Storybeater

On the occasion of Batman's 80th anniversary, Anthony and Andrew look at how the character has evolved over the decades, and at his contributions to the archetype of the vigilante in fiction.

Why do we keep revisiting Batman's origin story? What makes Gotham unique? Why is Batman's core supporting cast so huge? What are the essential Batman tropes? Where do vigilantes fit in to our moral view of the world? And how do writers approach the tension between "campy Batman" and "macho Batman"?

Anthony and Andrew break it all down, plus they reveal what they're writing and what they're reading!

Is Mary Poppins a protagonist? Is she a witch? Is she mean? Is she a Manic Pixie Dream Girl? Is she fighting the patriarchy and tearing down the Empire?

Anthony and Andrew look at the 1964 Mary Poppins movie and the character of the nanny with the brolly.

Plus, what we're reading and what we're writing!

Storybeater unpacks the literary tropes and traditions surrounding the British folklore hero Robin Hood.

How has Robin Hood evolved? Why is archery a popular skill for heroes? What's the definitive trope of a Robin Hood story? Who is the best Merry Man, why are some Merry Men more iconic than others, and how gay is Will Scarlet? Anthony and Andrew discuss all these questions and more!

Plus, what we're reading and what we're writing!

For this year's special Halloween episode, Anthony and Andrew discuss the tropes and conventions of the slasher genre, including the recently rebooted Halloween movie franchise. The conversation covers the sexual politics of slashers, the appeal of fear in storytelling, the post-modern deconstruction of the genre, and more!

Plus, what we're writing, and what we're reading!

Anthony and Andrew discuss the new Netflix animated show The Dragon Prince and its tropes, characters, and prospects. They also talk about what they're writing, and discuss Spider-Man... and Thomas Mann.

Anthony and Andrew discuss the blockbuster rom-com Crazy Rich Asians and how it compares to the tropes of the genre. They also talk about favourite rom-coms and how the genre has changed over time, and where the future of the rom-com might lie.

As always, Anthony and Andrew also talk about what they're writing and what they're reading!

Anthony & Andrew discuss the new Marvel movie Ant-Man & The Wasp and the second season of Luke Cage on Netflix, and break down the tropes, the villains, the ways the stories use power, and much more. They also discuss whether it's time to stop talking about Marvel all the time!

Plus, what they're writing, and what they're reading, including Yahtzee Croshaw's Jam, and Mackenzi Lee's A Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue.

We're putting a team together. Andrew and Anthony discuss the story beats behind heist movies, with a focus on Ocean's 8 and the other movies in the Ocean's franchise, but also touching on heist movies as different as Topkapi and Lucky Logan.

Plus, what we're reading and what we're writing!

Anthony and Andrew look at the big "season finale" of Marvel Studios' ten year cinematic universe project, Avengers: Infinity War. Does it work as a movie? Does Thanos work as a villain? And what might be next for the MCU? Plus, what we're writing, and what we're reading!

Anthony and Andrew break down what works and what doesn't about the new Lost In Space TV show. Is Parker Posey the Dr Smith we need right now? They also discuss space-based sci-fi, and talk about what they're reading and writing.