The Superior Foes of Spider-Man: Getting the Band Back Together

This book collects the first six issues of what gets called a "sleeper hit" of the year. On face value, it is a book about supervillains, mostly minor foes of Spider-Man who have banded together to take on their common enemy. These are not A-list characters, and probably they are most known for how easily they were taken down in the first volume of The Superior Spider-Man. However, their status as C-list characters that are relatively unknown opens them up for more exploration and interesting situations, as the major corporation that controls these super-powered characters does not fear their likenesses being changed or altered. I mean, what is to be feared, that their Q-scores will go up?

There is a cynical part of me that gets bummed out that more exciting things are not being done with major characters, but at the same time if these companies are still willing to take chances to give expert creators leeway to make interesting and entertaining books, then does that make up for it? I leave that question to the ether and my audience really, so make of it what you will or respond what you think in the comments.

In the meantime, let me tell you about this book, the creation of two experienced creators, best-selling writer Nick Spencer and Eisner Award winning artist Steve Lieber. Spencer has told some excellent stories with his creator owned series Morning Glories, Marvel Comics' Secret Avengers, and DC Comics' Jimmy Olsen. Lieber is known for his expressive illustrations and storytelling in the comics series Whiteout, Detective Comics, and Civil War: Frontline as well as co-authoring The Complete Idiot's Guide to Creating a Graphic Novel. Spencer speaks about his work on the Superior Foes series in this interview, and Lieber speaks more extensively about his career in this interview.

So, what happens when two expert creators are given free reign to weave tales of minor supervillains without pulling any punches? They produce a bunch of compelling heist comics about a band of real jerks. There is Boomerang, an ex-professional baseball player banned for gambling; Speed Demon, a super-fast thief who used to be known as the Whizzer; Shocker, the also unfortunately named villain armed with electro-shock gauntlets; Overdrive, the getaway driver who can transform and super-charge any vehicle, and the Beetle, a woman with a technological suit of armor at her disposal. Together, they bicker and scheme, comprising the new Sinister Six. Even though there are five of them.

Silly villain, don't you know comic books aren't worth any money?

Notably, I think this is a comic book series that is simultaneously attractive to new fans who may not be aware of any of the characters' backstories and still fulfilling to long-time Marvel Comics readers. Spencer and Lieber do not sugarcoat the fact that these people are not nice and would willingly sell each other out in an instant in order to save their own skin or make a big score. But there is just enough learned about each character to make them somewhat relatable, if not sympathetic. Spencer and Lieber also depict some interesting social and power dynamics with a sense humor that is quite exceptional. The manner how the writing and art balance wit and suspense is the most striking feature of this volume, and I think if Oscar Wilde had written Criminal or Incognito, I bet it would resemble The Superior Foes of Spider-Man.

Some other things I liked: They are not always in costume, and they call each other by their first names.

Other reviewers have much good to say about this book. Jason at the Heroesonline blog called it "the best book you haven’t been reading." Jesse Schedeen commented positively that "the series is more grounded and focused on more flawed characters with less flashy powers. It's more a crime drama with costumed characters than a real supervillain book." He also had a great way of describing the series as "all about what the Six are up to when they're not being punched in the face by Spider-Man."

This book was published by Marvel Comics. There is a preview of the first few pages available here from Comic Book Resources.

Irredeemable, Volume 1

Following my disappointment in reading Hell Yeah, this series Irredeemable shows a great way to tell a superhero story that is simultaneously familiar and novel. The concept appears simple at first glance: What would happen if the world's greatest hero suddenly became its greatest villain?

The Plutonian is clearly based on Superman, both from his characterization and also from a few scattered references such as this one:

 

The supporting cast also has many Super-analogues, such as a complicated triangle between his superhero identity, his secret identity, and a girlfriend he works with (a la Superman and Lois Lane - their relationship has its own Wikipedia page. It's that complicated!) and also a younger sidekick who is privy to many secrets named Samsara, a kind of immortal Jimmy Olsen.

