The Avengers and Philosophy: Earths Mightiest Thinkers

Can a reformed criminal become a superhero?

What are the military ethics of the Kree–Skrull war?

Is Hank Pym morally responsible for Ultron′s behavior?

Can Kang really go back in time and kill himself?

Can an android love a human?

Avengers assemble! Confronting your most essential philosophicalquestions about Earth′s Mightiest Heroes, this powerful book willvanquish any confusion you may have regarding the many issues andconflicts involving your favorite band of superheroes and theircrime–fighting adventures. Enlisting the help of an A–list team ofhistory′s most prominent thinkers including Aristotle, John Locke,and Immanuel Kant, this book tackles the dilemmas no single greatphilosopher can withstand, whether in The Avengers comics, film, oranimated television series. Armed with the insights and reflectionsof these formidable minds, you′ll understand Captain America, IronMan, Thor, and the other members of Marvel′s all–star superheroteam as never before, no matter where the quest for justice leadsthem next.

To learn more about the Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Cultureseries, visit www.andphilosophy.com

PART ONE WHAT WOULD AN AVENGER DO?

1 Superhuman Ethics Class with the Avengers Prime 5
Mark D. White

2 Shining the Light on the Dark Avengers 18
Sarah Donovan and Nick Richardson

3 The Avengers: Earth s Mightiest Family 28
Jason Southworth and Ruth Tallman

PART TWO WHO IS AN AVENGER?

4 Superhero Identity: Case Studies in the Avengers 43
Stephen M. Nelson

5 I Am Made of Ink: She–Hulk and Metacomics 57
Roy T. Cook

6 The Self–Corruption of Norman Osborn: A Cautionary Tale71
Robert Powell

PART THREE SHOULD THE AVENGERS DO MORE THAN AVENGE?

7 Forgivers Assemble! 83
Daniel P. Malloy

8 Gods, Beasts, and Political Animals: Why the Avengers Assemble98
Tony Spanakos

9 Cap s Kooky Quartet: Is Rehabilitation Possible?113
Andrew Terjesen

PART FOUR DO THE AVENGERS EVER GO TOO FAR?

10 Fighting the Good Fight: Military Ethics and the Kree–SkrullWar 131
Christopher Robichaud

11 Secrets and Lies: Compromising the Avengers Values forthe Good of the World 142
Louis P. Melançon

12 The Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D.: The Problem with ProactiveSuperheroics 154
Arno Bogaerts

PART FIVE WHAT KIND OF WORLD DO THE AVENGERS LIVE IN?

13 Can Kang Kill His Past Self? The Paradox of Time Travel171
Andrew Zimmerman Jones

14 No Other Gods Before Me : God, Ontology, andEthics in the Avengers Universe 183
Adam Barkman

15 Love Avengers Style: Can an Android Love a Human? 194
Charles Klayman

16 The Way of the Arrow: Hawkeye Meets the Taoist Masters204
Mark D. White

APPENDIX: Why Are There Four Volumes of Avengers?217

CONTRIBUTORS: Avengers Academy 221

INDEX: From Jarvis s Secret Files 227