The Science of Supervillainy

By: C. T. Phipps

Narrated by: Jeffrey Kafer

Length: 6 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's Summary

Gary Karkofsky a.k.a Merciless: The Supervillain Without Mercy (TM) returns in the fourth volume of the popular Supervillainy Saga. Having discovered the world's greatest superhero slain by his doppelganger from another reality, Merciful: The Supervillain with Mercy (TM), and the arrogant President Omega, Gary dedicates himself to overthrowing both. Unfortunately, this is harder than it looks since Merciful has all of Gary's genre savviness while President Omega has the entire brainwashed United States military behind him. In the end, though, there can be only one ruler of the world and two of these three feuding villains will have to go.

©2017 Charles Phipps (P)2017 Charles Phipps

Not as good as the others

A very good series but I did not get as invested in this book. The story was just not as fun or quirky as the others.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

What started off fun, became a chore to finish

Maybe this is true with all series... The first book in the series captured my attention and made me want to continue on to the next. But moving through the books beyond the first has been like walking through and increasingly viscous wall of Jell-O. Finishing off this last book in the series was more of a chore than a joy. While I love all of the snarky fun comments that Gary makes, and the pop-culture references galore (especially the nod to one of my favorite books "Soon I will be infamous") The story became so convoluted that I didn't even bother trying to follow it. I discovered Jeffrey Kafer in the D-List Villain books, and I am convinced the only reason I carried on with the series beyond the second book was simply for his endearing performance.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

So much fun.

Gary, aka Merciless, has woken up in a community of brainwashed people but with the help of Nightgirl he escapes. Other Gary is using his powers to rule Gary's home place. It's, once again, up to Merciless and cohorts to save the world, but by doing so they may have to become something they never wanted to be!!

OK so this is book 4 and by now you would think that the story has slowed down and become stagnant, but not so!! This is just as fast paced and entertaining as the other ones. It's also a little darker and a little more serious, but still has the wit and geekiness that I've come to expect from these books. The writing flows well and the story is exciting, intriguing and as well written as ever.

The characters that we've come to love are all present here, plus we get a new addition that you just know is going to be amazing!!! Gizmo has all the traits of her mom and dad and I loved her character. I can't wait to see what she will be like.

It's getting hard to write reviews for this series because I feel like I'm repeating everything I've said before!! I love this series and this author and highly recommend everything he writes. Can't wait for the next one.

Jeffrey Kafer is one of the best in the business. He makes for a perfect Merciless because he can bring across his snarky manner perfectly and has a strong grasp on using the right inflection at the right time. Brilliant.

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

Funny!

I really liked the first three books in this series, but this one was my absolute favorite! So much comedy gold and quotable quotes that I'm going to relisten and write down my favorites, just so I can use them when I'm telling people about the series. The narrator did an awesome job with this, as he has with the rest of the series. Worth every cent!

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

Gets a little too navel-gazing

Any additional comments?

So if your at this point in the series you know what's what with a Supervillainy book. Silly snark, pop-culture reference galore, wacky battles, and just and over the top power fantasy. Or I should say you knew what's what because in this book Phipps decided to give his main character a perfect daughter as part of the power fantasy. That decision to focus on family over superheroic sucks the life out of this book.

The humor goes from irreverent to family sitcom blandness and the story grinds to a screeching halt to switch focus on how adorable everybody is being. I binge listened to the first three books in the series but this one I could not make it a third of the way through this book. Phipps has been one of my top guilty pleasure reads, but he missed the mark on this one. I hate to say it, but I think the Supervillainy Saga has run it's course.

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

Disappointed 😒

Promising series but getting steadily worse as the premise wears thin. Paying lip service to character development but really just relying on raising power levels, pop culture and incessant Mary Suing.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Good Entertainment

These books are a guilty pleasure. As anything other can cotton candy they such, but I enjoy the brief escape they offer. I feel like the author could give us a bit more in the way of plot and structure. The motivations of some of the characters are shallow at best. Still, over all I would recommend this as a good chill out series. This book is a continuation of that fun ride.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

a solid series

I tried to listen to the first book off and on for months. I just couldn't get into it. I started listening to it again two weeks ago and now here I am finishing the last book crying over the loss of characters who will remain unnamed due to spoilers. Phipps, in his attempt to parody the superhero genre, has instead become an enormous staple in it for me. he managed to make the universe his own through uncensored comedy and abundant pop culture reference. Kafer by comparison did a great job tying the whole thing together, giving these characters voices that--although not exactly distinct from one another--have give them all their own personalities. I loved the series, and while I want this to be the end after ending on such a great note, I also hope to see these characters again in the future. or the past. wherever they end up next.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

I could have missed this one

Just didn't feel like this was a best afford, I enjoyed the other books in the series but this one left me lacking.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

good series

the narrator of the story got better with each book. the overall story was engaging and entertaining.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

wonderful funny read. great story

great story full witty one liners and great movies and comic references. the rich cast of characters deliveries witty dialog . strong story full of rich comic and movie trops

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

great finale

a nice ending to an enjoyable story. I'm not sure if I want another one or just let it end though.

Great Story.

This fourth instalment of The Supervillainy Saga did not disappoint. It was packed full of all the action, humour, and crazy super powered happenings that we have come to expect from the series. As hilarious as this series is it also has some dark and cynical moments that offers great balance to the story.

I'm still loving the adventures of Gary Karkofsky a.k.a Merciless: The Supervillain without Mercy. Roll on book 5!

Jeffrey Kafer is the perfect narrator for this series. He is good at most things and really gets the tone of the story.