Black Panther vs Wonder Woman

Summary

Smash Boom Best: Black Panther vs. Wonder Woman

Podcast: Smash Boom Best — Brains On Universe
Episode Date: March 26, 2026
Host: Molly Bloom
Judge: Lola
Debaters:

• Tiffany Smith (for Wonder Woman)
• Aron Woldeslassie (for Black Panther)

---

Episode Overview

This episode of Smash Boom Best features a heated and hilarious debate between two of the most iconic comic book superheroes: Black Panther and Wonder Woman. Hosted by Molly Bloom and judged by triple-threat Lola, the debate is packed with facts, passionate arguments, clever comebacks, and plenty of laughs. Debaters Tiffany Smith and Aron Woldeslassie battle through four structured rounds, each championing their hero in hopes of earning the coveted title of "Smash Boom Best." Along the way, listeners are taught valuable debate techniques—including how to spot logical fallacies—and are encouraged to keep score and make their own decision.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction & Meet the Judge

• Judge Lola: A Minneapolis student involved in theater, longboarding, and pet care is introduced (2:23–3:26).
• Fun Fact: Lola is currently starring as Persephone in the high school’s production of Hadestown.

---

2. Round 1: Declaration of Greatness

Each debater delivers an immersive, creative argument for their hero; then, the opponent rebuts.

Black Panther — Declaration by Aron Woldeslassie (4:48–8:49)

• Leadership & Genius: Black Panther is king of Wakanda, a skilled leader and a certified genius, rivaling Tony Stark and Reed Richards.
• Wakandan Tech: Access to ultra-advanced technology (vibranium suit, tech-laden gadgets, hologram movies, etc.).
• Top-Tier Team: Supported by his sister Shuri, the fierce Dora Milaje, and a nation of scientists and warriors.
• Trailblazing Representation: Black Panther film highlighted black heroes on the big screen, inspiring kids worldwide.
• Notable Quote (8:49):

  "So if you ask me how long I'd like to stay, I'll say in Wakanda, forever." — Aron

Judge's Reaction (8:57–9:17)

• Lola praises Black Panther’s versatile excellence: “He’s king and like a superhero at the same time, which—the time management skills must be incredible.”

Wonder Woman — Rebuttal by Tiffany Smith (9:27–9:56)

• Points out Wonder Woman’s Amazonian army and universal appeal, framing Wonder Woman as the ultimate symbol of girl power.

Black Panther — Rebuttal by Aron (9:58–10:22)

• Emphasizes that “Black Panther is a title that's been held by women before. Like his sister Shuri.”
• Highlights the key role of the Dora Milaje.

Wonder Woman — Rebuttal Part 2 by Tiffany Smith (10:22–10:40)

• Stresses that Wonder Woman “has a closer connection to us as humans” by spending time in the human world.

---

Wonder Woman — Declaration by Tiffany Smith (13:46–18:42)

• Iconic Role Model: Describes how Tiffany’s mom introduced her to Wonder Woman as a child.
• Powerful Origin: Greek demi-goddess with centuries of training, divine gifts, and an arsenal including bulletproof bracelets, tiara, and the Lasso of Truth.
• Uniqueness: Can talk to animals—even dinosaurs!
• UN Recognition: Named an official UN Ambassador for women's empowerment, plus her own stamp.
• Lead with Heart: “She’s powerful, but her greatest strengths are her heart and her mind. [...] She often stops villains just with her wits rather than brute force.” (18:05)
• Notable Moment: Comedy skit with Zeus and “Evil Tony” (Molly Bloom and Aron voicing) demonstrates Wonder Woman’s powers.

Judge's Reaction (18:49–19:06)

• Lola is wowed by Wonder Woman’s multitude of powers: “Wonder Woman can talk to animals, which, ever since I was little, that's always the super power...that I would have picked.”

Black Panther — Rebuttal by Aron (19:18–19:48)

• Critiques Wonder Woman for having “too many powers” and being the “original Nepo baby” (daughter of Zeus).
• Questions the usefulness of talking to dinosaurs.

Wonder Woman — Rebuttal by Tiffany Smith (19:48–20:29)

• Responds that multitasking is a strength, and Wonder Woman’s relationships with gods help her address divine threats.
• Stresses her relatability: “She’s both. Listen, I'm a mixed kid and Wonder Woman's a mixed kid, and it makes perfect sense to me.” (20:36)

---

3. Round 2: The Micro Round — Fact Off (24:29–28:10)

Each debater presents three fascinating facts:

Wonder Woman’s Facts

• Worked at Taco Whiz, embracing “feeding people as noble and gratifying work” (24:50–25:30)
• Based on real suffragette women and her creator’s wife—who also co-created the lie detector (25:50–26:29)
• Sent villainesses to “Transformation Island” to rehabilitate them, not just punish them (26:56–27:34)

