By Matthew Brake [Beware Spoilers!] In 2016, DC Comics, particularly writer Geoff Johns, made a bold move and tamped with one of the most sacred cows in comic book fandom—Watchmen. After the initial success of the New 52 reboot, which saw DC Comics do away with years of complicated backstory in order to draw in…
Author: matthewbrake84
Evil and the Bat: Part Two: Free Will’s Confrontation with Time and Destiny
By Raymond Lam (Read Part One of this blog series here) In my first entry, I attempted to explain how the theology of the DC Universe came to be (over a decade between 2008 and 2018) defined by the metaphysical conflict between Batman, DC’s ultimate human archetype or ideal, and Darkseid, who serves as not…
EXTENDED Call for Papers: Theology and Spider-Man
Call for Papers: Theology and Spider-Man Volume Editor: George Tsakiridis, PhD Abstract and CV Due: December 30, 2019 Final Paper Due: May 1, 2020 He’s the classic superhero of the Marvel age: Spider-Man. Marvel comics wouldn’t be the titan of content it is without him. He’s been portrayed in multiple comic books, television series, and…
Call for Papers: The Theological World of Harry Potter
Call for Papers: The Theological World of Harry Potter Editors: Taylor J. Ott (Fordham University) and Shaun Brown (Villa Maria College) Theology and Pop Culture is currently seeking contributions for an edited volume from Rowman and Littlefield on the intersection of theology and Harry Potter. Essays should prioritize the books but may include or concentrate…
Good, Evil, and Boredom in Good Omens
By John MacDonald This article examines the theology/literary sources of the TV show Good Omens from the point of view of the theological/existential/cultural problem of boredom, especially as developed by Ecclesiastes, Søren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche. Starting around 18:38 of Good Omens Season 1, Episode 6, Beelzebub says to Adam Young, “When it’s over, you’re going to…
Monsters and Saints: Stranger Things Meets Daniel 7
Our friend, Rev. Dr. Leah D. Schade over at EcoPreacher has written a piece on Stranger Things I thought was worth sharing here: “Monsters are mythical creatures symbolizing that which terrifies and terrorizes us. Whether it’s the Demogorgon of Stranger Things, or Grendel in the medieval story of Beowulf, or the beast with ten horns…
Lady Gaga, Blood Mary, and Mary Magdalene
By Princess O’Nika Auguste Lady Gaga’s second full-length studio album, Born this Way is a true gospel album. From the album’s title track focused around the message that we are all created by God as we are (regardless of race, sexuality or gender) to songs with titles like “Black Jesus+Amen”, Born this Way is replete…
How the Liberal Reception of Joker Feels Evangelical
By Danny Anderson Who is the protagonist of Todd Phillips’ Joker? Much of the controversy surrounding the film hinges on this question. Many of its detractors accuse the film of casting the maniacal arch villain as hero in a Batman-less world. Their criticism is often grounded in a fear the film will inspire desperate members…
Call for Papers: Moral Theology and the World of Walt Disney
Editor: Jeremy E. Scarbrough (scarbrj@phsc.edu) Theology and Pop Culture is seeking contributions for a potential edited volume on Moral Theology and the Musical World of Walt Disney, to be published by Lexington Books/Fortress Academic, an imprint of Rowman and Littlefield. The significant contributions of Walt Disney Studios in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries—to our overall…
“I want to tell you a different story”: Hope Parallels in The Walking Dead and The Resurrection
By Justin Martin *Warning: minor spoilers for Seasons 2, 4, 5, and 9. “Why is he up there addressing the people like that?” This was one of my first thoughts when I saw Siddiq on stage addressing the people of the kingdom (Season 9, Episode 15), arguably the most devastating loss among The Walking Dead…
Pop Culture and Theology 