There's a lot going on right now.

Mounting economic inequality, threats to democracy, environmental disaster, the sour stench of chaos in the air.

I'm Brooke Gladstone, host of WNYC's On the Media.

Want to understand the reasons and the meanings of the narratives that led us here and maybe how to head them off at

the pass, that's on the media's specialty. Take a listen wherever you get your podcasts.

It's Thursday, October 23rd, 2025 from Peachfish Productions.

It's the gist.

I'm Mike Peska.

And I do not like superhero movies.

I could like superhero movies.

They are Greek myths.

And Greek myths are great.

In fact, they were the only kind of stories we had for a long, long time.

But superhero movies, as they're currently executed,

and I also include superhero TV shows in this, are not just bad. They're bad for particular

reasons that make me despair a little bit for storytelling in general. So quick background. My son and I

watched Peacemaker. You want to know why I don't have a cody of supervillains. Why?

My coterie of supervillains is six feet fucking under! There you see, Batman doesn't kill people? Because he's a pussy! He's a dark creature of the night! He's a jackass! Who wrestles with murderers dressed like clowns and throws them in prison! So they can break out of prison and then murder more people. Real me this, how many people you think fat man's indirectly murdered by being too much of a candy ass not to kill these fools who clearly need to be smoked once and for all, you wrinkly, sharp-hay-looking dimension-infested? Fuck! Jesus! I was just trying to make... The John Cena show about a superhero who kills for peace, but really just wants to be worshipped as a hero. It's got some deep themes.

It's written by James Gunn, who's now in charge of the entire DC universe.

Yeah, the universe.

It's all a universe.

Remember we used to have settings?

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