Episode 427: The Boys are Back in Town - the Dark Heart of the Superhero Genre

2024-08-02

Please note this episode contains spoilers for all the shows and books mentioned! It's the human in superhuman which is the interesting aspect of the superhero genre, which is why the genre is so good at holding up a dark mirror to the worst aspects of humanity as well as being aspiration. This week Jules and Madeleine delve into the murky waters of dark superheroes looking at parallels between fame, money, consumerism and politics. How are superheroes the new pantheon of gods? Isn't a dark superhero just a villain? And why are...

Please note this episode contains spoilers for all the shows and books mentioned!

It's the human in superhuman which is the interesting aspect of the superhero genre, which is why the genre is so good at holding up a dark mirror to the worst aspects of humanity as well as being aspiration. This week Jules and Madeleine delve into the murky waters of dark superheroes looking at parallels between fame, money, consumerism and politics. How are superheroes the new pantheon of gods? Isn't a dark superhero just a villain? And why are writers drawn to telling these stories?

On the slab this week - The Boys, The Umbrella Academy, Velveteen vs by Seanan McGuire and many more.

This is the season finale but the dragons will be back in September.

Title music: Ecstasy by Smiling Cynic

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