Starter Villain Summary, Characters and Themes
“Starter Villain” by John Scalzi is a humorous and inventive take on the classic villain origin story. Released in 2023, this satirical science fiction novel follows Charlie Fitzer, a down-on-his-luck substitute teacher whose mundane life takes a sharp turn into the extraordinary when he inherits his late uncle’s shadowy empire.
Scalzi masterfully blends wit, intrigue, and absurdity, crafting a tale where genetically modified cats, talking dolphins, and nefarious organizations are just part of the day-to-day. As Charlie navigates this bizarre new world, he must decide whether to embrace or escape his unexpected role as a potential supervillain.
Summary
Charlie Fitzer, a 32-year-old former journalist now struggling as a substitute teacher, finds himself at a low point in life—divorced, jobless, and living back in his childhood home in Barrington, Illinois, caring for his ailing father.
Financially strapped, Charlie dreams of buying a local pub, McDougal’s, to turn his life around. However, his hopes are dashed when a bank denies his loan application, leaving him with little to look forward to.
On his way home from the bank, Charlie discovers a kitten abandoned on the side of the road, reminding him of how he found his current cat, Hera. Naming the new kitten Persephone, Charlie takes her in.
But before he can settle back into his routine, a luxurious car arrives at his house, and a mysterious woman, Mathilda Morrison, appears on his doorstep. She informs Charlie that his estranged uncle, Jake Baldwin—a billionaire who made his fortune in parking garages—has passed away.
To Charlie’s surprise, Morrison offers him money to stand in for Jake at his funeral and, more shockingly, full ownership of his childhood home.
Reluctantly, Charlie agrees to attend the funeral, which quickly turns into a chaotic affair, with strange flower arrangements and attendees more interested in ensuring Jake’s death than mourning him.
After a confrontation at the funeral, Charlie returns home, only to have his house explode shortly after his arrival.
Morrison reappears and advises Charlie to follow his cats, Hera and Persephone, who lead him to a new house already equipped for them. Here, Hera begins communicating with Charlie through an advanced computer.
Soon, Charlie learns that his uncle Jake was far more than a parking tycoon—he was a villain engaged in various illegal activities, including creating genetically engineered spy cats like Hera and Persephone.
With Jake’s enemies now after him, Charlie flees to his uncle’s island hideout in the Caribbean, where he learns about Jake’s more sinister operations, including a satellite-based weather-altering weapon.
At the annual gathering of villains, the Lombardy Convocation in Italy, Charlie meets Anton Dobrev, one of Jake’s few allies. Dobrev informs Charlie that Jake had hidden a massive fortune in Nazi gold on the island and that Charlie’s mother was killed because of it.
Their conversation is interrupted by an explosion and an attack, during which Charlie discovers that one of the assailants is a man named Evan Jacobs, who is subsequently killed by his accomplice, Tobias.
Back on the island, Charlie confronts the Convocation’s new leader, Gratas, who demands access to Jake’s hidden treasure. A battle ensues, culminating in the deaths of the remaining Convocation members and Gratas himself, who is killed by dolphins after an attack by Hera.
In the aftermath, Dobrev reveals that Charlie was a pawn in a scheme to dismantle the Convocation.
With the ordeal over, Charlie returns home, now wealthy and in possession of the pub he had once dreamed of owning. A year later, life has returned to a semblance of normalcy, with Charlie, Hera, and Persephone living together peacefully in Barrington.
Characters
Charlie Fitzer
Charlie Fitzer is the central character of Starter Villain. At 32, Charlie is a man whose life seems to have stalled.
After a career as a business reporter, a divorce, and the responsibility of caring for his ailing father, Charlie finds himself back in his childhood home in Barrington, Illinois. He lives a secluded and financially precarious existence.
His failed attempt to buy McDougal’s Pub underscores his dissatisfaction with his current circumstances. The rejection by the local bank is a crucial moment that propels Charlie into the orbit of his uncle Jake Baldwin’s shadowy world.
