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Superhero Ethics: 10 Comic Book Heroes; 10 Ways to Save the World; Which One Do We Need Most Now?
Whether in comic books or on movie screens, superhero stories are where many people first encounter questions about how they should conduct their lives.
Although these outlandish figures—in their capes, masks, and tights, with their unbelievable origins and preternatural powers—are often dismissed as juvenile amusements, they really are profound metaphors for different approaches to shaping one’s character and facing the challenges of life.
But, given the choice, which superhero should we follow today? Who is most worthy of our admiration? Whose goals are most noble? Whose ethics should we strive to emulate?
To decide, Travis Smith takes ten top superheroes and pits them one against another, chapter by chapter. The hero who better exemplifies how we ought to live advances to the final round. By the end of the book, a single superhero emerges victorious and is crowned most exemplary for our times.
How, then, shall we live? Using superheroes to bring into focus these timeless themes of the human condition, Smith takes us on an adventure as fantastic as any you’ll find on a splash page or the silver screen—an intellectual adventure filled with surprising insights, unexpected twists and turns, and a daring climax you’ll be thinking about long after it’s over.
Although these outlandish figures—in their capes, masks, and tights, with their unbelievable origins and preternatural powers—are often dismissed as juvenile amusements, they really are profound metaphors for different approaches to shaping one’s character and facing the challenges of life.
But, given the choice, which superhero should we follow today? Who is most worthy of our admiration? Whose goals are most noble? Whose ethics should we strive to emulate?
To decide, Travis Smith takes ten top superheroes and pits them one against another, chapter by chapter. The hero who better exemplifies how we ought to live advances to the final round. By the end of the book, a single superhero emerges victorious and is crowned most exemplary for our times.
How, then, shall we live? Using superheroes to bring into focus these timeless themes of the human condition, Smith takes us on an adventure as fantastic as any you’ll find on a splash page or the silver screen—an intellectual adventure filled with surprising insights, unexpected twists and turns, and a daring climax you’ll be thinking about long after it’s over.
- GenresNonfictionPhilosophy
190 pages, Hardcover
Published June 1, 2018
3 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 25, 2019
Nerdiest book I've ever read. I wish I'd written it.
June 5, 2018
Mr. Smith dissects the internal dynamics of ten superheroes. Most are very popular like fan favorite Wolverine (my husband's favorite), Iron Man, and Thor to name a few. As well as maybe lesser superheroes Green Lantern and Mister Fantastic. Yet, when you read this book, you will understand the reason why Mr. Smith chose to feature the superheroes that he selected.
Mr. Smith pits the different superheroes against each other in the following chapter:
The Best of the Beastly featuring the Hulk vs. Wolverine, Beacons of Imagination featuring Green Lantern vs. Iron Man, Responsibility and the City featuring Batman vs. Spider-Man, Ideals in Action featuring Captain America vs. Mister Fantastic, and Gods in a Longbox featuring Thor vs. Superman.
Mr. Smith finally concludes his thoughts in Contestation of Champions explaining which superhero comes out on top. What I liked about this book is that it is relatable for the present times. The superheroes are not just featured as comic book persona or movie legends but as types of people in the modern world. Mr. Smith writes in a way that everyone can understand without being too "wordy". Pick up a copy of this book today and see if you agree with the superhero that came out on top.
Mr. Smith pits the different superheroes against each other in the following chapter:
The Best of the Beastly featuring the Hulk vs. Wolverine, Beacons of Imagination featuring Green Lantern vs. Iron Man, Responsibility and the City featuring Batman vs. Spider-Man, Ideals in Action featuring Captain America vs. Mister Fantastic, and Gods in a Longbox featuring Thor vs. Superman.
Mr. Smith finally concludes his thoughts in Contestation of Champions explaining which superhero comes out on top. What I liked about this book is that it is relatable for the present times. The superheroes are not just featured as comic book persona or movie legends but as types of people in the modern world. Mr. Smith writes in a way that everyone can understand without being too "wordy". Pick up a copy of this book today and see if you agree with the superhero that came out on top.
