A decent, generic morally ambigous character. It seemed familiar in the sense that it was someone hoping to become a superhero...it was visually okay and had a lot of potential but it seemed to spend more time world-building than anything else. Unfortunate since I really did like the character of Tilly.


I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Villainous collects the entirety of this 5 issue series to tell the story of Tilly, who is a new super power recruit to the Coalition of Heroes. She is excited to fulfill her dreams, but it all comes crashing down around her and she needs to decide who to stand with - the heroes or villains.

The premise is one we’ve seen most recently adapted in The Boys, but this is by far a more accessible teen version of the premise. The art style fit the motifs of the story, although on occasion pulling me from the experience due to a panel or expression that felt out of place from the rest of the style, but overall is a good fit for the story they’re telling. The cover is what drew me in to begin with.

Tilly is a likeable and enjoyable character to follow, but like many of the other characters, I just didn’t feel like I got enough. There isn’t time to explain the motivation of why these people are doing what they are doing, even if I did want to know more about Tilly and her superpowers. The majority of the story feels that way. It was nice being able to be dropped into the depths of the story pretty instantly, and the personalities of characters do shine through by either relying on tropes or designs so there isn’t much confusion on what to expect from them. This might make it harder for someone who is new to the tropes of the genre though.

While this book didn’t hit the sweet spot for me, I can easily see how people, especially teenagers, interested in exploring the hero/villain dichotomy would enjoy this.

I received this book as an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Really enjoyed this book.

The art is gorgeous and I love the character of Tilly.

I really enjoyed the twist of the heroes being the villains, and the "villains" being the ones to try and stop the war.

I usually am not a fan of comic books/graphic novels but this one wasn't to terrible.

Villainous is your typically good guy/bad guy superhero book. It was mainly following Rep-Tilly. The graphic novel story itself seem to be a tad rushed. I feel like it could of went into even a page or two of more of Rep-Tilly's background with her parents instead of just the mention of her parents and them being proud of her.

I didn't really care for the twist of the good guys being the bad guys and the bad guys really being the good guys. I understand its the graphic novel but I overall felt it could have had more in depth story line, but that could be just my own personal opinions when it comes to these type of books there is only so much you can put into it.
The characters of the book of have had better descriptions about themselves. Overall I gave it 3 stars. It could of been better but I have read worse.

I'm not much for comic books, but this was a good read it had very colorful, bright pages, great drawings.

I really enjoyed the subversion of expectations of who the reader thinks are the good guys actually being the bad guys.

There were a lot of characters introduced pretty fast after the start, and I found that a little overwhelming. But, I liked Tilly, the main character, a lot! Overall, good story.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an advanced copy of this superhero graphic novel.

The premise of Villainous is really cool and I love stories about morally grey heroes, but unfortunately, it lacked depth and complexity. It was entertaining, but everything was very rushed. The cover intrigued me and I was expecting a darker and more dramatic story. The art style was decent but looked a little rough and inconsistent at times. The characters often changed from very serious and stoic in one panel to very expressive and cartoonish. The silly facial expressions were rather jarring and reminded me more of manga. I think this series has potential but right not it reads more like a rough draft. I think it the pacing and characters were fleshed out more, this series could be a hit.

So, first, it loses a point because the art style is weirdly uneven - some panels have a very serious traditional comic book look and then suddenly they are interrupted by one or two panels where the art is VERY cartoonish - with stretched out bodies and faces and bizarre over the top facial expressions. I do like the "villains are the heroes" storyline, but since it does sort of end in a way that makes it seem like a one-shot, there is really not enough time to get invested in the characters, not even in our main girl Tilly, who for example, keeps mentioning that her parents gave us so much to send her to hero academy, but we never get any sort of back story about WHAT they gave up or what makes her who she is.

Tilly is realizing her dream to become part of the Coalition of Heroes, and lands the coveted postion of the famous Showdown's sidekick! On her first day on the job she finds out that these heroes may not be as heroic as everyone says they are. On her first day on the job, she overhears Showdown plotting to kill an ambassador...and telling the head of the COH only gets her...framed for her own murder.

This was an entertaining story, but it almost felt too rushed--we don't really get to know any of the characters beyond the surface. I did enjoy reading it, but it left me wanting a lot more detail!

Villainous is a graphic novel that runs in the same vein as The Boys comics. "Rep-Tilly" is recruited by "the" superhero team to be a sidekick. Looks can be deceiving and Rep-Tilly quickly finds out the good guys are not be the good guys. Joining up with the villains, she finds out being villainous might be the only way to save the world. The art is colorful, dark, and totally fits the story. A unique twist on the superhero bad guy theme, the story is an enjoyable distraction that will leave you wanting the next chapter. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.

Story about a hero who becomes an anti-hero. This one was okay? Found the art style a little jarring and the lack of character development bothered me but otherwise the premise was alright.

Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a look at this superhero graphic novel! ^^

I gotta say, this graphic novel about a lizard girl Tilly joining the villains after being defamed by the heroes. Yeah it goes to show, you can’t always trust heroes as the good guys whether it be fictional or not! As much as the story was quick enough for 119 pages, at least it gives you a satisfying ending! I mean dang, Tilly is such a badass that you feel sorry for her that she was betrayed by the “heroes”, well it was their loss anyways!

