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Archvillain #2
The Mad Mask
THE MAD MASK is book two in critically acclaimed author Barry Lyga's Archvillain series!
Things haven't been going well for Kyle since Mighty Mike became the new town hero. He's pretty sure he could fix this disaster if he could expose Mike's secret (he's an alien), but to do that Kyle would have to admit he is the Azure Avenger -- the unintentional town archvillain.
One night a new masked hero, aptly named the Mad Mask, arrives, boasting to the Azure Avenger of an off-the-charts IQ and superior superpowers. Yet the Mad Mask has come seeking intellectual assistance in building Ultitron (the robot of all robots). In exchange he offers to allow the Azure Avenger to use the awesome Ultitron to rid the world, or at least Bouring, of Mighty Mike. Forging alliances isn't usually Kyle's style, but it seems he has no choice. While Kyle agrees to help, he also has another plan: finding out who the Mad Mask is and how he got his powers. Because the last thing the Azure Avenger needs is another mindless archvillain hanging around town!
Things haven't been going well for Kyle since Mighty Mike became the new town hero. He's pretty sure he could fix this disaster if he could expose Mike's secret (he's an alien), but to do that Kyle would have to admit he is the Azure Avenger -- the unintentional town archvillain.
One night a new masked hero, aptly named the Mad Mask, arrives, boasting to the Azure Avenger of an off-the-charts IQ and superior superpowers. Yet the Mad Mask has come seeking intellectual assistance in building Ultitron (the robot of all robots). In exchange he offers to allow the Azure Avenger to use the awesome Ultitron to rid the world, or at least Bouring, of Mighty Mike. Forging alliances isn't usually Kyle's style, but it seems he has no choice. While Kyle agrees to help, he also has another plan: finding out who the Mad Mask is and how he got his powers. Because the last thing the Azure Avenger needs is another mindless archvillain hanging around town!
245 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2012
8 people are currently reading
168 people want to read
About the author
Barry Lyga
71 books2,199 followersBarry Lyga is a recovering comic book geek. According to Kirkus, he's also a "YA rebel-author." Somehow, the two just don't seem to go together to him.
When he was a kid, everyone told him that comic books were garbage and would rot his brain, but he had the last laugh. Raised on a steady diet of comics, he worked in the comic book industry for ten years, but now writes full-time because, well, wouldn't you?
The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy & Goth Girl is his first novel. Unsoul'd is his latest. There are a whole bunch in between, featuring everything from the aftermath of child abuse to pre-teens with superpowers to serial killers. He clearly does not know how to stick to one subject.
When he was a kid, everyone told him that comic books were garbage and would rot his brain, but he had the last laugh. Raised on a steady diet of comics, he worked in the comic book industry for ten years, but now writes full-time because, well, wouldn't you?
The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy & Goth Girl is his first novel. Unsoul'd is his latest. There are a whole bunch in between, featuring everything from the aftermath of child abuse to pre-teens with superpowers to serial killers. He clearly does not know how to stick to one subject.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 30, 2012
In the last month I have read five of Barry Lyga's novels. Each was a great read. But this is the first in a direct series. It was interesting watching the progress of Kyle's character from the first book and through to the end of this one. In this installment we find out that a third person was affected by the radiation from space that brought Mighty Mike to Earth and gave Kyle his invulnerability and his super intellect. But we also find out during the course of the story that 5 children in total went missing that night. We can only wonder if more of them will show up with powers as the series moves on. The Mad Mask tracks down Kyle and his villain name, The Azure Avenger. He proposes creating a giant robot, Utilitron, to wipe beauty from the world. At first Kyle falls under the Mad Mask's spell but soon he realizes not all is as it appears...
Read the rest of the review and with links to other reviews by the authors on my blog Book Reviews and More.
Read the rest of the review and with links to other reviews by the authors on my blog Book Reviews and More.
November 12, 2020
I just finished reading the Mad Mask by Barry Lyga. The author's objective was to entertain a lower level of readers. The author's main argument was that the main character Kyle Kamdem was not a bad guy. he wanted to tell people to prove themselves in the right way that is not harming others. I think that the book was really good and it had a lot of key scenes that led to the final scene. I would give the book five stars. I read the book without reading the first one and I knew what was going on the whole book and it gave great background information.
