Customer Reviews:
A bit disappointed though!!.......2002-04-08
The book is not bad, but not really as good as I expected. After having read the extraordinary book "The illussion of life", I wanted more from the same drawer. I picked the villains book.
In the beginning Frank'n'Ollie explain why they did the book, and apparently it was made on command, I couldn't help thinking about that when I read it. The chapters in the book are very short, and there is too little information about how they decided to make their characters as they turned out. Each chapter begins with an (Too long) introduction of the characters role in the film. Of course you can not expect everybody to have seen every disney film that exists, but too much space in the book is used to explain things you already know if you've seen the films.
I would have prefered to know more about how the animators felt about their characters and how they developed the personalities, for instance the thin line of making the beast in "Beauty and the Beast" looking like a beast that you could still end up having feelings for. I would like to have seen more development drawings and sketches and even some animation continuity with some good examples of change in expression of the villains as well.
Some times you read about villains that actually ain't villains. The bear in "Fox and a hound" is actually no villain because it is just following natural instincts, but how about Chief, the big old dog in the movie, nothing about him? A book that is not deep enough. but still not bad. Guess I still shouldn't have read it after just finishing "Illussion of life".
Johnston and Thomas Together Again!.......2000-02-04
Anything by these two wonderful authors and amazing animators should be a must in anyone's collection. Yet, I am baffled that all of their books are currently out of print. I am sure one will not have trouble looking at a used bookstore for a copy of this. This book deals precisely with what the title says: The Disney Villians. In their usual classic and lucid style, the authors discuss the troubles they ran while devising a villian. One that is wicked, yet appealing to the audience. Going through their catalog of movies from Snow White to Aladdin, they discuss in detail what a villian is all about, and how the villian relates to the story, style and main character of each film. Whether one should be more realistic, or have harder edges, or what kind of mannerisms will this villian have. Highly reccomended for the animator and artist, as well as the Disney book lover as these are presented so well. For the enthuseist, which I also own, there is also a more expensive version of this book, hardcover with a slipcase, signed by each of the authors and a print of the filmstrip from Snow White.
GET IT when you can..........1999-05-14
Why did they do it? Frank and Ollie wanted to give a thorough insight into the making of believable, memorable animated characters. For all to learn from... and they did just that! Another MUST-HAVE from the makers of some of this worlds most entertaining animation.
A Worthwhile Read For Any Disney Fan!.......1998-07-11
Who better to bring us the history of the villain in Disney films than two people responsible for the creation of so many of them? Ollie Johnson and Frank Thomas' remarkable survey of the history of bad guys begins with the obligatory history of Disney animation and proceeds to describe all of the villains created from the earliest cartoon shorts to Aladdin. Concept drawings, poster art and stills from the film make up the many illustrations and each film is described along with interesting information on each villain discussed. The one drawback - an obvious one when dealing with so prolific a studio - is the fact that this book cuts off at Aladdin, missing the many sinister villains that followed, notably Scar, and Hades.
Book Description
A delightfully evil gift, How to Be a Villain is a step-by-step guide to joining the forces of darkness. Because, though villains may never win, they sure have more fun, hatching master plans for world domination, smoothing their dastardly tights. Neil Zawacki answers all the most urgent questions: Should I go with a black or red theme? Do I invest in an army of winged monkeys or ninja warriors? And just where will I put the evil hideout? Whether readers choose to pursue a career as a Criminal Mastermind, Mad Scientist, Corporate Bastard, or just a Wanna-be Evil Genius, they are sure to find plenty of tips for jumpstarting any evil enterprise. Cheaper than attending the annual bad guy conference and way more fun than being good, How to Be a Villain is guaranteed to elicit deep-throated evil laughs across the land.
Customer Reviews:
Mildly Amusing & Entertaining.......2007-08-18
I wasn't sure what I was getting after I ordered this book. It's in hardback and cute but not applicable at all. You see, I dream of being an evil overlord like Ming the Merciless or Dr. Victor Von Doom. I thought I'd learn how to go about it but the book is all tongue-in-cheek. Sadly I'm not. 8^) While not a sociopath, I am a psychopath in that I aspire to be a ruthless dictator and hoped this book might give me some food for thought.
