What do you think?
Rate this book
Baron Von Baddie and the Ice Ray Incident
When evil genius Baron von Baddie accidentally captures superhero Captain Kapow, he immediately sets about making mischief. He rearranges the days of the week, unleashes an army of ice-cream-stealing robots, and binges on doughnuts. But before long, the Baron gets a bit bored with his evil extravaganza. Could it be that he misses tangling with his old archnemesis? Yep, turns out even villains need their superheroes. Perfect for kids who will eventually enjoy graphic novels, here is a warm, funny book that proves when it comes to friendship, winning isn’t everything.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2008
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
April 14, 2009
When his ice ray experiment accidentally freezes his nemesis, Captain Kapow, evil genius Baron von Baddie finally has the freedom to build robots, rearrange the days of the week, and eat all the doughnuts he wans. But he soon discovers that creating chaos isn't much fun when no one is trying to stop him. The tale is reminiscent of old-time serials' stereotypical heroes and villains and a new conflict each episode. The mixed-media collage illustrations are full of movement and humor. Despite the slight story and abrupt ending, kids are sure to like this one.
(I still feel like there should be more to the story, though.)
(I still feel like there should be more to the story, though.)
February 27, 2018
This is an adorable book for any little child that likes science and/or is an escape artist. George McClements writes stories for his two young boys, and he is really good at it. This book is all about Baron Von Baddie vs. Captain Kapow! Baron is always caught and put in jail by Captain Kapow, but Baron always escapes again. It's all a part of their routine. One day, Baron sneezes and shoots his ice ray right at Captain Kapow, finally beating him. However, Baron becomes bored of creating robots and eating donuts without anyone trying to stop him, so he makes a heat ray to unfreeze Captain Kapow. Then he is put back in jail... just to escape again. A wonderful story for any rambunctious child. The images are made to look like a collage made by a young artist as well, so kids who enjoy artwork will be able to get into this book as well.
May 24, 2023
Which children are the intended market for this tall tale?
Kids who will eventually enjoy graphic novels! And kids who like to watch cartoons on TV.
Here it is, clever and enthusiastic and lively.
FIVE STARS for filling this niche.
MY FAVORITE QUOTE
What was the point of creating chaos
if no one was trying to stop you?
Kids who will eventually enjoy graphic novels! And kids who like to watch cartoons on TV.
Here it is, clever and enthusiastic and lively.
FIVE STARS for filling this niche.
MY FAVORITE QUOTE
What was the point of creating chaos
if no one was trying to stop you?
July 17, 2018
Cute. Read it for a story time about Super Heroes. Not sure all the kids were getting the main idea, but some did.
August 1, 2018
Great illustrations, could start some interesting discussions about what makes something fun and friendship.
January 3, 2009
If you’ve ever watched an episode of “Saved by the Bell” alone, you know that it isn’t as much fun when there’s no one watching with you. The show is better if there is someone for you to interact with. Taking in “Jessie’s Song” with a friend: 10. The same episode by yourself: 7. A similar principle can be applied to doing something sneaky. If no one is there to say “no”, it’s not much fun. Certain kids know this concept well. “Baron von Baddie and the Ice Ray Incident”, by George McClements (Night of the Veggie Monster), takes this simple premise and applies it to the world of superheroes. A wonderfully illustrated story that will be hard for kids to resist.
Baron von Baddie is an evil genius with evil plans to spare. Unfortunately, whenever he attempts to unleash one of his plots on the world, Captain Kapow is there to ruin it, putting the Baron behind bars. But for an evil genius, escape is inevitable. A cycle of capture and escape continues until one day, the Baron gets lucky: an accidental blast from his Ice Ray freezes Kapow. With his arch nemesis out of the way, von Baddie doesn’t know what to do with himself. He builds new evil robots, eats doughnuts, and changes the days of the week, but it just isn’t the same. The Baron realizes that Captain Kapow made his job worth doing, and begins working on a new invention that will set his enemy free.
It isn’t very often when you can say this: with “Baron”, every turn of the page is a gift. Each image is inventive and intricate. McClements mixed media collage illustrations have never looked better, with characters taking shape from a number of expertly used resources - paper, chalk, and photographic cut-outs. They encourage you to get up close and examine the details.
Just as the Baron needs Captain Kapow as audience and foil to his devilish deeds, librarians everywhere should share this title with their own audience. A read aloud winner.
