The Supervillain Handbook: The Ultimate How-to Guide to Destruction and Mayhem

Supervillainy #1

by King Oblivion, Matt D. Wilson, Richard Allen (Narrator)

Your guide to making it big in the business of evil!

Looking for a way out of the rat race? Tired of your ho-hum, workaday life? Have an inexplicable love of turning human beings into inanimate objects? Then professional supervillainy might just be for you! With tips from the renowned founder and overlord of the International Society of Supervillains, The Supervillain Handbook is your one-stop-shop for everything evil. Gain invaluable insight on the art of revenge, choosing your evil name, where to find the perfect lair, and much more!

Genres: Humor, Audiobook, Fiction, Comedy, Superheroes, Science Fiction, Fantasy

Audible Audio

First published April 25, 2012

Reviews

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the secret here is to NOT resist it, even though that's the first instinct you'll have.

[Svenja · Rating 1 out of 5]

While the idea behind the book seemed very funny to me when I bought the book, it didn't deliver at all. Quite boring and repetitive, unfunny and overly heteronormative.

[David Blaylock · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will keep this around for future reference.

[Sammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

*takes notes*

[Tony L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun campy look at supervillains, the book is entertaining and well constructed. At some points it drifts in style from how-to/self-help to more of a cracked.com list-based article format that feels a bit like I stumbled into someone’s blog. While no less amusing, those sections did take me out of the book for a moment. Overall an enjoyable, well narrated, quick book.

[Akshay · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Supervillain Handbook: The Ultimate How-to Guide to Destruction and Mayhem by King Oblivion

A satirical guide that transforms comic book tropes into practical career advice for aspiring megalomaniacs.

Concept and Structure:
The book presents itself as a legitimate professional manual authored by King Oblivion, PhD, founder of the International Society of Supervillains. This framing device allows Wilson to systematically deconstruct supervillain archetypes while maintaining consistent comedic voice throughout the guide's chapters covering motivation, qualifications, goals, rhetoric, staffing, facilities, and planning.


Content and Approach:
The handbook combines practical advice parody with genre commentary, offering insights on selecting evil names, constructing lairs, managing henchmen, and executing revenge plots. The material draws extensively from comic book history while highlighting the inherent contradictions and logical flaws in traditional villain methodology.


Humor and Execution:
Wilson's satirical approach operates on multiple levels—mocking both the absurdity of supervillain conventions and the self-help genre itself. The comedy ranges from clever observations about villain psychology to broader cultural commentary on power dynamics and corporate structure.





Format effectiveness: The handbook structure provides clear organization while maintaining the illusion of authentic supervillain guidance throughout its 176 pages.


Genre knowledge: Demonstrates comprehensive understanding of comic book conventions, effectively subverting familiar tropes while respecting the source material.


Practical application: Functions equally well as light entertainment for general readers and reference material for comic creators seeking villain inspiration.

Strengths and Limitations: The book succeeds in creating a cohesive comic universe while delivering consistent humor across its chapters. However, the format can become repetitive, and some jokes rely heavily on familiarity with superhero media. The audiobook version, narrated by Richard Allen, significantly enhances the experience through theatrical voice work that brings King Oblivion's character to vivid life.

Target Audience: Comic book enthusiasts will find the most value in the detailed genre references and clever subversions, while casual readers seeking light humor may appreciate the satirical take on self-help literature. The book works particularly well for those familiar with classic superhero narratives and their established conventions.

The handbook's greatest achievement lies in treating supervillainy as a legitimate profession requiring proper training and methodology, creating humor through the juxtaposition of mundane business practices with world domination schemes. This approach generates both entertainment value and genuine insight into the genre's underlying assumptions.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✩✩ out of 5 glowing stars

[Hebz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend this book to all aspiring supervillains. It really focuses and centers you on what really matters- world domination.
I recommend listening to the audiobook, in order to free your hands for finger-tenting and staring ahead menacingly, while planning your revenge on everyone who ever wronged you. I’m looking at you 3rd grade geography teacher who said I cheated instead of admitting her mistake and fixing it.

[Moriah Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun and clever. A nice, light read for all of us wannabe supervillains/dictators.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quite funny. And instructive. Bwahahaha

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some funny jokes and an interesting overall narrative.

[Arlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s relatively amusing. The level of profanity surprised me and so I probably wouldn’t play this one around children if you’re using audible!

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Supervillain Handbook: The Ultimate How-to Guide to Destruction and Mayhem
By King Oblivion PHD
…as told to Matt D. Wilson

Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Published In: New York, New York, USA
Date: 2012
Pgs: 176

Summary:
Tips about everything evil, from picking your supervillain name to the sacred art of revenge.

Genre:
How-to. Comics. Humor.

Main Character:
King Oblivion

Favorite Character:
N/A

Least Favorite Character:
N/A

Favorite Scene:
The part that made me realize that Home Depot would be the perfect supervillain hideout. Hide in plain sight. Handy parking for supervillain-mobiles and machines, just park them next to the construction equipment and the concrete blocks on that one end of the building where the general public rarely goes. Put the secret entrance to the sub-basement lair in one of the display shower enclosures.
Though possibly the best one-liner in the whole books comes when he is describing the history of supervillains. In 1973, the International Society of Supervillains stole Japan and replaced it with a country where all the people watch cartoons where tentacle monsters rape women.

Plot Holes/Out of Character:
N/A

Last Page Sound:
HA!

Author Assessment:
I would look at something else by this author. Whether I would read it or not would depend on the subject matter, but yeah…I’d at least give it a look.

Disposition of Book:
Return it to the library. Doubt I will re-read it.

Why isn't there a screenplay?
This could only be a screenplay if it were done like Zombieland. Narrator becoming a new supervillain tells us the story as he goes through the steps.
:/ Guess that would work.