Black Panther’s Facts

• Married Storm from the X-Men—a superpower couple (25:30–25:50)
• Joined top teams: Avengers, Fantastic Four, Illuminati—always the first pick for super-teams (26:31–26:56)
• First black superhero in mainstream comics; Marvel briefly tried renaming him “Black Leopard” (27:34–28:04)

Judge Lola on Fact Off: “So many interesting facts that I didn't know about before, like how t'Challa married Storm...and how Wonder Woman is based, like, on a real movement, like by the suffragettes.” (28:14–28:34)

---

4. Round 3: Sneak Attack — Haiku for You (29:32–30:31)

Black Panther Haiku — Aron (30:01)

"Panther Kings fight crime
Lead nations like no other
And have cool metal"

Wonder Woman Haiku — Tiffany (30:22)

"Amazon warrior
Lasso burning bright with truth
Peace forged through her strength"

— Both poems are praised, making Lola’s choice “really hard.”

---

5. Round 4: Final Six Words (31:13–31:33)

Wonder Woman (Tiffany):

“Wonder Woman, strength, truth, and wisdom.”

Black Panther (Aron):

“Black Panther King, champion cat person.”

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Aron (Black Panther): “I cannot wait to be in the land of a hero who’s a powerful, fair leader, who uses the coolest tech, who has the toughest team, and who’s inspired kids around the world.” (8:27)
• Tiffany (Wonder Woman): “She may be the child of Greek gods, but she’s always there for us as humans. She’s powerful, but her greatest strengths are her heart and her mind.” (18:05)
• Aron, on Wonder Woman: “Her real superpower is just not thinking of, like, a very specific superpower.” (19:18)
• Tiffany's witty retort: “Women are notoriously great at multitasking, and Wonder Woman is no different.” (19:48)
• Judge Lola, on animal-talking: “That's always the super power...that I would have picked.” (18:49)

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [04:48] — Black Panther declaration
• [09:27] — Wonder Woman rebuttal
• [13:46] — Wonder Woman declaration
• [19:18] — Black Panther rebuttal
• [24:29] — Micro Round: Fact Off
• [29:32] — Sneak Attack: Haiku
• [31:13] — Final Six Words
• [31:53] — Drumroll and winner reveal
• [32:32] — Mutual praise and wrap-up

---

Episode Results

Winner:

• Black Panther — by a single point, after a razor-close contest! (31:57)

  “It was really, REALLY close, though. It came down to the final point.” — Lola (31:57–32:04)

Final Reflections:

• Both debaters praise each other’s heroes, highlighting the importance of representation and the inspiring qualities of both characters.
• Tiffany beautifully concludes:

  “What I love so much about both these characters is...More people can see themselves in comics and in superheroes, and that's so important." (32:39)

---

Additional Fun

• "State of Debate" segment (22:01–24:00): A lesson on the “bandwagon fallacy”—illustrated with a silly hockey skit.
• Listener debate idea: Harry Potter vs. Marvel (24:07–24:21)
• Heartfelt family shout-outs from all three—Aron, Tiffany, and Lola (33:32–34:27).

---

Summary

This episode of Smash Boom Best was a dynamic, family-friendly crash course in respectful, fact-driven debate, with each hero’s distinct virtues and social impact given center stage. Ultimately, Black Panther eked out a narrow victory, but the episode’s true winners are listeners, who walk away with new knowledge, fresh perspectives, and an inspiring appreciation for what makes both characters legendary.

Vote for your favorite at smashboom.org!

Transcript

[Molly Bloom]

Hi, friends. You might have heard that Bark Sandin and I are on the road this spring with Brains On Live. We've been to several cities so far and it has been so much fun. Our next two stops are Atlanta and Fort Lauderdale. That's at the end of March. And then we just announced that we added Lawrence, Kansas in May and Columbus, Ohio in June. We're also heading to Chattanooga, Durham, Milwaukee, Portland, Buffalo, and Ann Arbor, Michigan. We hope you'll be able to join us at one of those shows. We can't wait to see you. To get tickets and get more information, you can head to brainson.org events. That's brainson.org events.

[Lola]

Brains on universe.

[Molly Bloom]

Have you heard the news? Smashboom Best is now independent. We're so excited to be back with an epic new season. And it's all thanks to our Smarty Pass members. They're the big hearted helpers who power us by joining. @smartypass.org you can be one of them. Your support helps pay our debaters and sound designers so we can keep making the fun and fact filled shows your family loves. Plus, you get ad free versions of all of our shows. Bonus stuff and access to virtual hangs with me. Marvel again. That's smartypass.org thank you, thank you, thank you. Now on with the show.

[Tiffany Smith]

From the brains behind Brains On, It's

[Lola]

Smash Boom Best, the show for people with big opinions.

