What do you think?
Rate this book
Dear DC #2
Dear Super-Villains
Peek inside the lives of DC’s infamous rogues in DEAR SUPER-VILLAINS, the sequel to DEAR JUSTICE LEAGUE, where curious kids write to notorious scoundrels, asking them about life on the dark side.
How did Gorilla Grodd get so smart? Did Harley Quinn ever try a career in comedy? Why does Catwoman always lose to Batman?
Each chapter highlights members of the Legion of Doom in a sympathetic way that is relatable to kids. But look closely and you may notice the baddies are up to something big! Will the Justice League show up in time to stop them? You’ll have to write in to the Tip-line of Evil to find out!
How did Gorilla Grodd get so smart? Did Harley Quinn ever try a career in comedy? Why does Catwoman always lose to Batman?
Each chapter highlights members of the Legion of Doom in a sympathetic way that is relatable to kids. But look closely and you may notice the baddies are up to something big! Will the Justice League show up in time to stop them? You’ll have to write in to the Tip-line of Evil to find out!
176 pages, Paperback
First published April 6, 2021
10 people are currently reading
115 people want to read
About the author
Michael Northrop
30 books230 followersMichael Northrop is the New York Times bestselling author of 13 books for kids and teens, including the middle-grade adventure series TombQuest and the hit graphic novel Dear Justice League. His first young adult novel, Gentlemen, earned him a Publishers Weekly Flying Start citation, and his second, Trapped, was an Indie Next List selection. His first middle-grade novel, Plunked, was named one of the best children's books of the year by the New York Public Library and was selected for NPR's Backseat Book Club. He is originally from Salisbury, Connecticut, a small town in the foothills of the Berkshire mountains, where he mastered the arts of BB gun shooting, tree climbing, and field goal kicking with only moderate injuries. After graduating from NYU, he worked at Sports Illustrated Kids magazine for 12 years, the last five of those as baseball editor.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
October 20, 2021
With a secret mission looming in the background, the members of the Legion of Doom take the time to answer messages from their young fans...
I bought Dear Justice League for my son before he was born so I pre-ordered this one for him as soon as it was available. Who cares if he can't read it for a few years?
The format mirrors that of Dear Justice League. This is a collection of short tales, each featuring a Legion of Doom member responding to a message from one of his or her fans, culminating in an attempted jailbreak at Blackgate prison.
The art is cute without being ridiculously so and the writing is clever and funny. Since it's a kid's comic, the characters aren't as nuanced as they normally are but Michael Northrop captures the essence of the characters.
The characters are an interesting mix. Harley Quinn and Catwoman are included, even though they're mostly super heroes now. Katana is another member and I don't think she's ever been a villain. Apart from those, it's the usual Legion of Doom mainstays like Luthor, Black Manta, Gorilla Grodd, and Sinestro.
Dear Super-Villains was a fun little read I'd recommend to parents of future comic readers.
I bought Dear Justice League for my son before he was born so I pre-ordered this one for him as soon as it was available. Who cares if he can't read it for a few years?
The format mirrors that of Dear Justice League. This is a collection of short tales, each featuring a Legion of Doom member responding to a message from one of his or her fans, culminating in an attempted jailbreak at Blackgate prison.
The art is cute without being ridiculously so and the writing is clever and funny. Since it's a kid's comic, the characters aren't as nuanced as they normally are but Michael Northrop captures the essence of the characters.
The characters are an interesting mix. Harley Quinn and Catwoman are included, even though they're mostly super heroes now. Katana is another member and I don't think she's ever been a villain. Apart from those, it's the usual Legion of Doom mainstays like Luthor, Black Manta, Gorilla Grodd, and Sinestro.
Dear Super-Villains was a fun little read I'd recommend to parents of future comic readers.
July 11, 2022
This graphic novel for children is a ton of fun. It's divided into 9 chapters with a villain answering a letter submitted by their "fans". The art's great. The stories are humorous and fun.
My one complaint is that Katana is a superhero not a villain. She could have easily have been replaced by Cheetah who actually is a member of the Legion of Doom.
My one complaint is that Katana is a superhero not a villain. She could have easily have been replaced by Cheetah who actually is a member of the Legion of Doom.
