Episode 357: The Broken Windows Theory of Avenging

The Overthinkers tackle “Avegners: Age of Ultron,” directed by Joss Whedon and starring Robert Downey, Jr., Mark Ruffalo, Scarlet Johansson, and James Spader’s ominous voice.

otip-logo-podcastoneBen Adams, Peter Fenzel, Mark Lee, John Perich and Matthew Wrather assemble to overthink Avengers: Age of Ultron.

[audio:http://podone.noxsolutions.com/launchpod/overthinkingit/mp3/otip357.mp3]

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Your Panel

Further Reading

11 Comments on “Episode 357: The Broken Windows Theory of Avenging”

  1. David Banuelos #

    Regarding the name “The Avengers,” in the first issue of the Avengers comic, Janet van Dyne, The Wasp, proposed the name Avengers because it was “colorful and dramatic.” It’s been pointed out in the comics several times over the years that it’s really not the most appropriate name, but it is in deed colorful and dramatic.

    Reply

      • Three Act Destructure #

        “We’ll fight together, or separately depending on who’s punching whom on the cover this month!”

        Reply

      • Chimalpahin #

        I love that the Hulk just became the Mr. T of this A(vengers)-Team

        Reply

    • ScholarSarah #

      Further, Wanda and Pietro start off trying to avenge their parents, and only become Avengers when they give up trying to avenge and join the mission to protect the civilians of Sokovia.

      Reply

  2. Chimalpahin #

    Hmmm concerning the Vision and his creation, what do y’all think about the divine aspect of his creation. After all he’s a creation of the secular world and literally born thru divine lightning. Ultron himself seems to have a fascination with religion despite more or less being a secular construction, the tessaract notwithstanding. He brings up Noah in his colony drop operation, no doubt Ultron watched a bunch of Mobile Suit Gundam beforehand

    He reminds me a bit of Dr. Manhattan, specifically the final confrontation with Ultron with the Rorschach-Dr. Manhattan “showdown”

    Reply

  3. Adrian #

    I’ve always loved that, by the nature of his costume and codename, everything Captain America does is imbued with symbolic weight and significance. It’s not just a superhero doing this, it is AMERICA doing this. Much is also made of the fact that he doesn’t carry a weapon, he carries a SHIELD, and this is evidence that he is a good person who is pure of heart, and by extension America is good also.

    What struck me while watching this movie in particular is that this inevitably leads to a whole lot of Captain America hitting people with his shield, which is just hilarious. And is in fact an even more perfect representation of my country, and its actions at home and abroad, bringing you aid and protection, by force if need be, whether you like it or not.

    This movie also made me really want to see a Ruffalo-led solo Hulk movie, but whether that is the story of the Maestro or of Planet Hulk, I leave to better men to decide. Though I will just mention that Planet Hulk contains a scene where Hulk has a gladiatorial fight against the Silver Surfer, who straps his board to his arm and uses it as a shield, which is just to coolest, stupidest, most awesome thing I am capable of imagining this morning.

    Reply

    • Adrian #

      Though shouldn’t his final scene in the plane have been him as Banner? I would think it would be Banner making the decision to quarantine his hulk-self from the world. Plus the image of Hulk calmly sitting in a cockpit and using a touch screen is just jarring.

      Reply

      • Adrian #

        OH OH ALSO ALSO Stark calling the Hulkbuster armor “Veronica” is totally a reference to Archie comics right? Given that Hulk’s canonical girlfriend in the comics and in both his movies is named Betty?

        Reply

        • Chimalpahin #

          I was wondering why it was called V.E.R.O.N.I.C.A…. *I bet it’s a wacky acronym*

          Reply

  4. Chimalpahin #

    Also on the name, I think there’s a bit of a disconnect with the movie and its various source materials. The first Avengers movie is for all intents and purposes an adaptation of The Ultimates, what witht he Chitauri and Loki; but without all the Avengers being *ssh*l*s, and with misc. Avengers comics pls animated shows thrown in. In that book they’re called the Ultimates, as in the last line of defense, also Ultimate seems to be used more often than not as a synonym with super or mega. I think they were called Avengers back in the day because it sounded cool and hip

    Reply

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