A Word: A Multiverse of Problems

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Tv & Film, Arts, Music

4.2 • 2K Ratings

🗓️ 5 January 2024

⏱️ 40 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Comic book films have dominated the box office for a generation, and gave many diverse actors and artists an opportunity to shine. But the genre struggled during 2023, and fans are worried that the golden age has ended for those movies and the culture that inspired them. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by journalist David Betancourt, who covered comic book movies and culture for The Washington Post for more than a decade. They talk about why superhero films may be going through a rough patch, and whether they can rebound. Guest: Journalist David Betancourt, author of The Avengers Assembled: The Origin Story of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola You can skip all the ads in A Word by joining Slate Plus. Sign up now at slate.com/awordplus for $15 for your first three months. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is a word, a podcast from Slate. I'm your host, Jason Johnson. Like gangster movies in the 30s, cowboy movies in the 60s, and vigilante cop movies in the 80s,
0:09.4	superhero and comic book movies have dominated the culture and the box office in the 2000s.
0:14.7	They've turned actors into stars and legends.
0:17.4	It looks like 2023 was the kryptonite to the comic book industry and after years of ongoing success it looks like the genre is at a crossroads.
0:25.0	Am I really inclined to go spend a movie ticket and expensive popcorn to go see that when it's going to be streaming on max in 30, 40 days.
0:33.0	Those are the things you have to think about now.
0:35.0	Is America going through superhero fatigue?
0:37.0	Coming up on a word with me, Jason Johnson.
0:39.6	Stay with us. creative spark again. Maybe this is catching up with creative friends,
0:54.0	experimenting with a new look or trying out a new recipe and thanks to the Sims
0:58.4	inspiration is just one game and one spark away.
1:02.9	Ready to spark something,
1:04.3	download The Sims 4 and play for free.
1:11.7	Embracing the icy crisp winter air, warming your hands with a Starbucks,
1:16.0	wrapping up in snugly layers upon layers.
1:19.0	The signs are all there.
1:21.0	You're entering your cozy era. And there's nothing cozier than the
1:24.4	limited edition Starbucks Arm and Biscotti oat L'late. A new smooth and
1:28.9	warming twist on a classic. Whatever era you're in, find your perfect order in store on Starbucks delivers and the
1:35.6	Starbucks UK app. Subject to availability while stocks last.
1:39.3	Welcome to a word of podcast about race and politics and everything else.
1:46.0	I'm your host, Jason Johnson.
	...

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