Ockham, 2025 | Order from Amazon
From the back cover:
Reed Richards, Susan Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm: four adventurers transformed by a cosmic accident into Mr. Fantastic, the Invisible Woman, the Human Torch, and the Thing, together known as Marvel Comics’ first family, the Fantastic Four. From their first appearance in 1961, these four heroes became not only the foundation of the Marvel Universe in the comics but also the stars of numerous animated series and live-action movies.
Ethics of the Fantastic Four continues the team’s tradition of exploration into the philosophical realm by delving into the moral philosophy behind the main characters, their friends and fellow heroes, and their enemies, based on over sixty years of comics history. After an introduction to the team and the ethical concepts used in the book, we take a closer look at specific features of the four key members, including Reed’s oversized sense of responsibility, Sue’s multifaceted strength, Johnny’s dangerous powers, and Ben’s self-loathing. In later chapters we discuss how each of the four reacted differently to the superhero Civil War; the moral status of Galactus and the complicity of his herald, the Silver Surfer; and the team’s greatest and most complicated foe, Doctor Doom, who combines great insecurity and vanity with a presumption to honor and generosity.
Written in an easygoing style that can be read by newcomers to either philosophy or comics, Ethics of the Fantastic Four is a marvelous companion to the adventures of the team in comics, animation, and film.
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Writing this book was a dream come true. As much as I love the rest of the heroes I've written about, especially Captain America and Batman, the Fantastic Four are my favorite (especially Ben).
I will have much more to say about the book soon, but for the time being, I wrote a little about what makes the Fantastic Four special to me in a couple places:
- My Year with the Fantastic Four (at The Cultural Gutter)
- The Fantastic Four: Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts (at Psychology Today)
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1: Overview of the Fantastic Four and Moral Philosophy
The Virtues of the Fantastic Four
What Is the Fantastic Four… For?
Doin’ the Right Thing
This Tragic Choice, This Trolley Problem
Chapter 2: Reed Richards (Mister Fantastic)
With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility
It Happened One Night
Responsibility for Everybody… Well, Almost
A Responsible Conclusion
Chapter 3: Sue Storm-Richards (The Invisible Woman)
“Strength”? Really?
The Indomitable Woman
Moral Strength
More Than Meets the Eye
Chapter 4: Johnny Storm (The Human Torch)
The Johnny We Think We Know
Warning: Very Flammable
Trauma and Tragedy
Can a Hero Be… Too Heroic?
Chapter 5: Ben Grimm (The Thing)
Why Everyone Loves Ben
The Ever Self-Loathin’ Thing
The Romance of Alicia and Ben
A Happy Ending?
Chapter 6: Civil War
Superhero Registration Before the Civil War
Hero Against Hero
The Law Is the Law… Or Is It?
Do the Ends Justify Reed?
What About Ben?
Chapter 7: Galactus and the Silver Surfer
Is Galactus “Above Morality”?
The Purpose of Devouring
The Tragic Choice of the Silver Surfer
Surfing a New Path, Thanks to Alicia
Finding New Purpose
Chapter 8: Doctor Doom
Humble Beginnings
Do the Scars Doom the Man?
His Greatest Fear
“Richards!”
Was Doom Always the Hero?
Questions of Honor
The Summation of Doom