The Science of Supervillains (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The authors of The Science of Superheroes turn their attention to the heroes’ spectacular foes in order to uncover just how worried we need to be that some day a Magneto, Dr. Octopus or Lex Luthor may arise to threaten world domination. Considering the science reality underlying the cartoon science fiction, the authors look at Luthor’s youthful harnessing of solar energy and the basis for Brainiac as a form of artificial intelligence. While the idea behind this investigation is undeniably appealing, the authors are unclear about who their audience is. Several chapters, such as the one on Lex Luthor, employ an overly simplistic sentence structure or seem otherwise aimed at middle-schoolers: "be a hero to your class by correcting your science teacher." Other topics are aimed at adults without a science background or "those who have forgotten their high school biology." While this inconsistency may serve to stimulate young readers, it will likely turn off adults—especially since the first chapter is particularly simplistic and underdeveloped. However, later chapters grow in complexity and provide a solid base of information about their topics. Taken as a whole, this primer is a fun way to introduce young adults to a vast range of subjects—from the solar system to the mechanics of flight, bioengineering and beyond—but it may seem patronizing to adults.
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Product 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)

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (October 18, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471482056
• ISBN-13: 978-0471482055
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #334,721 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "An insightful look into the diabolical villains of comics.", October 21, 2004

By	Brian Wilkinson (Toronto, On, Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.)

(...)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very well written and entertaining book, December 31, 2008

By	Richard-California - See all my reviews

If you ever wondered if superheroes and supervillains can exist and have superpowers, then this is the book for you. Highly entertaining, well written and informative. I highly recommend it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for both comic lovers and science lovers, December 30, 2008

By	Leon B. (New York) - See all my reviews

For those of view who are interested in science and remember fondly the comic books that you have read as a child, this book follows in the great
tradition of the science of superheroes, and discuss the ways in which the comic book can obtain their power using possible scientific explanations.
This is great reading.