The price is right for entertainment. Easy to read. H*ll I read it while riding on a business trip with some co-workers. They were sorely disappointed too as they all wanted to be my evil henchmen and kill me off once I had achieved the real power and success I dreamt of.
It's entertaining, amusing, thoughtful and fun to read but nothing in here is usable. I'll just have to stick with the Art of War, The Art of Warfare, the Prince and 48 Laws of Power....for now.
A HIT FOR WRITERS!.......2007-07-09
I was given this book as a birthday gift from someone who wasn't sure if the book was strictly fun or if the book was intended to help writers craft their villains. I'm still not sure, but I laughed the whole way through. The book covers every aspect of villainy from how to dress, what occupations to choose and where to locate your evil lair.
While reading this book, I was developing characters for my new novel and so I enjoyed the outrageous ideas even more. The book is written with a clean sense of humor appropriate even for kids, and it's silly enough that they'll get a few good laughs. There are a number of movie and book spoofs within the pages that you won't get if you haven't seen some classic movies, but for adults it's a gas.
I highly recommend this to anyone who loves stories. An excellent gift for the writer on your list.
CJ West
Author, Taking Stock, Sin And Vengeance
Moohahaha...Don't Read This Book If You Wear WHITE!.......2007-07-07
NOT FOR GOOD GUYS! This is a very amusing snarky look at all there is to being Evil, just like in the movies! Have you ever wanted evil minions? Get your answers here. What kind of costume should you adopt? This book lists out choices and possible strategies for all manner of issues. And there are others in this same series. The future is the children, so get this book for a kids TODAY.
boring.......2007-04-23
after i got it, i wished i hadn't purchased it. the book isn't as funny as i expected
Excellent!.......2007-04-13
I can't say how much I love this book! I highly recommend it to anyone who has even the slightest hint of dark humor taste. The book was in perfect condition.
Book Description
"Thomas has excelled himself. An important and riveting study in social history, it also has a very pertinent relevance in the crime-riddled society that is Britain today."-
The Sunday Times (London)
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"A magnificent book. Beautifully written, utterly compelling: almost without fault in every respect."-
The Literary Review
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Venturing into the urban underbelly of postwar Britain, and especially of London, this riveting true-crime chronicle explores the shadowy ganglands where for twenty-five years armed robbery, prostitution, vice, and drugs flourished under racketeer kings.
Customer Reviews:
HONOR AMONG THIEVES AND THE BRITISH BOBBY!.......2007-09-03
Donald Thomas' book is a good read for anyone interested in the history of British crime. From the petty criminals to the organized gangs, it's all here in gritty, vivid detail. In the day's before HI-TECH spy cameras and electronic detectors, your average British thief had a somewhat easy time of it. A chance for a "cuppa" in between the break-ins and wage snatches. Of particular interest in the book, is the section that charts the creation of the "spiv" or black marketeer during WWII and after. You see unlike everyone else,the British people suffered under food and other shortages right into 1954. No wonder crime flourished in the Kingdom, just to be able to get some sugar and chocolate if nothing else.
Infamous gangs like the Kray's and Richardson's are included. Police corruption, oh yes even in good old blighty is fully exposed. Prostitution and pornography, illegal gambling, art thefts and frauds, there's something for everyone here. Not just the criminal perspective but the social and economic one as well. It was a time when the police really knew the criminals. When safe blowers and getaway drivers took pride in their work and usually surrendered quietly when caught. It was clubs and pickaxe handles rather than guns. A code or understanding between the good guys and the bad guys. Unlike today, where the real master criminals are all highly calculated and corporate.
Book Description
At last, the long awaited, complete and up-to-date listing of more than 100 top Marvel heroes and villians, from A to Z. This fully illustrated, comprehensive hardcover includes biographies, statistics, essential reading and quizzes on all the Mighty Marvel's most popular characters. How did they get their powers? What were their greatest adventures? Who are the deadliest adversaries? All is revealed in the Marvel Encyclopedia.