May 22, 2019
I like the writer but realized I am not into Superheros and did not finish the book.
August 20, 2018
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Superheroes are one of the biggest money grabbers of the twenty-first century. Fans around the world love flocking to the world’s of Marvel, DC and other comic book publishers who make the most popular comic books, films, television programs and more. Yet there has been one question that has always been on fans minds since the comic book industry began: who is the best of all the heroes? While this has always been a matter of popularity, but author Travis Smith has done something truly spectacular by focusing not on their popularity, but the ethics of each character and comparing it to our society today and what we truly need in a hero. That’s what makes Superhero Ethics: 10 Comic Book Heroes; 10 Ways to Save The World; Which One Do We Need Most Now? such an incredible read. Here’s the synopsis:
Whether in comic books or on movie screens, superhero stories are where many people first encounter questions about how they should conduct their lives.
Although these outlandish figures—in their capes, masks, and tights, with their unbelievable origins and preternatural powers—are often dismissed as juvenile amusements, they really are profound metaphors for different approaches to shaping one’s character and facing the challenges of life.
But, given the choice, which superhero should we follow today? Who is most worthy of our admiration? Whose goals are most noble? Whose ethics should we strive to emulate?
To decide, Travis Smith takes ten top superheroes and pits them one against another, chapter by chapter. The hero who better exemplifies how we ought to live advances to the final round. By the end of the book, a single superhero emerges victorious and is crowned most exemplary for our times.
How, then, shall we live?
How can we overcome our beastly nature and preserve our humanity? (The Hulk vs. Wolverine)
How far can we rely on our willpower and imagination to improve the human condition? (Iron Man vs. Green Lantern)
What limits must we observe when protecting our neighborhood from crime and corruption? (Batman vs. Spider-Man)
Will the pursuit of an active life or a contemplative life bring us true fulfillment? (Captain America vs. Mr. Fantastic)
Should we put our faith in proven tradition or in modern progress to achieve a harmonious society? (Thor vs. Superman)
Using superheroes to bring into focus these timeless themes of the human condition, Smith takes us on an adventure as fantastic as any you’ll find on a splash page or the silver screen—an intellectual adventure filled with surprising insights, unexpected twists and turns, and a daring climax you’ll be thinking about long after it’s over.
This is truly one of the most unique books I’ve read this year. The deep analysis of each of these well known heroes and the complexities of each character’s heroic actions and their motivations is something that’s always fascinated me. Yet never before has someone so articulately brought these issues to the forefront of the comic book industry and given audiences a deeper connection to these heroes as Travis Smith has done.
The book allows audiences to really analyze the motivations these characters have for taking on the mantle of hero, and whether or not their actions are completely selfless or not. It also compares these heroes and their ethics to our current political climate and gives historical context to these hero’s actions as well. It’s a really interesting and wonderfully different perspective that allows a wider audience as well as die hard comic book fans an opportunity to really understand the heroes they love in a whole new way.
Overall I loved this book. It was entertaining yet educational all at once, delving into political, intellectual, philosophical and of course ethical questions no one usually bothers to ask about the superhero community. Yet the author does a superb job of bringing these issues to light and giving us a chance to look deep within ourselves and determine which hero represents our best, brightest and most ethical hero in the twenty-first century. If you haven’t yet be sure to pick up your copy of Superhero Ethics by Travis Smith today!
Superheroes are one of the biggest money grabbers of the twenty-first century. Fans around the world love flocking to the world’s of Marvel, DC and other comic book publishers who make the most popular comic books, films, television programs and more. Yet there has been one question that has always been on fans minds since the comic book industry began: who is the best of all the heroes? While this has always been a matter of popularity, but author Travis Smith has done something truly spectacular by focusing not on their popularity, but the ethics of each character and comparing it to our society today and what we truly need in a hero. That’s what makes Superhero Ethics: 10 Comic Book Heroes; 10 Ways to Save The World; Which One Do We Need Most Now? such an incredible read. Here’s the synopsis:
Whether in comic books or on movie screens, superhero stories are where many people first encounter questions about how they should conduct their lives.