It’s good to read something different and refreshing than your typical superhero stuff!

Think the Boys for middle-grade readers. Villainous is a graphic novel that tells the story of Matilda “Tilly,” Anderson, Codename Rep Tilly. Half lizard, half young woman, all hero. Tilly is brought in as a sidekick/ apprentice in the Coalition of Heroes, a modern-day Justice League/Avengers.

Showdown, and Miss Nemesis, are the Coalition’s standout heroes in their eternal battle against the Shadow Order. Villainous very own Justice League of Evildoers, led by a former hero, Sedition.

Tilly soon learns just because the government sanctions a group, does not make them the good guys, and there is a reason why people labeled “villains” choose their way of life.

Writer, Stonie Williams creates a world with nuanced characters and an interesting plot, I would like to see him take on a project with less overdone tropes as he is a voice to keep on the radar.

Artist, Jeff Sadzinski delivers the goods on Villainous. Sadzinski took no shortcuts. Every page is lovingly detailed.

Villainous is the Boys for middle a grade audience, that was no putdown. The story addresses some powerful concepts which can be used as discussion starters without the blood and gore of The Boys.

The conversation of Heroes, Villains, Vigilantes, and Fascists and their place in a functioning society is one that is worth having, and Villainous is a good place to start.

Villainous reads like a PG-13 version of The Boys, where the supposed good heroes are actually the baddies, and vice versa.

I'm no fan of The Boys, which tends to drown in a pool of abrassive edgelordiness, but this book flips to the other extreme - being a bit bland and toothless. To be fair, this book is aimed at young teens, but that doesn't mean you can't tell a story with a bit more pep.

So a young teen superhero joins the good guys, and has to start as an intern to one of the heroes. She quickly finds out these people are rotten, by overhearing her assigned hero saying a visiting UK ambassador will be murdered. Now, it seems there are a lot of interns beside her, and supposedly new interns join every year or so, which should mean it's almost impossible to keep these nefarious intentions a secret, I'd think?

Follows another four issues of thwarting and being thwarted, and it's actually a bit surprising how slow the book feels, after that hyperpaced introduction.

The superhero characters are just a bit generic, and there is never a feeling of cameraderie between them. The book also suffers a bit from Umbrella Academy Syndrome, where pretty much all the unnamed heroes in the background look more interesting than the main cast.

The art follows in that blandness, although now and then the art takes on a goofy style for a frame or so, and I wish the whole book had been done in that style. Those glimmers look at least a bit more interesting and fun.

I really liked the story of this book. The introduction to the characters made is easy to understand where everything and everyone stands. The art style is really cool and the story is engaging. The plot shows perfectly that not everything is what it seems and not everyone is who we think they are.

I enjoyed this a lot, mostly because Tilly is awesome, and sweet. I really appreciated watching her grow as I read this because we honestly could see her growth from beginning to end. I also enjoyed that the new and interesting super powers that some of the other characters had it didn't feel like the same old same old,

What I didn't feel like I enjoyed was how the idea of "fake news" ended up being tangled into the story. Maybe because it is already something touted as way to rebuke someone by the right. Seeing it even fictionalized makes me grit my teeth because it feels like there isn't an escape from it.

An interesting and quick read. Got some similar vibes to THE BOYS, albeit not written/told through Garth Ennis's gratuitous lens. The artwork is pretty good, with occasional manga-like moments for emphasis/humour. I enjoyed it, but I wonder if it could have benefited from a bit more - maybe a couple more issues, in which we could have got to know the characters a bit more, become more attached to their fates/agendas.

But, overall, a quick and enjoyable superhero read.

This is a beautifully done graphic novel - the illustration is honestly stunning and it has a good and engaging storyline. It was set up in a way when “meeting the hero’s” which made it easy to understand the world and what was coming. Overall I really enjoyed it and something I’d love to have on my shelf.

Villainous is a compilation of parts of Tully’s story. Once all she wanted was to be a sidekick to the heroes of this universe- the Coalition. But when her wish is granted, not everything is as it seems. Paired with her idol, she quickly finds him lacking and uncovers a plot to kill an innocent which leads her on the path to becoming her own hero- even if they makes her a villain.

The art style of this comic was just not for me. I did love Tilly’s characterization, and the use of color, but some of the over exaggeration felt too forced.

As far as story, I came to really like the characters and their arcs. At times it felt rushed, and I felt that spending a little more time in Tilly’s transition would allow a wider range of emotion towards characters such as Ben and Bianca later on. I truly did enjoy the take on good vs evil, and believe that many comic fans will enjoy this. I’m glad the true heroes stood out in the end.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of Villainous! I look forward to the authors future work.

I felt that this book was too rushed to fully reach its potential. I found the art style to be unique and interesting, but the pacing went by too quickly through several large plot twists and events. With the proper pacing, this could've easily been divided into two books. I found it difficult to connect with the characters, especially Tilly, the protagonist, as I couldn't even tell what her superpower was supposed to be. This comic relied on a trope I love, with the subversion of who the hero and villain are, but the rushed storytelling failed to explore all of the potential to make it a unique story.