[Molly Bloom]

Hi, I'm Molly Bloom and this is Smash Boom Best, the show where we take two things, smash them together, and ask you to decide which one is best. Today, we're pitting two iconic comic book characters against each other. It's Black Panther versus Wonder Woman Woman. Both are super powerful. Both have starred in super movies. But only one can win this super debate. Here to go wild for Wonder Woman is actor Tiffany Smith.

[Tiffany Smith]

Hey, everybody. I am absolutely ready to lasso this debate. And I'm just gonna say it now. That's the absolute truth.

[Molly Bloom]

Mm. And bringing it for Black Panther is comedian and producer Otto and Woldeslassie.

[Aron]

Bow before the power of the Black Panther.

[Molly Bloom]

Ooh, it's a bird. It's a plane. It' Judge Lola from Minneapolis. They have a pet rabbit named Hopper and three cats, Walter, Lumpy and Fiona. Lola loves longboarding and reading the Hunger Games books and is a triple threat on the stage. Welcome to the show, Lola. Hi. Okay, please tell me, what does it mean that you're a triple threat?

[Lola]

I can sing, dance and act.

[Molly Bloom]

Incredible. What productions are you in these days?

[Lola]

Right now, at my high school I'm in Hadestown. I'm playing Persephone.

[Molly Bloom]

Incredible. That's an amazing part. So you also have a rabbit and three cats?

[Lola]

Yeah.

[Molly Bloom]

Do they get along?

[Lola]

The cats don't know the rabbit exists.

[Molly Bloom]

Okay.

[Lola]

But the cats get along with each other.

[Molly Bloom]

That's good. Does the rabbit know that cats exist?

[Lola]

I think he kind of does. They meow a lot and so the

[Molly Bloom]

rabbit's kind of like, oh, I hear some friends or maybe enemies we don't know. But they don't know each other, so it's fine.

[Lola]

Exactly.

[Molly Bloom]

So longboarding sounds very cool. Can you tell me what it is and how you do it?

[Lola]

So basically, longboarding, it's like skateboarding, except not as crazy, like jump tricks. There's more of like you are on the board and then you run to the side of the board. It's really, really cool. I highly recommend looking up some videos.

[Molly Bloom]

Very, very cool. Will Lola pick Wonder Woman for the win or will they decide Black Panther is best? Let's find out. But first, here are the rules. Every debate consists of four. The declaration of greatness, the micro round, the sneak attack, and the final six. After each round, our judge, Lola will award points to the team that impresses them the most. But they'll keep their decisions top secret until the end of the debate. Listeners, we want you to judge too. Mark down your points as you listen. At the end of the show, head to our website, smashboom.org and vote for whichever team you think won't. Okay. Aron, Tiffany and Lola, are you ready?

[Lola]

I think so.

[Tiffany Smith]

I am so ready.

[Aron]

Let's do it.

[Molly Bloom]

Then it's time for the declaration of greatness. In this round, our debaters will present a well crafted, immersive argument in favor of their side. Then they'll each have 30 seconds to rebut their opponent's statements. We flipped a coin and Aron, you're up first. Tell us why you think Black Panther is. Is the superhero supreme? Please prepare for takeoff.

[Aron]

Buckle up, the flight is about to start. Where are we going? Wakanda, Home of Black Panther. I know, I know. It's notoriously hard to get an invite, but once I told them it was for smash room best, they sent me this private jet to pick me up. You see, Black Panther has resources. He's the king of the African nation, Wakanda. And his real name is t'. Challa. And he's battled baddies and led a country in comics, cartoons and movies for over 60 years. Which is reason number one. He's the best. He's more than a hero. He's a leader. Sometimes that means going punch for a punch with a supervillain. Other times it means working with presidents and prime ministers or settling squabbles between different groups. In Wakanda, people trust him because he's a noble and dedicated and fair guy. Doesn't hurt that he's a certifiable genius matching wits with the likes of Tony Stark and Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four.

[Molly Bloom]

If you would like a beverage or snack, simply describe what you want and our Michelin star rated food generator will prepare it for you.

[Aron]

Amazing. This plane has it all. Seats with built in leg massagers. Ah, an epic sound system. I feel the bass in my bones. And instead of little screens, you watch movies as high definition holograms projected out of cameo beads. It's all Wakandan technology. Which brings me to my next point. Black Panther has the coolest tech. Lots of heroes are strong and fast. So is Black Panther, thanks to the special herb he took. But he's also got a suit made of vibranium. That's a metal that can absorb energy and blast it back out later. He's got razor sharp claws, a mask with built in communication equipment and infrared vision. Plus he fights alongside his sister Shuri, who designs all kinds of cool gadgets.

[Molly Bloom]

Please put your tray in the upright position. We are under attack.