Customer Reviews:
Marvel Encyclopedia Volume 1 HC.......2006-08-22
Although the book was a thorough accumulation of Marvel characters, the pictures were in black and white, and the level of artistic talent was limited. The inexpensive printing shows and I was completely dissatisfied with the flimsy pages and grainy print.
Marvel for Dummies.......2003-08-06
The book looks great, the problems start when you search for information on a caracter and you only find the ones you already know. I understand that Marvel dedicate more space to it's icons, but it's illogycal to exclude 80% of your caracters, even if they are well know outside the comic comunity (Apocalyps, Mr. Sinester, Hobgoblin, Tigra, Machineman, Valder, Mr Hyde, Omegar Red, Lady Deathstrike, etc).
Almost every art piece has already been publish, and the ones who haven't are not very good (Quicksilver and Scarlet Wish).
The information is scarce to say the least, and the recomended reading is almost limited to recent issues.
Sometimes the power level of the caracters dosen't make any sense. (according to the guide Jubilee has more energy than Gambit).
If you have never read a Marvel Comic this might be your cup of tea, otherwise don't buy it.
An excellent resource!.......2003-02-07
I have to wonder whether some of the other reviewers read the same book I did. No, not everyone knows what Captain American, Hulk, and Wolverine have done in the comics. No, the entries weren't "just cut-and-pasted from the Marvel Web site". And I had to laugh at the obviously clueless person that said "many of the people writing Marvel now know less about the characters than a lot of us older fans"! This is an excellent, well-researched, visually-attractive, informative, and up-to-date guide to the Marvel Comics universe that will appeal to both new and long-time readers. Granted, it's nowhere near as in-depth as Marvel's older Encyclopedias, but it was never meant to be. Marvel are promising future editions and updates of the new Encyclopedia, so If you like Marvel's comics, movies, or TV shows, and want to know more about the characters, then get in on the ground floor with this great book!
WHERE IS THE GUIDE TO MARVEL UNIVERSE AT?.......2003-01-23
I bought this under the false belief that this would be an awesome edition to my collection.
this is so full of errors those tech specs are soo off when it comesto strength.. duribablity and fighting skill. Contradictions to what the Bio says and the Tech Spec shows.
It's mainly Eye candy and not even that when it comes to artwork because it's artwork we've already seen before*repeatly*. The bio history for a majority of the characters even established ones is IMO brief and actually forgets some good points in character development.
I'd say this is good for a kid ,but not a mature comic reader. If you want info and accurate info on character look for the guide to the marvel universe set. I'm sure, the usual net surfing will give you better..
Waste of Money.......2002-12-27
Everyone already knows what Captain American, Hulk, and Wolverine have done in the comics. I thought this book would be an (almost) complete encyclopedia of marvel characters. Due to its small size I just figured it would provide brief descriptions of each character. It doesn't even cover all of the first x-men. And yes, everything was just cut-and-pasted from the marvel website.
Don't judge a book by its attractive cover!
Book Description
In the best-selling tradition of How To Draw Pokemon, this new title in one of Troll's most popular series teaches kids how to draw their favorite Nintendo heroes and villains, from Donkey Kong and Mario to Luigi, Link, Princess Zelda, Yoshi, and more!
Customer Reviews:
How to Draw Nintendo Heroes and Villains by Michael Teitelbaum.......2006-11-10
This book was purchased for my 10 year old son for his birthday. He had a Mario party, so I had to create the pinata (a 1 up mushroom) and invitations, a pin-the-hat on the Mario, etc. all from scratch because you can't find any good Mario party stuff anymore.
The drawing book was an attempt at finding stuff to give him for his birthday that was Mario. I also purchased a DVD with Mario cartoons, and the movie The Wizard on DVD. The drawing book has not been used yet, so I'm not sure how much he likes it but he said it was really cool when he opened it.
best book ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2006-10-31
they are easy to draw and fun too!!!!! if you don't buy your missing out.
