| dc.description.abstract | This thesis is a comparative analysis of Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight (2008), Anthony and Joe Russo’s Avengers: Endgame (2019), and Alan Moore and Dave Gibbon’s graphic novel Watchmen (1987) which aims to investigate the tenuous difference between superheroes and supervillains and to explain why the “good guy / bad guy”- narrative is inadequate to thoroughly understand these types of characters. I have divided the topic into three chapters, each featuring a superhero story and will discuss the good and evil actions of the hero and villain, mainly from the perspective of the doctrine of utilitarianism. The first chapter examines the relationship between Batman and The Joker, two iconic characters in the superhero genre, as well as actions and other aspects that illustrate their similarities and differences. The second chapter discusses superhero ensemble the Avengers and the supervillain Thanos, and discusses what could be seen as problematic about their actions. Finally, the third chapter analyzes the two characters Rorschach and Ozymandias, and how the ultimate goal of the villain proves to be good, and the problematic aspects of questioning the decisions of superheroes. | |