Baron von Baddie is an evil genius with evil plans to spare. Unfortunately, whenever he attempts to unleash one of his plots on the world, Captain Kapow is there to ruin it, putting the Baron behind bars. But for an evil genius, escape is inevitable. A cycle of capture and escape continues until one day, the Baron gets lucky: an accidental blast from his Ice Ray freezes Kapow. With his arch nemesis out of the way, von Baddie doesn’t know what to do with himself. He builds new evil robots, eats doughnuts, and changes the days of the week, but it just isn’t the same. The Baron realizes that Captain Kapow made his job worth doing, and begins working on a new invention that will set his enemy free.
It isn’t very often when you can say this: with “Baron”, every turn of the page is a gift. Each image is inventive and intricate. McClements mixed media collage illustrations have never looked better, with characters taking shape from a number of expertly used resources - paper, chalk, and photographic cut-outs. They encourage you to get up close and examine the details.
Just as the Baron needs Captain Kapow as audience and foil to his devilish deeds, librarians everywhere should share this title with their own audience. A read aloud winner.
June 18, 2013
Baron von Baddie and the Ice Ray Incident by George McClements is a picturebook about a young evil genius realizing that life is just no fun without a challenge. Baron von Baddie keeps creating great devices to battle superhero Captain Kapow, and losing. When he accidentally wins, he is convinced that his life will now be loads of fun, and it is for awhile. He begins making mischief, rearranging the days of the week, unleashing ice-cream-stealing robots, and binging on doughnuts. However, the Baron is quickly bored with his uncontested evil schemes. It seems that even villains need a superheroes.
Baron von Baddie and the Ice Ray Incident is a picturebook that is both great fun, and sneaking about delivering a message. The illustrations are bright, bold, and well detailed. they will appeal to most children, particularly those well on their way to enjoying graphic novels. Beyond the story of the young genius, there is the idea that getting what you think you want, and winning, does not equal happiness. All young Baddie ends up with after having his way with the world for a week, was some boredom and a stomach ache from all the ice cream and doughnuts. While it is hard for kids to understand that adults so no to things like staying up late and unlimited doughnuts, it is for their long term happiness not out of a desire for a fight. (Can you tell I have small children?)
I recommend Baron von Baddie and the Ice Ray Incident to children and adults alike. the story and illustrations are fun and extremely well done. It would be a nice addition to home, school, and library collections. The message is clear, but not told in a high handed manner. Rather, it is told with humor so that no young listeners will feel the story is directed at them. Perhaps the story will have the added bonus of interesting more young children in science, even if for nefarious purposes.
May 22, 2009
Whoa Ka-blam! Cute evil genius “Baron Von Baddie” strikes again with his shameful and appalling plots – this time, spreading terror by inventing an Ice Ray Machine. His malevolent schemes of course are perpetually thwarted by his rival superhero Captain Kapow so that law and order are always ultimately restored. But this time, our naughty villain succeeds and gets away by accidentally freezing Captain Kapow. This book will truly be enjoyed by kids! Baron Von Baddie’s character is very much like Plankton (Sponge Bob) or Mojo Jojo (Powerpuff Girls); they are all portrayed as trouble makers who have a symbiotic relationship with their respective adversaries. Baron Von Baddie and Captain Kapow need each other. What I totally loved about this book is the subtle reminder to grown-up readers about how children will always try to stretch things if they can. Discipline plays an important factor in raising children and the story emphasizes on the necessity to do this. If children were left to eat anything they want, play with their toys all the time and do all sorts of hair-brained stuff then they would eventually get bored & tired of it. “What was the point of creating chaos if no one was trying to stop you anyway right?” The cartoonish illustrations of Author-Illustrator George McClements will entice children more and if you pay close attention to the first page of the evil plot blueprint, (I am guessing) you will see the names of his two sons Matthew and Samuel!