Although these outlandish figures—in their capes, masks, and tights, with their unbelievable origins and preternatural powers—are often dismissed as juvenile amusements, they really are profound metaphors for different approaches to shaping one’s character and facing the challenges of life.
But, given the choice, which superhero should we follow today? Who is most worthy of our admiration? Whose goals are most noble? Whose ethics should we strive to emulate?
To decide, Travis Smith takes ten top superheroes and pits them one against another, chapter by chapter. The hero who better exemplifies how we ought to live advances to the final round. By the end of the book, a single superhero emerges victorious and is crowned most exemplary for our times.
How, then, shall we live?
How can we overcome our beastly nature and preserve our humanity? (The Hulk vs. Wolverine)
How far can we rely on our willpower and imagination to improve the human condition? (Iron Man vs. Green Lantern)
What limits must we observe when protecting our neighborhood from crime and corruption? (Batman vs. Spider-Man)
Will the pursuit of an active life or a contemplative life bring us true fulfillment? (Captain America vs. Mr. Fantastic)
Should we put our faith in proven tradition or in modern progress to achieve a harmonious society? (Thor vs. Superman)
Using superheroes to bring into focus these timeless themes of the human condition, Smith takes us on an adventure as fantastic as any you’ll find on a splash page or the silver screen—an intellectual adventure filled with surprising insights, unexpected twists and turns, and a daring climax you’ll be thinking about long after it’s over.
This is truly one of the most unique books I’ve read this year. The deep analysis of each of these well known heroes and the complexities of each character’s heroic actions and their motivations is something that’s always fascinated me. Yet never before has someone so articulately brought these issues to the forefront of the comic book industry and given audiences a deeper connection to these heroes as Travis Smith has done.
The book allows audiences to really analyze the motivations these characters have for taking on the mantle of hero, and whether or not their actions are completely selfless or not. It also compares these heroes and their ethics to our current political climate and gives historical context to these hero’s actions as well. It’s a really interesting and wonderfully different perspective that allows a wider audience as well as die hard comic book fans an opportunity to really understand the heroes they love in a whole new way.
Overall I loved this book. It was entertaining yet educational all at once, delving into political, intellectual, philosophical and of course ethical questions no one usually bothers to ask about the superhero community. Yet the author does a superb job of bringing these issues to light and giving us a chance to look deep within ourselves and determine which hero represents our best, brightest and most ethical hero in the twenty-first century. If you haven’t yet be sure to pick up your copy of Superhero Ethics by Travis Smith today!
October 31, 2018
Read my full review here: https://mimi-cyberlibrarian.blogspot....
The subtitle of Super Hero Ethics is: 10 comic book heroes, 10 ways to save the world. Which one do we need most now?
My husband loves superhero movies, as do two of my sons-in-law and numerous grandchildren. Until now, I have tried to stay away from the compulsive watching and the related arguing about the relative merits of one or the other superhero. When the publicist sent me Super Hero Ethics, I realized that it seemed like the next good read for my husband and me to delve into. We enjoyed reading the book very much, especially the ways in which the personalities and ethics of the ten highlighted superheroes reflect the ethical and political mores of our country—currently.
Smith, who is a political science professor at a Canadian university, seeks to look at these ten superheroes—all males, I might add—through the lens of discovering which one is most praiseworthy, whose behavior represents our highest ideals and whether they should serve as models for “admiration and emulation.” Smith says, “the book is premised on the idea that it’s not their superpowers that make superheroes so super. It is their extraordinary character, their inherent qualities that make them heroic and render them worthy of praise. . . Superheroes provide exaggerated and extraordinary representations of the qualities that human beings must cultivate in order to confront the quandaries of ordinary life.”