Saddened........2006-07-04
I am so disappointed.
I thought this book was going to teach me to improvise characters using Nintendo's style, not just teaching me to draw a few of their characters...now I have to actually think to get their style down right =(
booky.......2005-12-10
If you haven't met me before, I'm Skullface Mcfireball (sfmf for short). I have this book, and I wouldn't reccomend it. It shows how to draw Mario, Yoshi, Luigi, Toad, DK, and more. But no Bowser! Krog is the most silmilar to him, but I can't belive no Bowser! Who is Krog anyway? whatever, see ya peoples!
Nintendo Needs Work on How To Draw Books........2003-06-10
I found this book very enjoyable, but the books seems to short. I could use more pictures on some of the characters that lacked a body tutorial. Like Wario, the book only teaches you to draw his mug, and I want more than that!
Some characters needed more poses, and some were just plain excluded from the book. Like Lanky, or Funky, or Cranky from Donkey Kong 64. Do not get me wrong, I love this book, but it is somewhat lacking in the selection of poses.
This book has tedious drawing instructions, but if you are a Nintendo fan, and are persistent, this book is for you!
Average customer rating:
- Nobody does "eccentrics" like the Brits!!
|
Brewer's Rogues, Villains & Eccentrics
William Donaldson , and
Willie Donaldson
Manufacturer: Cassell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Curiosities & Wonders | Fun Facts | Reference | Subjects | Books
Directories | Catalogs & Directories | Reference | Subjects | Books
General | Reference | Subjects | Books
General | England | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0304357286 |
Book Description
Presenting the Hall of Shame! Both entertaining and indiscreet, this dictionary of callous cads introduces a host of wildly colorful characters. Here are assassins and arsonists, hangmen and horse thieves, hell-raisers and highwaymen, not to mention an array of poisoners, quacks, and forgers. Meet Ronald Biggs, one of the participants of the Great Train Robby, and Julie Amiri, a thief who found being detained by policemen...very exciting. There's enough degradation, depravity, and dottiness to delight anyone. A Selection of the Readers Subscription Book Club.
Customer Reviews:
Nobody does "eccentrics" like the Brits!!.......2003-12-06
Everything you never knew that you wanted to know about the oddballs, rogues, cads, scoundrels, footpads, and other non-conformists who made the "Sceptered Isle" what it is (and was). I got this book since I really enjoyed "The Henry Root Letters" and "Root Into Europe". Our old friend the 5th Duke of Portland is well represented(see "Ballroom, construction of one underground"), as are swindlers, the Krays, women who served as men in the Army, train robbers, etc. The list truly does go on and on. If you are familiar with "Lock, Stock, & Two Smoking Barrels", Lenny McLean, who played Barry The Baptist, and Vinnie Jones, who played Big Chris are both subjects of bios here, but although I mostly seem to be citing criminals in this review, there is far, far more to this book. I highly and unreservedly recommend this! (By the way, I recently learnt "Willie" Donaldson died. His obit in the UK press was WONDERFUL. A womanizing, drunken druggie....no wonder his entries about Keith Moon and Brian Jones sound so accurate!!)
Customer Reviews:
Mediocre.......2006-11-22
Christopher Hart is practically a one-man publishing industry. He has written a variety of books about how to draw comic book superheroes, as well as books about how to draw funny cartoon animals. He does a fairly good job of explaining how to draw, but his own art is mediocre. There are a lot of other books on the market that are very similar to this one. I recommend Drawing Dynamic Comics by Andy Smith.
Too tittilating for the kiddies. Rate this one PG-17........2004-12-03
I bought this book for my 9-year-old nephew and quickly realized it wasn't suitable for young audiences. Like almost all comic book heroines, these gals are soft porn (C'mon: if the girls in this book were walking around in real life they would tip over from the heft of their pointy boobs alone!). I can actually live with that; it seems to be some sort of right of passage for boys, and so be it. However, in the author's process of teaching the reader to be anatomically correct in their drawings, and to build the comics from the ground up, he presents lots of topless ladies that are inappropriate for kids my nephew's age. I shipped it back and am getting the book on cartoon animals instead. Just wish I had known before I ordered it.
