Drawing on previous Luke Cage scholarship (2023 and 2024) and various media sources, the paper focuses on how two themes characteristic of his superhero mission, mutual trust and shared obligations, suggest a path forward in the midst of American civil disagreements.

Martin, J. (2023, October). Toward a Developmental Analysis of Superhero Media: Lessons from Wakanda. Guest lecturer for English 1105: Superheroes and Society at Centenary University, Hackettstown, NJ (Pre-Recorded on September 26th, 2023)

• Relevant publication(s): Black Panther (2021), Comics and Citizenship (2023), and Social Superheroes (2024)

Martin, J. (2023, April). Toward a Developmental Analysis of Superhero Media: Lessons from Wakanda. Guest lecturer for Public Philosophy Night at the Spokane Public Library, hosted by Eastern Washington University, Spokane, WA.

• Relevant publication(s): Black Panther (2021), Comics and Citizenship (2023), and Social Superheroes (2024)

These features are explored through analyses rooted in three distinct disciplines and applied to three superheroes whose narratives are often rooted in the communities in which they live: sociology (Daredevil and Hell’s Kitchen), psychology (Black Panther and Wakanda), and citizenship education (Batman and Gotham).

• Martin, J. (2019, April). Wakanda’s wisdom: Agreement, disagreement, and the complexities of social life.  Paper presented at the forty-ninth annual meeting of the Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association, Washington, D.C.

  • Relevant publication(s): Black Panther and Development (2019), Black Panther and Civics (2021)

• Letizia, A., & Martin, J. (2021, June). From super to civil: What Marvel’s Civil War conflict can teach us about society and freedom.  Paper presented at the fiftieth annual meeting of the Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association, Online.

• Martin, J. (2022, April). Cold-Hearted: An analysis of Mr. Freeze through the lens of moral development.  Paper presented at the fifty-first annual meeting of the Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association, Online.

  • Relevant publication(s): Mr. Freeze and Moral Development (2023)

Given the prevalence of superhero media and the general consistency between (1) increasing sociomoral capacities (as implicated in SDT-related findings)...and (2) the broadening of social life contexts inherent within the Washington State’s Grade Level Expectations for Social Studies…, films like Black Panther (2018) that readily portray characters expressing diverse viewpoints may assist educators in their goals of fostering the development of thoughtful, considerate, and respectful citizens.

Martin, J. (2021, February). The many ways of Wakanda: Viewpoint diversity and its implications for civics education.  Presentation for Spokane Public Library’s celebration of Black History Month, Online.

• Relevant publication(s): Black Panther (2021)