500 Comic Book Villains

(Barron’s, 2004)
™ and © Mike Conroy

This is the sequel to Conroy’s 500 Great Comic Book Action Heroes and, in some ways, actually surpasses it. For starters, Conroy’s definition of “great” was a little too broad when it came to super-heroes. With villains, he doesn’t even make that claim, but the goal is still easier to meet. Think of “great” Batman, Spider-Man, and Flash villains. How many is that? Dozens, probably. Add Superman and The Fantastic Four, and you’ve already got scores. This collection isn’t confined by “great.” There are scads of gloriously obscure Golden Age villains to be found.

There are some odd calls. Does Morgan Edge really need two entries (for his pre- and post-Crisis incarnations)? And it’s strange that The Secret Society of Super-Villains, a team invoked more than 20 times throughout, doesn’t merit its own entry.

Despite debatable inclusions, omissions, and mathematical errors (According to the entry for Green Goblin II, Amazing Spider-Man #136 came 135 issues after #31.), this book is lots of fun. It will also inspire less aggravation among diehard fans than did its predecessor.

— Jack Abramowitz

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