The MCU’s Forever Ending World Problem
In the MCU we are offered gods but not theology, disasters but not mourning, power but not politics. The world can end and restart, but it will never evolve.
superheroes
Superman’s Message of Moral Reciprocity
The resonance of the Golden Rule across time and societies is one way that the reciprocity norm, and its signifier, Superman, combine the secular with the sacred.
Is Superman Jewish?
Marketplace expectations and cultural norms around race and the body in America explain why Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster gave Superman a specific identity.
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ and the Death of Hollywood Franchises
Hollywood franchise films may not have started as theme parks, but the drive to eliminate risk will quickly turn them into the very thing their detractors fear.
Masterpiece or Mess? Reevaluating DC Comic’s ‘Doomsday Clock’
Understanding the appeal of Doomsday Clock has nothing to do with it being a good or bad comics series. The real question is: does it matter?
‘The Flash’ and Its Disposable Heroes of Multiversity
The story that takes up most of The Flash’s running time is about something that never happened, and worse, the film skips over the hard part of multiversity storytelling.
‘What If…?’ Marvel Studios Tries Something Completely Different?
Marvel Studios’ What If…? on Disney+ is an intriguing animated and narrative exercise in the MCU, but why isn’t it as exciting as we anticipated?
Marvel Studios ‘Black Widow’ Mishandles the MCU’s Most Popular Female Character
Marvel Studios’ Black Widow was too little, too late for the MCU’s most popular female character due partially to misogynistic business practices at Disney.
‘The Batman’ Is Just Another Incel Fantasy of Entitlement
Matt Reeves’ meandering faux-profound take on Batman spends its over-long runtime telling women to shut up and do as they’re told or face the consequences.
Marvel’s ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ Fails to Capitalize on a Strong Premise
Marvel’s Falcon and the Winter Soldier on Disney+ follows the legacy of Captain America in the MCU, but its timely racially and politically charged plot lacks focus.
Marvel’s ‘Eternals’: Haven’t We Seen This Story Before?
The cast of Eternals may be the broodiest Marvel characters to date, but that’s about the only “new” thing about this film.
Marvel’s ‘WandaVision’ Echos Our Lasting Pandemic Grief
Addressing pandemic-induced topics such as loss, grief, and mental illness, Marvel’s ‘WandaVision’ serves as a metaphor for life in the time of COVID.