January 3, 2023
This book is a follow-up to Dear Justice League. Unfortunately, this doesn't work as well as that book did. The premise is that children are writing emails to characters. In this book, rather than writing fan mail, kids are writing messages that dunk on the villains. Perhaps teaching kids that it's OK to write flame mails to people is not a good idea. The stories told here also paint the villains as bumbling losers, which is quite different from the endearing stories in Dear Justice League. Overall, this was a big step down from the previous book.
The one good point of this book is that the art is still top notch.
The one good point of this book is that the art is still top notch.
April 11, 2021
Dear Super-Villains is a graphic novel written by Michael Northrop and illustrated by Gustavo Duarte. It is an anthology of nine short stories where children text notorious scoundrels and asking about life on the dark side. It is the sequel to Dear Justice League.
Catwoman, Lex Luthor, Harley Quinn, Gorilla Grodd, Giganta, Sinestro, Katana, and Black Manta correspond with their curious fans in multiple vignettes hanging on the premise of these villains answering fan mail. Some are silly while others are a bit weightier.
Dear Super-Villains is written and constructed rather well. The graphic novel is separated into nine interconnecting humorous vignettes with eight of them centering on one of the above villains mentioned. Duarte penciling was a tad cartoonish, but is apropos to the target audience and pleasant to the eyes.
All in all, Dear Super-Villains is an interesting narrative about children curious about the dark side of the superhero world through various forms of correspondence and a great deal of humor.
Catwoman, Lex Luthor, Harley Quinn, Gorilla Grodd, Giganta, Sinestro, Katana, and Black Manta correspond with their curious fans in multiple vignettes hanging on the premise of these villains answering fan mail. Some are silly while others are a bit weightier.
Dear Super-Villains is written and constructed rather well. The graphic novel is separated into nine interconnecting humorous vignettes with eight of them centering on one of the above villains mentioned. Duarte penciling was a tad cartoonish, but is apropos to the target audience and pleasant to the eyes.
All in all, Dear Super-Villains is an interesting narrative about children curious about the dark side of the superhero world through various forms of correspondence and a great deal of humor.
May 4, 2021
A companion volume to Dear Justice League. I just didn't love this one as much, though. It's partly because the choice of villains is a little odd. Catwoman, Luthor, and Harley Quinn are obvious choices. Sinestro and Gorilla Grodd are much less so. Giganta is at least self-explanatory, and Black Manta was in the Aquaman movie, so at least some kids will recognize him. Katana was the real puzzler, though, since I don't know her as a villain at all. Character choice aside, the stories just didn't work as well as in Dear Justice League. I'm not sure why these villains are taking the time to answer questions from kids, most of whom don't seem to like them at all, and they generally don't have much to say. Dear Justice League worked because it was believable that the heroes wanted to help those kids, and because the stories meant something.
March 25, 2023
Part of a DC Ink/DC Zoom review series.
I think this iteration into the DC Zoom lexicon perfectly illustrates my hang up with the imprint itself overall- I literally have no idea who the audience for these books are.
On one hand, they'll use niche characters (like Giganta ) that are more recognizable to long-time fans who live and breathe DC Comics, or add little easter eggs and references that only major die-hards would catch. But then they do things like put the Joker in Black Gate Penitentiary, which makes no sense, or classify Katana as a villain, which again, doesn't make a lot of sense.
I'm never sure who these comics are written for- people already familiar with the DC Comic universe, or for kids who want to read content with DC characters (which is who I originally thought the target audience was, but there are wayyy too many specific references and easter eggs for the stories to be catered to ONLY that demographic). Because of that weird blend, everything seems done halfway; it's not curated enough for the super specific fans, but there are too many random references for a kids-only audience. Hence my confusion.
I will say I really do like Gustavo Duarte's art style, and I like the whole "letters from the reader" format- I will admit, the humor in this one did have me smiling a fair few times.
I think this iteration into the DC Zoom lexicon perfectly illustrates my hang up with the imprint itself overall- I literally have no idea who the audience for these books are.
On one hand, they'll use niche characters (like Giganta ) that are more recognizable to long-time fans who live and breathe DC Comics, or add little easter eggs and references that only major die-hards would catch. But then they do things like put the Joker in Black Gate Penitentiary, which makes no sense, or classify Katana as a villain, which again, doesn't make a lot of sense.
