The Science of Supervillains - by Lois H Gresh & Robert Weinberg (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

The authors of The Science of Superheroes now reveal the real genius of the most evil geniuses
Ever wonder why comic book villains, such as Spiderman's bionic archenemy Dr. Octopus or the X-Men's eternal rival Magneto, are so scary and so much fun? It's not just their diabolical talent for confounding our heroes, it's their unrivalled techno-proficiency at creating global mayhem that keeps comic book fans captivated. But is any of the science actually true? In The Science of Supervillains, authors Lois Gresh and Bob Weinberg present a highly entertaining and informative look at the mind-boggling wizardry behind the comic book world's legendary baddies. Whether it's artificial intelligence, weapons systems, anti-matter, robotics, or magnetic flux theory, this fun, fact-filled book is a fascinating excursion into the real-world science animating the genius in the comic book world's pantheon of evil geniuses.
Lois Gresh (Scottsville, NY) and Bob Weinberg (Oak Forest, IL) are the authors of the popular Science of Superheroes (cloth: 0-471-0246-0; paper: 0-471-46882-7)

From the Back Cover

The science behind the scoundrels we love to hate

From Spider-Man's bionic archenemy, Dr. Octopus, to Superman's nemesis, Lex Luthor, to the X-Men's eternal rival, Magneto, comic book villains have kept us captivated for years-- not just by their diabolical talent for confounding our heroes, but also by their unrivaled techno-proficiency at creating global mayhem. But is any of the science behind their superweaponry based in truth?

The Science of Supervillains separates science fact from science fiction. Renowned authors Lois H. Gresh and Robert Weinberg present a highly entertaining and informative look at the mind-boggling wizardry behind such legendary baddies as Dr. Doom, Poison Ivy, Mr. Mxyzptlk, and more. Whether it's artificial intelligence, weapons systems, antimatter, robotics, or magnetic flux theory, this fun, fact-filled book is a fascinating excursion into the real-world science animating the comic book world's pantheon of evil geniuses.

Praise for The Science of Superheroes

"We comics fans have known it for years, of course: somewhere, in some nether dimension or on some alternate world, there is an Earth on which superheroes are real, living, breathing beings . . . and now Lois Gresh and Bob Weinberg have shown us how that's possible. Mutants . . . aliens . . . scientific geniuses with a penchant for wearing costumes and masks . . . or just plain Joes who've trained their bodies within an inch of their lives . . . all are probed, dissected, examined in loving details. To paraphrase an old DC Comics feature: Science says you're wrong if you believe that The Science of Superheroes isn't more fun than a barrel of genetically altered winged monkeys."
-- Roy Thomas, writer and editor of X-Men, Fantastic Four, The Incredible Hulk, Superman, Justice League of America, Legion of Superheroes, Star Wars, and many other comic book classics

Review Quotes

"The best part of this book is not the science, which is fine but somewhat perfunctory, but the material on the various superheroes." ("Sci-Fi, December 2002)

..".Gresh and Weinberg's wonderful little book is both a potted history of superhero comics, and a pop science manual for the extremely lazy..." (hero.ac.uk-Higher Education and Research Opportunities, 28 October 2002)

..".children who enjoyed the Spider-Man and X-men movies will delight in The Science of SuperheroesPerfect for turning a comic-book obsession into an enthusiasm for the laboratory..." ("The Times," 7 December 2002)

..".This is definitely a fun book..." ("The Alchemist," 9 January 2003)

..".All in all I can thoroughly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in science and at least a nostalgic fondness for comics..." ("Chemistry In Britain," December 2002)

.."."The Science of Superheroes" could be a useful tool for encouraging comic fans to delve into science..." ("Physics World," February 2003)

About the Author

LOIS H. GRESH has written dozens of suspense and science fiction stories, and has been nominated for national fiction awards six times. She is coauthor, along with Robert Weinberg, of The Science of Superheroes (Wiley) and The Computers of Star Trek.

ROBERT WEINBERG's fiction has been nominated for Hugo, World Fantasy, and Balrog Awards. He is a two-time winner of the World Fantasy Award as well as the recipient of a Bram Stoker Award. Weinberg also writes the comic book series Cable for Marvel Comics. He previously served for twenty-four years as chairman of the Chicago Comicon, the second-largest comic convention in the United States.