The Science of Supervillainy: The Supervillainy Saga, Book 4 (Unabridged‪)‬

*I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator.

Gary aka Merciless may have stopped President Omega (for now?) but he still has Other Gary to tend to. After his imprisonment by Other Gary, Gary returns to Falconcrest to find Other Gary has taken Gary's name and turned the city into a wonder, run by a superhero. Gary must now overthrow Other Gary to get things to return to normal.

Jeffrey is a treat to listen to. In this book, he made me laugh out. What did he do? He did a villain's laugh for Gary. Yes, a laugh laugh not just telling me the words describing the laugh. It was awesome! These are the little things narrators do that catch my ears and draw me in. I wonder how many times Jeffrey had to speak the tongue twister sections, as they are perfect in the audiobook.

I'm so excited to get back into this world. Gary is kicking it strong with his references in this book. C.T. has weighted the book heavily with these cool nods to all sorts of memories of shows, comics, and so much more. All hit home as soon as I hear them, and make me smile at the memory and joke. So many references to the shows, comics, and more are in comment, actions, and title.

Gary's colorful look on events and life makes this book a joy to listen to. If you enjoyed Gary's perspective on events and life, you'll continue to enjoy this book. He really believes what he thinks, whether it's true or not. When he's wrong his friends point it out and he plays it off. He never thinks back to it and rolls with it. It's a hoot.

I love the twist to good and evil and live and death interpretation on things done in this book. It's a fun twist authors enjoy playing with, and C.T. has the ground work in place to do that with Gary and Other Gary.

Gary keeps friends and loved ones near and dear. Gary loves his wife, Mandy, so deeply. He is so caught on her, and it's great. He's not stalkerish, he's just full of heart or heartbroken or... well, he always wants the best for Mandy and hopes to have his relationship back. Gary meets a very special little one. The communication and conversations with the little one is cute and fun. I love the references to cartoons.

We get a lot of family (blood and picked) time. Gary was imprisoned in a town for five years and has a lot to catch up on. We do, and learn what happened with Other Gary in their town.

Just when I think things are going to become as I expect, C.T. throws in a surprise. I just never know what's going to happen or appear in a scene. Sure, I can guess and let my mind run wild, but then I miss something! lol.

Gary gets sidetracked so easily! lol. It's funny how this mans brain works. We have a goal, to stop Other Gary. But we get waylaid with family and friends along the way because things are different after five years imprisoned in Undertown, living the 1950's life style. At times I almost forgot what the end goal was with all we talked through with family/friends. This story's focus feels to be more on family, those we create by blood and more.

Gary, aka Merciless, the Supervillain Without Mercy™ wakes up and finds himself in a community of brainwashed people.  With the help of Nightgirl he escapes.  Other Gary, aka Merciful from another now destroyed dimension is using brainwashing techniques to make everyone happy and delighted with his dictatorship and his harnessing all the power for his evilness.  Merciless and his hench-people must save their world yet one more time.  Merciless is due for a change – in himself – but is he ready for it?  Are the people around him ready for it?  Regardless, Other Gary is not going down without a fight and there are a lot of surprises for both!

C.T. Phipps once again brings life to the supervillain and superhero worlds.  In his sardonic wit, he connects his readers through his characters, their traits albeit some are really skewed a tad bit … or a lot.  They are relatable and fun; even traits the Other Gary exhibit are ones we can relate to in a fundamental way.  Throw in the pop culture references of Star Wars, Star Trek and more, one’s trip throughout the world of Supervillainy is fun, engaging and downright entertaining.

The dialog is awesome and flows even though at any minute you expect someone to slap Merciless silly with all his pop culture references and seemingly half-witted references that only the characters do not get but the readers do. But that is what makes the book fun!

Phipps writing style is fun, full of energy and intriguing.  I enjoyed Gizmo (a reference to Gremlins I am sure!) and her abilities and her new relationship with her father.  I thought the way Other Gary learned his lessons were poignant and reflective.  Phipps uses characters and their flaws to show us our own flaws.  Very well done!  Plus, it helps that he is a wonderful story-teller.

Jeffrey Kafer is a wonderful narrator.  His commanding voice and ability to roll the sardonic witty comments from his tongue were amazingly delivered.  Between the Phipps and Kafer, one cannot help but enjoy the books!

If you enjoy comic books, action heroes and villains, fun and downright zaniness, these this book is for you.  If you are a curmudgeon, who thinks fun is evil and has no life read it anyway - it's fun!

There were no issues with the audio production or quality of this book.

Audiobook was provided for review by the author.

Please find this complete review and many others at my review blog

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