Book Description
Here come the heels and hoodlums! It’s an entertaining rogues’ review, starring Batman’s Joker, Dick Tracy’s Flattop and Pruneface, Flash Gordon’s Ming the Merciless, Spider-Man’s Green Goblin, and hundreds more villains connoisseurs of comics have always loved to hate. Written especially for comic book collectors and nostalgia buffs, 500 Comic Book Villains is a chronicle of fictional wickedness that also touches on Arthurian legend and old-time radio and movies, in addition to the comics. It’s an encyclopedia of evildoers that lists and profiles the major recurring villains who for generations have lurked in countless comic book illustrations, flaunting the iniquity that is always vanquished at story’s end by heroes who represent truth, justice, law, order, and the American way. This terrific collection, compiled by comic book historian Mike Conroy, serves as a fine companion volume to his recently published 500 Great Comic Book Action Heroes, also available from Barron’s. More than 300 color illustrations include reproductions of comic book covers and pages. Readers will also find a handy index and a bibliography.

From the Back Cover
[back cover] Did you know? . . . . . . that Lex Luthor waged war on Superman because Luthor was afflicted with premature baldness? . . . that Batman was stalked by a mischievous imp from another dimension? . . . that the Red Skull was trained by Hitler, who later came to fear his evil protégé? You’ll find these facts plus many, many more in the pages of this superb companion volume to 500 Comic Book Action Heroes. From The Joker, Ming the Merciless, and the Mekon to more obscure but still fascinating evildoers like Professor Skinn and the Beauty Butcher, author Mike Conroy probes deep into hundreds of legends to give you the story behind the story of the greatest archenemies who tried—but always failed—to foil our favorite comic heroes. Open this book and enjoy brief biographical sketches of all your favorite villains. Then, savor the feature pages that catch evildoers in the act of living up to their wicked reputations. Filled with more than 300 color illustrations and succinct, entertaining text, 500 Comic Book Villains is a panorama of memorably malicious malfeasants who have prowled the pages of comic books from 1934 to the present day. [front flap] 500 Comic Book Villains by Mike Conroy Foreword by Roy Thomas Here come the heels and hoodlums! The stars of this entertaining rogues’ review include Batman’s Joker, Dick Tracy’s Flattop and Pruneface, Flash Gordon’s Ming the Merciless, Spider-Man’s Green Goblin, and hundreds more villains that comics connoisseurs have always loved to hate. Written especially for comic book collectors and nostalgia buffs, 500 Comic Book Villains chronicles the fictional wickedness concocted by the world’s best comic book artists and serves as an encyclopedia of evildoers who lurk in countless comic book illustrations. Mike Conroy’s terrific collection of criminals also makes a great companion volume to his acclaimed 500 Great Comic Book Action Heroes. More than 300 color illustrations accompany a text that will please readers of all ages. [back flap] Mike Conroy is a veteran comics journalist and historian. He is the news editor of the U.K.-based trade paper Comics International, and the founder of the Eagle Awards, one of the comics industry’s major international prizes. His previous book, 500 Great Comic Book Action Heroes, is also published by Barron’s. Roy Thomas has been a writer and editor in the comic book field since 1965. The memorable villains he has created over the years include Ultron, Tiger Shark, and The Squadron Sinister, to name just a few. He currently edits the second incarnation of the comic fanzine Alter Ego, and still finds time to write an occasional comic book.

About the Author
Mike Conroy is a veteran comics journalist and historian, the news editor of the U.K.-based trade paper Comics International, and the founder of the Eagle Awards, one of the comics industry’s major international prizes.

FROM THE PUBLISHER