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In honor of one of our favorite Batmen, we talk about the passing of Adam West and the impact he had on the series. We discuss the evolution of the Batman series and his influence in the nerd community. This leads us to a deeper discussion on the role of superheroes and whether they are good role models or not. While noting the potential for comic books to be subversive, we explore the cultural logic, representation, and symbolism behind our favorite superheroes. From the capitalist-libertarian elements of Batman, to the military-industrial complex of Tony Star’s Ironman, to the propaganda of American exceptionalism in Superman and Captain America. We talk about this in the context of the recent Wonder Woman movie and the release of the Black Panther Trailer.