So, with that ethical high ground in mind, Smith compares the Hulk and Wolverine, Green Lantern and Iron Man, Batman and Spiderman, Captain America and Mister Fantastic, and Thor and Superman. Smith has an intimate relationship with the comics and movies that have fueled the history of superheroes. He looks at these superheroes through Christian eyes, although his emphasis is not overtly Christian in focus. In the last chapter, he crowns the most ethical hero.
I am a novice at this stuff, as I said. I didn’t know, for instance, that there was a rivalry between DC and Marvel, although to my credit, I had heard the name Stan Lee. I do watch the Big Bang Theory on occasion, so I am familiar with people debating superhero strengths. For a while, one of my nephews dressed only in Captain America clothing, and my little grandson is Ant Man for Halloween this year. With this book, however, I rapidly became an expert.
I had never heard of Mister Fantastic, so we watched the Fantastic Four movie the other night, and just last night we watched Thor Ragnarot so we could understand Thor a little better. Now, I am up to date and feeling really trendy since we finished the book this morning. One thing I loved about Travis Smith and Super Hero Ethics is that it was philosophical without being stuffy, and I also loved how devoted Smith is to these characters. My husband and I both agreed on Smith’s reasoning for picking the super-superhero he chose. I do wish, however, he had focused a little attention on Wonder Woman, my own personal superhero.
Super Hero Ethics is a geeky but fun read. We recommend it. One more thing—if Travis Smith uses this book in his political science or ethics classes, I’ll bet his classes fill up in a second. A lot better than the Ethics textbook I had to read.
The subtitle of Super Hero Ethics is: 10 comic book heroes, 10 ways to save the world. Which one do we need most now?
My husband loves superhero movies, as do two of my sons-in-law and numerous grandchildren. Until now, I have tried to stay away from the compulsive watching and the related arguing about the relative merits of one or the other superhero. When the publicist sent me Super Hero Ethics, I realized that it seemed like the next good read for my husband and me to delve into. We enjoyed reading the book very much, especially the ways in which the personalities and ethics of the ten highlighted superheroes reflect the ethical and political mores of our country—currently.
Smith, who is a political science professor at a Canadian university, seeks to look at these ten superheroes—all males, I might add—through the lens of discovering which one is most praiseworthy, whose behavior represents our highest ideals and whether they should serve as models for “admiration and emulation.” Smith says, “the book is premised on the idea that it’s not their superpowers that make superheroes so super. It is their extraordinary character, their inherent qualities that make them heroic and render them worthy of praise. . . Superheroes provide exaggerated and extraordinary representations of the qualities that human beings must cultivate in order to confront the quandaries of ordinary life.”
So, with that ethical high ground in mind, Smith compares the Hulk and Wolverine, Green Lantern and Iron Man, Batman and Spiderman, Captain America and Mister Fantastic, and Thor and Superman. Smith has an intimate relationship with the comics and movies that have fueled the history of superheroes. He looks at these superheroes through Christian eyes, although his emphasis is not overtly Christian in focus. In the last chapter, he crowns the most ethical hero.
I am a novice at this stuff, as I said. I didn’t know, for instance, that there was a rivalry between DC and Marvel, although to my credit, I had heard the name Stan Lee. I do watch the Big Bang Theory on occasion, so I am familiar with people debating superhero strengths. For a while, one of my nephews dressed only in Captain America clothing, and my little grandson is Ant Man for Halloween this year. With this book, however, I rapidly became an expert.
I had never heard of Mister Fantastic, so we watched the Fantastic Four movie the other night, and just last night we watched Thor Ragnarot so we could understand Thor a little better. Now, I am up to date and feeling really trendy since we finished the book this morning. One thing I loved about Travis Smith and Super Hero Ethics is that it was philosophical without being stuffy, and I also loved how devoted Smith is to these characters. My husband and I both agreed on Smith’s reasoning for picking the super-superhero he chose. I do wish, however, he had focused a little attention on Wonder Woman, my own personal superhero.