I'm never sure who these comics are written for- people already familiar with the DC Comic universe, or for kids who want to read content with DC characters (which is who I originally thought the target audience was, but there are wayyy too many specific references and easter eggs for the stories to be catered to ONLY that demographic). Because of that weird blend, everything seems done halfway; it's not curated enough for the super specific fans, but there are too many random references for a kids-only audience. Hence my confusion.
I will say I really do like Gustavo Duarte's art style, and I like the whole "letters from the reader" format- I will admit, the humor in this one did have me smiling a fair few times.
April 24, 2021
I wish I loved this as much as I loved Dear Justice League, but I couldn't. Unlike Dear Justice League, there weren't really any lessons or morals. It was just 'fun' gags about each character. The Catwoman one was good, and I liked the Harley Quinn one, but other than a funny panel or two each chapter there wasn't enough to keep me invested.
April 7, 2021
I received an eARC of this book from the publisher for review purposes.
Dear DC Super-Villains features many of the popular DC Comics villains along with some lesser-known characters. Children will enjoy reading stories about Catwoman, Lex Luthor, Harley Quinn, Gorilla Grodd, Giganta, Sinestro, Katana, and Black Manta. Each chapter contains a short story along with answering a question emailed to them by a child. The result is often hilarious and at times actually quite heart-warming.
The author, Michael Northrop, knowns his audience well. Northrop does not talk above the children he is writing for, nor does he talk down to them. He knows that kids like silly but can also appreciate serious moments, too. The writing is snappy and has appropriate references to vernacular and things kids currently enjoy.
This graphic novel is for kids ages 8-12, though I do think kids a little younger with help from a caregiver or teacher would enjoy it as well. There may be some concern about the subject matter as far as if kids should be getting advice from villains, but the book itself is very sweet and positive. These characters have some good life lessens even if they are a little rough around the edges.
Dear DC Super-Villains is a book that kids would definitely enjoy. There are silly and fun moments, but with some insight from characters for kids who are dealing with things as well. There’s something for every kid to enjoy. I think it is also a good book for kids who maybe don’t like reading so much to check out too. There isn’t a lot of words, but the writing is funny and smart. Overall, it is a very enjoyable read and I’m hoping this is not the end of this particular series!
My full review can be found here: https://thegeekiary.com/advice-for-ki...
Dear DC Super-Villains features many of the popular DC Comics villains along with some lesser-known characters. Children will enjoy reading stories about Catwoman, Lex Luthor, Harley Quinn, Gorilla Grodd, Giganta, Sinestro, Katana, and Black Manta. Each chapter contains a short story along with answering a question emailed to them by a child. The result is often hilarious and at times actually quite heart-warming.
The author, Michael Northrop, knowns his audience well. Northrop does not talk above the children he is writing for, nor does he talk down to them. He knows that kids like silly but can also appreciate serious moments, too. The writing is snappy and has appropriate references to vernacular and things kids currently enjoy.
This graphic novel is for kids ages 8-12, though I do think kids a little younger with help from a caregiver or teacher would enjoy it as well. There may be some concern about the subject matter as far as if kids should be getting advice from villains, but the book itself is very sweet and positive. These characters have some good life lessens even if they are a little rough around the edges.
Dear DC Super-Villains is a book that kids would definitely enjoy. There are silly and fun moments, but with some insight from characters for kids who are dealing with things as well. There’s something for every kid to enjoy. I think it is also a good book for kids who maybe don’t like reading so much to check out too. There isn’t a lot of words, but the writing is funny and smart. Overall, it is a very enjoyable read and I’m hoping this is not the end of this particular series!
My full review can be found here: https://thegeekiary.com/advice-for-ki...
June 8, 2021
Dear Spuer-Villians is somehow the continuation of Dear Justice League the concept is very similar but applied to the enemies of the characters in the previous book, many children write letters to the villains but this time they are not exactly kind. ..
Each story has its own charm, but I must admit that my favorites were Luthor's one where he has a problem with his minoxidil...
