes releasing weekly!Superhuman Public Radio (aka SPR) is an award-winning audio drama telling the best original superhero stories you've ever heard. These are the stories that happen between the panels: looking at how superpowers change society and our individual lives; what happens when the battles are done and the heroes fly away.Learn more here and @SPRpod on social media.Bios:John Dorsey, son of a failed magician and successful businesswoman, is a natural storyteller. For 10 years, he has worked in film above and below the line. His awards include those for Superhuman Public Radio. Later this year, he will premiere his first directed comedy special with Dee Ahmed. Dorsey lives ne

In honor of the passing of Sheldon Menery, we’re talking about his concept of Rule Zero – the idea that the first step for any game should be making sure all players share the same expectations – and the way it contributed to building community in Magic: The Gathering, and what we can all learn from it.Nile JoanRivers streams MtG content on Twitch! Her content is focused on highlighting queer voices and lowering the barrier to entry for new players. If that sounds like something you’re into, consider joining the Discord server where she helps new players learn Magic and make a safe, welcoming space for all.Will Freeland is a Marvel comic nerd who loves to fly off on random tangential topics. The only collection he has that’s larger than his comic collection is all of his Lego and other building brick sets. A true child at heart......also an aspiring content creator. We’ve started the conversation. Now we want to hear from you!Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about

Each person brings their own experiences and perspective to how they view the stories we love. Caged Bishop Cosplay joins me to talk about his experience as a blerd (black nerd), intersectionality in fandom, and our shared love as masculine folks for Barbie.ABOUT OUR GUESTCaged Bishop Cosplay has been cosplaying for the better part of a decade and podcasting for about half as long. He does this for spreading the love of all things geeky, nerdy and blerdy (Blerd = black and nerdy). Caged Bishop Cosplay loves sharing his fandoms with people around him and sharing this all with his little girl! We’ve started the conversation. Now we want to hear from you!Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or add your own thoughts? We’ve got options for you!Email: ✉️ Matthew@TheEthicalPanda.com

Professor Matthew Kapell joins me to discuss superheroes, mythology, and the American Monomyth.What is a myth? Are superhero stories considered myths? Does America have a central myth, and how do superheroes contribute to it?Matthew Kapell has taught a wide range of subjects, including film studies and human genetics, at colleges and universities in the United States and the United Kingdom. He recently began teaching anthropology at Montclair State University in New Jersey. He serves as the editor for the academic book series Studies in Gaming published by McFarland Publishers. His published works cover various topics such as gaming, film, television, media, genetics, human biology, literary studies, African legal history, and the history of Detroit. In 2016, his book titled "Exploring the Next Frontier: Vietnam, NASA, Star Trek and Utopia in 1960s and 1970s Myth and History" was published by Routledge Press (NY and London). Additionally, his 2013 book, co-edited with Andrew B.R. Elliot, "Playing With The Pas

Why is it the X-Men that are so often brought up as metaphors for social issues? Steve Stormoen of the Hype Is My Superpower podcast joins me to talk about the X-Men in comics through the lens of activism and social movements. We’ve started the conversation. Now we want to hear from you!Want to continue the discussion with us? Agree or disagree with what we talked about, or add your own thoughts? We’ve got options for you!Email: ✉️ Matthew@TheEthicalPanda.com