Super Hero Ethics is a geeky but fun read. We recommend it. One more thing—if Travis Smith uses this book in his political science or ethics classes, I’ll bet his classes fill up in a second. A lot better than the Ethics textbook I had to read.
September 14, 2018
Really enjoyable, riding that perfect line between obvious comics nerd and scholar. It's clear not only that Smith has done his homework, reading years' worth of comics and watching movies, but he didn't do this research FOR this book, but rather out of sincere engagement with the storylines and characters.
To be honest, I'm kind of so very very over the proliferation of superhero content pervading American life, but I heard an interview with him that just caught my intention. So, authors, please do interviews on podcasts and new media as often as possible, because they do get the word out.
He sets up the book as that classic comics nerd (I keep wanting to say 'fanboy' but that term has become poisoned by gross people) game of imagining one-on-one battles between various characters. It's not exhaustive--all of his characters are white and male, which I'm sure other reviewers are going to jump all over, somehow not realizing that for the vast majority of comicsdom, the heros have been...white and male. And his focus in on American culture as the 'world' he's talking about saving.
So I don't mark that as a ding against his work, though of course, I'd love to hear his take on someone like Black Widow or Black Panther.
His matchups aren't in terms of superpowers, which are beyond your reach, but in powers we, any reader, can emulate--social engagement, neighborliness, the balance of force and intellect, etc. It's quite an inspiring book, because it emphasizes something I've come to realize is taught increasingly less and less to young people--ethical character.
I sincerely hope for a follow up volume, or, failing that, maybe getting a beer with this dude and talking comics.
To be honest, I'm kind of so very very over the proliferation of superhero content pervading American life, but I heard an interview with him that just caught my intention. So, authors, please do interviews on podcasts and new media as often as possible, because they do get the word out.
He sets up the book as that classic comics nerd (I keep wanting to say 'fanboy' but that term has become poisoned by gross people) game of imagining one-on-one battles between various characters. It's not exhaustive--all of his characters are white and male, which I'm sure other reviewers are going to jump all over, somehow not realizing that for the vast majority of comicsdom, the heros have been...white and male. And his focus in on American culture as the 'world' he's talking about saving.
So I don't mark that as a ding against his work, though of course, I'd love to hear his take on someone like Black Widow or Black Panther.
His matchups aren't in terms of superpowers, which are beyond your reach, but in powers we, any reader, can emulate--social engagement, neighborliness, the balance of force and intellect, etc. It's quite an inspiring book, because it emphasizes something I've come to realize is taught increasingly less and less to young people--ethical character.
I sincerely hope for a follow up volume, or, failing that, maybe getting a beer with this dude and talking comics.
September 5, 2019
I'm not into superheroes at all, but I like this kind of book, that uses popular culture as the subject for inquiry into areas usually discussed in serious (and often dull) scholarly writing. I've been to a few superhero movies with my husband and sons, and while I stopped going to them due to too much violence, noise, and non-stop action, at least I do recognize around half the superheroes discussed in the book. And I found it enjoyable to learn about others, without having to watch movies that (literally) give me a headache. I haven't read/watched nearly enough to have an opinion on how well Smith describes the various superheroes and attributes various moral outlooks to them, but on the whole his analysis seemed to make sense. Even if one doesn't agree with his choices of which hero "wins" in each set of two he compares with each other, he raises issues worthy of consideration and discussion. A good book for people who like superheroes, who don't particularly but would like to know more to understand the interests of other people who like them, and of anyone interested in a non-scholarly discussion of ethics and modern society.
August 3, 2018
My Recommendation: Even though I had a HUGE issue with the lack of women in the 10 superheroes, I feel this is an interesting read. It takes 10 archetypal/stereotypical superheroes explains they're strengths and weaknesses, pits them against their equal in various reasonings (locale, god like stature, intellectualness, etc.), and then explains why the superhero as a whole is more worthy of civilization modeling our momentum forward after that superhero. The chosen victor caught me off guard, because of how over-the-top his love/adoration/man crush was on another character, but it felt right when I closed the book.