Despite his reluctance to embrace his uncle’s legacy, Charlie gradually becomes entangled in a web of villainous enterprises and complex relationships. His journey from a disillusioned substitute teacher to a reluctant player in the world of global villainy reflects his struggle with identity, morality, and the desire to break free from his stagnant life.
Charlie’s interactions with his inherited spy cats, particularly Hera, symbolize his shift from passivity to agency as he navigates the dangerous legacy left by his uncle. By the end of the novel, Charlie’s arc is complete as he rejects the criminal empire, opting instead for a simpler, albeit wealthy, life. This decision demonstrates his ultimate resistance to the corrupting influence of power.
Hera
Hera is not just a cat but a genetically modified espionage agent. She represents the bizarre and satirical elements that permeate Scalzi’s narrative.
Hera plays a pivotal role in guiding and protecting Charlie, often serving as a bridge between the mundane and the extraordinary in his life. Hera’s ability to communicate through an odd computer and her assertive personality suggest that she is more than just a pet—she is a key player in Jake Baldwin’s villainous enterprises.
Her actions, particularly in the climactic confrontation with Gratas, underscore her loyalty to Charlie and her role as a protector. Hera’s intelligence and assertiveness position her as a character with her own agency.
Ultimately, Hera decides to stay behind to manage the other spy cats, while ensuring Charlie’s well-being by securing his financial future. Hera symbolizes the strange, morally ambiguous world Charlie is thrust into, blending the ordinary with the extraordinary and offering guidance as he navigates this new reality.
Mathilda Morrison
Mathilda Morrison is Jake Baldwin’s enigmatic right-hand woman. Her initial role is to entice Charlie into attending Jake’s funeral and subsequently into the world of global villainy.
Morrison is a master manipulator, cool under pressure, and highly competent. She embodies the archetypal “trusted lieutenant” in any villainous organization.
Her relationship with Charlie is complex. She is both a guide and a potential threat, representing the morally grey area in which most characters in this novel operate.
Morrison’s loyalty appears to be primarily to herself and the intricate plans laid out by Jake and Dobrev, using Charlie as a pawn to dismantle the Convocation. However, her willingness to leave Charlie unharmed and to secure his future at the end of the novel indicates a deeper, albeit pragmatic, understanding of loyalty.
Morrison is a character that embodies the dualities of trust and deceit. She operates with a blend of ruthlessness and practicality that makes her one of the more intriguing characters in the novel.
Tobias
Tobias is introduced as an adversary, initially attempting to desecrate Jake Baldwin’s corpse at the funeral. His presence is a harbinger of the dangers lurking within Jake’s world.
As the novel progresses, Tobias is revealed to be a more complex character, working both against and for various factions within the convoluted villainous hierarchy. His actions at the Lombardy Convocation, where he shoots Evan Jacobs and frames Charlie for multiple murders, highlight his ruthlessness and ambition.
However, Tobias’s ultimate allegiance to Morrison, revealed during the final confrontation on Saint Genevieve Island, shows that he is not merely a rogue agent but a calculated player within the larger scheme orchestrated by Morrison and Dobrev. Tobias’s character serves as a reminder of the treacherous and ever-shifting alliances in the world Charlie has been thrust into.
His fate underscores the precarious nature of power within this world.
Anton Dobrev
Anton Dobrev is one of the few individuals who was truly close to Jake Baldwin. His role in the novel is that of a mentor and manipulator.
He is the one who reveals the existence of the stolen Nazi treasure and its connection to Charlie’s mother’s death, positioning himself as a seemingly trustworthy ally. However, Dobrev’s ultimate revelation as a co-conspirator in the plot to dismantle the Convocation adds a layer of betrayal to his character.
His survival and return at the end of the novel, after supposedly being killed in the hotel explosion, reveal his true nature as a puppet master. He uses Charlie as a pawn in a much larger game.
Dobrev’s character embodies the themes of deception and manipulation. Even the most seemingly benign characters can have hidden motives and layers of complexity.
