Bonus Episode: Iron Man and Responsible Weapon-Wielding

In preparation for The Avengers, Andrew and Frank are examining a few of the major superheroes who will be involved. First up: Iron Man. What does this film series have to say about the nature of power? How is Tony Stark representative of America? Should anybody own Iron Man technology? SHOW NOTES: 0:22 - Intro 4:09 - The irony of America and the idea of an "ultimate weapon" 7:30 - Are there such things as the "right hands"? 11:20 - Comparisons with Thor, the power of the individual vs. institutions 18:54 - At what point do these heroes become too powerful? 20:54 - Can a blockbuster like The Avengers make a radical statement about violence? 23:29 - Closing thoughts 27:30 - Show close DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing [email protected]. Thanks for listening!