And the one about Black Mantha, where his biggest fan manages to get information from him about the next attack of the league of supervillains by appealing to his ego, these two stories made me laugh a lot!
Without a doubt, Michael Northrop knows how to do his job, he knows how to write in an exceptional way for the generation for which this product is made and if the wonderful art of Gustavo Duarte is added to that, a dream team is created and that I hope to see those two again in a third installment!
Each story has its own charm, but I must admit that my favorites were Luthor's one where he has a problem with his minoxidil...
And the one about Black Mantha, where his biggest fan manages to get information from him about the next attack of the league of supervillains by appealing to his ego, these two stories made me laugh a lot!
Without a doubt, Michael Northrop knows how to do his job, he knows how to write in an exceptional way for the generation for which this product is made and if the wonderful art of Gustavo Duarte is added to that, a dream team is created and that I hope to see those two again in a third installment!
January 8, 2021
A hilarious and fun sequel to “ Dear Justice League”, it can be read as a standalone. This book features letters written to super villains and their responses. Featuring some of our favorite DC super villains along with their shenanigns. The artwork is amazing and I had so much fun reading this! I would definitely recommend this for anyone who enjoys DC heroes or villains. It’s an easy ready for kids too!
*Thanks Netgalley and DC Entertainment for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*
*Thanks Netgalley and DC Entertainment for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*
January 26, 2021
Dear DC Super-Villains is a sequel to Dear Justice League. My 13 yr old and I thought it was great. We both really liked the illustrations and the funny quips throughout the whole book. According to my 10 yr old "Even though the art is pretty good, I think it wasn't that good." He thought there was only one funny joke and said that he was confused as to what was going on until the end of the book . So maybe it went over his head on this one and we are going to take his review with a grain of salt.
February 26, 2021
If you've read Dear Justice League, you'll have a rough idea of what to expect from this one. I went into this fully knowing it would all come together somehow and I was NOT disappointed. I enjoyed the diversity represented in the book plus how the Villians still inspired kids to do good. Overall, a solid title for kids with great comedic timing.
May 16, 2021
I was really looking forward to this sequel to Dear Justice League. Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite as charming and funny as I was hoping. Some of the character chapters were very cute but others were just kind of boring.
Still I’m glad they included the Hall of Doom from the Super Friends show and the reason the Justice League found out about the upcoming jailbreak was silly.
Still I’m glad they included the Hall of Doom from the Super Friends show and the reason the Justice League found out about the upcoming jailbreak was silly.
April 8, 2021
As a huge fan of the DC Universe, I am always excited for a new iteration of my beloved heroes and villains. This book does not disappoint! With character introductions (and puns galore) no lack of prior knowledge of these famous foes will keep readers from laughing at their antics.
April 2, 2021
I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this after loving Dear Justice League so much and it didn’t disappoint. Absolutely delightful. Great cameos and the plot was a lot of fun.
April 8, 2021
A fabulous follow up to Dear Justice League!
It's adorable and accessible. and with absolutely gorgeous artwork!
It's adorable and accessible. and with absolutely gorgeous artwork!
April 10, 2021
Katana is a super-villain?
April 12, 2021
cute read, good for a young audience :•)
April 12, 2021
I literally laughed out loud at this charming, clever book! I think I enjoyed it even more than Dear Justice League! I love how Northrop keeps all of the characters' voices within a YA rating.
September 20, 2021
Queridos Super-Vilões é uma publicação do selo DC Kids, voltado para o público infantil da DC Comics. Escrita por Michael Northrop e desenhada pelo brasileiro Gustavo Duarte, a história em quadrinhos é o segundo volume de uma coleção que começou com Querida Liga da Justiça. O mote consiste em crianças enviando cartas para os personagens com perguntas basante fora do comum. Embora Queridos Super-Vilões tenha uma narrativa mais desenvolvida do que o Querida Liga da Justiça, achei esse último mais bem estruturado, redondinho e com piadas melhores tanto para adultos como para crianças. Os desenhos de Gustavo Duarte casam muito bem com a proposta de Michael Northrop e na apresentação dos diversos personagens da DC Comics para as crianças. Uma ótima pedida para aqueles que têm crianças por perto ou que mantêm a sua criança interior por perto.
