The dynamic duo of Robbie Landis and Ben Morse is back once again for another episode of the Other Identity. The Other Identity is a podcast dedicated to exploring the culture birthed by comic books. This week Robbie and Ben catch up on what they’ve been doing during Quarantine. They also talk about a classic Batman story, the Killing Joke. Plus, heroes don’t kill, but should they or is that an outdated concept?
With the continued Quarantine due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Robbie and Ben remained committed to their reading challenges. Both Robbie and Ben are working through a reading list for DC Comics Rebirth Era. Ben has just finished his Read of the Supermen, revisiting the classic issues of Reign of the Superman. Ben is deciding what his next reading challenge should be and you can help me decide by visiting him on twitter at @BenJMorse.
The Killing Joke is one of Batman’s most iconic stories. Robbie and Ben wonder if it’s really as great as it’s remembered, or could it have been stronger if it focused more on another character? It also brings them to an interesting discussion. Is the idea of heroes not killing an outdated concept? When does it work and when does it detract from the hero and from the story? They discuss some of the heroes it works best for as well as the heroes who it doesn’t work out so well for. Be sure to visit us on social media and let us know what you think! Should heroes under no circumstances ever kill? Or does it depend on the story being told?