This book is funny and totally worth a shot, but the plot’s humor isn’t really along the same lines as might be guessed at just from reading the summary and listening to the audio sample. So, for example, if you are expecting this to be a goofy tale about a guy who thinks he wants to be a supervillian but just to nice to be any good at it, then you wouldn’t exactly be correct.
“The Rules of Supervillainy” is one of those books that is funny and nonsensical, but then tries to get serious in oddball places. Those moments are not nearly enough to stop or even slow the laughter much, but they are there.
Merciless, the main character, is a selfish jerk and he does kill people in this book, so he is deffinally a villain. He’s just…a very confused one and that’s where most of the comedy lies. He has a magical cloak that tries in vain to guide him morally but just ends up bickering with him, a conflicted wife who had a previous relationship with a Supervillainess that loves him, a minivan as an escape vehicle, and two experienced minions that he likes and teach him the ropes but isn’t sure he trusts. He also tends to get into more fights with villains more than heroes and has terrible organizational skills.
Recommended to fans of dark and sometimes not-so-dark comedy about superheroes that just want to laugh at how ridiculous comic books can get when they take themselves to seriously.