God and Comics

One of the joys of reading comics is found in the way that art interweaves with words to tell stories. In this episode, the crew talks about their favorite artists and why they love them. They also get philosophical about whether art is just something to carry on a story or a good unto itself. Plus Fr. Matt's loathing of vegetables, a superhero detective story with a very reluctant superhero, This or That, and a whole lot more.

Female characters have not always been portrayed well in comics, but these days there are more interesting depictions of women in comics than ever before. Our special guest Emily Zanotti joins us as we talk about our favorite female characters and how they have evolved through the years. We also talk about what Fr. Kyle does in secret in the sacristy when no one is watching, plus recommendations, This or That, and a whole lot more.

Great villains are more than just foils for the heroes they fight. They show us something about the darker side of our humanity. In this episode, the crew talks about their favorite super villains, what makes them so appealing and so scary, and how we can understand the evil that they do. Plus, Fr. Matt confuses a great saint with a comedic actor who loved his facial hair more than his craft. All this plus recommendations, This or That, and a whole lot more.

Joss Whedon, the writer and director of the new film "Avengers: Age of Ultron," is an avowed atheist, but sin, salvation, and sacrifice abound in this latest Marvel movie juggernaut. We discuss themes of hopelessness and heroism in the new film, plus Fr. Matt recommends a nudie book, we geek out about the Scarlet Witch, and Fr. Jonathan surprises no one by making yet another reference to a comedian from the 80s. All this along with recommendations, This or That, and a whole lot more!

Can comic books make the world a better place? That's the question the Fathers tackle this week, looking at the history of social and political consciousness in comics. Plus, romance with androids, the first black superhero, comparisons of Bob Dylan records, and a whole lot more.

The new Daredevil television show is out on Netflix this week. We take you through the series and talk about how the title character's Catholicism affects his choices. Plus we'll look at some new books from the Batman universe, we'll celebrate the manliness of the color pink, and we'll puzzle over why it is that Fr. Kyle eats shoes. All this and more.

Our favorite comic book heroes have a long history of showing up in animation. This week, the crew discusses the evolution of comic book cartoons, pointing out some of their favorites along the way. Plus, Fr. Jonathan discusses the time that he accosted Chuck D in a public restroom. Also, recommendations, "This or That," and more!

This week, the crew discusses all things Batman, from the silly to the serious. Why is he so appealing as a pop culture figure? Is he a crusader for justice or vengeance? Where does he get such wonderful toys? And why does Fr. Matt seem to think that Kevin Conroy is edible? We'll discuss all that, plus recommendations and "This or That."

In this episode, the crew discusses the recent announcement from DC about their spring relaunch, plus an all female Avengers book, Fr. Matt's first word, and a whole lot more.

This episode's recommendations: The New 52 Aquaman (DC), Rat Queens (Image).