[E.S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5 stars)
Audio Book Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5 Stars)
Total Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.25/5 stars)

Do you want to be a supervillain? It seems hard doesn’t it? Well do not fret! The Supervillain Handbook is here to save…err…destroy the day! This easy guide will go over all the dos, and don’ts, of becoming a supervillain. So pay attention…otherwise you might get stuck in the lowly role of henchmen.

A fun book, but for the most part, exactly what you would expect. This is truly a handbook at heart, giving tips on how to produce evil laughter, how to procure the proper costume, and the appropriate form of education, as well as examples of exactly what NOT to do.

Yet, it could get a little repetitive, and it might have been better if I had read it by hand rather than as an audio book. The rundown of the handbook was simply this: don’t do any of the dumb things you see villains do in cartoons, but at the same time, be stereotypical. Why? Because being a villain like that is FUN!

And as I said, that’s what this book is: fun. Will it stick with me forever? Probably not. Might I think of a quip or two when watching a foolish villain? Possibly. And that’s all that matters.

I suppose if you *really* want to become a supervillain, it is definitely worth the read. It might stop you from making a foolish mistake…or twenty.

[Stefani - SpelingExpirt · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has a really good premise and I definitely know everything I need to about becoming a supervillain but it became old really fast. It repeats the same joke over and over and I'm glad it was so short.

[Susu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book, it was clever and unique. I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a well produced audiobook, but unfortunately the underlying content is just too dull to make the whole package worthwhile. It's a book written in-character by an evil supervillain for other supervillains, a concept which could probably work if done well, but it was mainly fluff and didn't include much humorous or arguably educational content for anyone (supervillain or not). A lot of the book was devoted to lists or questionnaires which didn't translate well to audiobook format, and overall it was just boring. However, mercifully fairly short. Skip. (There are a few other books in the genre which are more descriptive and contain funny stories.)

[Vivek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hooter: A sarcastic beginners guide to super villainy

Did this via Audible so the villain narration voice was the biggest bonus of the entire book. Taking examples from the comics world, the framework to be a supervillain is shared with the illogical reasons highlighted in a matter of fact manner.

From picking your name, your cape (what's a super villain without a cape), picking your origin story, your destruction objective, differentiating from bad people and villains , the need of heroes and villains as a symbiotic relationship.

A non serious fun read. You won't get to learn anything here or will you ? Mwahahaahhah

[Nai Wang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Free from Audible+. This book was great to listen to because it treated itself as an audiobook so the voice acting was great! I found myself chuckling a lot throughout the short handbook. It is just what it is, a handbook so don't expect a story. I don't get why others are criticizing this for lack of story, I say duhhhhhhhh. If you get 3 hours to kill, kill it with this awesomely funny handbook that covers pop culture and comics that includes modern references to movies as early as in the 2010's.

[Mona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is becoming a Supervillian something you always wanted to do with your life but didn’t know where to start? Then The SuperVillain Handbook is perfect for you! I now know I will be the most terrible and frightening Supervillian this world has known thanks to the advice and how to’s found in this handbook. I plan to start my plans towards world domination right away and I’m also accepting henchmen/woman applications.

[Douglas · Rating 1 out of 5]

Note: I listened to an audio version that does not appear on Goodreads.com at this time. Maybe the illustrations make the book better?

This book is just a bunch of quips with no story. I can enjoy books like that, particularly if they are funny, but not this one. I only got 45% of the way through before I had to go find something better.

[TinySalad · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mildly amusing at times. I started this book thinking it would be a quick silly thing.
Was it quick? Yes, but it still managed to outstay its welcome.
Was it silly? Yea, it's what you'd expect, listing up supervillain tropes in a humours manner. But humour being subjective, this wasn't for me.
If the humour doesn't stick, there's nothing else here for you.

[Baroness Ekat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a funny and quick book that felt like a more indepth approach to the Evil Overlords list from the 1990s. There were parts I laughed out loud.

I loved the small tidbits of "failures as a supervillain" and even spotlights on ones that we didn't know were supervillain.

If you need a quick book (the audio was right around 3 hours) that could make you smile, I'd recommend this book.

[Brian Mayer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its a short, silly little satirical book on supervillainy. If you love the superhero genre, then there just isn't anything that is really that new. Most of the humor is the conversations that that comic fans have had with friends or on internet pages or in shops. It isn't bad at all. I'll give my copy to a friend I have in mind, but I wouldn't tell him he has to read it.

[Joaquin Escudero-Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am rating this book with five stars, but I am doing so with the caveat that the audiobook version of this is WAY better then any other version. The person that they have doing the narration has a huge talent of voices that makes the whole book sound awesome. I think that reading it would still be enjoyable, but as an audiobook this just works beautifully.

[sliceofmini · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quite fun ! Although it had a certain handbook ( I mean it literally is ) attribute to it that made the made the audiobook a bit mechanical and boring to listen to at times, but all in all it had this tongue-in-cheek 2000s superhero cartoon humour that I grew up with and quite enjoyed most of it.

[Michael T. Christensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A ton of fun! Light and silly, but extremely niche - I knew what to expect because I’ve listened to 12 years of Matt D. Wilson’s podcast, but this book is pretty nerdy so if you’re not a comics fan, it might not be for you.

[Josh Patton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some parts were funny. Definitely captures the whole supervillain essence. By that I mean it comes across as written by someone extremely arrogant who loves to hear themselves speak.

It does a good job of looking fun at all the trips you see in comics.

[Lady Alleta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is hilarious! I listened to the audiobook and the text with the narrator, Richard Allen, made this a fun few hours to laugh to.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really a 2.5

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute. Just what you need to pursue this career