April 29, 2010
Summary: While superheroes may be super, they sure can be boring. This picture book takes an archvillain as its hero—the (very kid-looking) evil genius, Baron von Baddie. Every dastardly plan he comes up with is foiled by his foe, Captain Kapow, until one day the Baron accidentally triumphs over the forces of upstanding citizenship and freezes Captain Kapow in a block of ice. He revels in his newfound freedom to inflict evil with utter impunity, and sets about building giant robots, changing Tuesday to Wednesday, and eating donuts. Soon, though, he realizes that without a nemesis to act as a foil, being an evil genius quickly grows tiresome, so he unfreezes Captain Kapow, and the two return to their normal catch-and-escape ways. The cartoonish cut-paper illustrations are imaginative and fun, and von Baddie’s facial expressions while plotting various bits of light villainy are especially amusing. This gentle finger-waggle at bad behavior doesn’t try to have too much of a moral, which is why kids growing tired of goody-goody heroes will like it all the more. (Thanks Amazon)
Written By: George McClements
Audience: Grades K-3
Social Issues: Good Vs. Evil
Uses: Read Aloud, Shared Reading
Awards/Recommended By: Kirstin Bratt Award
Written By: George McClements
Audience: Grades K-3
Social Issues: Good Vs. Evil
Uses: Read Aloud, Shared Reading
Awards/Recommended By: Kirstin Bratt Award
August 14, 2008
Baron von Baddie was an evil genius who built huge robots to take over the world, or perhaps just to steal ice cream. Thank goodness for Captain Kapow, who could always take care of Baron and keep him in check. That is until one fateful day when Captain Kapow was frozen by Baron von Baddie's ice ray. No one could stop Baron von Baddie from doing what he wished. He built robots, changed the days of the week around and ate lots and lots of doughnuts. But eventually, even these pleasures lost their appeal. So what is an evil genius to do if he misses his super counterpart?
Pure silly fun, this picture book will appeal to all sorts of children, but especially those who enjoy super heroes. McClements' paper art is eye-catching and comical. The text of the book begs to be read aloud and the art will project well to even a large crowd.
Anyone looking to practice their evil villain voices and super hero strut (and really, who isn't?), will find plenty to enjoy here. Highly recommended for rowdy classrooms of children or as a final read in a story time. This is a book that will be asked for again and again. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
Pure silly fun, this picture book will appeal to all sorts of children, but especially those who enjoy super heroes. McClements' paper art is eye-catching and comical. The text of the book begs to be read aloud and the art will project well to even a large crowd.
Anyone looking to practice their evil villain voices and super hero strut (and really, who isn't?), will find plenty to enjoy here. Highly recommended for rowdy classrooms of children or as a final read in a story time. This is a book that will be asked for again and again. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
May 1, 2010
Summary:
From Amazon.com
"Baron von Baddie is an evil genius who creates rampaging robots and chaos wherever he goes. Luckily, Captain Kapow arrives regularly on the scene to apprehend his nemesis, jail him, and wait for the Baron's inevitable escape so the two can repeat the process again. One day the Baron accidentally succeeds in freezing the Captain solid and begins a life of uninterrupted crime—building new robots, changing the days of the week around, and eating a mountain of doughnuts. It only takes a couple of weeks, though, before the mad scientist realizes that his life has turned boring and he misses the Captain. After he creates a heat ray to unfreeze the superhero, the duo happily goes back to their good guy/bad guy routines."
Theme: Good vs Bad
Curricular use: Read Aloud, Independent Reading
Level: ages 4-8
Illustrations: Lively, interesting, attention-grabbing, retro-cartoonish
From Amazon.com
"Baron von Baddie is an evil genius who creates rampaging robots and chaos wherever he goes. Luckily, Captain Kapow arrives regularly on the scene to apprehend his nemesis, jail him, and wait for the Baron's inevitable escape so the two can repeat the process again. One day the Baron accidentally succeeds in freezing the Captain solid and begins a life of uninterrupted crime—building new robots, changing the days of the week around, and eating a mountain of doughnuts. It only takes a couple of weeks, though, before the mad scientist realizes that his life has turned boring and he misses the Captain. After he creates a heat ray to unfreeze the superhero, the duo happily goes back to their good guy/bad guy routines."
Theme: Good vs Bad
Curricular use: Read Aloud, Independent Reading
Level: ages 4-8
Illustrations: Lively, interesting, attention-grabbing, retro-cartoonish
August 17, 2010
I was lucky enough to pick up a copy of this at Book Expo in Los Angeles in 2008. Plus, the author was there and autographed it for my sons. (He was very nice.) My 8-year-old reads way above grade level but isn't a big fiction fan--he'd rather read instruction manuals for video games, and research stuff on the web! But since he has to read 15 books this month for school, he grabbed this off our bookshelf (he had read it before), read it last night, and then this morning, read through it again (he never does this!). I asked him if he liked the book and he said, "Yeah, it's funny!" I think he likes it because it's good v. evil and superhero-ish, not to mention entertaining. Though this was an easy read for him, I'm just happy he enjoyed reading it again and again! I will be getting some more books from this author and see if my son likes them too.
