It's official. Although the Disney Princess merchandise line continues to make me go bleh, the Disney Villain merchandise line is quickly becoming... something else.

I think I've mentioned the My Side of the Story picture book series (detailing, in the villain's own words, their side of the story), but I only bought two of them recently. There are five in all (I think), and I planned to get just the Ursula-Ariel one, but the Maleficent-Aurora made me squee. See, this is why bookshops should have browsing copies, mmkay? Excerpt from Maleficent's side of the story:

Until my recent troubles, I was the most successful businesswoman this side of Kingdom Come.

Enchantment Value Industries Limited -- that's my corporation (E.V.I.L. for short). Maybe you've heard of it? We specialize in black mag -- I mean, market -- enterprise. And I can proudly say we have branches all over the world.

But my success has come at a price. Over the years I've been the victim of a lot of vicious gossip. People say I'm a ruthless witch (I simply know what I want). They say I lead a gang of hideous goblins (my company maintains a strict policy of nondiscrimination). And, they say a storm of wrath and frustration continually thunders around my castle in the Forbidden Mountains (it may be a bit rainy, but I got an incredible bargain on real estate!).

Hee! I'm starting to suspect that the people in charge of Disney Villain line are fanboys and girls. There's none of the doe-eyed futz and (arguably) condescending tone that's the norm for the Disney Princess books. And there's, like, big words! I've always been uncomfortable with shows and books that underestimate and talk down to children.

Maleficent's side of the story has a touch of deliberate wide-eyed "Who, me?" irony, and Aurora's side of the story makes her adorably clueless (which may or may not be your thing, but it worked for me).

( Two sample images behind the cut. Yeah, the art's pretty good. )

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Oh, and because ladydemando asked, Captain Hook's dossier from The Villain Files:

( Yarr! )