As witty as it is heartpounding, this fresh take on the beloved superhero genre is all about finding your own way to shine even when it seems everyone else around you is, well… super. Never trust a guy in spandex. In Abby Hamilton’s world, superheroes do more than just stop crime and save cats stuck in trees–they also drink milk straight from the carton and hog the television remote. Abby’s … hog the television remote. Abby’s older brother moonlights as the famous Red Comet, but without powers of her own, following in his footsteps has never crossed her mind.
That is, until the city’s newest vigilante comes bursting into her life.
After saving Abby from an attempted mugging, Morriston’s fledgling supervillain Iron Phantom convinces her that he’s not as evil as everyone says, and that their city is under a vicious new threat. As Abby follows him deeper into their city’s darkest secrets, she comes to learn that heroes can’t always be trusted, and sometimes it’s the good guys who wear black.
Chosen by readers like you for Macmillan’s young adult imprint Swoon Reads, The Supervillain and Me is a hilarious, sweet, and action-packed novel by debut author Danielle Banas that proves no one is perfect, not even superheroes.
Praise for The Supervillain and Me:
“Get ready for a wild ride in this zany, high-action thriller.” —Booklist
“Banas adeptly keeps readers guessing about Iron Phantom’s identity and provides plenty of romantic tension, which will satisfy even die-hard fans of the genre.” —School Library Journal
“Hilarious … A zany, action-packed adventure.” —VOYA
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I read less and less YA novels these days because I find that I can’t handle teenage*/high school drama any more. But fortunately, The supervillain and me found me or I found it and I loved it.
It was funny, witty and just what I needed now.
What an amazing book. The Supervillain and Me is an excellent novel for comic book fans everywhere, but it is also for people who love the superhero genre. Why? Because it has such a perfect balance of realism and wonder to tell the story. It is not traditional in the way that it tells the story to focus on the superhero doing their superhero thing, it is about Abby, a normal girl who wants to get through the day and land the lead part in the musical. That is why the story is relatable to the reader because it has a grounding factor in following Abby on her day to day adventures. She lives in a crime-ridden city where the crime rates keep getting higher and higher. Even having two superheroes is not doing much to keep the city safe, even heroes have their limits, and they can only be in one place at a time. So, seeing the world through Abby’s perspective is fresh, it is realistic, and it is relatable. The fear she feels, the tension and anxiety she has about going out at night alone is something readers can relate to, and that is what makes the novel stand out. It follows an average person in a world where superheroes are real.
The realism is vital in making this story work, and the characterization that brings Abby to life is a big part of that. She is a strong character, capable and thoughtful. Abby has questions, but her mindset keeps her from asking them, and her internal struggle, it keeps the tension on the page. Abby’s brother is a superhero, but she is fraternizing with a person who is being labeled by the media as a villain, someone who claims to go to the same school as her. So following her internal struggle, to see her battle herself internally and make the decisions she makes, it is something interesting that unfolds throughout the story.
Now, realism and characterization aside, there is also the pace of the novel. Admittedly it starts very slow and almost looks as if the story is going to be going in a completely different direction than it ultimately does. The opening is where Banas uses her time wisely to do some world building and character establishment. After the first couple of chapters, the pacing of the novel begins to pick up, and the direction of the novel becomes clearer. Banas does an excellent job of slipping in historical context into the novel as the story goes on that way the story maintains the pace while also solidifies the character dynamics and history of the characters. By slipping in these details, Banas allows for some exciting plot development to unfold. The reader is just as eager as Abby to figure out whom Iron Phantom is and looking at the clues, well, let us say it gives the reader something to think about. Banas does this very well, making sure to not give anything away until the right moment.
Overall, this was an excellent novel. It was funny, it was fresh, and even a bit romantic without getting too explicit. There are light kissing and hand-holding leading to some very tender moments between characters. The fact remains this is a new fresh perspective in the superhero genre for young readers that has the charm and action to keep the reader entertained.