September 26, 2012
Baron von Baddie is an evil genius. His evil inventions were never able to harm anyone because his actions are closely watched by Captain Kapow. Captain Kapow takes him to jail where he can have time to think about his actions. However, Baron von Baddie always manages to escape rather quickly.
When Captain Kapow shows up to arrest the Baron when he's testing his new ice ray he is accidentally frozen solid. The Baron quickly makes use of his new found freedom by building robots, eating doughnuts and switching the days around. It doesn't take him long to realize that life without a challenge is no fun. He wastes no time in making a heat ray to melt Captain Kapow. When the Captain comes to life returns to normal. And when the Baron is put in prison this time, he waits 3 hours before breaking out. That's some improvement.
When Captain Kapow shows up to arrest the Baron when he's testing his new ice ray he is accidentally frozen solid. The Baron quickly makes use of his new found freedom by building robots, eating doughnuts and switching the days around. It doesn't take him long to realize that life without a challenge is no fun. He wastes no time in making a heat ray to melt Captain Kapow. When the Captain comes to life returns to normal. And when the Baron is put in prison this time, he waits 3 hours before breaking out. That's some improvement.
May 7, 2016
It's so good to finally win! With his superhero nemesis vanquished, Baron von Baddie is free to make all the rules he always wanted to, such as rearranging the days of the week and eating as many donuts as humanly possible. But will world domination get a little boring after the honeymoon period is over? And if it does, what will an all-powerful master of evil do next? This book cracked me up. Repeatedly. The mix of pitch-perfect bwahaha villainy with goofball humor is just right.
December 10, 2008
I got such a kick out of this book that my editor sent me a signed copy. I wish this had been around when my son was small as he would've loved it--oh, yeah--he is now 27 and I showed it to him. He does love it! I liked the humor and the simplicity.
October 18, 2008
Baron von Baddie is not only fun for kids, but entertaining for the parent to read. It is nice to see that an author can not only capture the imagination, but also gently mock the common ideas of good and evil to make the erad even more fun!
February 3, 2009
It's no fun being a villain if they are not superheroes to thwart you! When Baron von Baddie accidentally manages to defeat his arch nemesis he learns that eating donuts and creating robots all day gets boring. Very cute and great mixed media artwork.
June 19, 2009
I found this author just browsing the shelves. I'll have to keep my eye out for his, because this was hilarious. The pictures are even better and some of the jokes only understood by adults. Excellent superhero story. :-)
January 9, 2013
Wow. I love that Baron von Baddie is a dead ringer for Dr. Strangelove! This is a fun, not-too-long story that I am looking forwarding to using in a storytime... I foresee myself planning a 'Heroes & Villains'-themed session in the near future.
March 14, 2013
Baron Von Baddie was an evil genius that enjoyed inventing things that caused chaos. But his plans were always stopped Captain Kapow. One day Baron Von Baddie accidentally freezes Captain Kapow and looks forward to all the chaos he can cause without being thwarted.
June 21, 2013
Love this book! Different on twist on good vs. evil. Use as a writing workshop mentor text for teaching ideas: What would you do if you know you could get away with it? Also, great vocabulary: foiled, nemesis, incident, plotting, etc.
February 12, 2014
This book is hilarious! I got a giggle or two out of it! It is no fun to be an evil super villain if there is no super hero to stop you...
Boys will love it, and I thought it was pretty fun! I will go on my recommendation shelf...good luck!
Boys will love it, and I thought it was pretty fun! I will go on my recommendation shelf...good luck!
May 30, 2015
a really cute superhero book that made me think about good and bad and friendship. I will definitely use this in a storytime as it was cute, short and had a nice message about needing one another.
March 12, 2016
Baron von Baddie is always foiled by Captain Kapow. Until one day. The Baron catches Captain Kapow in his ice ray and with no one to stop him, he runs amok ... for awhile. Until he realized "What was the point of creating chaos if no one was trying to stop you?"
September 11, 2008
Very cute!! From the author of "Night of the Veggie Monster" another fabulous installment with very interesting artwork! The perfect example of how we all depend on each other!
September 22, 2008
Classic good vs evil with a twist.
December 17, 2008
Frank's favorite part was "when he said Ah Choo and the super hero got frozen".
I think this was a clever, fun book.
I think this was a clever, fun book.
January 20, 2009
If you're really into superheros, this is good, but fluff.
February 24, 2009
Save this one for superhero fans or older preschoolers. My son wasn't all that in to it, but I enjoyed reading it to him.
December 5, 2009
Spunky addition to the super hero tales. Perfect for the younger set.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews