Book excerpt: Everything you ever wanted to know about the bad guys in comics, film, and television! A must-read for anyone who was ever enthralled with mythic wickedness, The Supervillain Book: The Evil Side of Comics and Hollywood exhaustively explores the extraordinary lives and careers of hundreds of overachieving evildoers. Drawing from sources in comic books, film, live-action and animated television, newspaper strips, toys, and manga and anime, it is the definitive guide to nefarious masterminds, mad scientists, and destructive dominators who have battled super- and other fictional heroes. The Supervillain Book investigates each character’s origin, modus operandi, costumes, weapons and gadgetry, secret hideouts, chief henchmen, and minions, while serving up a supersized trove of fascinating trivia. It also takes you behind the scenes, describing the creation and development of these marvelously malicious, menacing, and malevolent characters. With 350 entries on pop culture’s most malicious evildoers, this comprehensive resource also includes 125 illustrations, a helpful resource section, and an extensive index, adding to its usefulness. What would a good guy be without the bad guy? Boring. You won’t be bored with this indispensable guide to the wicked world of supervillains!