Evan Jacobs
Evan Jacobs is an ex-CIA agent who comes to Saint Genevieve Island with the intent to fake his own death. He aligns himself with the morally ambiguous world of Jake Baldwin’s enterprises.
His decision to fake his death and his involvement in the infiltration at the Lombardy Convocation suggest a man disillusioned with conventional power structures, seeking to carve out his own path in the shadowy world of global villainy. Jacobs’s death at the hands of Tobias is a significant turning point in the novel, marking Charlie’s deeper entanglement in the criminal underworld.
Jacobs’s character, though not as fully fleshed out as others, serves as a representation of the allure and danger of living outside the bounds of society’s rules. His fate also reflects the ultimate cost of such a lifestyle.
Gratas
Gratas is the newly appointed head of the Convocation, placing him in direct opposition to Charlie. His character blends arrogance and ruthlessness, emblematic of the unchecked power that the Convocation wields.
Gratas’s demand for access to the stolen treasure and his subsequent assault on Saint Genevieve Island demonstrate his willingness to use extreme measures to achieve his goals. His ultimate downfall, caused by underestimating both Charlie and Hera, serves as a critical commentary on the hubris often associated with those in positions of power.
Gratas’s death at the hands of the dolphins, after Hera’s attack, symbolizes the unpredictable and often poetic justice that permeates the novel’s satirical take on villainy.
Jake Baldwin
Though Jake Baldwin is deceased for the entirety of the novel, his presence looms large over the narrative. A billionaire tycoon who built his fortune on parking garages, Jake is revealed to have been deeply involved in global villainy.
He orchestrates complex schemes and maintains a vast network of morally ambiguous enterprises. His manipulation of events from beyond the grave, particularly through Morrison and Dobrev, shows the extent of his influence and foresight.
Jake’s legacy is a double-edged sword for Charlie, offering him wealth and power but also dragging him into a world fraught with danger and moral compromise. Jake Baldwin’s character serves as the catalyst for the entire plot, embodying the seductive but perilous allure of power and the ways in which it can corrupt and manipulate those who seek to escape its grasp.
Persephone
Persephone, like Hera, is a genetically modified cat. She enters Charlie’s life under more mysterious circumstances.
Her discovery parallels Charlie’s earlier adoption of Hera, symbolizing a new phase in his life. Persephone’s role in the narrative is less pronounced than Hera’s, but her presence underscores the thematic importance of these animals as both symbols of and participants in the strange, villainous world Charlie finds himself in.
Persephone’s return to Barrington with Charlie at the end of the novel signifies the conclusion of Charlie’s journey through the underworld of villainy. He returns to a semblance of normalcy, albeit a normalcy now infused with the extraordinary.
Themes
Satire and Critique of Capitalism
Starter Villain is deeply embedded in satire, particularly targeting capitalism and the contemporary business world. The novel takes a humorous yet incisive approach to the absurdities of corporate greed, financial desperation, and the moral ambiguities within the capitalist framework.
Through the character of Charlie Fitzer, Scalzi paints a picture of the common man’s struggles in an economy where power and wealth are concentrated in the hands of a few. Charlie’s dream of buying a local tavern is emblematic of the broader desire for stability and modest success, which is repeatedly thwarted by larger, faceless economic forces.
The revelation of Jake Baldwin’s empire, built on villainous enterprises and hidden treasures, further critiques how wealth is often amassed through unethical means. This wealth is hidden from public scrutiny and sustained by ruthless business practices.
The novel’s portrayal of the Convocation, a gathering of the world’s elite villains, satirizes the real-world gatherings of the wealthy and powerful. It exposes their moral bankruptcy and desperation to maintain their status.
Family Dynamics and Legacy
Family plays a significant role in the novel, particularly the complicated legacy left by Jake Baldwin. Charlie’s relationship with his late uncle is marked by estrangement and a lack of understanding.
Yet, he inherits not only Jake’s wealth but also his enemies and moral dilemmas. The novel explores the theme of legacy, questioning what is truly passed down through generations.