My Response: With my vested interest in the multi-billion dollar Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) (aka I see all of the films as they're released) and my passing interest in the DC universe now Wonder Woman has made her powerful interest, of course I had to say yes when the publicist reached out about this book.*
After saying yes and reading this, I'm not sure I should have. There were some major flaws in this book mostly having to do with gender and misogyny. I don't want to harp on about this, but that's probably what this post is going to end up being. Smith chose 10 comic book heroes (first appearances): The Hulk (1962), Wolverine (1974), Green Lantern (1940), Iron Man (1963), Batman (1939), Spider-Man (1962), Captain America (1941), Mr. Fantastic (1961), Thor (1962), and Superman (1938), and pitted them against each other in an "epic" ethics battle. What's the obvious thing about these ten heroes? They're all men. [Want to skip this tirade? Skip 6 paragraphs down.
Click here to continue reading on my blog The Oddness of Moving Things.
*I received a copy of Superhero Ethics from the publicist in return for my honest opinion. No goods or money were exchanged.
My Response: With my vested interest in the multi-billion dollar Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) (aka I see all of the films as they're released) and my passing interest in the DC universe now Wonder Woman has made her powerful interest, of course I had to say yes when the publicist reached out about this book.*
After saying yes and reading this, I'm not sure I should have. There were some major flaws in this book mostly having to do with gender and misogyny. I don't want to harp on about this, but that's probably what this post is going to end up being. Smith chose 10 comic book heroes (first appearances): The Hulk (1962), Wolverine (1974), Green Lantern (1940), Iron Man (1963), Batman (1939), Spider-Man (1962), Captain America (1941), Mr. Fantastic (1961), Thor (1962), and Superman (1938), and pitted them against each other in an "epic" ethics battle. What's the obvious thing about these ten heroes? They're all men. [Want to skip this tirade? Skip 6 paragraphs down.
Click here to continue reading on my blog The Oddness of Moving Things.
*I received a copy of Superhero Ethics from the publicist in return for my honest opinion. No goods or money were exchanged.
April 22, 2020
An interesting interpretation of ethics in light of the pop culture phenomon that is superheroes, the author occasionally plays fast and loose with logic and argument (minor details that advance his arguments are 'seemingly minor' whereas minor arguments that don't are 'quibbles') but that complaint really is, in itself, a quibble. I greatly enjoyed this book and it has a) led me to re-evaluate my opinions on certain characters and b) inspired me to go back to some comic book reading.
March 28, 2021
The concept is great and the execution is really good. I just hope there would be a female superhero that can be represented too, as it only tackles male superheroes. I think for me, even if I am not a feminist, it is still important to share female superheroes agenda/quality/trait, and reflect them to normal people in the non-fictional world.
We were asked to read this for a Philosophy class and was tasked to make an essay about it. It's great for those who are interested.
We were asked to read this for a Philosophy class and was tasked to make an essay about it. It's great for those who are interested.
December 27, 2018
I quite liked this book.
Despite the heavy philosophical and sociological discussions, it is very readable.
The author is obviously a fan of the comic genre, and the human condition. The book was enjoyable to read, and it made me think about both the personal and societal ideas discussed.
Good stuff.
Despite the heavy philosophical and sociological discussions, it is very readable.
The author is obviously a fan of the comic genre, and the human condition. The book was enjoyable to read, and it made me think about both the personal and societal ideas discussed.
Good stuff.
July 24, 2019
Buen análisis. Me sorprendió para bien.
June 3, 2018
This book was absolutely phenomenal on many levels! Must read. Full review to come.
June 8, 2022
The book made me think more than I thought it would.
I didn't really realize to what extent my ethical/moral/philosophical perspectives influenced my preferences in comic books. It was a great book that made me think about the deeper meaning of comic books and what their characters say about who we are as individuals and a society.
I didn't really realize to what extent my ethical/moral/philosophical perspectives influenced my preferences in comic books. It was a great book that made me think about the deeper meaning of comic books and what their characters say about who we are as individuals and a society.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews