A Word: A Multiverse of Problems

Slate News

Slate Podcasts

News, Politics, News Commentary

4.5 • 6K Ratings

🗓️ 7 January 2024

⏱️ 41 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

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

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

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. The color purple, produced by Oprah Winfrey, Stephen Spielberg, and Quincy Jones.
0:47.0	Now we're talking.
0:49.0	It's time to see the world.
0:51.0	A bold new take on the beloved classic.
0:54.0	Even if we have the part, I have one heart.
0:57.0	From the director of Black Is King, Blitz Bazoula.
1:00.0	You got to stand up.
1:02.0	Nominated for two Golden Globe Awards.
1:04.0	Audiences are hailing it a show-stopping crowd pleaser.
1:07.0	Two tickets, please.
1:09.0	The color purple in cinemas January 26.
1:11.0	What puts the mighty in Macmillan Mighty Hikes?
1:14.9	The adventure with my mates.
1:16.4	All the different emotions you go through.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Slate Podcasts, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Slate Podcasts and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.