As a note, I did read the book before I listened to the audio and, as always, found the ‘Kafer touch’ to add to my enjoyment. I have the paperback, Kindle and the audiobook. He always brings the total snark of the characters through easily.
What might have been the most battle crazed book of the Supervillainy Saga, melted my brain completely. This is in a good way. It is not customary to have an audiobook with the forward actually a part of the narration, so when Jeffery Kafer added it, I was joyfully surprised. I was even more joyfully surprised when I read Mr. Kafer’s additional forward and hearing it in the narration was a special treat. Yeah, these guys are good together! The fact that Jeffery Kafer has become an intrigal part of not only this series, but most of the C.T. Phipps collection of worlds, easily justifies his rightful place in the Forward of this book. There is a lesson here for the creation not only a lasting relationship, but a successful group of books.
Yes, The Tournament of Supervillainy by C.T. Phipps came through with a knock-down, drag out set of fights that rekindled such phrases as “Fatality!” and “Come Here!” from classic video fighting games of the 90’s. It brought back many images of the Mortal Combat game and their characters. Phipps also snuck in references to Skeletor from the He-Man series. While never really a fan of that series, I did appreciate Skeletor’s efforts. I guess that says more about me than the book. Phipps keeps with his typical pop culture comments and his love of Star Wars. It wouldn’t have been a story about Gary Karkofsky without them. Besides, I think Jeffrey Kafer enjoys them too.
The references to events of the past books did not distract as they were applied appropriately. Being able to return to such places as Atlas City and Flaconcrest City, even if it was short, refreshed my memories of the places as well as how the world was still recovering from the effects from the previous books. There is so much history at this point, there is the question for new readers being able to just pick this ‘issue’ up and enjoying it as much as one who was familiar with the series. I mention ‘issue’ because that is exactly the way Phipps has been putting the Supervillainy Saga across.
The story sets its own pace bringing in characters from Phipps’ other series. The part I became confused with at times, was whose side these other characters were actually on. Maybe that was just my issue. I also wasn’t quite sure how one of the characters was able to return from an obvious defeat (Gabby) without a similar explanation as to how the other character was able to return.
The final ‘boss battle’ became a series of Gary’s typical loop-holes he typically manages to find. I believe my favorite line in the book that is so typical of Gary, “Why does everything in the universe prove you right, when everything you say is so stupid.” This is typical of all the Supervillainy storylines and strangely keeps me coming back for more. Again, maybe that says more about me than the book or series. The overall arc and the only things that really matter to Gary are family. We all could learn from him in spite of his sense of morals gone wild. He values what is truly important to all of us.
My only real complaint is that it ended way too quickly. I wanted to have more stories of daring robberies, snark in the face of disaster and more about his new relation with Death. Gary’s children, Gabby and DiabloMan are all left open-ended for the next book in the series. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t the end of the Supervillainy Saga. It appears it is just the beginning of a new series or saga for Gary and his family.