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Monday

A bug that jets pee? These comics illustrate nature's real-life superpowers

This panel is from the "Slingshot Spiders" comic that describes the manuscript "Ultrafast launch of slingshot spiders using conical silk webs", published in the journal Current Biology. Lindsey Leigh/Bhamla Lab hide caption

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Lindsey Leigh/Bhamla Lab

Short Wave

A bug that jets pee? These comics illustrate nature's real-life superpowers

Did you know there's an insect that can fling its pee 40 times faster than a cheetah accelerates? We did — thanks to a comic from the Bhamla Lab at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Since 2020, principal investigator Saad Bhamla has been leading the charge to make science more accessible by publishing comics alongside every paper his lab publishes. Today, he introduces Emily to two of the most popular characters — Sheriff Sharpshooter and Captain Cicada — and shares why a comic about butt-flicking insects is a valuable way to take science beyond the lab.

A bug that jets pee? These comics illustrate nature's real-life superpowers

Listen · 12:09
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Friday

U.S. Rep. Robert Garcia to launch a popular arts caucus at Comic-Con

SAN DIEGO, CA - JULY 20: Cosplay characters dressed as Spiderman, pose for pictures along 5th Avenue in the Gaslamp Quarter during Comic Con International in San Diego, California. Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images hide caption

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Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images

Pop Culture

U.S. Rep. Robert Garcia to launch a popular arts caucus at Comic-Con

"When nerds get together, we can do a lot of good things," says U.S. Rep. Robert Garcia who's assembling a Congressional caucus on popular arts like gaming, video and movies.

U.S. Rep. Robert Garcia to launch a popular arts caucus at Comic-Con

Listen · 3:43
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Tuesday

Wednesday

El Peso Hero saves civilians in the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol in a special edition of Héctor Rodríguez's self-published comic book series. The 18-page issue is free, with text in English, Spanish, Ukrainian and Russian.

El Peso Hero saves civilians in the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol in a special edition of Héctor Rodríguez's self-published comic book series. The 18-page issue is free, with text in English, Spanish, Ukrainian and Russian. Héctor Rodríguez hide caption

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Héctor Rodríguez

Ukraine invasion — explained

Mexican American superhero saves Ukrainian civilians in comic book issue

Fed up with Mexico's non-interventionist policy after Russia invaded Ukraine, Héctor Rodríguez sends his Mexican American superhero to Mariupol in the latest issue of the series.

Mexican American superhero saves Ukrainian civilians in comic book issue

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Monday

A Censored Sex Scene In 'Harley Quinn' Sparks Debate On Depictions Of Female Pleasure

As comic book culture and the superhero genre have gone mainstream, changing audiences are now challenging the companies who own their beloved characters over issues like sex positivity. YouTube/Screenshot by NPR hide caption

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YouTube/Screenshot by NPR

Television

A Censored Sex Scene In 'Harley Quinn' Sparks Debate On Depictions Of Female Pleasure

Creators of the HBO Max series Harley Quinn said executives blocked a scene where Batman performs oral sex on Catwoman, sparking a social media conversation about censorship of female pleasure.

A Censored Sex Scene In 'Harley Quinn' Sparks Debate On Depictions Of Female Pleasure

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Monday

A Lifetime Of Finding Peace, Purpose And Voice In The Pages Of Comics
Photo illustration by Claire Harbage/NPR and Paige Vickers for NPR

Fandoms: Identities Shaped By The Things We Love

A Lifetime Of Finding Peace, Purpose And Voice In The Pages Of Comics

Stephanie Williams discovered comics young, drawn early to X-Men, which she saw as an allegory for the persecution of black Americans. An adult now, she co-hosts a podcast about black superheroines.

A Lifetime Of Finding Peace, Purpose And Voice In The Pages Of Comics

Listen · 7:15
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Thursday

Is Wonder Woman Suited To Be A U.N. Ambassador?

A Wonder Woman display at Comic-Con International 2016 shows the evolution of her incredible shrinking costume. Matt Cowan/Getty Images hide caption

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Matt Cowan/Getty Images

Goats and Soda

Is Wonder Woman Suited To Be A U.N. Ambassador?

This Friday the U.N. holds a star-studded ceremony to appoint Wonder Woman its honorary ambassador for the empowerment of women and girls. Many women's rights advocates are in an uproar.

Is Wonder Woman Suited To Be A U.N. Ambassador?

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Sunday

Move Over, Comic Book Guy: Philly Comics Store Prizes Diversity In Its Heroes

Ariell Johnson has combined her love of comic books with a place where people can socialize in her new business, Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse. Jasmin Carroll/Courtesy of Jasmin Carroll hide caption

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Jasmin Carroll/Courtesy of Jasmin Carroll

Race

Move Over, Comic Book Guy: Philly Comics Store Prizes Diversity In Its Heroes

At Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse in Philadelphia, owner Ariell Johnson says diversity isn't just an afterthought. She tells NPR's Michel Martin that new faces keep the heroics interesting.

Move Over, Comic Book Guy: Philly Comics Store Prizes Diversity In Its Heroes

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Monday

Tuesday

Monday

Saturday

Thursday

Paula Deen Comic To Be Published In Fall

The cover of Bluewater Productions' upcoming "Female Force: Paula Deen" comic book. Courtesy of Bluewater Productions hide caption

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Courtesy of Bluewater Productions

The Two-Way

Paula Deen Comic To Be Published In Fall

The celebrity cook has seen her TV shows and corporate sponsorships disappear following reports of her use of racist language. But a publisher who has written a comic about her life is going ahead with its plans — after a short update. Still, "we're not going to flambé her," the publisher says.

Friday

Monday

Opinion

The Two-Way

Look! On The Web! The 'Comic Book Nerd Lawyers!'

The creators of the blog Law and the Multiverse explore the legal issues of the superhero set. They say their dip into the world of fantasy can offer some real-world lessons.

Look! On The Web! The 'Comic Book Nerd Lawyers!'

Listen · 4:43
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