[Aron]

That does not sound good. Out my window, I can see a fleet of sky pirates. They're probably trying to use our jet as cover to get into Wakanda. Lots of villains want to invade the place to steal vibranium, but they usually fail because look, it's the Wakandan army led by the Dora Milaje, Wakanda's all female special forces unit. They are 50% soldier, 50% spy, and if you mess with them, 100% your worst nightmare. Whew. That was fast. And a good example of my next point. Black Panther has a top tier team. Between Shuri, the Dora Milaje and all the scientists, warriors and elders of Wakanda, t' Challa has a vast amount of skill and wisdom to tap into it adds up to a hero who can do it all. Now, before we land, should I watch a movie? Hmm. How about 2018's Black Panther? It was groundbreaking. The first superhero film to be nominated as best picture at the Oscars. It had a predominantly black creative team. And for kids of color who usually don't see themselves represented on screen, it showed them a world where black heroes led the way.

[Molly Bloom]

Prepare to land in Wakanda that was quick.

[Aron]

I cannot wait to be in the land of a hero who's a powerful, fair leader, who uses the coolest tech, who has the toughest team, and who's inspired kids around the world. So if you ask me how long I'd like to stay, I'll say in Wakanda, forever.

[Molly Bloom]

Incredible work. We got to go on a plane to Wakanda. Lola, what stood out to you about Ahderon's declaration of greatness?

[Lola]

I mean, I really liked how he talked about how t' Challa can really just do it all. How he has super cool technology, a top tier team, and is strong and fast. And also the fact that, yeah, like, he's king and like a superhero at the same time, which the time management skills must be incredible.

[Molly Bloom]

Very true. All right, Tiffany, you get 33 seconds to use your lasso of logic against those arguments. And your 30 seconds begins now.

[Tiffany Smith]

I mean, I have to say, it's not a bad argument. Black Panther is pretty incredible, but with Wonder Woman, she also has all of her Amazonian warriors. I would actually love to see the Dora Milaje and the Amazons come together to defeat some baddies, if that could happen. But I have to say, just being a woman and wanting to see girl power, I mean, Wonder Woman always wins the day for me. Not saying anything bad about Black Panther because he's a awesome, but I'm still on Wonder Woman's side

[Molly Bloom]

and time.

[Aron]

Yeah. So, I mean, like, if you. If you want to root for, like, powerful women, you're still on team Black Panther because the Black Panther is a title that's been held by women before. Like his sister Shuri. She was a Black Panther for a little bit, and that was great. Also, it's worth noting that he's also like a really incredible, like, general. So he's always fighting with the Dora Milaje. So, like, he's got this incredible group of people with him.

[Tiffany Smith]

Yeah. I mean, I also am not sure how much time he's spent with the everyday person because he has grown up and spent most of his time in a secret space. Wonder Woman, Yes. She grew up on Themyscira, but she spent time with the everyday people. And for me, she has a closer connection to, like, us as humans.

[Molly Bloom]

Well, we've seen a lot of action and there's a lot more to come. We're gonna be right back. Foreign. Is sponsored by Every Plate. Every Plate is the go to dinner solution for busy families juggling work, school, and activities. Do you ever have that feeling where if you have to plan one more meal, you feel like your mind might explode. Yeah, I feel like that all the time. It's really hard to plan meals while everything else is going on in your life, so everyplate has been a huge help. It's an affordable meal kit that simp simplifies weeknight cookies for parents who don't have time for mealtime battles or the planning that goes with it. It's perfect for families balancing school, pickups, sports, practice, homework and everything in between. There are over 35 weekly choices, so there's something for everyone, even the pickiest eaters. It's cheaper than the grocery store. Half the price of takeout upfront everyday. Low pricing means no hidden fees or surprises. Try EveryPlate and get $2.99 per meal on your first box plus 10% off for a month. Go to EveryPlate.com. podcast and use code smashboombest299 to claim your offer. That's code [e-mail] podcast to get 2.99 per meal on your first Box 10% off for a month. Ditch the dinner time dilemmas with every plate. Today's episode is sponsored by Quince. I am done with fast fashion. If I'm going to buy something new I want it to be high quality. Something that feels well made and is going to last a long time. And that's why I love Quince. We are a Quince family through and through. I have bought myself, my husband and my daughter items from there and they are some of our favorites. My daughter's favorite winter jacket is from Quince. Her favorite leggings also from Quince. My favorite sweater from Quince. They're all super well made and have withstood washing and wearing so well. I'm a person that doesn't like shopping very much because I'm always worried what I buy is not going to be great. But with Quince that is not an issue. Literally everything I've bought from there has been something that I truly love. So right now go to quince.com smashboombest for free shipping and 365 day returns. That's a full year to wear it and love it and you will now available in Canada too. Don't keep settling for clothes that don't last. Go to Q-U-I-N-C-E.com smashboomvest for free shipping and 365 day returns. Quints.com smashboombest.

[Tiffany Smith]

Smash.

[Molly Bloom]

Smashboom. And we are back. We just heard all about Black Panther, but now it's time to hear why Wonder Woman is wonderful. Take it away, Tiffany.

[Tiffany Smith]

I remember when I first saw Wonder Woman. Okay, it wasn't the actual Wonder Woman, but it was a superhero. My mom, for Halloween, she dressed up as this super colorful, powerful, butt kicking woman with a golden lasso. Long, black, flowing hair. But my mom kept on her own glasses. She looked like the kind of hero who would send the bad guys running home to their own mommies. Mom said the character's name was Wonder Woman. And I knew instantly if my mom thought she was cool, I would too. Of course, mom was right. Wonder Woman is a top tier role model. Wonder Woman is an icon. A powerhouse hero from DC Comics. Her alter ego is Diana Prince, and she has been saving the day for over 80 years. How does she do it? Well, it could be her centuries of experience as an Amazonian warrior, her bulletproof bracelets and her tiara, which she can fling like a boomerang. Or her extremely long list of godlike superpowers, which she literally got from the Greek gods.

[Aron]

Did someone say Greek gods?

[Tiffany Smith]

Holy Zeus. I sure did. I'm talking about Wonder Woman's powers.

[Aron]

Allow me, the great and mighty Zeus, to help you, mortal. You see, she is my daughter, so I know all about her powers. Like super strength, flight, invulnerability, super sight, hyper intelligence, astral projection, heightened senses, immortality. And she can talk to animals, including dinosaurs.

[Tiffany Smith]

Well, thanks for the info, mighty Zeus.

[Aron]

I know I'm biased, but Wonder Woman should totally win this one.

[Tiffany Smith]

Yeah, I think so, too.

[Aron]

Everyone, watch out. It's evil Tony.

[Tiffany Smith]

Oh, no. A supervillain. Right in the middle of my declaration

[Evil Tony]

with my asteroid ray, I will summon a massive asteroid. The Earth is doomed.

[Molly Bloom]

Doomed. Not on my watch.

[Tiffany Smith]

It's Wonder Woman.

[Molly Bloom]

I can just fly into space and crush the asteroid.

[Evil Tony]

Well, then I'll just unleash my hoard of dinosaurs onto the public.

[Molly Bloom]

I can talk to dinosaurs. So I'll just politely ask them to stop.

[Evil Tony]

You can talk to. Okay, I'm not even gonna unpack that. You know what? I give up. I'm just gonna go home.

[Molly Bloom]

Not so fast. Thanks to the Unbreakable Lasso of Truth, you're not going anywhere.

[Evil Tony]

You have an unbreakable rope that compels people to tell the truth. Is there anything else I should know about you?

[Molly Bloom]

I also have an invisible jet, and in some storylines, a kangaroo sidekick.

[Tiffany Smith]

Okay, it is so cool we got to see that. And speaking of the Lasso of truth. That's gotta be one of the coolest artifacts in fiction. Imagine all the good you could do if you had a rope that would force the truth out of scammers, liars, cheats, and all those people who make those AI videos of raccoons jumping on trampolines that look so cute. Honestly, I think we need that lasso more than ever. Wonder Woman's also been in multiple TV shows and movies. And the United nations named her an official ambassador for the empowerment of women and girls. Oh, and did I mention she's got her own stamp?

[Evil Tony]

Wow, a UN Ambassador. Okay. I'm actually kind of honored she took the time to defeat me. Sounds like Wonder Woman leads a pretty busy life.

[Tiffany Smith]

She sure does evil, Tony, but that's the Wonder Woman way. She may be the child of Greek gods, but she's always there for us as humans. She's powerful, but her greatest strengths are her heart and her mind. She's selfless, caring, and kind. And she often stops villains just with her wits rather than brute force. No wonder my mom looked up to her. And no wonder I do, too. Plus, come on, she talks to dinos. What more could you want in a hero?

[Molly Bloom]

Wow, an action packed declaration of greatness for Wonder Woman. Lola, what stood out to you about Tiffany's argument?

[Lola]

I mean, all of Wonder Woman's really cool abilities, like flight, her super strength, and also, Wonder Woman can talk to animals, which, ever since I was little, that's always the super super power. Sorry, that I would have picked. So, yeah, this is definitely making my decision way harder.

[Molly Bloom]

It's a very tough one. Aron, it is time for your rebuttal. Pounce like a panther on Tiffany's arguments. You got 30 seconds and your time starts right now.

[Aron]

First things first, Wonder Woman has all the powers. She's got too many powers. It seems like if there's a power, Wonder Woman already has it. It feels like her real superpower is just not thinking of, like, a very specific superpower. Also, the daughter of Zeus. That makes her, like, what, the original Nepo baby? I want a superhero that's, like, you know, like, pulling themselves up by the bootstraps and making it happen. All right. Also, when would you need to talk to dinosaurs? I watched a couple of movies where dinosaurs were brought back and nothing good came from it.