August 17, 2021
1.5 stars
Womp wommmmmmp. I had hoped this would be as good as Dear Justice League, but it was just a series of corny puns and characters acting uncharacteristically.
Womp wommmmmmp. I had hoped this would be as good as Dear Justice League, but it was just a series of corny puns and characters acting uncharacteristically.
June 1, 2023
4 stars cause I’m more biased towards the Batman rouges gallery than the others
May 26, 2021
Graphic Novel
Readers enjoy letters to the Super-Villains in this volume by Northrup and Duarte. The text and illustrations blend well to show that these characters are not one dimensional and have their own concerns too.
Middle grade readers will appreciate the humor and artwork.
Readers enjoy letters to the Super-Villains in this volume by Northrup and Duarte. The text and illustrations blend well to show that these characters are not one dimensional and have their own concerns too.
Middle grade readers will appreciate the humor and artwork.
August 15, 2021
Cute and fun follow-up to the Dear Superheroes book, where even Supervillains have troubles that aren't necessarily of the evil variety.
April 6, 2021
Dear DC Super-Villains features many of the popular DC Comics villains along with some lesser-known characters. Children will enjoy reading stories about Catwoman, Lex Luthor, Harley Quinn, Gorilla Grodd, Giganta, Sinestro, Katana, and Black Manta. Each chapter contains a short story along with answering a question emailed to them by a child. The result is often hilarious and at times actually quite heart-warming.
The author, Michael Northrop, knowns his audience well. Northrop does not talk above the children he is writing for, nor does he talk down to them. He knows that kids like silly but can also appreciate serious moments, too. The writing is snappy and has appropriate references to vernacular and things kids currently enjoy.
This graphic novel is for kids ages 8-12, though I do think kids a little younger with help from a caregiver or teacher would enjoy it as well. There may be some concern about the subject matter as far as if kids should be getting advice from villains, but the book itself is very sweet and positive. These characters have some good life lessens even if they are a little rough around the edges.
Dear DC Super-Villains is a book that kids would definitely enjoy. There are silly and fun moments, but with some insight from characters for kids who are dealing with things as well. There’s something for every kid to enjoy. I think it is also a good book for kids who maybe don’t like reading so much to check out too. There isn’t a lot of words, but the writing is funny and smart. Overall, it is a very enjoyable read and I’m hoping this is not the end of this particular series!
My full review can be found here: https://thegeekiary.com/advice-for-ki...
The author, Michael Northrop, knowns his audience well. Northrop does not talk above the children he is writing for, nor does he talk down to them. He knows that kids like silly but can also appreciate serious moments, too. The writing is snappy and has appropriate references to vernacular and things kids currently enjoy.
This graphic novel is for kids ages 8-12, though I do think kids a little younger with help from a caregiver or teacher would enjoy it as well. There may be some concern about the subject matter as far as if kids should be getting advice from villains, but the book itself is very sweet and positive. These characters have some good life lessens even if they are a little rough around the edges.
Dear DC Super-Villains is a book that kids would definitely enjoy. There are silly and fun moments, but with some insight from characters for kids who are dealing with things as well. There’s something for every kid to enjoy. I think it is also a good book for kids who maybe don’t like reading so much to check out too. There isn’t a lot of words, but the writing is funny and smart. Overall, it is a very enjoyable read and I’m hoping this is not the end of this particular series!
My full review can be found here: https://thegeekiary.com/advice-for-ki...
May 1, 2021
Such a unique idea of storytelling for this graphic novel and utterly enjoyable! Each chapter features a different super-villain who answers a piece of inquisitive fan mail that furthers the overall story. It's good to be a little bad but overall there is still a heroic message and it was quite enjoyable, funny, and filled to the brim with puns.
May 2, 2021
Excellent companion to Dear Justice League.
October 9, 2021
The premise of this series is that kids would write their favorite- or in this case- least favorite heavy hitters of the DC Universe with an assortment of questions. Michael Northrop (Rotten) again is the author of these dispatches. But it just doesn't seem like the right fit having super-villains corresponding with children. At least in this terse political environment...
