Supervillains and Philosophy: Sometimes, Evil is its Own Reward (Popular Culture and Philosophy Book 42)

The devil gets his due in the latest entry in the Pop Culture and Philosophy series. Supervillains and Philosophy features an international cabal of philosophers and comics industry professionals conspiring to reveal the dark details — and deeper meanings — lurking behind today’s most popular comic book monsters. Whether it’s their moral justification for world domination or the wavering boundaries they share with the modern anti-hero, everyone's favorite villains generate as much attention as their heroic counterparts. The 20 essays in this accessible book explore the nature of supervillainy, examine the boundaries of good and evil, offer helpful advice to prospective supervillains, and untangle diabolical puzzles of identity and consciousness. All the legends are here, from Dr. Doom and the Spectre to the Joker and the Watchmen, reconsidered through the lens of classic and modern philosophy. Supervillains And Philosophy Features An International Cabal Of Philosophers And Comics Industry Professionals Conspiring To Reveal The Dark Details {u2014} And Deeper Meanings {u2014} Lurking Behind Today{u2019}s Most Popular Comic Book Monsters. Whether It{u2019}s Their Moral Justification For World Domination Or The Wavering Boundaries They Share With The Modern Anti-hero, Everyone's Favorite Villains Generate As Much Attention As Their Heroic Counterparts. The 20 Essays In This Accessible Book Explore The Nature Of Supervillainy, Examine The Boundaries Of Good And Evil, Offer Helpful Advice To Prospective Supervillains, And Untangle Diabolical Puzzles Of Identity And Consciousness. All The Legends Are Here, From Dr. Doom And The Spectre To The Joker And The Watchmen, Reconsidered Through The Lens Of Classic And Modern Philosophy. The Wandering Unwanted / Ben Dyer -- Why Good Help Is Hard To Find / Ron Novy -- Making The A-list / Galen Foresman -- The Siren Song Of Mad Science / Kirby Arinder And Joseph Milton -- V For Villain / Robert Arp -- What Magneto Cannot Choose / Jared Poon -- Bright Colors, Dark Times / Christopher Robichaud -- Mojo's Tribe Has Spoken / J.j. Sylvia Iv And Sean Walters -- Why Doctor Doom Is Better Than The Authority / Andrew Terjesen -- Marvel's Recent Unpleasantness / Libby Barringer -- Who Trusts The Watchmen? / Rafaela Hillerbrand And Anders Sandburg -- New Wars, New Boundaries / John Ostrander -- The Jokers Comedy Of Existence / Daniel Moseley -- Mutation And Moral Community / Noah Levin -- Two Fates For Two-face / Dennis O'neil -- What Limits An All-powerful Being? / Craig Lindahl-urben And Charles Taliaferro -- What's Venom's Poison? / John Matthewson And David Wall -- Drawing A Line In The Sandman / Tim Pickavance -- Brainiac's Brain, Brainiac's Body / Paul Loader. Edited By Ben Dyer. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Contents Acknowledgments The Devils Get Their Due Phase One So You Want to Be a Supervillain . . . 1 The Wandering Unwanted 2 Why Good Help Is Hard to Find 3 Making the A-List 4 The Siren Song of Mad Science Phase Two The Nature of Evil 5 V for Villain 6 What Magneto Cannot Choose 7 Bright Colors, Dark Times 8 Mojo’s Tribe Has Spoken Phase Three Taking Over the World 9 Why Doctor Doom Is Better than The Authority 10 Marvel’s Recent Unpleasantness 11 Who Trusts the Watchmen? 12 New Wars, New Boundaries Phase Four Beyond Good and Evil? 13 The Joker’s Comedy of Existence 14 Mutation and Moral Community 15 Two Fates for Two-Face Phase Five Fiendish Puzzles 16 What Limits an All-Powerful Being? 17 What’s Venom’s Poison? 18 Drawing a Line in the Sandman 19 Brainiac’s Brain, Brainiac’s Body The Rogue’s Gallery Index