Not much help!.......2001-08-31
This book is pretty pathetic. The instruction is minimal and the art is just so average it's not even funny. You would at least hope that someone telling you "how to" could do it themselves. Get drawing the marvel way it's not perfect but it beats this hands down.
decent for beginers.......2001-08-23
If you have little to no cartooning talent what so ever the go for this book. If you're halfway decent all ready dont bother. The writer/artist is an obvious amature and to my knowledge has never worked on a major comic. It does have a few good points but not many. I personaly found this book to be a waste of my time, if you are looking for a good instructional book for creating comics i suggest "HOW TO DRAW COMICS THE MARVEL WAY" which is much more in depth than Mr. Hart's book.
Cool Book.......2001-02-26
I loved this Book. ithought it was amazing. I love how he gives u all those pages on heads. It's rea;l cool
Book Description
All those aspiring ne'er-do-wells who cackled all the way to the cash register with the best-selling How to Be a Villain are ready to embrace the finer points of the evil life with The Villain's Guide to Better Living. Within lie the answers to such trying questions as: Home d cor -- Gothic? Apocalyptic? Ikea? Friends -- Do I have any? Can I make them? Work -- Should I be a mad scientist or a corporate bastard? Written by the author of How to Be a Villain, this fiendish lifestyle guide is a must-have for any villain who knows more about programming TiVo than about entertaining with panache.
Customer Reviews:
Fun & amusing. And oddly disturbing........2007-02-15
This book is for anybody who rooted for Ming The Merciless or Cobra Commander when they were a kid.
And why is it disturbing? Reading it, I find that many of the suggestion on how a Villain could improve his life would work for ME, too....
Very Funny.......2007-01-19
I thought this book was super cute. I got a couple like it for my husband as a fun Christmas gift and he thought they were totally weird but very cool. I have fun reading them to my husband as well as my 5 year old boy. Great fun and would be a wonderful gift for someone with a good funny bone. :)
The Villan's Guide to Better Living .......2006-03-16
The Villan's Guide to Better Living is a book for all you up and coming evil-doers. This book shows you how to do things like protect your lair and how to motivate your minions. It also covers the finer things in life like dating and how to make evil friends.
My favorite part in this book is when they went over how to protect and care for your evil abode. They went over the old-fashioned style moat and spiked fence. They also covered more in-depth approaches like casting a spell over your house to make it invisible. They also showed you easy ways to care for a lair like how to fix up a dungeons and take care of a carnivorous garden.
I would definitly recommend this book to any up and coming villan. This book has helped me in my own evil doing and it will help in yours. When I read this book it made me realize how much better my life could be. It showed me that there is a whole other side to life. Any up and coming evil villan should read this book.
For the advanced evildoer.......2005-07-20
Many helpful tips to spruce up your lair and your (evil) life itself.
Laugh out loud funny.......2004-11-17
If you have ever thought about raising an army of the dead and have a good sense of humor, this book is for you. This is a lighthearted look at how to live better as a villain.
Its not particularly realistic, but it isn't meant to be either. This book caters to those dark days that everyone has when you feel mean, everybody is pissed at you and nothing seems to go right. The thought is, if everyone thinks you're evil anyways, put your evil to good use and really become a better villain!
I bought a copy for my boss, who prides herself on how she's perfected a maniacal laugh while rubbing her hands together greedily. She laughed her head off. We especially love the section in "Work" on how to make your un-conventional villian skill set fit normal resumés. For example, "Assassinated the King" can become "skilled at driving changes in leadership".
Very funny stuff.