Another thing that seemed off was a running story of how the Legion of Super-Villains is in chaos with leader Lex Luthor in jail. Gorilla Grodd really wants to be the new leader but nobody seems to want to take orders from an ape! This volume also ties in with a prison break and a run in with the heroes of the Justice League. In all, things in this read felt uneven.
Some segments were rather funny. I especially loved the banter between Catwoman and Batman. And Northrop's Harley Quinn was just perfect. Luthor too! But why is Katana a part of this? She's not a villain? Has she turned sides recently and I'm just not aware?
I enjoyed the whimsical artwork by Gustavo Duarte (Bizarro). He's just a fun artist to experience. I hope the kiddies like him too!
I'm not over with the Dear DC series. I think if they go back to the heroes with a book three, things could return to normal. Maybe a spooky edition with the members of Justice League Dark or a collection of letters to some of the most bizarre characters in the DC Universe like Adam Strange, Lobo and The Creeper. Or why not both!?
This was an enjoyable read that families will love. This sequel just didn't have all of the magic of the original. I guess that's sequels for you!
Another thing that seemed off was a running story of how the Legion of Super-Villains is in chaos with leader Lex Luthor in jail. Gorilla Grodd really wants to be the new leader but nobody seems to want to take orders from an ape! This volume also ties in with a prison break and a run in with the heroes of the Justice League. In all, things in this read felt uneven.
Some segments were rather funny. I especially loved the banter between Catwoman and Batman. And Northrop's Harley Quinn was just perfect. Luthor too! But why is Katana a part of this? She's not a villain? Has she turned sides recently and I'm just not aware?
I enjoyed the whimsical artwork by Gustavo Duarte (Bizarro). He's just a fun artist to experience. I hope the kiddies like him too!
I'm not over with the Dear DC series. I think if they go back to the heroes with a book three, things could return to normal. Maybe a spooky edition with the members of Justice League Dark or a collection of letters to some of the most bizarre characters in the DC Universe like Adam Strange, Lobo and The Creeper. Or why not both!?
This was an enjoyable read that families will love. This sequel just didn't have all of the magic of the original. I guess that's sequels for you!
July 13, 2021
Oh, I think I get it now. This is a book for kids. The puerile humor spoiled any enjoyment for me. There are no big revelations, nothing new added to the characters, no relation between the stories, no sexy artwork, more than one none-too-famous characters, a fully-cartoon battle with superheroes at the end. Skippable.
Dear Catwoman, how does Batman always kick you around?
Dear Lex Luthor, why haven't you cured baldness? Spoiler: he has, but is keeping it for himself or something.
Dear Harley Quinn, have you considered being a stand-up comedian?
Dear Gorilla Grodd, y u smart?
Dear Gigants, how is it being big?
Dear Sinestro, y u mean?
Dear Katana, y u scary?
Dear Black Manta, what are your future evil plans?
By Golly, those are some pivotal, life-changing questions, aren't they?
Dear Catwoman, how does Batman always kick you around?
Dear Lex Luthor, why haven't you cured baldness? Spoiler: he has, but is keeping it for himself or something.
Dear Harley Quinn, have you considered being a stand-up comedian?
Dear Gorilla Grodd, y u smart?
Dear Gigants, how is it being big?
Dear Sinestro, y u mean?
Dear Katana, y u scary?
Dear Black Manta, what are your future evil plans?
By Golly, those are some pivotal, life-changing questions, aren't they?
February 13, 2025
Just like the book "Dear Justice League", this is the second book in the same format of short stories where there's a side story going on in all of the characters chapters that comes together by the end of the book.
I love the format of these super villains answering fan mail. And some mail may be physical while others appear to be text or emails. And each villain I thought was pretty different with their responses.
There are some funny quips in this book but not many jokes that truly won me over. That said, I love the bantering between the characters and I learned more about some villains I never really knew much about. So it was a fun read for me, despite not being a super fan of DC comics.
A solid read that's well worth anyone's time.
I love the format of these super villains answering fan mail. And some mail may be physical while others appear to be text or emails. And each villain I thought was pretty different with their responses.
There are some funny quips in this book but not many jokes that truly won me over. That said, I love the bantering between the characters and I learned more about some villains I never really knew much about. So it was a fun read for me, despite not being a super fan of DC comics.
A solid read that's well worth anyone's time.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews