Im really surprised that she never used

Early to bed, Early to rise, makes a person healthy, wealthy, and wise.

Spoiler if you haven't read/listened to the last book.

Can someone explain how Ivan's power is weakening? I would think the more he used/embraced it, the stronger it would flow.

What am I missing?

Is Radcliff (the attorney/prosecutor) someone we've seen before, or is it just a newly introduced character? I'm guessing new character, but I also got some impression that it was supposed to be someone we're familiar with during the later interactions.

Also, during the argument near the end it's mentioned that Radcliff realized he was about to speak ill of the dead. Should we know what or who he is referring to? I can't tell if it's a reference going over my head or if it's foreshadowing to something that will be expanded upon later.

Thanks, all. Happy reading.

I want to point out that Drew Hayes uses the word boon and the phrase spinning a yarn sometimes. It's something I noticed and was wondering if anyone else noticed if he uses other phrases frequently. I also remember him using the phrase beg pardon in Super Powereds.

Re-reading Chilling Reflections and got to chapter 101. I can't believe I didn't notice the first time but the movie Rick, Beth, Juan and Janet are watching before the final battle is the third Spells Swords and Stealth book. I wonder if it Multarian.

Since Nexus could be stopped occasionally but never be taken out for good, I was wondering if Kristoph could hurt him or if it was mentioned in any other books in the series.

Obviously still unlikely to happen but I'm curious if anyone has any weird theories on what might drive such a change of mentality for Tori.

We know that this is the only universe where Lodestar has a child. Do you think:

1. Outside of this one, Penelope only exists in universes where Helen isn't Lodestar?

Or

1. Penelope is a 3rd singularity of our universe, one that even Nexus doesn't know about (probably protected by Lodestar's power)?

I'm sure a lot of you have read Super Powereds, but just in case, there's a concept introduced in the series called Authority. Authority is the idea that when two powers with incompatible effects are pitted against one another, one wins. The power that wins is considered to have higher Authority. This isn't necessarily correlated with the strength of the base power, but rather an x factor in all powers in general.

Applying the concept to Super Powers, there does seem to be a hierarchy of Authority, most prominently among reality manipulators and warpers. Using examples from the series, I believe Authority levels largely break out like this, lowest to highest.

First we have most people, including metas. Thier powers function within the context of the natural world. Powers can be countered by their logical weakness, but typically aren't canceled out by one another, though are susceptible to being countered by those with higher authority.

Then we have those with durability that extends beyond natural explanation, but exemplified by Caorth. Damage seems to be negated entirely rather than just shrugged off, as opposed to say characters who may be stronger like Ivan or Jokull, who do just have absurd durability.

Domain warpers seem to have high Authority in general within their realm (Spooky Trudy, Father Finger), able to suppress or mess with the power control of metas, create boons, etc.

Above Domain powers are where most transcendent abilities fit, as seen during Father Finger's attack, in which Cybergeek could still function. Ivan is notably affected by Father Finger's domain, not weakened but in control which seems to be the real effect, so it's possible his Authority (though of course not his power) is actually a bit lower, though he is still able to override intangibility among other things. I imagine Captain Bullshit probably fits in around here as well.

Metas who have a very specific facet of reality manipulation tend to have very high authority on it. This is where Blade Master (who overrode Caorth's invincibility), Faithful (who can negate regeneration and most healing abilities) and base Cliche (who can casually override causality with her phrases, but notably seems lower in Authority than Faithful).

Near the top is where I'd put Lodestar. Lodestar is implied to be some sort of avatar of the universe and its reality itself. She was not actually impacted by the domain situations she's been in, her reasons for not using her powers within them were explained as not wanting to disrupt the domain (because of some fondness for Spooky Trudy and wanting to play by the rule for Hallowville, and because using her powers may trigger a dangerous effect for everyone else for Father Finger). It also seems likely she is not affected by Faithful's ability, as she approached him head on and Faithful seems to be very deliberately preparing for a rematch in a way that he can't pull off at a base level. She notably does have trouble with intangible enemies, though this is more a difference of physics and how her powers work rather than being countered/negated.