[Tiffany Smith]

All right, so having the argument that she has too many powers is just silly. Women are notoriously great at multitasking, and Wonder Woman is no different. And the Nepo baby thing? Yeah, she's no stranger to Spending time with the gods, which makes her a perfect person when any of those gods do try and attack Earth, or when any other royal people come and try to attack. Because she can talk to them, because she can relate to them. But like I said, she also spends time with all of us who are not royals, who are not gods. So, I mean, she's the best case scenario of a Nepo baby, I have to say. So wait, hold on.

[Aron]

I'm suddenly realizing, if you're the daughter of a God, are you a person or are you, like, a demigod?

[Tiffany Smith]

She's a demigod.

[Molly Bloom]

Human.

[Tiffany Smith]

She's both. Listen, I'm a mixed kid and Wonder Woman's a mixed kid, and it makes perfect sense to me.

[Aron]

All right, I like that. I like that a lot, actually.

[Molly Bloom]

Okay, this is a tough decision, Lola, I do not envy you having to award some points right now, but please award a couple of points. Please give one point to the declaration of greatness that you liked best and one point to the rebuttal that won you over. You get to decide what makes a winning argument. Did one team's jokes make you giggle? Was another team's logic impeccable? Award your points, but don't tell us who they're going to. Have you made your decision?

[Lola]

Uh, yes.

[Molly Bloom]

Okay. Tiffany and Aharon, how are you two feeling so far?

[Aron]

I'm feeling very good.

[Tiffany Smith]

I feel pretty good. I mean, as I'm standing here, I'm also thinking, I wish I had Wonder Woman's powers so I could talk to my dog. Like, that is peak. That is another peak thing about Wonder Woman's power. She could come to your house and tell you what your pets are thinking.

[Molly Bloom]

That would be useful.

[Lola]

Yeah.

[Aron]

And, you know, in that same vein, I wish I had, like, a big, like, council or tribe that I could turn to, like the Black Panther or, like, they'd give me really good advice.

[Tiffany Smith]

The Amazons.

[Molly Bloom]

It is time for a quick break. Stretch those biceps and make sure there's no citizens in need of saving.

[Lola]

And we'll be right back with more Smashboom.

[Molly Bloom]

Best.

[Tiffany Smith]

You're listening to State of Debate. Home to ragin rhetoric and awe inspiring argumentation. Better up. It's Taylor Lincoln and hut, hut.

[Aron]

Hike. Todd Douglas here, too.

[Tiffany Smith]

And we're calling foul on the logical fallacy that happened at the hockey rink.

[Aron]

A logical fallacy is a bogus argument that makes your point easy to block. This one was the bandwagon effect.

[Tiffany Smith]

That's when you argue something is right just because it's popular, which Obviously isn't true.

[Aron]

Strap on your ice skates and let's check it out. All right, team, we've only got two minutes left. Let's keep the gameplay simple. Be quick, pass a lot, and watch your player, not the puck. That's the best way to win this match.

[Evil Tony]

Or hear me out, Coach.

[Aron]

We do the flying V. The flying what?

[Evil Tony]

Oh, it's the hot new hockey move. The whole team forms up like a V. You know how like ducks fly in the same sky? Then we drive in at the goal. It looks cool, it's intimidating, and it'll guarantee a win.

[Aron]

That sounds really easy to thwart, actually. You just skate around the V or just push through an opening and you've got a clear shot at the goal. It'll lose us the match for sure.

[Evil Tony]

Nah, Coach, no, it's gonna work because everyone is doing it right now. It's the coolest move. Who's with me? Quack, quack, quack, quack.

[Aron]

Ooh, that bad logic deserves a penalty for sure.

[Tiffany Smith]

Yeah, just because a play is popular doesn't mean it's good. Classic bandwagon fallacy.

[Aron]

If you want to shoot and score, argue with facts, not popularity contests, that

[Tiffany Smith]

play will always win the day. Thanks for joining us, and we'll see you next time on State of Debate.

[Aron]

Smash Boom Best.

[Molly Bloom]

You're listening to Smash Boom Best. I'm your host, Molly Bloom.

[Lola]

And I'm your judge, Lola.

[Molly Bloom]

And we love getting debate suggestions from our listeners like this one. My name is Sydney, and I'm from Encino, California.

[Lola]

My debate idea is Harry Potter versus Marvel. Two fan favorite franchises. But which is best?

[Molly Bloom]

We'll hear who Sydney thinks should win at the end of the show.

[Lola]

And now it's back to our debate, Black Panther versus Wonder Woman.