August 13, 2018
Read this with my kid, and we missed the first Archvillian book. Nonetheless, the story was easy enough to follow and had a fun premise: a kid who doesn't see himself as the bad guy, even though he's out to destroy the town superhero and everyone else thinks he's a villain. Some nice twists and laughs when Kyle meets a real villain who seems to want the same things--as well as friendship. Action scenes are good, but overall the book felt too long, the plot too thin.
February 2, 2012
Kyle HATES Mighty Mike! Ever since Kyle (A.K.A. the Azure Avenger) got his super powers and the alien Mighty Mike showed up in the town of Bouring, Kyle has been trying to show the world that Mike is a big fake and an alien! Trying to embarrass Mighty Mike with the disappearing ”Pants Laser” was a big failure. What was Kyle going to do? The Mad Mask, a new teenage supervillain showed up and made a deal with Kyle. If Kyle helped The Mad Mask build a giant robot, Ulitron, The Mad Mask would use Ulitron to destroy Mighty Mike. Kyle teamed up with The Mad Mask but The Mad Mask tricked Kyle and used Ulitron to destroy all the beautiful things in Bouring, like the town’s light house, which was – strangely – placed in a field, and the Mall! The Mad Mask hated everything beautiful because he was in an accident that made him disfigured. Can Kyle now stop The Mad Mask and Ulitron?!?
I liked this book. In fact I liked it more than the first book in the series. I liked The Mad Mask character because he had cool powers (he can control electronic things) and he was a great villain. In the first book, I didn’t like Kyle so much because he just didn’t seem like a guy I’d want to be friends with. In this book, I liked Kyle a lot more because he made better choices and used his super-smart brain for good. Mr. Lyga described the action scenes so well that I really saw what was happening in my mind. There were also some really funny parts to the book (Like talking about the “Pants Laser”). I recommend the book to kids 9+ because there is a lot of (superhero-ish) fighting and some rude language (like shut-up, nothing too bad). At the end of the book there is a page that says the next Archvillain adventure will be when Kyle travels back in time to learn about when Mighty Mike came to Earth. I hope there is a Book #3.
I liked this book. In fact I liked it more than the first book in the series. I liked The Mad Mask character because he had cool powers (he can control electronic things) and he was a great villain. In the first book, I didn’t like Kyle so much because he just didn’t seem like a guy I’d want to be friends with. In this book, I liked Kyle a lot more because he made better choices and used his super-smart brain for good. Mr. Lyga described the action scenes so well that I really saw what was happening in my mind. There were also some really funny parts to the book (Like talking about the “Pants Laser”). I recommend the book to kids 9+ because there is a lot of (superhero-ish) fighting and some rude language (like shut-up, nothing too bad). At the end of the book there is a page that says the next Archvillain adventure will be when Kyle travels back in time to learn about when Mighty Mike came to Earth. I hope there is a Book #3.
September 1, 2012
When Mighty Mike the alien crash-landed on Earth, prankster, Kyle Camden was in the area and ended up absorbing super brain powers and flying abilities. Determined to prove Mighty Mike is a phony and not a good superhero, Kyle becomes a supervillain. Little beknownst to him, however, Mad Mask was also in the area and absorbed super brain powers and one ugly face. Bitter towards the world for shunning him for his disfigurement, Mad Mask shows up on Kyle’s doorstep and enlists his help with finishing his 10-story-tall creation, Ultitron. A device he says is meant to defeat Mighty Mike, but secretly is meant to destroy more than just the alien superhero. Mad Mask wants to have his large-scale revenge and then wants to kill Kyle. Will Kyle find out before it’s too late? Will he be able to stop the masked villain?
A funny, quirky version of superherodom. Alhtough Mighty Mike and Mad Mask are a little one-dimensional, the other characters are well-developed and likable. The twist on the classic anti-hero makes the reader think about what truly makes one evil or one good. The plot twists and turns are entertaining and keep the story moving at a fairly good pace. Readers who have read Archvillain and like superheroes, aliens, pre end-of-the-world scenarios, and adventure will enjoy reading this book.
March 13, 2012
First, let me say that I'm not really the comic book, superhero type so this wasn't my cup of tea. (or should I say coffee since I rarely drink tea?) However, my 12 yr old son thoroughly enjoyed this so maybe I should've let him write the review?
This is the continuation of Kyle aka the AZURE AVENGER and his efforts to defeat Mighty Mike which completely backfired in the first book, ARCHVILLAIN. As he sets out with his new plan, he's thrown a new twist when another superhero flies into town. The Mad Mask agrees to help Kyle with his plans to take down Mighty Mike but he wants Kyle to do something for him in exchange. Now, Kyle isn't known for making the best choices but he agrees to team up with The Mad Mask and that's his first big mistake.
