Origins of a D-List Supervillain

By: Jim Bernheimer

Narrated by: Jeffrey Kafer

Length: 7 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

Even D-list supervillains have to start somewhere.

Follow Cal Stringel's misadventures as he climbs to the lowest levels of supervillany in the prequel to the smash hit, Confessions of a D-List Supervillain. Angry that he wouldn't be known as the engineer who made Ultraweapon's force blasters, Cal resigns to chase after a bigger, better paycheck.

However, the Promethia Corporation isn't going to let him go that easily and sets out to make his life a living hell. Fed up at being pushed around by a company with an endless supply of lawyers and litigation, Cal sets out to build his own version of Ultraweapon's powered armor and take his revenge!

What Cal doesn't count on is just how hard this is going to be.

Along the way, he will make both friends and enemies and discover how hard hitting rock bottom can feel. Whether Cal is trying to smooth talk his way out of the prison for supervillains, haggle with nefarious employers over the price of his inventions, or battle with the Gulf Coast Guardians, he's in for one wild ride!

He'll need to learn that when money is tight that everything has a price - from the cost of making weapons for a psychotic speedster to how much to charge for taking the blame for a drunken rampage through Las Vegas.

©2014 James Steven Bernheimer (P)2014 James Steven Bernheimer

The first of a thoroughly entertaining series!

Overall:
Superb!
I came across this book by searching audible for books rated four stars and higher. The storyline is entertaining involving the story of an engineer who is wronged by his employer and in pursuit of revenge follows the road into a super villain.

The story:
I like the technology and superhero storyline, but the style of the story in the voice of the main character with his irreverence, sarcasm and engineer thought is irresistible!

The performance:
Outstanding performance! I quickly forgot that I was listening to a book read to me by someone and was fully submerged into the story. I listened to this book within a week and purchase the rest of the series before I finished this prequel.

Excellent

One of my favorite series, well written and voiced. Can't wait for more stuff from the author. Unique and interesting

Great series!!!

Humorous and witty. You fall for Kal Stringel and feel for his downfalls and cheer for his achievements.

A nice surprise

It is no Hard Luck Hank (nothing has lived up to that for me to be fair), but I did lol a couple times and it is a great listen. I am buying #2 as soon as I hit "submit" so that should speak for itself.

A good anti-hero book

An anti-hero is forged by hubris and by corporate greed and power mongering. The main character goes on to try to be a poor man's super villain. He does OK and a readable, fun book is created. As always this particular narrator does a great job. This isn't a book that will absorb your every moment, but it's a great book to have around when you want to have some fun.

The evolution of a bad guy done well.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This is the kind of story I think most people would enjoy. Think about it, all of our lives on TV, comics, movies, and books we have been presented with the generic bad guy. This story illustrates how a average guy simply seeking to do well in life can change his path to a life of crime. Not only that, you'll be right there, rooting for him.

What other book might you compare Origins of a D-List Supervillain to and why?

I'd like to compare this to Ex Heroes, minus the zombies and the good guy stuff. I say that because the story is well done with a rich background of other powered people from those with no powers using gadgets or powered suits to those with the power of tornado's.

Which scene was your favorite?

The moment he realized that he had hit bottom and he had to accept his new path as a villain.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Here comes the bad guy.

Great characters, and a fun story.

I'm re-listening to the series for the second time. I wish there were more. Cal Stringle is the type of super villain that would be cool to hang out with.

Unable to put it down

The first book in a great series. Well written and excellent narration. Plenty of action and humor.

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I gotta say this installment of this series is utterly epic writer who came up with this I give you 10 stars man

Definitely interesting and a cool perspective!

Interesting perpective and an enjoyable writing style. It isn't a dense or complicated plot so don't expect it to blow you away with crazy reveals or anything. I really enjoyed the names for heroes and villans.