[Molly Bloom]

That's right. And it's time for round two, the micro round. It's time for a fact off Tiffany and Otto and will each get three chances to make a microargument backed by a cool fact or idea. Ottaron went first. Last. So, Tiffany, you're gonna start us off. Let's hear your first fact about Wonder Woman.

[Tiffany Smith]

So Wonder Woman may have grown up princess of the island of Themyscira, but she's no royal like Black Panther. She's had jobs in one storyline. She lost her home and income. Instead of asking Batman or any of her parents Nepo baby stuff for a loan, she got a job at a fast food place called Taco Whiz. She worked there for months and felt that feeding people was noble and gratifying. Work. She's grounded and probably makes a mean burrito. And, like, because she has the lasso of truth, whenever I feel like I don't know what I want to eat, I feel like she could just wrap me in it and it would tell me exactly what kind of burrito I wanted. Like, that's ideal.

[Aron]

How about this? You've heard of a power couple? What about a super power couple? In the comics, t', Challa, the Black Panther, marries Storm of the X Men. That's a superpowered king marrying a goddess who controls the weather. And what's worse is that they had to separate because of conflict and war. They're lost lovers.

[Tiffany Smith]

Aw. I mean, I'm not gonna lie. I would love to hang out with Storm, too. So Wonder Woman was based in part on a real Wonder Woman. Creator William Martin based the character partly on suffragettes, women who fought for the right to vote, and also on his very own wife, Elizabeth Howland Martin. She was a psychologist and an attorney, and she actually helped him with Wonder Woman projects. The two even developed the lie detector test together, which is like them trying to make the real lasso of truth. So if you want to talk about power couples, the couple that created Wonder Woman is a real power couple.

[Aron]

Hmm.

[Molly Bloom]

Hmm.

[Aron]

If you like a great pairing or a team like that, you'll be happy to hear this. Everyone wants Black Panther on their team. T' Challa joined the Avengers in the early days of the team in the comics. He was also part of the Fantastic Four for a while. He was also part of the Illuminati, a super secret group of the smartest, most powerful Marvel heroes. Basically, if you're teaming up with the best, he's on the. He's at the top of your list.

[Tiffany Smith]

I just gotta say, like, you wanna talk about having too many powers. He has too many teams. He's a part of. How is he gonna show up for all of them? There's too many. I also have to say, what I love so much about Wonder Woman is she's all about actually reforming baddies. She doesn't just get the villains and throw them in jail. Wonder Woman is known to send female villains to a place called Reform island or Transformation island to help teach them to be better, to be good, because she looks out for a lady who went astray, and she feels like the world will finally know peace when powerful women are in positions of power rather than just locked up.

[Aron]

What I'm hearing is that you enjoy creating change in others, which is why I know you'll Love to hear this. Black Panther was the first black superhero in mainstream comics. He debuted in the mid-1960s, and his name has nothing to do with the political group called the Black Panthers that also formed around then. But Marvel tried changing his name to the Black Leopard to distance away from the political party, but it didn't stick because he's so great. So Black Leopard doesn't sound as good anyway.

[Tiffany Smith]

Wonder Woman can talk to animals, so whether he's a panther or a leopard, she could still talk to him.

[Aron]

Yeah.

[Molly Bloom]

So, Lola, what stood out to you about those facts?

[Lola]

I mean, there were so many interesting facts that I didn't know about before, like how t' Challa married Storm, how they had to separate because of war, which is crazy. And also about how Wonder Woman is based, like, on a real movement, like by the suffragettes. Yeah, yeah. Just was. So many good facts.

[Molly Bloom]

Incredible. Incredible stuff. But, Lola, I'm sorry to say, only one team can get a point for this micro round.

[Lola]

No.

[Molly Bloom]

So sorry. The criteria are totally subjective and totally up to you. Please award your point. Have you made your decision?

[Lola]

Yes.

[Molly Bloom]

Great. Keep it secret and we're gonna be right back. Want smashboom Best without the ad breaks. Join Smarty Pass and get an ad free feed of this and all the other brains on universe shows. Plus, you'll get to do virtual hangs with me and the crew and discounts on merch. Sign [e-mail] thanks.

[Tiffany Smith]

Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. Smash.

[Molly Bloom]

This superhero showdown is packing a punch, so let's keep it going. It's time for the

[Tiffany Smith]

sneak attack.

[Molly Bloom]

This is our improvised round where debaters have to respond to a challenge on the spot. Today's sneak attack is called haiku for you. We'd like you to write a haiku singing the praises of your side. Haiku is a traditional form of Japanese poetry that has five syllab syllables in the first line, seven syllables in the second, and five in the third. Tiffany went first. Last round. So, Aron, you're up. Let's hear your poetry for the Panther.

[Aron]

Panther Kings fight crime, lead nations like no other. And have cool metal.

[Molly Bloom]

And have cool metal. Excellent work. All right, Tiffany, give us 17 syllables to wow us for Wonder Woman.