Amazon.com
Villains United is one of the four miniseries that lead up to DC's Infinite Crisis. Lex Luthor uses the events of Identity Crisis (as well as the threat of unstoppable force) to persuade nearly every super villain to join his "society," which is led by a core group of himself, Deathstroke, Talia, Black Adam, Dr. Psycho, and Calculator. But a band of relatively obscure villains--Cat Man, Scandal, Cheshire, Deadshot, Parademon, and Ragdoll--organized by a mysterious figure named Mockingbird and calling themselves the Secret Six, defy Luthor, leading to all-out war. It's action-packed and includes some fantastic full-page shots, and is fun for people who like to pick out people from criminal lineups. If you can't recognize everyone, the trade paperback has a guide to the characters as well as a summary of events leading up to the six-issue series (but not the 2006 one-shot issue published during the run of Infinite Crisis). Written by Gail Simone (Birds of Prey) with art by Dale Eaglesham and Val Semeiks. --David Horiuchi
Book Description
Villains United is one of the four miniseries that lead up to DC's Infinite Crisis.Lex Luthor uses the events of Identity Crisis (as well as the threat of unstoppable force) to persuade nearly every super villain to join his "society," which is led by a core group of himself, Deathstroke, Talia, Black Adam, Dr. Psycho, and Calculator. But a band of relatively obscure villains--Cat Man, Scandal, Cheshire, Deadshot, Parademon, and Ragdoll--organized by a mysterious figure named Mockingbird and calling themselves the Secret Six, defy Luthor, leading to all-out war.It's action-packed and includes some fantastic full-page shots, and is fun for people who like to pick out people from criminal lineups.If you can't recognize everyone, the trade paperback has a guide to the characters as well as a summary of events leading up to the six-issue series (but not the 2006 one-shot issue published during the run of Infinite Crisis).Written by Gail Simone (Birds of Prey) with art by Dale Eaglesham and Val Semeiks. --David Horiuchi
Customer Reviews:
leaves you wanting more.......2007-10-05
Action packed! Fun book, interesting characters. Tons of villians. This is the best of all the Infinite Crisis lead ins. If you were a fan of Gail Simone's Deadpool/Agent X stuff, you can't miss this. Villains United is just plain cool.
Graphic SF Reader.......2007-09-03
A story of conspiracy and rebellion. Some of the villain types, being villains, do not like being told what to do. They have a mystery organiser who feels likewise, so he hires a bunch of them to defy The Society. This includes the startling reinvention of Catman, of all people. Looks great, and is a lot of fun in that twisted bad guy sense.
Decent, but missable........2007-05-16
Villains United is a fairly well drawn mildly entertaining trade paperback, though far from memorable. You don't need to read Villains United before reading Infinite Crisis.
Surprisingly fun.......2007-04-09
One of the four mini-series' leading up to DC's Infinite Crisis mega-event, Villains United is definitely the most fun. Lex Luthor has assembled the largest Secret Society of villains ever put together, including heavy hitters like Deathstroke, Talia Al Guhl, Black Adam, Sinestro, and plenty more. However, there is a group standing in their way, and no, it ain't the Justice League. The Secret Six, led by the mysterious Mockingbird and featuring Deadshot and the very Batman-esque Catman, want no part of Luthor's devious plans, and the next thing you know, it's all out war. What's the most surprising about Villains United is how fun it is. It's clear that writer Gail Simone had a blast writing all these villains in one story, and it's refreshing to read something so fun and enjoyable considering how grim and gritty the rest of the Infinite Crisis stories are. The art by Dale Eaglesham and Val Semekis is pretty good too; all of which nicely round out the package. All in all, of all the Infinite Crisis tie-in's, Villains United is the most worth picking up.
A Very Pleasant Surprise.......2007-03-31
When I ordered this book I had no idea of the reading experience I was about to enjoy. This was a comic made for adults; it actually had a plot which was not only interesting, it had a flow to it which made for a "must read". The utilization of Catman as a central character was brilliant; like many of the villians the reader is shocked to see how capable an opponent he is. Without explaining any "powers" he might have, the writers were able to convey a sense of competence and gravity to his character that frankly is lacking in most DC major heroes. The whole idea of the "Six" was perfect as well, and each of the characters were interesting, with the possible exception of the Parademon; I think we've just seen to many parademons used as fodder over the years to take this one to seriously. All the others fit in well however, and it will be interesting to see how they evolve from this story arc into the rest of the DC universe.