Is it material wealth, power, or the ethical consequences of one’s actions? Charlie’s inheritance is not just financial but also involves the burden of Jake’s dark past, forcing him to navigate a world of villainy he never sought to enter.
The novel also touches on the broader implications of family, as seen in Charlie’s interactions with his half-siblings. They are eager to sell their co-owned family home, reflecting the fragmentation of modern families, where financial interests often override emotional connections.
The Individual vs. the System
Charlie Fitzer’s journey in Starter Villain embodies the classic theme of the individual versus the system. From the outset, Charlie is portrayed as an ordinary man caught in extraordinary circumstances.
This highlights the struggles of an individual trying to assert control in a world dominated by powerful systems. Whether it’s the banking system that denies his loan application, the villainous enterprise he unwittingly inherits, or the Convocation’s coercive power, Charlie is constantly at odds with larger forces.
The novel examines how individuals are often powerless against such systems. Yet, it also suggests that personal agency and ethical choices can still make a difference.
Charlie’s ultimate decision to reject the villainous lifestyle and his negotiation with the Convocation illustrate a nuanced take on this theme. The protagonist doesn’t overthrow the system but instead finds a way to coexist with it on his own terms.
Ethics and Moral Ambiguity
The theme of ethics is central to Starter Villain, as Charlie grapples with the moral implications of his uncle’s business empire. The novel presents a world where the lines between good and evil are blurred, and where traditional moral values are often at odds with the demands of survival and success.
Charlie’s initial reluctance to embrace his uncle’s villainous legacy reflects his struggle to maintain his moral integrity in a world that rewards unethical behavior. Throughout the story, Charlie is faced with decisions that challenge his ethical beliefs.
These include dealing with the genetically modified spy cats, negotiating with dangerous criminals, and deciding how to handle the stolen Nazi treasure. The novel doesn’t offer easy answers but instead invites readers to consider the complexities of moral choices in a morally ambiguous world.
By the end, Charlie’s rejection of the villainous path suggests a reaffirmation of his ethical values. This occurs even as he recognizes the necessity of making compromises in a flawed world.
The Absurdity of Power and Wealth
Scalzi’s novel delves into the absurdity of power and wealth, portraying the super-rich as out of touch with reality and engaged in bizarre, often ludicrous activities. The depiction of Jake Baldwin’s enterprises, including a Caribbean “volcano lair” and talking dolphins in a labor dispute, underscores the surreal and often comical nature of extreme wealth.
The Convocation, with its members vying for control over stolen treasure and deploying missiles in petty disputes, serves as a satirical take on how power can lead to irrational and self-destructive behavior. The novel suggests that the pursuit of power and wealth can be not only morally corrupting but also fundamentally absurd.
This absurdity can lead individuals to lose sight of what truly matters in life.
The Role of Technology
Technology plays a significant, though subtly integrated, role in Starter Villain, particularly in the form of the genetically modified cats, Hera and Persephone. These cats, designed for espionage, symbolize the intersection of technology and ethics, raising questions about the consequences of scientific advancements when used for dubious purposes.
The novel explores how technology can be both a tool for empowerment and a source of danger, depending on how it is wielded. Charlie’s interactions with Hera, who communicates through a specially designed computer, highlight the potential for technology to bridge gaps between species and create new forms of communication and intelligence.
However, the darker side of technology is also evident in the satellite-destroying laser and other advanced tools of Jake’s villainous trade. These pose significant threats when used irresponsibly.
Identity and Transformation
The theme of identity and transformation is central to Charlie’s character arc. At the beginning of the novel, Charlie is a man defined by his failures and losses—his failed marriage, career setbacks, and financial struggles.
However, as he navigates the challenges presented by his uncle’s legacy, Charlie undergoes a transformation. He is forced to redefine his identity, moving from a passive victim of circumstances to an active player in a world of intrigue and power.
This transformation is not just about acquiring wealth or power but about understanding who he is and what he stands for in a morally complex world. By the end of the novel, Charlie has come to terms with his new identity.
He rejects the life of a villain and chooses a path that aligns with his values. Yet, he adapts to the realities of his changed circumstances.