In our first episode, we revisit some familiar ground: Professor X and Magneto are often described as reflections of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, but the reality is more complicated. Historian Al Miller traces their origins and examines how these characters and their philosophies evolved from rough Civil Rights metaphors into more nuanced icons of Marvel Comics. We explore how the struggle for justice and safety in America is never simple, with no single vision of what justice should look like or how it is achieved. And we see how these characters continue to reflect that complexity over time.
Show image: Bagel Boy Arts -- https://bsky.app/profile/bagelboyy.bsky.social
Music:
Track: Last Warrior by VensAdams
Track: No Surrender by Ostin
Track: The Last Fight by MelancholicBird
Media sourced:
X-men Film
X2 Film
X-men '97 Cartoon
"Dream Deferred" by Langston Hughes
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