Book Description
The authors of The Science of Superheroes now reveal the real genius of the most evil geniuses
Ever wonder why comic book villains, such as Spiderman's bionic archenemy Dr. Octopus or the X-Men's eternal rival Magneto, are so scary and so much fun? It's not just their diabolical talent for confounding our heroes, it's their unrivalled techno-proficiency at creating global mayhem that keeps comic book fans captivated. But is any of the science actually true? In The Science of Supervillains, authors Lois Gresh and Bob Weinberg present a highly entertaining and informative look at the mind-boggling wizardry behind the comic book world's legendary baddies. Whether it's artificial intelligence, weapons systems, anti-matter, robotics, or magnetic flux theory, this fun, fact-filled book is a fascinating excursion into the real-world science animating the genius in the comic book world's pantheon of evil geniuses.
Lois Gresh (Scottsville, NY) and Bob Weinberg (Oak Forest, IL) are the authors of the popular Science of Superheroes (cloth: 0-471-0246-0; paper: 0-471-46882-7)
Download Description
The authors of The Science of Superheroes now reveal the real genius of the most evil geniuses
Ever wonder why comic book villains, such as Spiderman's bionic archenemy Dr. Octopus or the X-Men's eternal rival Magneto, are so scary and so much fun? It's not just their diabolical talent for confounding our heroes, it's their unrivalled techno-proficiency at creating global mayhem that keeps comic book fans captivated. But is any of the science actually true? In The Science of Supervillains, authors Lois Gresh and Bob Weinberg present a highly entertaining and informative look at the mind-boggling wizardry behind the comic book world's legendary baddies. Whether it's artificial intelligence, weapons systems, anti-matter, robotics, or magnetic flux theory, this fun, fact-filled book is a fascinating excursion into the real-world science animating the genius in the comic book world's pantheon of evil geniuses.
Lois Gresh (Scottsville, NY) and Bob Weinberg (Oak Forest, IL) are the authors of the popular Science of Superheroes (cloth: 0-471-0246-0; paper: 0-471-46882-7)
Customer Reviews:
Awesome Superhero-Fantasy to Reality Science Book.......2007-08-14
I am a student of science and a big fan of sci-fi and comic book superheroes. This book is the link I have been looking for that ponders big questions as to how in reality can a comic book scenario come true if some one had the ability to make it happen. Science fiction and superheroes help stimulate our imaginations to create amazing new scientific and engineering marvels that can do allot to help mankind.
Warp on Star Trekkies, fly on Supermen, mutate more X-Men, and flame on to the Fantastic Four!
Science Supervillains and Superteens.......2007-01-28
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!
Boff - Pow - Zap.......2005-09-20
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.
Science good........2004-11-16
This is a nice - light - book that hopefully gets people thinking about science in a fun and painless way.
I would like to see more volumes in this series.
"An insightful look into the diabolical villains of comics.".......2004-10-22
Reviewer: Brian Wilkinson, for ComiX-Fan.com
Overall 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.)
(...)
Books:
- Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, 2nd Edition
- Drive-By (Harper Trophy Books)
- Every Heart Restored: A Wife's Guide to Healing in the Wake of a Husband's Sexual Sin (The Every Man Series)
- FEMININE MISTAKE, THE: ARE WE GIVING UP TOO MUCH?
- Firefly: The Official Companion: Volume Two
- Flesh and Bone: A Body Farm Novel (Body Farm Novels)
- For a Few Demons More (Rachel Morgan, Book 5)
- Green This! Volume 1: Greening Your Cleaning (Green This!)
- Grey's Anatomy: Notes from the Nurse's Station and Overheard at the Emerald City Bar
- Hamlet (Shakespeare Made Easy)
Books Index
Books Home
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The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation
WALT DISNEY'S BAMBI: THE SKETCHBOOK SERIES (Sketchbook Series)
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