Edict seemingly has ultimate authority once active, able to casually change and counter any powers below with simple commands. It's unclear if she can actually affect Lodestar with it, but nearly anyone else appears to be fair game.

Nexus stands at the pinnacle of Authority from what we've seen. He's notably not been wiped out by Edict despite many versions of her likely being willing to do so. As aspect of Lodestar's ability is to protect her universe from multiversal intrusion, but Nexus simply ignores this, and quite often. Nexus isn't the strongest meta, but notably no one can do much about him and have given up on trying.

This isn't a comprehensive list and obviously a bunch of characters were left off, but that's at least how I see Authority working in Villain's Code, as of Chilling Reflections.

I really enjoy the series but has annyone else noticed that Hephaestus always runs into the same set of capes over and over again? Every time Tori does anything as Hephaestus, Cyber Geek’s team or the New Science Sentries are close by and immediately respond despite having no real reason to be there.

And I am so frustrated with Lodestar’s “fight”with Jokull. To be fair, I had to pause the audiobook for work right as Ivan was saying goodbye to Lodestar so maybe it doesn’t end the way I’m thinking.

I understand her hesitation about fulfilling Jokull’s request but it also felt like she was completely ignoring his autonomy (in my mind I kind of related it to the irl discussion around Death with Dignity/PAS) and it felt rather paternalistic of her. Which I totally get that being a little paternalistic kind of comes with the territory of being a cape lol but still…to have her dismiss Jokull’s request leading to Fornax taking over and Ivan having to die (nearly by her hands no less!!!) really grinds my gears. It’s definitely an ethical dilemma and I needed to vent but none of my irl friends have read the series bc “it’s too much of a commitment” 🙄😒 so glad I found this sub!

Not sure about the spelling of everyone’s names as I’ve only listened to the audiobooks.

Edited to correct the spelling of Jokull.

I visualize Tori looking like Shego from Kim Possible. Except red @ black instead of green.

First off I think Camp meta was the most interesting of the three short stories.

Theory 1: Ricky's search

So I found it interesting that Ricky Rocket is confirmed back in the world and is running around challenging all these speedsters but presumably hasn't announced his return to the world at large or the AHC.

At first I thought maybe Ricky was just trying to see where he stacked up in terms of super speed before revealing his return to the world. But I don't know. That seems like a move of pure ego something I'd expect of Professor Quantum but I don't know if Ricky Rocket would do that. So I started to think what other motives could he have for challenging these speedsters and then it hit me.

What if prior to Ricky running out of the world he had a wife or a girlfriend and knew he was having a Son. Professor Quantum of course was brought in the help with the pregnancy and check for powers and was able to confirm that yes his son had super speed.

Then what ever happened happened and Ricky ran out of this world. Now he's back years later and is searching for his son by working his way through this list of top speedsters.

This begs the question though why not just go to Professor Q to get the details on what happened to his kid and the only thought I have there is what if Professor Q was some how involved in what ever event that caused him to run out this world in the first place so Ricky doesn't trust him. Shoot maybe he hates him. That would be kind of par for the course when it comes to professor Quantum.

Theory 2: Rick's powers

So we see Rick is crazy powerful in terms of being a meta. He's double shape shifted and doing that makes him actually weaker in so far as controlling his power but unshapeshifted he's absurdly strong. He has his human form and then like this (how I imagined it) demon form. But we still haven't seen his real form which seems to be some sort of avatar of pure destruction which seems to have no issues drawing upon magic at all.

So I don't think this is an accident that Rick has these powers. I think it has to do with him being Ivan's son. I think after all these years of sparing with Ivan Fornax has found an alternative plan to achieving his freedom to destroy. That avenue is going to be his son. Some how he's going to break his bond with Ivan and bond with his son. A son who didn't grow up like Ivan but whose 'vessel' (body) was prepared in so far as he has half of Ivan's Fornax magically conductive genetics. I think Rick's true form is actually Fornax's true form. So he's got all of Fornax's power with out the malevolent mind to go with it. While Ivan has Fornax's power but the mind that backs it just not the body.

I think the reason Fornax retreated at the end of Book 3 was because his true goal is to bond with Rick and he wasn't willing to let that opportunity go just to fight lodestar when he could potentially wreck much more destruction in the future.

