Eric Marcotte - Comic Philosophy

Reupping the compilation of all the kind things comics creator have said about my site here: comicphilosophy.com/w6cg I truly appreciate everything you do to make this medium so dynamic and rewarding. A rich treasure-trove of moral philosophy!

This is essentially virtue ethics for writers! It eloquently expresses the limitations of LLMs for feedback (something I've noted in my essays on ethics and AI) and makes a compelling case for the collective practice of critiques in being a better writer (rather than creating a better product).

My favorite comics panel from last week was in the Matt Fraction & Rossi Gifford short in Batman: Bad Seeds - Streets of Gotham. An example of moral relativism/subjectivism, like I explain here: comicphilosophy.com/qtbg Subsequent pages clarify a moral constructivist intent, which is more defensible

Re-upping in honor of the first trade ('Fire') of #fmlcomix coming out soon. Buy it! What an outstanding series by @kellysue.bsky.social and @davidlopez.me comicphilosophy.com/mg44

With the launch of Marvel's VisionQuest series, now is a great time to refresh on moral philosophy behind the Vision: comicphilosophy.com/8rur My ethics overview draws heavily on the outstanding comics series by @tomking.bsky.social and Gabriel Hernandez Walta, exploring free will vs determinism.

This is a great essay, really on point for why group identity breaks down when ideology is composed of disparate facets. FYI, I provide a brief intro on Rawls and the moral basis of social justice in my recent Drome ethics review: comicphilosophy.com/oxng

My comicphilosophy.com site has been greatly enhanced by the artistic compositions of Pablo Alcalde pabloalcaldef.wordpress.com - and the cast of philosophers and superheroes he has developed. comicphilosophy.com/a3wc In this interview, I query Pablo on his background, influences, and process.

Add "for Tax Purposes" to a movie: Inherit the Wind, for Tax Purposes

It really is - with tons of thoughtful philosophy to chew on. I feel like I only scratched the surface in my review: comicphilosophy.com/oxng

Drome by @jesselonergan.bsky.social deserves all the awards and praise it is getting! This creation myth story hits all the big beats of normative ethics, along with some interesting takes on social structures ethics. Check out my moral philosophy overview of it here: comicphilosophy.com/oxng

Reminder The Power Cut fanzine likes you as a friend ....

What does it mean to be “worthy”? After 800 issues of Thor, we finally have a clear answer thanks to @kierongillen.bsky.social and Declan Shalvey. In a 5-page short in the current issue #14 of The Mortal Thor, Gillen articulates a compelling virtue ethics take on ../1 comicphilosophy.com/qnm0

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My comicphilosophy.com site has been greatly enhanced by the artistic compositions of Pablo Alcalde pabloalcaldef.wordpress.com - and the cast of philosophers and superheroes he has developed. comicphilosophy.com/a3wc In this interview, I query Pablo on his background, influences, and process.

Not surprised to see this, given the quality of the writing is still up there. And I love @thewarblazer.bsky.social artwork in this latest run. Check out my Moon Knight ethics overview for a full character history: comicphilosophy.com/index.php/20...

Happy Batman day!

My favorite panel from last week's comics was by @al-ewing.bsky.social and @damess.bsky.social in Challenges of Doom: Spider-Man #1 In this first meeting with Doom, Spidey alludes to the famous Trolley Problem in ethics. Read more about its application in comics here: comicphilosophy.com/hx3l

An interesting and thoughtful commentary about using the feminist dystopian comic Bitch Planet in educational settings. Well worth the read, including the full roundtable (link at the end).

The Power Cut #3 is out today! This fanzine is dedicated the The Power Fantasy comics by @kierongillen.bsky.social and @casparw.bsky.social I have a fun neuroscience piece in it: How to lose friends and influence people – Etienne’s plan to make humanity better (p. 55-64) comicphilosophy.com/yoxx

What's in this issue? Glad I pretended you asked. We have ETHICS. We have truly never been more ethical, including a guest essay from @comicphilosophy.bsky.social and a roundtable of chin-stroking about whether a certain plan to save the world could ever have worked, and if it had, been moral.

This is an interesting article, and I'm not just saying that because I'm referred to as a "modern Batman writer" in it. Though that is nice.

This is where I post from

Some kind words about my review: "Your deconstruction and explanation was fantastic. I really enjoyed your analysis as “Sleep” is a wonderfully atmospheric and intricate book. Your breakdown truly captured the nuances of how the narrative and visual cues work together." -C @zandercannon.bsky.social

Good introduction to a particularly dark chapter in superhero comics. I provide more context on Shooter and Claremont's involvement in this fiasco in my ethics overview of Captain Marvel: comicphilosophy.com/index.php/59wz

Nice to see a thoughtful normative ethics analysis in the popular press for a superhero character.

Batman’s moral philosophy has always shown aspects of all three branches of normative ethics – often at the same time! In this overview I cover the evolution of his ethics (and no-kill rule) in the comics, profiling historic writers like O’Neil, Miller, Moore, Cooke... 1/3 comicphilosophy.com/qdye

Latest artwork from the incredibly talented Pablo Alcalde (pabloalcaldef.wordpress.com) for my comicphilosophy.com site. Pablo nailed the assignment as always - I love the background colors!

Good overview of this event, although I would have ranked it higher in my personal pantheon. I did a full analysis of the Progenitor's judgment system, if anyone is curious about the ethics of Gillen's event: comicphilosophy.com/7do2

An absolutely fascinating reframing of my recent Image series SLEEP (now collected in hardcover and TPB) that names and weighs the various moral philosophies at play in both the protagonist's and the townsfolk's actions. A very cool analysis of something I only meant to be a ripping yarn!

Useful hack below. My Pi-hole at home blocks the vast majority of bloat, but just awful trying to access fandom wiki sites on my phone when out.

Great deal for Supergirl fans - 29 series, for only $25 CDN! Includes the excellent King & Evely Woman of Tomorrow series I have just reviewed: comicphilosophy.com/tc4d I love Humble Bundles, great way to digitally collect series.

This is most succinct and accurate depiction of King & Evely's series I've read. Great to see accounts like this on Bsky! #supergirl Their piece alludes well to the series' ethics that I describe in detail on my site: comicphilosophy.com/tc4d

DC's DREAM GIRLS just wrapped up - such a great series! Kudos to @planetx.bsky.social @nicoleamaines.bsky.social and all their artistic collaborators on this moving and compelling story. Updated my Dream Girls ethics overview with an epilogue and some additional resources comicphilosophy.com/a1h2

Another great issue of Dream Girls 3 by @planetx.bsky.social @nicoleamaines.bsky.social & @brandtandstein.com Loved seeing Taylor take back her power - and deciding where to stick it! Can't wait to add an epilogue to my review when done ... hoping for a Nia + Jon ending! 🤞🤞 comicphilosophy.com/a1h2

Without stating your age, post a movie that released when you turned 18.

Very good read on how best to revitalize Doctor Who. At the risk of over-simplifying, largely boils down to restarting as Nu Who did, but making sure to include some classic elements. As a fan of the show during both time periods (my adolescence and middle-age), that has the right ring to me.

Want to learn more about the ethics of DC's Dream Girls? comicphilosophy.com/a1h2 Dreamer and Galaxy are two of the best new characters in the DCU, and are front-lining this year's outstanding Pride event series. Created with great care by @nicoleamaines.bsky.social and @planetx.bsky.social

Just received my original art by the great @casparw.bsky.social from issue #1 of The Power Fantasy! Amazed any of these were left. Happy to snag this page. Scene is so meaningful between Etienne and Valentina, so much captured in subtle expression shifts. kineticcollectibles.com/collections/...