[Tiffany Smith]

Amazon warrior lasso burning bright with truth, peace forged through her strength. Ooh.

[Molly Bloom]

Very nice. Two excellent poems. Very impressed with your poetry skills.

[Lola]

Seriously.

[Molly Bloom]

But, Lola, I'm so sorry again. Only one of them can get a point. They're really making this hard for you today.

[Lola]

Seriously.

[Molly Bloom]

Please think about which side's poem impressed you the most and award your fourth point. Have you made your decision?

[Lola]

Yes.

[Tiffany Smith]

Great.

[Molly Bloom]

Then it's time for our final round. The final six. In this round, each team will have just six words to sum up the glory of their side. Tiffany, let's hear yours. Give us your last words for Wonder Woman.

[Tiffany Smith]

My last words for Wonder Woman are Wonder Woman, strength, truth, and wisdom.

[Molly Bloom]

Very nice. All right, Aron, last chance to preach for the Panther.

[Aron]

Black Panther King, champion cat person.

[Molly Bloom]

Oh, very good. Okay, Lola, time to award a final point for your final six. Have you awarded your point?

[Lola]

Um, yes, I think so.

[Molly Bloom]

Okay, tally up those points. Are you ready to crown one hero, the smashboom best?

[Lola]

Yes.

[Molly Bloom]

All right, drumroll, please. And the winner is.

[Lola]

Black Panther. It was really, really close, though.

[Tiffany Smith]

Come on.

[Molly Bloom]

Did it come down to a final point?

[Lola]

Yeah, it came down to the final point.

[Molly Bloom]

Oh, my gosh. As close as close can be. This was a tough debate today, Tiffany.

[Aron]

You brought up so many incredible points about Wonder Woman. She's more than just a fighter. She's a daughter, a leader, inspiration to women all over the world. Also, I did not know that her creators also invented the lie detector. That's amazing. You're amazing for bringing that up.

[Tiffany Smith]

Thank you, Aron. You did a great job. Honestly, during the debate, I just kept feeling more and more like, can I just debate for both of them? Can they just win all of the contests together? Can we partner them together? There's so many cool facts about Black Panther. And I just have to say what I love so much about both these characters is it makes characters where anybody can. More people can see themselves in comics and in superheroes, and that's so important. So I think you did a great job of highlighting a ton of the awesome stuff that is Black Panther.

[Aron]

Thank you.

[Molly Bloom]

That is it for today's debate battle. Lola crowned Black Panther the smashboom best. But what about you?

[Lola]

Head to smashboom.org and vote to tell us who you think won.

[Molly Bloom]

This episode was produced by me, Molly Bloom, and Mark Sanchez. It was sound designed by Mark Sanchez, and he also wrote our theme song. We had engineering help from Jackson at Soft Cult Studio. Our announcer is Marley Foyer, Worker Auto. And we want to give a special thanks to Austin Cross and Taylor Kaufman. Otteron, is there anyone you'd like to give a shout out to today?

[Aron]

Yeah, I want to give a special shout out to my mom, the. I would say the Black Panther in my life. I also want to give a special shout out to my sister. She is the shuri of my life. Somehow that Analogy isn't spot on perfect, but it's from the heart.

[Molly Bloom]

That's great. And Tiffany, any special thanks or shout outs?

[Tiffany Smith]

So I'm gonna give a shout out to my parents because my mom, like I said, is the one who introduced me to Wonder Woman and helped start my love for this amazing character. And then another shout out to my dad because he's the one who really introduced me to comic books. I remember watching the X Men cartoon for the first time and seeing Storm on screen and realizing like, ooh, I could be a superhero. And then he was like, well, if you want to read more stories, here are the comics. So special shout out to both my parents for introducing me to this amazing world of superheroes and comics.

[Molly Bloom]

I love that. Lola, do you want to give any special thanks?

[Lola]

Yes, I want to give a special thank you to my mom who brought me here. Yeah, this was really, really fun.

[Molly Bloom]

Before we go, let's check in and see who Sydney thinks should win the debate between Harry Potter and Marvel. I think Harry Potter would win because I find magic more interesting and I think that wizards are cooler than superheroes. If you're between the ages of 13 and 18 and you'd like to be a judge, or if you're any age and you have an idea for a knockdown drag out debate, head to smashboom.org contact and drop us a line. And if you're a fan of the show and wanted to keep going, head to smartypast.org to subscribe. This is the final episode of this season of Smashboom. Best. It has been so much fun. We are going to be back in May with a brand new season. We can't wait for you to hear it.

[Evil Tony]

Bye.

[Tiffany Smith]

Bye.

[Lola]

Bye.

[Tiffany Smith]

See you later.

[Aron]

Goodbye.

[Molly Bloom]

Oh, better than the rest. It's mashable wet it's magical West.