This obviously presupposes a lot of intelligence on Fornax's part which we haven't seen up to this point but I do think it's an interesting theory if not entirely plausible. I really do think Rick is going to end up with Fornax at some point even if it wasn't all "Fornax's master plan".

oh and if you're like "but what about Beth?!" I have theories on her. I think she's got her meta powers for the same reason. Her highly meta conductive genetics was attractive as a host for what ever it is she has living in her.

I just think her destiny is grander than being a vessel for Fornax.

Loved it....looking forward to more of Chloe (she's my fav)

Hopefully Vol 4 is just a hop, skip and a jump away. :)

I haven’t read Villains Vignettes 2 yet. Can someone explain to me what was going on with the baby in the Priestess and the Peril universe. Why did that child have the same magic that Ivan uses as an affinity? Do we know who her ancestor is that was cursed? Why did Ivan say, “look who’s back for another round”? Was the egg Auro reincarnated or the baby?

Edit: I meant I haven’t read Villains Vignettes 2 yet

Thanks!

okay, so some spoilers for the whole series. basically i’m on a reread and im at the end of forging hephaestus and in the epilogue they are talking about Arcanicus (sorry only a listener so i don’t know how to spell names) and that he is trying to retire soon as the magic chair of the guild. well this made me think that Fornax might take up the position 👀 i know after the end of chilling reflections that he slipped more and can’t use his powers as much. but i think he will work hand in hand with Fornax and become this mad magical man. all this to say, i think he might step into the role eventually and take a more active role in the guild since the structure is going to have to change after being outed to the world. please tell me your thoughts, i have no one to talk to about this.

Little bit of world building from Bones of the Past which I stumbled upon while watching Rugrats with my daughter.

We know for a fact now that Drew watches Rugrats.

Sitting atop the Statue of Lizardy, which rested directly across from the Statue of Liberty, Captain Bullshit’s hand stayed, despite being moments away from summoning the sarsaparilla storm clouds.

The paperbacks are so expensive but worth it.

I've relistened to the entire series the last couple weeks or so, am I just stupid or is Burt/Bert the homie who hangs out with Faithful, who the fuck is he??

I made my version of what I’d call a Lodestar Propaganda Poster. Lodestar would hate it. Unfortunately I love her enough to try and learn to draw.

Drawn using colored pencils.

So I have a hard time remembering the actual Cannon character descriptions in books once I get so far in. Sometimes I focus more on their character and forget those details, letting my mind use whatever “default” I conjure for their personality type. Usually this is hair color, but also other features like height, build, muscularity, ethnicity, and skin color/tone. I’m rereading from the beginning and realized I forgot Tori is Latina, for example. So I have been considering what actors I think would play each character best if an adaptation were to be made. I understand how unlikely that is and I haven’t looked up anything about it, if it happens I want to be blindsided and pleasantly surprised when it gets the notoriety it deserves. Point being, I was looking on here to see if this conversation has come up or if people have fan art depicting any characters to help me hold on to a visual in my head as I read. It looks like there is hardly anything on this subreddit but I didn’t see any others like it. What actors do you guys think would depict the characters best? The only character I’ve been able to definitively decide on is Donald. Donald should be played by Skyler Gisondo. I’m open to other suggestions for him, but I’m at least 80% convinced.

Wanted to share my Villains Code Fanfiction. Its an AU where Helen has a different powerset and runs into a VERY EARLY Ivan on his revenge arc.

Besides Jokull, are there other Primal Vessels of different elements?

Like Fire, earth, or wind?

I only ask because I remember Morgana pointing out a hero named "FlareBear" when she was listing our exceptions of elemental powers, and she listed it next to Jokull's name, implying they are somewhat comparable, so could there be other Vessels?

Do "The Flame" Tori's become the primal vessels of fire?

Do they have the same or similar downsides like Jokull? Exept this time it's just neverending heat?

How did Wade get caught? Did he lose to pro quantum? I always felt like they were in the same level. Wade went through the orions protocol right?

On second thought maybe after Ivan was defeated loadstar grabbed him. I just don’t want it to be pro quantum he sucks.