In The Dark Knight Rises, the many prisoners who've been denied parole are a threat to Gotham.
Storytellers Must Stop Dehumanizing Prisoners
We've created our own dystopia.
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Seven Easy Sources of Real World Danger
How to get your new superhero in trouble.
The Good and Bad Climaxes From Marvel’s Phase Two
Despite its spotty track record, Marvel manages to present a mixed bag.
Six Overpowered Characters and How to Fix Them
One-sided battles are no fun to watch.
Episode 242: Sidekicks
We’ve only got two hosts today, but which of them is the hero and which is the sidekick?
Five Stories That Don’t Understand Power & Privilege
Fiction's role in shaping the world means we have a responsibility to portray oppression correctly.
Episode 151: DC Animated Series
DC might have made some silver-screen flops, but its animated shows set a much higher bar.
Five Injustices in Superhero Stories
When heroes endorse harmful ideals—even by accident—their fights for justice can fall flat.
Episode 97: Superheroes on TV, Part 1
What’s that on your TV screen?
Five Superpowers That Will Break Your Story
These abilities can get out of hand fast—here's how to rein them in.
Five Villains Who Follow the Heroine’s Journey
These baddies transformed themselves throughout their stories—and made it believable.
Oren Ashkenazi