The Science of Supervillains

This is an enjoyable book. Basically more of the same from Science of Super Heroes. Entertaining read, a little stripped down on the science aspect of things. However, it's still enjoyable and great for people who ARE NOT science nerds and fans of comic books.

I am blessed with a superteen, a teenage son who is just coming into his superpowers! I am usually stumped by what to give him as a present but this book was a big hit, especially as he is deep in the City of Villains video game. The game is not related to this book, but I think I got bonus points for actually realising what he was playing! I'd recommend parents of teens to buy this book!

I liked the book. I have several others that are similar (The Science of Christmas). I find it interesting how science can explain super powers and gadget and even how science mirrors them in some way. Good book.

In an age when superheroes have more than a certain "cache" this is an interesting and entertaining series of essays examining the science of their arch enemies. Makes you smile and reflect in equal measure.

PRETTY INTERESTING BOOK

bad smell from book

Love the super villain .

Reviewer: Brian Wilkinson, for ComiX-Fan.comOverall Rating: Great!In a book that bills itself as the Science of the Supervillains readers have to feel right from the first page that this is an all-or-nothing kind of book. Thankfully writers Robert Weinberg and Lois H. Gresh have stepped up to the plate to deliver a funny and insightful look into the mind and heart(less?) of some of the greatest villains that have graced the pages of our beloved funny book medium for more than 70 years.This is a project that could have easily gone astray or been caught up in the many nuances of cunning and deceit that the countless villains have put our heroes through. Instead they take the cream of the crop, including baddies like Magneto, Lex Luthor, Doc Octopus and several others to show some of the more interesting attempts they've made to make the world a worse place to live.The Luthor chapter starts the book off with a decent look at the man who would become Superman's main villain. That's really saying a lot if you think about it considering how powerful and unstoppable the Man of Steel really is. Yet everything Luthor has tried has failed. Instead of really getting into why Luthor sucks or how Superman may have just gotten lucky, Gresh and Weinberg dissect the science the villains used in the books.Intentionally or not, this may be a bit of a nod in the direction of the writers and editors behind the book. Back in the day, the two major companies, Marvel and DC, both had their own approaches to how science was used in the comics. Julius Schwartz over at DC maintained that the science had to be believable no matter what. It didn't necessarily have to exist, but so long as an attempt was made to reveal how things were being done, that seemed enough.Enter Luthor's weather machine. Apparently Lex thought he'd be able to manipulate the weather over Smallville and sent the little town into a deep freeze. Rather than take the typical comic fan stance of disbelief, Gresh and Weinberg actually talk to top scientists and do the research behind whether or not such a contraption is possible. Not surprisingly, they find out it isn't something that Lex could have done in real life, but rather than take the typical fan standpoint of "look how smart I am because I know it can't be done" they take the extra step towards proving it.The diabolical nature of this book isn't so much in the characters that it discusses as it is in the clever methods the authors use to trick their audiences into reading a science textbook. It doesn't matter that subjects like magnetism, nuclear science and more are covered in very specific and scientific terms as the humour and subject matter work so brilliantly to disguise it. This is the kind of book kids across North America are liable to pick up in their local library for the fun colors and then shock their parents at the dinner table with a basic knowledge of nuclear fission. Heck, if I was a kid I'd read it just to look smart.Beyond the unbelievable and the humour, this is an overall package that serves to delight and entertain without getting bogged down in minute details. Like the first volume, The Science of Super Heroes, this book delves into the mysteries of comic book lore without taking away the fun and excitement that it's meant to generate in the first place. Think of this book as the perfect companion piece to kids just getting into comics, or for older readers who think they know it all.The book isn't without a few cursory flaws, however. The narrative device used by the pair have them stating things like "We don't think this is possible" or "We have a theory." While it's generally acknowledged that there are two voices here it begins to feel a little like the royal `we' and becomes distracting from the information it's trying to convey.Fans may also raise an eyebrow or two at the inclusion of Silver Surfer, the current hero and one-time herald of the planet-eater, Galactus. It's the latter rather than the former that our intrepid authors are focusing on but it raises an interesting question in terms of modern-day heroes that often blur the line between who is a hero and who is a villain. This is more of a philosophical question and would take the book off course, so it isn't dealt with in the book. It's more food for thought, really.The book features an introduction by legendary comic book writer Chris Claremont (Uncanny X-Men) who gives a little of the back history about what it means to be a writer and to tackle the great villains of comic books. It's a nice addition and can only serve to add up the appeal to casual readers interested in some hard core comic science.At its heart, The Science of Supervillains is a book full of winks and nods. But much like the popular novel at the moment, The Da Vinci Code it seems like the characters or stories are just loose wrapping around incredibly interesting research. I devoured Dan Brown's novel because of his interesting facts and finds, much like Weinberg and Gresh have provided a feast of comic book goodies for readers of all ages.It's not your typical book, but it's not to be ignored either. Pick both this volume and its sequel up as soon as you can. You won't be disappointed, and if you are, there's enough information in here for you to begin plotting some diabolical deed of your own. (Don't actually do this, it's generally not a good idea.)(...)

Great book, very interesting read.