However the superteam that he belonged to and that becomes his adversaries, The Paradigm, is full of more unique characters such as the twins Scylla and Charybdis, the brainy Qubit, and the markswoman Bette Noir. Their powers are familiar but their characterizations are interesting and fresh.

What has set off the Plutonian's change is unknown, which makes for a good mystery, but the book also delves into some pretty dark places in terms of action and also psychological horror. For instance, The Plutonian utterly decimates an island nation because it only agreed to bow to his rule because it feared his wrath.

Adding to the horror of this moment, before he completes the deed, he makes his former teammates make a terrible choice to prove a point.

This book is the creation of Mark Waid and Peter Krause. Waid is a long-time, award winning comics professional who has written many comics for multiple publishers, including notable runs on Daredevil, Superman, Captain America, The Fantastic Four, as well as the well loved mini-series Kingdom Come. He also is heading the e-comics enterprise Thrillbent. Krause has worked in comics for decades as well and is known for his work on Superman, Shazam, and Star Trek. Waid speaks more about this book and series in this interview with The Graphic Novel Reporter. Both creators speak about their work in this audio interview from 2010.

I found this volume a great introduction to a ripping superhero yarn. The art is clear and above par in showing two worlds: a colorful, bright past and a dark, murky, and fearful present. This narrative is built on some typical superheroic conventions but spun in interesting ways. As can probably be seen by now, this book is pretty dark in tone, as The Plutonian is completely brutal and ruthless, so it might not be for everyone. I have read a few more volumes into the series, and I have found it a substantive and satisfying read so far.

This series received many accolades when it debuted, including multiple Harvey and Eisner Awards. Reviews I have read have been positive. Ana from The Book Smugglers praised the book for its rollicking plot, crisp art, and cliffhanger ending. David MacMillin gave it 8 out of 10 stars. Andy at The Geeks of Doom called it "an exciting epic designed to keep you coming back for more."

Irredeemable is published by Boom Studios. A brief preview of the first pages of the book is available here from Comic Book Resources.

Sleeper, Season 1

Holden Carver is a spy out in the cold, with no hope of going home. He is a superhero who was charged with infiltrating a criminal mastermind's organization, but the only person who knew he was a sleeper agent has been shot and is in a coma, clinging barely to life. Eventually, he rises in the organization to become a Prodigal, one of Tao's chief lieutenants. To make matters worse, Tao, the criminal mastermind, has the ability to control people's minds, and Holden is severely compromised in terms of maintaining his identity. Throughout the series, he vacillates between completing his mission and simply losing himself in the villain's role.

Holden has a unique superpower given to him by an alien artifact that has grafted itself to his nervous system. The artifact absorbs all pain and injury he would feel and stores it. When Holden touches someone, they feel the pain and injury, sometimes with the intensity to kill. The artifact makes it difficult for Holden to feel anything, including emotions, further muddying his circumstances. His associates are similarly colorful, especially Miss Misery, a woman who gains strength, beauty, and invulnerability from criminal, amoral, and libidinous behaviors, and Genocide Jones, his super-strong, seemingly invulnerable friend who is also a muscle-man and assassin.

Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips created this series. They are frequent collaborators, and Sleeper was their first major undertaking. Since this series, they have gone on to others such as Criminal and Incognito. Brubaker is an Eisner Award winning writer who has also dabbled in being an artist at times. His most well-known works are Immortal Iron Fist, a run on Catwoman, his revitalized Captain America, and a well received series of Daredevil comics. Phillips has drawn a great number of American and British comics and received an Eisner Award for his work on Criminal.

Sleeper, Season 1 was originally published as 12 issues from Wildstorm, an imprint of DC Comics. It was followed by a second season that completes the narrative. It was a popular series, and it has received some attention from Hollywood: Tom Cruise and Sam Raimi are reportedly interested in creating a film version. Reviews have been largely positive as well. For example, Stephen Giordiano commented that the tightly plotted and compelling story really draws readers in. Paul W. Smith wrote that "both books fill the senses with blood and adrenaline, and ensnare the brain in a dangerous web of conspiracy." Jack Bauerstein83 called it a "hit on all counts."

A preview is available here.