Learn the ins-and-out of the supervillain...

Jumpstart your evil enterprise with this deviously clever step-by-step guide to joining the forces of darkness. Villains may never win, but they sure have more fun. Who doesn’t want to hatch a master plan for world domination or set up an evil hideout? In How to Be a Villain, 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 should I learn to play the pipe organ or just get a weird cat? 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 getting started. 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.

Contributions by Jerold J. Abrams, José Alaniz, John Carey, Maurice Charney, Peter Coogan, Joe Cruz, Phillip Lamarr Cunningham, Stefan Danter, Adam Davidson-Harden, Randy Duncan, Richard Hall, Richard Heldenfels, Alberto Hermida, Víctor Hernández-Santaolalla, A. G. Holdier, Tiffany Hong, Stephen Graham Jones, Siegfried Kracauer, Naja Later, Ryan Litsey, Tara Lomax, Tony Magistrale, Matthew McEniry, Cait Mongrain, Grant Morrison, Robert Moses Peaslee, David D. Perlmutter, W. D. Phillips, Jared Poon, Duncan Prettyman, Vladimir Propp, Noriko T. Reider, Robin S. Rosenberg, Hannah Ryan, Lennart Soberon, J. Richard Stevens, Lars Stoltzfus-Brown, John N. Thompson, Dan Vena, and Robert G. Weiner The Supervillain Reader, featuring both reprinted and original essays, reveals why we are so fascinated with the villain. The obsession with the villain is not a new phenomenon, and, in fact, one finds villains who are “super” going as far back as ancient religious and mythological texts. This innovative collection brings together essays, book excerpts, and original content from a wide variety of scholars and writers, weaving a rich tapestry of thought regarding villains in all their manifestations, including film, literature, television, games, and, of course, comics and sequential art. While The Supervillain Reader focuses on the latter, it moves beyond comics to show how the vital concept of the supervillain is part of our larger consciousness. Editors Robert Moses Peaslee and Robert G. Weiner collect pieces that explore how the villain is a complex part of narratives regardless of the original source. The Joker, Lex Luthor, Harley Quinn, Darth Vader, and Magneto must be compelling, stimulating, and proactive, whereas the superhero (or protagonist) is most often reactive. Indeed, whether in comics, films, novels, religious tomes, or video games, the eternal struggle between villain and hero keeps us coming back to these stories over and over again.

A fiendish lifestyle guide for today’s discerning evil-doers from the author of the perilously popular How to Be a Villain. All those aspiring ne’er-do-wells who cackled all the way to the cash register with the Neil Zawacki’s How to Be a Villain are ready to embrace the finer points of the evil life with The Villain’s Guide to Better Living. It covers all the topics contemporary villains care about, such as: Home d cor—Gothic? Apocalyptic? Ikea? Friends—Do I have any? Can I make them? Work—Should I be a mad scientist or obsessed with revenge? Or both?

For eons, King Oblivion, Ph.D., was one of the most ruthless supervillains the world has ever known. As the CEO of the ISS (International Society of Supervillains) for half a century, he was personally responsible for numerous nefarious acts, including Nixon’s presidential election, stealing the country of Japan, Star Wars: Episode I–III, and Milli Vanilli, just to name a few. Since his untimely (and inexplicable) passing, Matt D. Wilson, who was found rotting in one of Oblivion’s numerous dungeons, has discovered in his giant lair (located in the Earth’s mantle) what seems to be the early workings of the villain’s ultimate manifesto. Though in-depth research (and paper cuts), Wilson reviewed endless documents and has compiled numerous unedited chapters, email correspondences, and various threats which combine tell the “life story” of this anti-hero. Supreme Villainy is an intimate look into the mastermind who once ruled the globe with an iron fist (and ray gun). For the first time ever, readers will learn of his birth (which has never been noted on record), rise to power, and domination of the world as we know it today. Revealed inside are never-before-seen notes, illustrations, and personal letters which, now collected, show a glimpse into the once-infamous villain’s uncompleted manuscript, and maybe a hint into who the real man was behind that horrible mask.

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy meets Armageddon! What if every possible disaster happened at once? Would you seek refuge in space? Travel to another dimension? Or perhaps take your chances with whatever life comes after this one? And what if those weren't so great either? Follow Anya and her brother Edgar as they try to navigate these difficult scenarios and more, while discovering that they may not even be able to depend on each other. But maybe everything will be okay...Maybe. THIS ISSUE: “Afterlife” - Is the end really the end for Anya? Or can she find a new beginning? “The siblings’ relationship is a highlight. Wilson does a nice job of making the dialogue between them natural and genuine...the pacing is great. Vargas’ art really stands out.” - Cory Webber, roguesportal.com A Caliber Comics release.

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy meets Armageddon! What if every possible disaster happened at once? Would you seek refuge in space? Travel to another dimension? Or perhaps take your chances with whatever life comes after this one? And what if those weren't so great either? Follow Anya and her brother Edgar as they try to navigate these difficult scenarios and more, while discovering that they may not even be able to depend on each other. But maybe everything will be okay...Maybe. THIS ISSUE: “It Ends” - After a cascade of disasters rocks earth, the last remaining remnants of humanity try to create a new life on a high-tech space station. But a new crisis arises as two brother-and-sister engineers try their best to hold it all together. “The siblings’ relationship is a highlight. Wilson does a nice job of making the dialogue between them natural and genuine...the pacing is great. Vargas’ art really stands out.” - Cory Webber, roguesportal.com A Caliber Comics release.