Through another series of superhero attempts that end in failure of epic proportions, Kyle will once again be left wondering where he went wrong and what he has to do in order to lose the title of villain. Maybe in book 3 he'll finally get the title and the respect he wants so badly. He might even get the girl too - not, that he wants the girl or anything. ;)
This is the continuation of Kyle aka the AZURE AVENGER and his efforts to defeat Mighty Mike which completely backfired in the first book, ARCHVILLAIN. As he sets out with his new plan, he's thrown a new twist when another superhero flies into town. The Mad Mask agrees to help Kyle with his plans to take down Mighty Mike but he wants Kyle to do something for him in exchange. Now, Kyle isn't known for making the best choices but he agrees to team up with The Mad Mask and that's his first big mistake.
Through another series of superhero attempts that end in failure of epic proportions, Kyle will once again be left wondering where he went wrong and what he has to do in order to lose the title of villain. Maybe in book 3 he'll finally get the title and the respect he wants so badly. He might even get the girl too - not, that he wants the girl or anything. ;)
December 12, 2011
Any middle grade boy readers out there? This series is for you!
Though it is not suggested that you read these out of order. The Mad Mask is the second book in the series, and there are tons of references to characters and happenings from the first book. I liked the first book, Archvillain, but unfortunately, this one didn't pack the same punch for me. It had a cute start, and I enjoyed getting back into the head of scheming and dreaming Kyle. But just after the halfway point, I quickly grew bored with the lackluster action and oblivious side characters. There were scenes I found myself craving - like witty banter between Mighty Mike and Kyle - that just never came. And while I could believe in the over-excited plans of Kyle, the Mad mask was much more difficult to swallow. Still, Barry Lyga's writing had me laughing and repeating lines out loud. I hope Kyle's friend Mairi makes a larger appearance in the next book!
Though it is not suggested that you read these out of order. The Mad Mask is the second book in the series, and there are tons of references to characters and happenings from the first book. I liked the first book, Archvillain, but unfortunately, this one didn't pack the same punch for me. It had a cute start, and I enjoyed getting back into the head of scheming and dreaming Kyle. But just after the halfway point, I quickly grew bored with the lackluster action and oblivious side characters. There were scenes I found myself craving - like witty banter between Mighty Mike and Kyle - that just never came. And while I could believe in the over-excited plans of Kyle, the Mad mask was much more difficult to swallow. Still, Barry Lyga's writing had me laughing and repeating lines out loud. I hope Kyle's friend Mairi makes a larger appearance in the next book!
July 28, 2012
Some of the character development is nice, but it's not always easy to believe that a genius would be so very incapable of applying his brain to social interactions (an issue also with the first book). I wasn't entirely happy with the ending, but I still liked the book and am optimistic about the sequel adding more plot progression. And normally I hate sequels, so to say I'm enjoying this series is saying a lot. They are easy reads.
Some profanity (in the sense that I actually care about the third commandment -- or second, depending on how you count them). Other issues, sometimes subtle, are also worth discussing with younger readers.
Some profanity (in the sense that I actually care about the third commandment -- or second, depending on how you count them). Other issues, sometimes subtle, are also worth discussing with younger readers.
March 26, 2012
Twelve-year-old Kyle teams up with Mad Mask who, claiming super brain-power and superior superpowers, wants help building Ultitron, a robot that would rid Bouring of archvillain Mighty Mike and, perhaps, Mad Mask, as well.
April 7, 2014
This book is terrible. The plot is impossible to follow and you get lost all the time. It is clearly directed for the 5th grade level. The story is overall really boring and I do not recommend this author.
August 5, 2012
It was very funny and made me picture how the characters would talk or do things.This is by far the best super hero book I've read.
October 4, 2014
I thought it was filled with action mystery and fun, it was amazing
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June 22, 2015awsome
October 1, 2015
The sequel to the Archvillain series was even better then the first book, which is saying a lot. This book was filled with twists and turns and had a very interesting and amusing character.
October 22, 2015
Even more fun than its predecessor, this volume ups the ante by throwing a very silly Doctor Doom parody into the mix.
December 30, 2012
Good fast-paced adventure series, especially for reluctant readers.
July 30, 2015
Definitely better than the first one!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews